Takashi Yanase

Takashi Yanase (February 6, 1919 â€" October 13, 2013) was a Japanese writer, poet, illustrator and lyricist. He was best known as the creator of the manga and anime series Anpanman. The character of Anpanman, like many manga heroes, is popular with children and is found on numerous products in Japan. Yanase was chairman of the Japan Cartoonists Association from May 2000 to 2012.

Works

Poetry

Prose nonfiction

• Anpanman's Testament (アンãƒ'ンマンの遺書, Anpanman no isho, February 1995)
• Life is Strange: Words to Live byi> (人ç"Ÿãªã‚"ておかしいね　人ç"Ÿã®è¨€è'‰, Jinsei nante okashii ne Jinsei no kokoro, 1996 (Keibunsha), 2002 (Tachibana Shuppan))
• Second Youth Is a Thrill! (痛快！第二のé'春, TsÅ«kai! Dai-ni no seishun, August 2003)
• Life Is But a Dream (人ç"Ÿãªã‚"て夢だã'ど, Jinsei nante yume da kedo, February 2005)
• Anyone Can Be a Poet (だれでも詩人になれる本, Dare de mo shijin ni nareru hon, February 2009)
• Life Gets Interesting at 90! (人ç"Ÿã€90歳からおもしろい!, Jinsei, kyÅ«jussai kara omoshiroi!, July 2009)
• If I Were to Talk About Justice (わたしが正義について語るなら, Watashi ga seigi ni tsuite kataru nara, December 2009)
• Next to Despair Lies Hope! (絶望の隣は希望です!, Zetsubō no tonari wa kibō desu!, September 2011) â€" written in response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Picture books

Standalone works

• The Gentle Lion (やさしいライオン, Yasashii Raion, 1969 (serialized)/1975 (released); English translation by Shauna Rosgen, April 2008)
• Little Jumbo (ちいさなジャンボ, Chiisana Janbo)
• Goodbye Jumbo (さよならジャンボ, Sayonara Janbo, May 1977)
• Ringing Bell (チリンのすず, Chirin no Suzu, January 1978)

Mighty Cat Masked Niyandar series

This series was created as a revision to the premise of his newspaper comic Hippity Hoppity Masked Savior (ãƒ"ョンãƒ"ョンおたすã'かめã‚", Pyon-pyon otasuke kamen), which ran in the Asahi Shimbun from 1996 to 2000 and had a rabbit protagonist. Three books were published concurrently with the anime of the same name, which was developed in tandem.

1. The Magic Backpack â€" A Hero is Born (まほうのランドセル　たã‚"じょうへã‚", Mahō no randoseru Tanjō-hen, February 2000)
2. The Mysterious Adventure (ふしぎなぼうã'ã‚", Fushigi na bōken, November 2000)
3. Miiko's Transformation (ミーコのへã‚"しã‚", MÄ«ko no henshin, July 2001)

Anpanman series

The first four books

The original books in the Anpanman series, published during the 1970s. All except Go! Anpanman were run in the "Kinder Ohanashi Ehon" (キンダーおはなしえほã‚") monthly anthology series before being subsequently republished for the mass market under the "Kinder Ohanashi Ehon Masterpiece Selection" (キンダーおはなしえほã‚"å‚'作選) imprint; however, the first book was not republished until 1976, making the second book technically the first canonical Anpanman story to be released. Of these, Anpanman and Gorillaman is currently out of print.

1. Anpanman (あã‚"ぱã‚"まã‚", October 1973 (serialized) / May 1976 (released))
2. Go! Anpanman (それいã'！アンãƒ'ンマン, November 1975) (Published under "Froebel-kan no Ehon" imprint)
3. Anpanman and Gorillaman (あã‚"ぱã‚"まã‚"とã"りらまã‚", June 1976 (serialized) / December 1976 (released))
4. Anpanman and Baikinman (あã‚"ぱã‚"まã‚"とばいきã‚"まã‚", May 1979 (serialized) / July 1979 (released))

"Children's Fairytale Storybooks Masterpiece Selection" series (キンダーメルヘンえほã‚"å‚'作選)

Several books originally serialized in the monthly Children's Fairytale Storybooks (キンダーメルヘンえほã‚") anthology series in the early 1980s. While they were also released to the mass market, they are now out of print.

1. Anpanman and Shokupanman (あã‚"ぱã‚"まã‚"としょくぱã‚"まã‚", June 1980 (serialized) / September 1981 (released))
2. Shokupanman (しょくぱã‚"まã‚", July 1981 (serialized) / September 1982 (released))
3. Akachanman (あかちゃã‚"まã‚", May 1982 (serialized) / September 1985 (released))
4. Anpanman and Currypanman (アンãƒ'ンマンとカレーãƒ'ンマン, February 1985 (serialized) / September 1985 (released))

"Anpanman Mini-Books" series (アンãƒ'ンマンミニえほã‚")

A series of 25 storybooks published from 1983 to 1984 after the end of the monthly manga. These books were out of print for over a decade until 2010, when they were republished.

1. Anpanman and the Lost Alien (アンãƒ'ンマンとまいã"のうちゅうじã‚", April 1983)
2. Anpanman and the Giant Monster Ankora (アンãƒ'ンマンとかいじゅうアンコラ, April 1983)
3. Anpanman and the Graffiti Kid (アンãƒ'ンマンとらくがきã"ぞう, April 1983)
4. Anpanman and the Kabirunruns (アンãƒ'ンマンとかびるã‚"ã‚‹ã‚", April 1983)
5. Anpanman and the Ghost Forest (アンãƒ'ンマンとおばã'のもり, April 1983)
6. Anpanman and Lookalikepan (アンãƒ'ンマンとそっくりぱã‚", April 1983)
7. Anpanman and Lumpman (アンãƒ'ンマンとたã‚"ã"ぶまã‚", November 1983)
8. Anpanman and Butamanman (アンãƒ'ンマンとぶたまã‚"まã‚", November 1983)
9. Anpanman and Kazekonkon (アンãƒ'ンマンとかぜã"ã‚"ã"ã‚", November 1983)
10. Anpanman and Currypanman/Omusubiman (アンãƒ'ンマンとカレーãƒ'ンマン・おむすびまã‚", November 1983)
11. Anpanman and the Yawn-Bird (アンãƒ'ンマンとあくびどり)
12. Anpanman and Hedoroman (アンãƒ'ンマンとへどろまã‚")
13. Anpanman and Nankahendaa (アンãƒ'ンマンとナンカヘンダー)
14. Anpanman and Ramen Angel (アンãƒ'ンマンとらーめã‚"てã‚"し)
15. Anpanman and Thunder Pika-tan (アンãƒ'ンマンとかみなりぴかたã‚")
16. Anpanman and Toothpasteman (アンãƒ'ンマンとはみがきまã‚")
17. Anpanman and Namekujira (アンãƒ'ンマンとなめくじら)
18. Anpanman and Beroberoman (アンãƒ'ンマンとべろべろまã‚")
19. Anpanman and the Snifflebomb (アンãƒ'ンマンとしくしくばくだã‚")
20. Anpanman and Tendonman (アンãƒ'ンマンとてã‚"どã‚"まã‚")
21. Anpanman and the Fireball Kid (アンãƒ'ンマンとひのたまã"ぞう)
22. Anpanman and Apple-chan (アンãƒ'ンマンとりã‚"ã"ちゃã‚")
23. Anpanman and the Lake Princess (アンãƒ'ンマンとみずうみひめ)
24. Anpanman and Takoyakiman (アンãƒ'ンマンとたã"やきまã‚")
25. Anpanman and Milk Boy (アンãƒ'ンマンとみるくぼうや)

"The Adventures of Anpanman" series (アンãƒ'ンマンのぼうã'ã‚")

A 15-book series published between 1987 and 1989, which ended just prior to the start of the weekly newspaper comic strip. Some (but not all) of the series were published in picture-book anthologies prior to mass-market publication. The Soreike! Anpanman anime began during the release of this series, and the character Dokinchan (introduced in book six, Anpanman and Dokin) featured heavily there from the start, influencing Yanase's later Anpanman works.

1. Anpanman and Pot-chan (アンãƒ'ンマンとポットちゃã‚", September 1985 (serialized) / October 1987 (released))
2. Anpanman and Piichiku Forest (アンãƒ'ンマンとぴいちくもり, May 1986 (serialized) / October 1987 (released))
3. Anpanman and Dadandan (アンãƒ'ンマンとだだã‚"だã‚", May 1987 (serialized) / October 1987 (released))
4. Anpanman and Mogurin (アンãƒ'ンマンともぐりã‚", December 1987)
5. Anpanman and The Building-Block Castle (アンãƒ'ンマンとつみきのしろ, May 1984 (serialized) / February 1988 (released))
6. Anpanman and Dokin (アンãƒ'ンマンとドキン, March 1988)
7. Anpanman and the Sea-Devil (アンãƒ'ンマンとうみのあくま, April 1988)
8. Anpanman and Bonbon Island (アンãƒ'ンマンとぼã‚"ぼã‚"じま, July 1988)
9. Anpanman and Invisibleman (アンãƒ'ンマンとみえないまã‚", May 1988 (serialized) / July 1988 (released))
10. Anpanman and Chikurin (アンãƒ'ンマンとちくりã‚", September 1988)
11. Anpanman and Dodo (アンãƒ'ンマンとドド, April 1989)
12. Anpanman and Tartan (アンãƒ'ンマンとタータン, May 1989)
13. Anpanman and Crescent-Moon Man (アンãƒ'ンマンとみかづきまã‚", June 1989)
14. Anpanman and Karen's Forest (アンãƒ'ンマンとカレンのもり, May 1989 (serialized) / October 1989 (released))
15. Anpanman and the Black Bird (アンãƒ'ンマンとくろいとり, October 1989)

Omusubiman series

A spinoff of the main Anpanman series, featuring the character Omusubiman and his younger companion Komusubiman. Published in the 1980s and early 1990s, all books in the series are now out of print.

"Anpanman no Ohanashi Detekoi" series (アンãƒ'ンマンのおはなしでてã"い)

A 12-book series begun immediately after the end of the newspaper comic.

1. Anpanman and the Water Castle (アンãƒ'ンマンとみずのしろ, May 1994)
2. Anpanman and Princess Greenleaf (アンãƒ'ンマンとあおばひめ, July 1994)
3. Anpanman and the Magic Wooden Horse (アンãƒ'ンマンとまほうのもくば, November 1994)
4. Anpanman and Rollpanna (アンãƒ'ンマンとロールãƒ'ンナ, February 1995)
5. Anpanman and Toothpaste Mountain (アンãƒ'ンマンとはみがきやま, April 1995)
6. Anpanman and Marimo-kun (アンãƒ'ンマンとまりもくã‚", July 1995)
7. Anpanman and the Land of Dreams (アンãƒ'ンマンとゆめのくに, November 1995)
8. Anpanman and Marbleman (アンãƒ'ンマンとびいだまã‚", February 1996)
9. Anpanman and PunchPunchPuuunch (アンãƒ'ンマンとぱしぱしぱしーã‚", May 1996)
10. Anpanman and Balloonman (アンãƒ'ンマンとふうせã‚"まã‚", July 1996)
11. Anpanman and the Magic Brush (アンãƒ'ンマンとまほうのふで, November 1996)
12. Anpanman and Chibizou-kun (アンãƒ'ンマンとちびぞうくã‚", January 1997)

"Anpanman Lullabies" (アンãƒ'ンマンのã"もりうた) series

A collection of bedtime stories for children.

1. The Sleepy Sleepy Uncle (ねむねむおじさã‚", February 1998)
2. The Night-Night Sleepy Tree (ねã‚"ねã‚"ねむのき, March 1998)
3. Shidoro and Modoro (シドロとモドロ, May 1998)
4. The Dream Foal (ゆめのã"うま, September 1998)

"Anpanman no Ohanashi Wakuwaku" (アンãƒ'ンマンのおはなしわくわく) series

Another 12-book collection of original Anpanman stories following up the "Ohanashi Detekoi" series.

1. Anpanman's Secret (アンãƒ'ンマンのひみつ, July 1999)
2. Anpanman and the Rainbow Ghost (アンãƒ'ンマンとにじおばã', December 1999)
3. Keep It Secret from Anpanman (アンãƒ'ンマンにはないしょ, March 2000)
4. Anpanman and Naganegiman (アンãƒ'ンマンとナガネギマン, December 2001)
5. Anpanman and Dokinchan's Dream (アンãƒ'ンマンとドキンちゃã‚"のゆめ, July 2002)
6. Anpanman and the Desert Treasure (アンãƒ'ンマンとさばくのたから, March 2004)
7. Anpanman and Snow Black (アンãƒ'ンマンとくろゆきひめ, October 2004)
8. Anpanman and the Blue Tears (アンãƒ'ンマンとあおいなみだ, October 2005)
9. Anpanman and the Question-Mark Tower (アンãƒ'ンマンとハテナのとう, April 2006)
10. Anpanman and the Flying Ume Fruit (アンãƒ'ンマンとそらとぶうめのみ, September 2006)
11. Anpanman and Shabondaman (アンãƒ'ンマンとシャボンダマン, February 2007)
12. Anpanman and Horror Horrorko (アンãƒ'ンマンとホラ・ホラコ, April 2007)

"Anpanman no Runrun Ehon" series (アンãƒ'ンマンのるã‚"ã‚‹ã‚"えほã‚")

A series of small-format storybooks, published in 2003.

1. Anpanman and Friends (アンãƒ'ンマンとなかまたち, May 2003)
2. Dokinchan and Pillow Kid (アンãƒ'ンマンとまくらã"ぞう, May 2003)
3. Baikinman's Sudden Change (ばいきã‚"まã‚"のはやがわり, May 2003)
4. Melonpanna's Drink-drink-drink (メロンãƒ'ンナのぐーぐーぐー, May 2003)

"Anpanman no Ohanashi Runrun" series (アンãƒ'ンマンのおはなしるã‚"ã‚‹ã‚")

The latest, still-ongoing Anpanman picture-book series, with six books to date.

1. Anpanman and Bookman (アンãƒ'ンマンとブックマン, November 2008)
2. Anpanman and the Twin Stars (アンãƒ'ンマンとふたã"のほし, March 2009)
3. Anpanman and the Artist Beret-chan (アンãƒ'ンマンとおえかきベレちゃã‚", November 2009)
4. Anpanman and the Flower Castle (アンãƒ'ンマンとはなのしろ, March 2010)
5. Anpanman and the Forest Treasure (アンãƒ'ンマンともりのたから, November 2010)
6. Anpanman and Yawn-Boy (アンãƒ'ンマンとアクãƒ"ぼうや, March 2011)
7. Anpanman and Shidoro & Modoro (アンãƒ'ンマンとシドロアンドモドロ, November 2011)

Anpanman Christmas books

Christmas-themed Anpanman books, published irregularly (roughly once a decade).

1. Anpanman's Santa Claus (アンãƒ'ンマンのサンタクロース, November 1981)
2. Anpanman's Christmas (アンãƒ'ンマンのクリスマス, November 1988)
3. Merry Christmas! with Anpanman (アンãƒ'ンマンとメリークリスマス！, November 1998)
4. Anpanman's Christmas Eve (アンãƒ'ンマンのクリスマス・イブ, November 2004)

Soreike! Anpanman theatrical movie series

Official adaptations of the latest films in the Soreike! Anpanman anime series, published concurrently with the film release. In contrast to the official movie titles, the book titles are written without any kanji.

1. Nossy the Dinosaur's Great Adventure (きょうりゅうノッシーのだいぼうã'ã‚", July 1993)
2. Lyrical Magical Magic School (リリカルマジカルまほうのがっã"う, July 1994)
3. Defeat the Ghost Ship! (ゆうれいせã‚"ã‚'やっつã'ろ！, June 1995)
4. The Flying Picture-Book and the Glass Slippers (そらとぶえほã‚"とガラスのくつ, July 1996)
5. The Rainbow Pyramid (にじのãƒ"ラミッド, July 1997)
6. Palms to the Sun (てのひらã‚'たいように, July 1998)
7. When the Flower of Courage Blooms (ゆうきのはながひらくとき, July 1999)
8. Tears of the Mermaid Princess (にã‚"ぎょひめのなみだ, July 2000)
9. Gomira's Star (ゴミラのほし, July 2001)
10. Roll & Rolla: Secret of the Floating Cloud Castle (ロールとローラ　うきぐもじょうのひみつ, July 2002)
11. Ruby's Wish (ルãƒ"ーのねがい, July 2003)
12. Nyanii of Dream Cat Land (ゆめねã"のくにのニャニイ, June 2004)
13. Hapii's Great Adventure (ハãƒ"ーのだいぼうã'ã‚", July 2005)
14. Dolly of the Star of Life (いのちのほしのドーリィ, July 2006)
15. Purun the Soap-Bubble (シャボンだまのプルン, July 2007)
16. Secret of the Fairy Rinrin (ようせいリンリンのひみつ, July 2008)
17. Dadandan and the Twin Stars (だだã‚"だã‚"とふたã"のほし, June 2009)
18. Black Nose and the Magic Song (ブラックノーズとまほうのうた, June 2010)
19. Rescue them! Kokorin and the Miracle Star (すくえ！ココリンときせきのほし, June 2011)

Comics

Little Bō (リトル・ボオ, Ritoru Bō)

The heroic adventures of a small person wearing a hat that comes down over his eyes, run in Takashimaya department store's mail-order catalog.　A prototype for the Anpanman character Butterko appears here with the same name, though the name pun is different (from dotabata, running around noisily).

Hot-Blooded Fairytale Masterpiece Anpanman (熱血メルヘンå‚'作アンãƒ'ンマン)

Published in the January 1975 to May 1976 issues of Monthly Poetry and Fairytales (月刊詩とメルヘン). This manga was a series of illustrated stories aimed at adults, and included the supporting characters "Nakasu Yaruse" (a cartoonist) and "Miruka Mite" (a female reporter). Never reprinted.

Anpanman (あã‚"ぱã‚"まã‚")

Serialized in the September 1976 to July 1982 issues of Monthly Ichigo Ehon (月刊いちã"えほã‚"), published by Sanrio. The series consisted of 71 two-page chapters of six or eight panels each. In January 1981, partway through the series, the title was changed to Anpanman (アンãƒ'ンマン) (the same name, written in katakana instead of hiragana). Though never republished in collected form, it included several important elaborations of the Anpanman mythos, detailing the character's origin story and introducing the characters Butterko, Cheese, Shokupanman, Currypanman, and Baikinman.

Fly! Anpanman (とべ！アンãƒ'ンマン)

A newspaper comic that ran in the Sunday issue of the Yomiuri Shimbun from 1 January 1990 to 29 May 1994, with a total of 227 strips. The series is partially reprinted in a three-volume collection that covers the first year and a half, with English translation　(by Yuriko Tamaki) in the margins. Apart from its bilingual printing, it is also known for having Baikinman as its focus character, with a number strips in which Anpanman does not appear at all.

1. (March 1991)
2. (November 1991)
3. (December 1991)

Animation

Creator

• The Gentle Lion (Yasashii Raion, 1970)
• Little Jumbo (Chiisana Janbo, 1977)
• Ringing Bell (チリンの鈴, Chirin no Suzu, 1978)
• Go! Anpanman (それいã'！アンãƒ'ンマン, Soreike! Anpanman, 1988â€"present)
• Mighty Cat Masked Niyandar (ニャニがニャンだー ニャンダーかめã‚", Nyani ga Nyan daa Nyandā Kamen, 2000)
• Laughing Hat Little Bō (わらうぼうし　リトル・ボオ, Warau Bōshi Ritoru Bō, 2003)

Vocal performance

• Metropolis (2001): Minor role as a tribute to his former colleague, Osamu Tezuka
• Soreike! Anpanman Christmas Special â€" "Dance! Sing! Christmas for Everyone" (2006): Special cameo as "Yanase Bunny"

References

External links

• Takashi Yanase at the Internet Movie Database
• Takashi Yanase in Animemorial
• Message from the chairman-JCA