7.4 /10 1 Votes
Country of origin Japan Producer(s) C.A.L. First episode date 4 August 1969 Number of episodes 1,227 Cast Mao Inoue, Kunio Murai | 7.4/10 IMDb No. of episodes 1227 Running time 54 min. Final episode date 19 December 2011 Genre Drama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Original network TBSABC (1969 - 1975)MBS (1975 - 2011) Networks TBS Television, Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Mainichi Broadcasting System Similar Ōoka Echizen, Abarenbō Shōgun, Legal High, Ōedo Sōsamō, Hissatsu series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mito komon 1957 dog pelts
Mito Kōmon (水戸黄門) is a Japanese jidaigeki or period drama that has been on prime-time television since 1969. The title character is the historic Tokugawa Mitsukuni, former vice-shogun and retired second daimyo of the Mito Domain. In the guise of Mitsuemon, a retired crêpe merchant from Echigo, he roams the realm with two samurai retainers, fun-loving Sasaki Sukesaburō (Suke-san) and studious Atsumi Kakunoshin (Kaku-san). An episode typically starts with some injustice perpetrated by a corrupt official, wealthy merchant or gangster; the travelers arrive incognito, discover the injustice and quietly investigate it; and the episode concludes with a brawl in which the unarmed, disguised protagonists better a crowd of samurai and gangsters, culminating with the presentation of the inrō that reveals the hero's identity. Afterwards, the hero passes judgement upon the villains, and sets things straight with fair comments and encouragements, and then moves on to the journey.
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History and characters
Five actors have portrayed the lead character in the series. Eijirō Tōno created the part and appeared in 13 seasons. His successor was Kō Nishimura. Asao Sano followed, and Kōji Ishizaka took the role in two seasons, quitting for cancer treatments. Kōtarō Satomi, has played Mitsuemon since 2002 until the end of the series.
The character normally sports a pointed white beard. He wears the lavish garb of a wealthy retiree, and carries a walking stick (a staff), which also serves as his defensive weapon in combat.
Singer-actor Ryōtarō Sugi was the series' first Suke-san, followed by Kōtarō Satomi (who many years later took over the lead role). Teruhiko Aoi was next, then Yūji Kishimoto, and Ryūji Harada. Opposite them, Tadashi Yokouchi, Shin'ya Ōwada, Goro Ibuki, Jundai Yamada, and Masashi Gōda have played Kaku-san. Ichiro Nakatani played Kazaguruma no Yashichi, a ninja who helped Mitsuemon. Evil characters who tried to kill Mitsuemon were played by such actors as Shigeru Tsuyuguchi (1st season) and Mikio Narita (3rd season).
In each of the show's 42 seasons, various other regular characters have joined the retinue. For many years, it was the food-loving commoner Hachibei; the reformed thieves Kazaguruma no Yashichi (a former ninja whose main weapon is a shuriken with pinwheel, with a dagger as his sidearm) and his wife Kasumi no Oshin; the ninja Tsuge no Tobizaru; and kunoichi Kagerō Ogin. Portrayed by Kaoru Yumi, Ogin was the lead character in a light-hearted spinoff, Mito Kōmon Gaiden Kagerō Ninpō-chō. The same actress took on a new role, Hayate no Oen, in which she continues as of 2007.
Many former regular actors appeared in the show's gala 1000th special episode, which aired on December 15, 2003. A 1978 film distributed by Toei Company shared the cast, production crew, and title.
Since its inception, the program has been a mainstay of the Panasonic Drama Theater (formerly known as the National Theater), sponsored by Panasonic. The TBS network airs the show throughout Japan, and shows reruns on both its analogue stations and its CS satellite channel. For nearly three decades, Mito Kōmon shared the time slot with Ōoka Echizen, and various actors and actresses appeared in both series.
An unusual feature of the series is that the credits list the maker of the inrō. The last episode aired on December 19, 2011.
There was also an animated adaptation called "Manga Mito Kōmon" (まんが水戸黄門) that aired during 1981-1982, animated by Knack Productions.