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yaschan
Aug 29, 2005, 22:21
Read full article at:
http://hanami.ath.cx/sazaesan.html
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Machiko Hasegawa's The Wonderful World of Sazae-san offers a great view for life in Japan was fifty years ago. First published in 1946 in local newspaper Fukunichi Shimbun, Sazae-san soon became a hit. 62 million comic books of Sazae-san has been sold in Japan and that is a big number, comparing to anything. There was soon radio programs and animated TV-series simply known as Sazae-san, and also movies. Everyone in Japan has heard of Sazae-san.

he Wonderful World of Sazae-san tells about life of cheerfull heroine Sazae, a Japanese young woman and her typical Japanese family. Often the problems are related to household things.
Machiko Hasegawa's Sazae San
Sazae's family consists following characters (some appear later in the series). Please note that in Japan, last name is often pronounced first. I have included the names written Japanese characters (the last name comes first in those).

Masuo Fuguta, Sazae's husband who appeared soon as Sazae married him in early in cartoon series. Fune Isono, is Sazae's very Japanese mother. She is often worried whether Sazae behaves as Japanese woman should. Her father is Namihei Isono, and her younger siblings are brother Katsuo and sister Wakame.

Tarao Fuguta is the child of Sazae and is often referred as Tara-chan.

It is fascinating to see the character development of Mrs. Sazae. Costumers gradually change into a western style - the comic takes place in years between 1950-60 when lot of that really took place. However, as usual in cartoons characters do not age. Sazae is always 27 years old.

"Do the Isono's live around here? -
You mean that family with the lively daughter?"

The power of Sazae-san's cheerfullness and gentle humor helped Japanese to endure during hard aftermath of war. Not only Sazae-san helped the Japanese to make the life more bearable - but also it promoted the equality between men and women. Sazae was a modern woman born in world of postwar Japan when old thinking was still at large.

Pachipro
Aug 30, 2005, 05:46
Believe it or not the Sazae-san cartoon series is still on Japanese tevevision every Sunday night on TBS at 6:30 pm and is one of the most popular TV shows ever. It may even be one of the most longest running series also. However, I wonder if they are new or re-runs. If I remember correctly from when I watched it during my last visit, I think Sazae-san was using a cell phone.

It is a series that I have loved to watch over the years and depicts Japanese life and the extended family perfectly although it may be romanticized a little. The family seems to be a little too perfect. But they do have their minor problems, husband and wife arguments, sibling rivary and such.

I recommend it for anyone living in Japan who wants to see a slice of Japanese life and learn a little Japanese and culture as the language used is quite easy to understand and comprehend.

Mike Cash
Aug 31, 2005, 20:46
They're new. You can tell by watching the i number on each of the three mini-stories in each broadcast. They're always consecutive, and they always go up each week.

I used the Sazae-san comics extensively early on while learning Japanese, and find the tv series to be not only good wholesome entertainment that the whole family can watch, but also very good listening comprehension material for the learner of Japanese.

misa.j
Aug 31, 2005, 21:04
If I remember correctly from when I watched it during my last visit, I think Sazae-san was using a cell phone.
That's a big change from what I remember.

I used to watch that show growing up. The family is a very good example of ideal 3 generation living together and had an interesting setting of "Muko(a son-in-law)" getting along with his in-laws.
I miss that show.

budd
Sep 2, 2005, 06:54
i agree with what everybody else has already said in here, so i ain't saying nothing. thanks for the posts and the thread + link
hoping someday to find it for sale here