A Japanese novel and Astroboy: A request for clarification

[Phillip Musgrave]

I'd like to call on some Astroboy experts for some information relating to Astroboy, the last episode of the original Japanese series and certain people and events that may have been in the last episode. it is in relationship to a Japanese novel called "Rarara kagaku no ko" by the Japanese author, Yahagi Toshihiko. I need the information for a doctoral thesis I am writing.

My questions are as follow:

- Did the first Astroboy series conclude in Japan in 1968?
- Is there a relationship to an island in Tokyo bay, Yumenoshima, and Astroboy, and a reference to a robot having become a prime minister?
- Is there a reference to a grabage dump being used to confine the world to an endless winter?
- Is there a reference to the Bookworth rays derstroying every part of Tokyo?

I realise that these are rather particular and obscure questions, but I am sure I can get some help or some leads from the devoted fans of Astroboy on this site.

I thank you in advance.

[jeffbert]

I'd like to call on some Astroboy experts for some information relating to Astroboy, the last episode of the original Japanese series and certain people and events that may have been in the last episode. it is in relationship to a Japanese novel called "Rarara kagaku no ko" by the Japanese author, Yahagi Toshihiko. I need the information for a doctoral thesis I am writing.

My questions are as follow:

1. - Did the first Astroboy series conclude in Japan in 1968?
2. - Is there a relationship to an island in Tokyo bay, Yumenoshima, and Astroboy, and a reference to a robot having become a prime minister?
3. - Is there a reference to a grabage dump being used to confine the world to an endless winter?
4. - Is there a reference to the Bookworth rays derstroying every part of Tokyo?

I realise that these are rather particular and obscure questions, but I am sure I can get some help or some leads from the devoted fans of Astroboy on this site.

I thank you in advance.

Hi Phillip Musgrave, I am the one most familiar with all things Astoboy. For convenience' sake I have put your questions in an ordered list.

1. The date of the final episode was December 31, 1966.
2. I do not know about the 1st part, There are references to islands, but this name is new to me. There is a story about a robot president. I have written a review of this story: http://tezukainenglish.com/?q=node/305; I hope this helps.
3. I do not know.
4. I do not know; this is the first I have heard of these rays.

Here is a link to the official Tezuka page for the 1963 series. This page includes brief synopses of all but 1 of the 193 episodes. This might give you some help, plus some basis for further questions.

Here is a similar link the the comic version: http://tezukaosamu.net/en/manga/291.html.

While I have seen every episode but #127, only because the video was lost. I do not speak Japanese, though I know a few words. Sorry I could not help more; if you give me a few more details about this island, I may come up with something. BTW, what is your thesis?

[Phillip Musgrave]

Hi Jeffbert,

Many thanks for your reply. My thesis is concerned with representations of Tokyo in Modern Japanese Literature, and the novel Rarara kagaku no ko, by Yahagi Toshihiko, is one of the books in my corpus. I will pursue the leads you have contained in your reply.

I am grateful for the time you have taken to reply to my questions.

Yours,

Phillip

[jeffbert]

I googled that title, & those words are in the theme song.
I am sure that the "Rarara" is "lalala," for I have heard this song many times.

[ASTROBUDDY]

Yes, jeffbert is right! The title of the book in question is a line from the TV theme song of TetsuWan Atomu! It translates as rarara, Child of Science! (or lalala, Child of Science! and refers to Astro Boy! And yes the original manga series ceased publication with the final issue of Shonen magazine from Kobunsha with the date of March, 1968! As for the island in Tokyo Bay known as Yumenoshima (Dream Island) which is an artificial island started as a garbage dump in the 1960s (according to Wikipedia), well maybe someone else might be able to tell you if there is a connection between it and Astro Boy or maybe even in some other story by Dr. Tezuka! I hope this is helpful.
I

[avatargirl]

So glad that "CHILD OF SCIENCE!" refers to ASTRO BOY

[jeffbert]

Yes, jeffbert is right! The title of the book in question is a line from the TV theme song of TetsuWan Atomu! It translates as rarara, Child of Science! (or lalala, Child of Science! and refers to Astro Boy! And yes the original manga series ceased publication with the final issue of Shonen magazine from Kobunsha with the date of March, 1968! As for the island in Tokyo Bay known as Yumenoshima (Dream Island) which is an artificial island started as a garbage dump in the 1960s (according to Wikipedia), well maybe someone else might be able to tell you if there is a connection between it and Astro Boy or maybe even in some other story by Dr. Tezuka! I hope this is helpful.
I

"Dream Island"? Why didn't you say so? There is a story originating in the manga but featured in both the B&W & the 1980s series called Robot Land about an amusement park populated by robots in the form of fairy tale characters. The man who built the park & robots considered the robots as chattel, & used the park as a front for an illegal arms exporting (perhaps manufacturing) operation. Yes, it was located on an island.

Here is a link to my review, which also lists the volume of the anthology in which it appears:
http://tezukainenglish.com/?q=node/244

There is also a link to a 4 page preview of the story at Dark Horse' web site. It mentions the inspiration for the story "Strange Tales of Panorama Island" & its author, "Edogawa Rampo." Feel free to make further inquiries.