Buku Bukku
Also known as ブク・ブック (Buku Bukku)
Hello, My Name (in English) is…
Buku Bukku’s name is a Japanese pun based on the English word “hook” – which most readers will likely associate with Peter Pan‘s famous pirate nemesis “Captain Hook.”
Distinguishing Features
Modelled on the villainous Disney character, Black Pete, with his rotund features and evil grin, Buku Bukku is a bad guy you love to hate.
Status: Secondary Star (★★)
Characteristic of Tezuka’s early adventures, when the villains still had a warm and friendly core, Buku Bukku is more corrupt than truly evil. He is certainly less the villain than Skunk Kusai, or even Acetylene Lamp. He’s also surprisingly light on his feet for his slightly heavyset body frame, which gives him a range that can span from comedy to more serious work. As such, he is frequently cast as a gang member, a corrupt political aide, a misguided military officer or a corporate raider.
Notable Roles
As one of Tezuka’s oldest Stars, Buku Buku made his first appearance in New Treasure Island (1947) as the dread pirate Boar. He has since followed up on that with roles in most of Tezuka’s important early adventures, including both Golden Bat (1947) and The Mysterious Underground Men (1948) and the one from where he gets his name, The Jungle Kingdom as “Buku Bukku,” the photographer.
One of his more memorable roles is as “Kuronushiya” in The Plain of Abusegahara, where he goes through a transformation from complete villain to an upstanding man of justice. He also knocked it out of the part as “Luzhin,” a wealthy, but greedy man who wants Dunya as his subservient bride in Crime and Punishment (1953).
Manga Appearances
If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!
1947
New Treasure Island as “Pirate Captain Boar”
Golden Bat as “the ship captain”
1948
The Mysterious Underground Men as “the police officer”
The Jungle Kingdom as “Buku Bukku, the photographer”
1949
Angel Gunfighter as “a native American”
Men with Tails as “Mac Ned”
Tarzan’s Cave
Metropolis as “the police inspector”
1950
The Plain of Abusegahara as “Kuronushiya”
Manga University as “Macrow”
The Wonderful Journey as “the police officer”
1951
The Road to Utopian Lurue as “the Duke of Konchikusho”
Next World as “a police officer”
Pippy as “Captain of the Aloha”
1952
A Man From Mars
The Adventure of Rock as “the transportation company manager”
1953
Crime and Punishment as “Mr. Luzhin”
1954
The Destroyer of the Earth as “Lieutenant Colonel Mamiana”
Robin as “the Pirate Captain”
1955
Meteor Prince as “Fukai’s father”
Ms. Gentle Breeze as “the teacher”
Chief Detective Kenichi (“The Case of the Gorilla”) as “a member of the theatrical troupe”
The Age of Great Floods
1956
Ms. Sunflower as “Boss Ganimata”
1957
Lion Books (“The Multiple-Eyed Devil”) as “Major Geji”
Whirlwind Z as “the judge”
Chief Detective Kenichi (“The House of Spiders Incident”) as “the villain who tries to steal the treasure”
1958
The Film Lives On as “Matahachi”
Super Taiheiki as “Henoya’s husband”
1959
The Castle of Dawn as “the merchant”
Zero Men as “General Crazycats”
1960
Secret Order No.3 as “Sarusawa”
1961
The Ant and the Giant as “Bate-gumi’s boss”
1963
The Eye of the Building
The Sound of the Devil as “Police Inspector Tanigawa”
1964
The Great Zeo as “the President of Hanataka-gumi”
1965
Astro Boy (“Slippery Catfish in Imminent Danger”) as “a passenger on the train”
Wonder 3 as “the Town Councilor’s son’s henchman”
Ambassador Magma as “a member of the human resistance”
1966
Flying Ben as “a member of the Expeditionary Party”
Vampires (“The Pursuers and the Pursued”) as “one of the police officers”
1967
Astro Boy (“Chronicles of Astro Boy”) as “Nankuse Ichaemon”
1968
Astro Boy (“The Super Bomb”) as “the moon base commander”
1972
Lion Books (“Mother River”) as “a member of Ichimura Yoko Theatrical Troupe”
1973
Black Jack (“A Girl who became a Bird”) as “a hunter with a rifle”
1974
Black Jack (“Teacher and Pupil”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“Human Vegetable”) as “the arrogant injured man”
Black Jack (“Two Loves”) as “a doctor”
1975
The Lower Angel as “the labourer”
Astro Boy (“Astro Boy II”) as “a government official”
Black Jack (“The Cursed Operation”) as “a scholar”
Black Jack (“The Painting is Dead!”) as “a doctor”
1976
Black Jack (“Third Time’s The Charm”) as “the wire netting shopkeeper”
Black Jack (“Fear in Blue”) as “Taichi’s father”
Black Jack (“Urashima”) as “a doctor”
1977
Black Jack (“Lost Youth”) as “a Ring Oil Company employee”
Black Jack (“The Man Swallowed by a Whale”)
Black Jack (“A Hill for One”)
Tenteke March as “the villager”
1978
Black Jack (“Tetsu of the Yamanote Line”) as “the criminal”
Black Jack (“The Boy in the Sealed Room”) as “a police officer”
1979
Don Dracula (“Dracula, One More Time”) as “the villain in the period drama”
Black Jack (“The Substitute”) as “a doctor”
1981
The Rainbow Parakeet (“Peter Pan“) as “the pirate”
The Rainbow Parakeet (“12 Angry Men“) as “the court official”
1986
Atom Cat (“The Birth of Atom Cat”)
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