Butamo, Makeru

Also known as 豚藻負児 (Butamo Makeru)

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

The kanji characters 豚藻負児 mean “pig algae loser child” but they were probably chosen more for their sounds than their meanings. Buta mo makeru means “pigs, too, lose”.

Distinguishing Features

Butamo Makeru is easily recognizable by his paunch belly and puffy white moustache.

Status: Secondary Star (★★)

Another of Tezuka’s scientist and doctor characters, Butamo Makeru has made an appearance in many of his manga series. However, unlike Dr. Ochanomizu and Dr. Hanamaru, who always have the good of science and mankind in mind, Butamo Makeru is frequently a conspirator, an ally of bad people, a taker of bribes, or simply pigheadedly wrong, and while he is rarely the source of any intentional evil, he is frequently responsible for it. If he can be considered a specialist, it’s in taking on roles where the characters try to hide their ugly desires behind a mask of respectability and authority.

Notable Roles

Making his debut in New Treasure Island (1947) as the Captain, Butamo Makeru also appeared in many of Tezuka’s earliest manga adventures, such as Doctor Bat and Jim (1947), Dr. Mars (1947), and Golden Bat (1947). However, he may be most memorable for his role as Dr. Lawton in Metropolis (1949). He has also appeared in smaller roles in both Astro Boy (1952-68) and numerous times in Black Jack (1973-83) throughout his lengthy career.

Manga Appearances

If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!

1947

New Treasure Island as “the Captain”
Doctor Bat and Jim as “Dr. Goutte”
Dr. Mars as “Dr. Buton”
Golden Bat as “the King of Ruby Island”

1948

The Jungle Kingdom as “the Liverpool customs agent”
Tobi’s 20 as “the police officer”
King Rocket as “the Police Chief”
Lost World as “Dr. Butamo, the botanist”

1949

Angel Gunfighter as “the police officer”
Men with Tails as “the police officer”
Metropolis as “Dr. Lawton”
Detective Boy, Rock Holmes (“Rock Snake”) as “the police officer”

1950

The Wonderful Journey as “the police officer”
Manga University (“Arizona”) as “the military officer”
Manga University (“Nose”) as “the captain of the guard”
Jungle Emperor (“The Birth of Leo“) as “the ship captain”

1951

Ambassador Atom as “the customer at the circus”
Next World as “the town mayor”

1952

Astro Boy (“Gas People”) as “the reservoir employee”
The Adventure of Rock as “one of the delegates at the Bird Men conference”

1953

Lemon Kid as “Petty’s father”
Space Rhapsody as “the town mayor”

1955

Chief Detective Kenichi as “the deceased leader of the theatrical troupe”
Space Rhapsody as “the town mayor”

1957

Lion Books (“The Multiple-Eyed Devil”) as “the Special Secret Service police officer / Prime Minister”
Lion Books (“Bullet Hole in the Wilderness”) as “the painting” (cameo)
The Pink Angel as “the judge”

1958

The Three Who Glimpse the Future as “the man killed in the car accident”

1959

The Moment as “the doctor/gangster boss”

1960

Astro Boy (“His Highness Deadcross”) as “Dr. Burunburu”
Adventure Broadcasting Station

1963

Princess Knight [Nakayoshi] as “the King”

1965

Ambassador Magma as “a member of the human resistance”

1970

Phoenix (“Resurrection”) as “the man giving directions”

1973

Black Jack (“Anaphylaxis”) as “the doctor”
Siblings of the Sea as “the man buying the crown of thorns starfish”

1974

Black Jack (“Twice Dead”) as “the judge”
Black Jack (“Teacher and Pupil”) as “a doctor”

1975

Black Jack (“Black Queen”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“The Cursed Operation”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“Hospital Jack”) as “a doctor”
The Three-Eyed One (“Secret in Glebe”) as “the scholar”

1976

Black Jack (“Money! Money! Money!”) as “Dr. Tenma’s assistant”
Black Jack (“Lost And Found”) as “the station master”

1977

Black Jack (“Lost Youth”) as “the Abraham Oil Co. Executive”
Black Jack (“Gunshot Wound”) as “the bar owner”

1978

Black Jack (“The Last Train”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“The Boy in the Sealed Room”) as “a doctor”
Phoenix (“Civil War”) as “the peddler”

1979

Don Dracula (“Dracula Lives by Night”) as “a pharmacist”

1980

Black Jack (“Accident”) as “the lawyer”

1981

The Rainbow Parakeet (“A Doll’s House“) as “Senator Harold”

1983

Black Jack (“A Question Of Priorities”) as “the public prosecutor”