Mokusan [aka Kutter]

Also known as モクサン (Mokusan)

Status: Minor Star (★)

Mokusan is a commonly seen, but relatively minor Tezuka Star. A late-middle-aged man, he is generally amicable and easy-going, but prone to bouts of gluttony and sloth. In short, his character is best summed up as “that well-meaning, but rather lazy uncle that always shows up, purely by coincidence of course, for every meal.”

Notable Roles

Although he made his debut as “Dr. Appuku Chikiriki” in The Story of a Miracle Forest (1948), his stage name was first revealed by Tezuka in Manga University (1950). However, a memorable performance as Hamegg‘s big-eating hunting partner “Kutter” in Jungle Emperor (1950-54) cemented that as another strong contender for his official stage name – something that is also supported by some of Tezuka’s notes and materials. He also appeared as “Dr. Mangetsu” in The Mooney Men [Manga Shonen] (1951), in a role that had previously been played by Chiruchiru in The Moony Men [Fuji Shobo] (1948), as well as several other minor roles.

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Coming Soon!

Distinguishing Features

Mokusan is based, both in appearance and in personality, on Wimpy, a character from the American cartoon Popeye. Usually within arms reach of a large meal, he can easily be spotted by his rotund frame, small eyes and small “W-shaped” nose and moustache combo.

Manga Appearances

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

1949

The Story of a Miracle Forest as “Dr. Appuku Chikiriki”

1950

Faust as “the Minister of Finance”
The Wonderful Journey as “a Disney movie production employee”
Manga University
Ashiato Hot Spring
Jungle Emperor (“The Death of Panja“) as “Kutter”
Jungle Emperor (“The Birth of Leo“) as “Kutter”

1951

Next World as “the TV clerk”
The Mooney Men [Manga Shonen] as “Dr. Mangetsu”

1952

Manga Classroom
The Cactus Kid as “one of the soldiers”
The Cactus Kid (“Cactus, Get your Gun!”) as “a passenger on the train”

1953

X-Point in the South Pacific as “the veterinarian”
Crime and Punishment

1954

Astro Boy (“Fuhrer ZZZ”) as “the taxi driver”
A ’32 Ford
Mr. Wonder as “the management office worker”

1955

The Story of Tonkara Valley as “a passenger on the train”
Meteor Prince as “a movie crew member”
The Age of Great Floods as “a doctor”

1956

Astro Boy (“Atlas“) as “a member of the audience”
Astro Boy (“The Midoro Swamp“) as “a police officer”
Phoenix [Shojo Club] [‘Egypt‘] as “the photographer at the coronation”

1957

The Kokeshi Detective Agency as “Tonkachi goup contracting company staff”
Whirlwind Z
The Strange Journey as “customers on the ship”
Pink Angel as “Customer of Donzokutei”

1959

Merchant of Venice as “a guard”
The Doodle Encyclopedia as “a man at the driving school”

1961

Astro Boy [‘The Third Magician’] as “the TV broadcaster”
The Ant and the Giant as “a craftsman”
The Strange Boy as “a reporter/prosecutor/official”

1962

Here Comes Yokko-chan! as “the TV broadcaster”

1963

Princess Knight [Nakayoshi] as “Chanel five generation of servants”

1964

Astro Boy [‘The Lying Robot’] as “the TV broadcaster”

1965

Ambassador Magma as “a member of the human resistance”

1968

Grand Dolls as “a police officer”

1970

Phoenix (“Resurrection”) as “Dinosaur Dept. Store staff”

1972

Lion Books (“Muddy March”) as “a reporter”

1973

Black Jack [“Anaphylaxis“] as “the bartender”
Black Jack (“A Girl who became a Bird”) as “a spectator at the man-powered flight contest”

1974

Black Jack (“Two Shujis“) as “a shopper at the mall”
Black Jack (“Nadare”) as “a member of the mountain expedition”
Black Jack (“Teacher and Pupil”) as “a teacher
Black Jack (“Two Loves”) as “a policeman”
Black Jack (“Confluence”) as “the office manager of the ship”
Paper Fortress as “a member of the station staff”

1975

Black Jack (“The Cursed Operation”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“The Two Pinokos”) as “
Black Jack (“Emergency Shelter”) as “
Black Jack (“The Painting is Dead!”) as “ a patient”
The Lower Angel as “a lawyer”
The Story of Stone as “a record company employee”
Boy Detective Zunbera as “the greengrocer”

1976

Black Jack (“Pinoko goes West”) as “a carpenter”
Black Jack (“Timeout”) as “a citizen”
Black Jack (“Sun Dolls”) as “a patient”
Black Jack (“Vibration”) as “a passenger on the Shinkansen train”
The Three-Eyed One (“The Prince of the Underworld”) as “a customer at the night club”
The Three-Eyed One (“Skeleton Show”) as “a person at the TV station”

1977

Black Jack (“There Were Two Films”) as “staff of Nozaki”
Black Jack (“High and Low”) as
Black Jack (“Disowned Son”) as “the stationmaster”
Black Jack (“The First Storm of Spring”) as the “eyeball bank manager”
Black Jack (“Life Bond”) as “the tour operator”
Black Jack (“A Hill for One”) as “proprietor of U Onsen”
The Three-Eyed One (“Mysterious Floating Debris”) as

1978

Black Jack (“Helping Each Other”) as “a police officer”
Black Jack (“Bad Stunt”) as “a member of the film company”
Black Jack (“Pocket Monkey”) as “

1979

The Two Shoguns as “the butcher”
The Insect Collector as “Brad Arrow son of petroleum chairman”
Don Dracula (“Dracula, One More Time”) as “a stagehand”

1980

Astro Boy (“Giant Uran”) as
Astro Boy (“Showdown on Mt. Fuji ”) as “the bookstore clerk”
Unico [First Grader] as “a police officer”

1981

Rainbow Parakeet (“Cyrano de Bergerac”) as “the theatre manager”
Rainbow Parakeet (“The Man Who Turned Into A Stick”) as “a passerby”
Rainbow Parakeet (“R-U-R”) as “Bremen Theatre”

1983

Black Jack (“A Question Of Priorities”) as “a passenger on the ship”

1985

Say Hello to Bookila! (“Why Studio 13?”) as “TV Studio staff”

1986

Midnight as “a fare”