Okuno, Ryuichi (Star)

Also known as 奥野龍一 (Okuno Ryuichi) オクチン

Status: Series Lead (★★★)

Ryuichi is a reliable, young man who serves as the recurring protagonist of The Crater (1969-70). The Crater is a series of independent science-fiction and fantasy short stories similar to the Twilight Zone in structure and theme. He appears in each issue as a different person, with a different backstory and different life. Here he comes into repeated conflict with tricks of fate, alternate lifetimes and universes, and issues of reincarnation and immortality, again making the Phoenix’s choice in “Future” make more sense. He also suffers repeatedly in these brief lives, since morality plays tend to end badly, and in the course of this brief series he suffers as much as even Tezuka’s most ill-fated recurring characters, such as Rock/Makube or Saruta/Honma. Ryuichi bears a striking similarity to Yamanobei, the protagonist of the “Future” chapter of Phoenix, written two years earlier; if the two are indeed the same then Ryuichi’s long trials may be another reason for Yamanobei’s selection by the Phoenix.

Goes by “Okuchin”

Ryuichi Okuno

A young man who lets his hair grow to hide one eye. His “official name” is Ryuichi Okuno, which is often also used as his character’s name. He debuted in “The Crater” (1969). His guest appearance in Black Jack is similar to that in “The Crater”, in that he plays many different roles. Mitsutoshi Ishigami contends that Yahachi Yakeno, the protagonist of “Yakeppachi’s Maria” (1970), is also played by Ryuichi.

オクチン

伸びた前髪で片目を隠している若い男性。「本名」としては、奥野龍一（おくのりゅういち）という名をしばしば用いている。『ザ・クレーター』（ 1969年）でデビュー。この作品は一話ごとに舞台設定の異なる読み切り型の連載だったが、彼はそれぞれの話に、それぞれ違う設定で登場する「シリーズの顔役」であった。出演歴は『ザ・クレーター』以外では『ブラック・ジャック三者三様』（ 1977年）にゲスト出演した程度だが、前述のような事情ゆえに演じ分けた役柄自体は非常に多いというキャラクターである。また、石上三登志は『やけっぱちのマリア』（ 1970年）の主人公・焼野矢八（やけのやはち）も彼の演技であるとしている^[9] 。

Young men are hiding one eye in extended bangs. As the “real name”, it has often used the name of Ryuichi Okuno (Okuno Ryuichi). “The Crater” ( 1969 debut). Although this work was a series of different one-shot type of stage set for each one episode, he is in each of the story, was a “series of boss,” which appeared in different each setting. Starring history other than “The Crater” is “Black Jack tripartite three-like” ( 1977 but the extent was guest appearance), role itself was divided played because of circumstances as described above is a character called very often. In addition, Ishigami three Toshi “Maria of Yakeppachi” ( 1970 hero Yakeno Yahachi of) (Yahachi of burning) it is also assumed to be his acting ^[9] .

Distinguishing Features

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Manga Appearances

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

1967

Phoenix (“Future”) as “Yamanobe Masato” [unconfirmed]

1968

Swallowing the Earth as “Dr. Manabe”

1969

The Crater (“Future”) as “Ryuichi”
The Crater (“Car Racer”) as “the race car driver”
The Crater (“Sergeant Okuno”) as “Sergant Ryuichi Okuno”
The Crater (“The Two-Headed Snake”) as “Louis”

1977

Black Jack (“To Each his Own”) as “the boy who fails the entrance examination”