Sapphire
Also known as サファイヤ (Safaiya)
Hello, My Name (in English) is…
A sapphire is a precious gemstone, usually blue in colour. Although not confirmed, it could be a clever reference to her “blue boy’s heart.” That’s just the kind of thing Osamu Tezuka would do.
Distinguishing Features
As one of Tezuka’s most recognizable stars, Sapphire hardly requires an introduction. Her short cropped hair style with upwards facing tips is her trademark look. Her overall look is very reminiscent of Chikage Awashima, one the actors from the Takarazuka Revue – an all-female theatre troupe from Japan – who was popular in the 1950s. She also owes some of her look to her “older sister” Michy, who is also inspired by the same source.
Status: Super Star (★★★★★)
Although she is physically a human girl, due to Tink‘s interference when Sapphire was still an unborn spirit in heaven, she is mistakenly given both a male (blue) and female (pink) heart. However this dual-nature serves her well as she is both a chivalrous knight, ready to leap into action at a moment’s notice, as well as a beautiful and demure princess.
Notable Roles
There is no question that Sapphire is best known for her roles in Princess Knight [Shojo Club] (1953-56), and the remake Princess Knight [Nakayoshi] (1963-66), where she plays a young princess born into a land where only a male may inherit the throne – leading her parents to raise her as a boy in public but a girl in private. However, her gender-bending nature gets put to the test when Duralumin and Nylon conspire and attempt to reveal her secret so as to bar her from inheriting the throne. She is also featured prominently in the sequel The Twin Knights (1958-59), where she gets to stretch her range and take on a motherly role to two precocious princesses who take after their mother.
You might say that Sapphire retired from the Star System while she raised her family, however she made a successful comeback to appear in other series as well. She has had memorable roles in The Crater (1969-70) as well as several scene-stealing appearances in Black Jack (1973-83).
Manga Appearances
If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!
1952
The Adventure of Rock as “one of the delegates at the Bird Men conference”
1953
Princess Knight [Shojo Club] as “Princess Sapphire”
1955
Chief Detective Kenichi (“The Case of the Gorilla”) as “Papayamama, the wild animal trainer”
1958
The Twin Knights as “Queen Sapphire”
The Three Who Glimpse the Future as “one of the people listening to Hegeoyagi‘s prediction”
1960
Astro Boy (“Uran”) as “one of the spectators at robotting competition”
1963
Princess Knight [Nakayoshi] as “Princess Sapphire”
1965
Astro Boy (“Slippery Catfish in Imminent Danger”) as “Dr. Hyouno‘s fiancee”
1966
Flying Ben
1969
The Crater (“The Bell Rings”) as “one of the local people of the Malay Peninsula”
Gum Gum Punch (“Oshishi”) as “a member of the magic gum heroes”
Rubbish Poetry as “a member of the audience”
1970
Gachaboi’s Biography as “Princess Sapphire” (cameo)
1973
Black Jack (“Anaphylaxis“) as “the nurse”
1974
Black Jack (“Dirtjacked“) as “the kindergarten teacher”
Black Jack (“Two Loves“) as “Takuyan’s wife”
1975
Black Jack (“Con Man, Aspiring“) as “the mother”
Astro Boy (“Astro Boy II“) as “a passer-by”
1976
Black Jack (“U-18 Knew“) as “a patient”
1978
Black Jack (“A Woman’s Case“) as “a patient”
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