Ol’ Man Tetsuno

Also known as テツノのおっさん (Tetsuno no Ossan)

Status: Minor Star (★)

Ol’ Man Tetsuno may be a minor star, but he is a specialist in anonymous comic relief roles. He is almost universally cast as a henchman, assistant, or just some guy standing (and smoking a LOT!) in the background.

Although he has somewhat of a mysterious past, legend has it that he was based on a carpenter who lived next-door to Tezuka’s boyhood home. While his stage name has never been found conclusively in any of Tezuka’s notes or other documents, it is known because Mr. Haruji Mori (森晴路), the former head of the Tezuka Productions archives, heard it directly from Osamu Tezuka himself before he passed away.

Notable Roles

He first appeared as the lawyer “Takamatsu” in the Phoenix (1967-88) chapter “Resurrection” (1970), and as “Gen’s acquaintance” in Alabaster (1970), however one of his more memorable roles was as “Gen, the Blacksmith” in Run Chronos! (1976). He has, of course, appeared anonymously in many of Tezuka’s other manga works.

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

“Ossan” is an informal form of the word “ojisan” (middle-aged man) while “tetsu” means “iron”. Used in combination, they give the impression of a “tough as nails” old “crank” that everyone knows.

Distinguishing Features

You should have no trouble spotting Ol’ Man Tetsuno. Between his trademark protruding ears, coin purse-like mouth, and the fact that he’s never smoking less than five cigarettes at a time, he makes a striking visual figure.

Manga Appearances

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

1970

Phoenix (“Resurrection”) as “Takamatsu, the lawyer”
Alabaster as “Gen’s acquaintance”

1971

New Ryosaishii: The Spider
The Transparent Brain as “the greengrocer”
Rise of the Birdmen as “the newscaster”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Ballerina”) as “a member of the jury”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Nymph in the Forest”) as “the housing developer”

1972

Lion Books (“OBA Mansion: The Glass Ear”) as “the Deputy Mayor”
Lion Books (“The Sweet Smell of Success”) as “a doctor”
Dust 18 as “a doctor”
Buddha as “a citizen”
Thunder Mask as “a police officer”

1973

Microid S as “a construction worker”
Black Jack (“Is there a Doctor?“) as “a henchman”
Black Jack (“Miyuki and Ben“) as “a member of Ben’s gang”
Black Jack (“A Girl who became a Bird“) as “a spectator at the man-powered flight contest”
Black Jack (“On a Snowy Night“) as “a member of the rescue party”

1974

Black Jack (“Two Shujis“) as “the TV Reporter”
Black Jack (“Fits“) as “Kabegamiya”
Black Jack (“Eyewitness“) as “the bombing suspect”
Black Jack (“The Legs of an Ant“) as “an interviewer”
The Three-Eyed One (“The Jumyoin Residence’s Underground Dungeon”)

1975

Yaji and Me as “a police officer”
Astro Boy (“Astro Boy II”) as “staff at the Ministry of Science and Technology”

1976

Black Jack (“Third Time’s The Charm“) as “Kanaamiya”
Black Jack (“Witch Trial“) as “the patient with the brain tumour”
The Three-Eyed One (“Bumbuku Escapes”)
The Three-Eyed One (“The Prince of the Underworld”) as “one of the people at the nightclub”
Run Chronos! as “Gen, the blacksmith”

1977

The Three-Eyed One (“Godal”) as “the taxi driver”

1978

Black Jack (“Finish“) as “the announcer”
Black Jack (“After the Typhoon“) as “a police officer”
Futureman Kaos as “the old man’s greengrocer”

1980

Astro Boy (“Giant Uran”)

1981

The Rainbow Parakeet (“The Taming of the Shrew“) as “the maid at the inn”
The Rainbow Parakeet (“The Bluebird“) as “a member of the audience”

1982

The Adventure of Tamasaburo as “the accommodations staff member’

1983

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

1985

Say Hello to Bookila! (“Why Studio 13?”) as “Kingdom of Junk TV Host”

1986

Midnight as “customer in the noodle restaurant”