Ossan

Also known as オッサン (Ossan)

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

“Ossan” is an informal form of the word “ojisan” (middle-aged man). It’s generally used as a lighthearted insult, and is often said with endearment. An English equivalent would be something akin to “Pops” – basically the way a young person would describe a man who’s a little bit out of date, but a nice and generally harmless guy.

Distinguishing Features

This character of unknown nationality features a unique catfish beard and a hairstyle that resembles the diamond suit in a deck of cards.

Status: Minor Star (★)

Although he started out as another of Tezuka’s cadre of scientists, Ossan wasn’t able to keep pace against the likes of Butaru Makeru, Dr. Hanamaru, or Dr. Ochanomizu, and soon found himself relegated to subservient roles in the background. His uniquely dull character makes him perfect for middle-of-the-road roles. When he’s a good guy, you don’t care too much, and when he’s a bad guy, you don’t hate him too much. This usually means he’s relegated to bit parts as servants, police officers, reporters or simply just men in the crowd.

Notable Roles

He made his debut in Golden Bat (1947) in the role of the scientist “Dr. Chinchikurin” and was memorable as the scientist in The Mysterious Underground Men (1948), however by the time he appeared in Metropolis (1949), he was cast as Dr. Lawton‘s servant. His memorable role as the loveable drunkard “Marmeladov” in Crime and Punishment (1953) seems to have been a turning point in his career, with most of the roles that followed simple walk-ons or one-liners.

Ossan is primarily based on the Japanese actor Minoru Takase, who is known for his catch-phrase “anone… ossan”. In fact, in The World of the Queen from a Thousand Years in the Future (1948) and White Pilot (1961) Ossan himself actually says Takase’s famous line “Hey, listen pops, you’re killing me…“. However it should be noted that in footnotes regarding the mob scene he’s part of in The Mysterious Underground Men (1948), Tezuka wrote “the faces of all of the characters of this scene originated from Milt Gross” so it is believed that in the process of development of Ossan as a manga character, the likeness of Minoru Takase was combined with Milt Gross’ characters to created something new.

Manga Appearances

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

1947

Golden Bat as “Dr. Chinchikurin”

1948

The Mysterious Underground Men as “the scholar”
The Magic House as “the scientist”
The Jungle Kingdom as “punch”
The Four Fencers of the Forest
Tobi’s 20
King Rocket as “a police officer” and “one of the restaurant guests”
The World of the Queen from a Thousand Years in the Future
Secret Base on the Shari River as “John’s grandfather”
Lost World “as one of the men in the crowd”

1949

The Story of a Miracle Forest
Men with Tails as “one of the slave traders”
Metropolis as “Dr. Lawton’s servant”

1950

Faust as “one of the servants”
The Wonderful Journey as “a police officer”
Dr. Tiger (king of magic countries)

1951

Pippy as “a servant at Captain Nemo’s mansion” and an “Aloha sailor”

1952

The Fossil Man Strikes Back as “Tentoikan’s secretary”
The Adventure of Rock as “one of the delegates at the Bird Men conference”

1953

X-Point in the South Pacific as “the Doctor’s assistant” and “the man who rents a ship”
Crime and Punishment as “Marmeladov”

1954

Benkei as “Taira Awamor”

1955

Astro Boy (“Youth Gas”) as “an Ochanomizu Institute staff member”
Chief Detective Kenichi (“The Case of the Gorilla”) as “a member of the theatrical troupe”

1956

Astro Boy (“Robot Bombs”) as “one of Mason’s minions”
Lion Books (“Mankind of the Future”) as “Sado Okesa”

1957

Lion Books (“Skeleton Skipper”) as “one of the cargo laborers”
The Kokeshi Detective Agency as “the man who discovers the boss”
Battle at Hitokui Cape as “Kinoshita”
Whirlwind Z as “a newspaper reporter”
The Earth War

1958

The Three Who Glimpse the Future as “one of the people listening to Hegeoyagi‘s prediction”

1959

Mr. Akebono as “a doctor”
Light
The Song of the White Peacock as “the veterinarian”
The Devil Garon as “an orderly”
Dr. Thrill as “a police officer”

1961

The Strange Boy

1962

The Iron Road
The Shinsengumi (“The Third District”) as “the doctor who heals Yae”

1964

Dove, Fly Up to Heaven

1965

Ambassador Magma as “a member of the human resistance”

1967

Astro Boy (“Past and Present”) as “one of the townspeople”
Dororo as

1972

Buddha as “the referee”
Lion Books (“Muddy March”) as “a reporter”
Thunder Mask

1973

The Euphrates Tree as “a guest at the hotel”
Black Jack (“Miyuki and Ben“) as “a doctor”

1974

Black Jack (“Twice Dead”) as “a member of the jury”
Black Jack (“Save the Baby!“) as “a patient”
Black Jack (“Ashes and Diamonds“) as “old man Matsukata’s secretary”
Black Jack (“The Sinking Woman“) as “a doctor”
The Three-Eyed One (“The Jumyoin Residence’s Underground Dungeon”) as

1975

Black Jack (“On the Way“) as “one of the villagers”
Astro Boy (“Astro Boy II”) as “a member of the Ministry of Science”

1976

Black Jack (“Dialogue With The Dead”) as “the father”
Black Jack (“Gift to the Future”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“Burglary”) as “the secretary”
Black Jack (“Hospital”) as “a doctor”
The Three-Eyed One (“Jar of Chaos”) as

1977

Black Jack (“High and Low”) as “the hired driver”

1978

Black Jack (“Swapped”) as “the secretary”
Black Jack (“The War Never Ends”) as “hotel staffer”
Phoenix (“Civil War”) as “the man who explains the Yassuri dance”

1981

Rainbow Parakeet (“Death of a Salesman”) as “theatre staffer”

1983

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