Oba, Kamitaro

Also known as 大場加三太郎 (Oba Kamitaro)

Status: Minor Star (★)

Impulsive and brash yet loyal to a fault, Oba is a specialist in small supporting roles that pack a punch.  As such, he usually finds himself cast as an assistant, where his good-intentioned but head-first charge into action can sometimes have unintended consequences for his companions.

Notable Roles

Although he first appearanced as Dr. Kenichi Shikishima‘s unyeilding assistant in the amateur Lost World [Manuscript] (1946), his official debut was in Golden Bat (1947).  However, he would reprise his earlier role in Lost World (1948) and then go on to several other, small anonymous roles in other works.

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Tezuka often used puns in his characters’ names, and Oba’s is a classic example.  “Baka o miru” means to be on the short end in a ridiculous situation.  It’s often used as part of the expression “shōjiki mono ga baka o miru” (正直者が馬鹿を見る), which means “it’s the honest one who pulls the short straw” – a Japanese equivalent of the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished”.  So, when Oba’s name is read as “ōbaka mitarō?“,  it is actually saying “you really got screwed, didn’t you?”

Distinguishing Features

You can spot Oba by the permanently pensive frown over his large, round eyes.

Manga Appearance List

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