Issen Hage

Also known as ー銭ハゲ (Issen Hage)

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Issen Hage’s name is a compound of the Japanese words issen, a coin roughly equivalent to a penny, and hage which means “bald spot”. So, in English, his name would roughly translate to “Penny Baldspot”. It is worth noting that after the sen coins were taken out of circulation in Japan in 1953, he was also sometimes referred to “Ichi-en Hage” (lit. “one yen bald spot”). Either way, the pun remains intact.

Distinguishing Features

As his name suggests, his most distinguishing feature is the small round white dot or “bald spot”, supposedly about the size of an issen coin, on the side of his head.

Status: Minor Star (★)

Another of Tezuka’s fill-in cast, Issen Hage is a specialist at playing two-bit crooks and other ne’er-do-wells. Self-serving and lazy rather than actually evil, he usually finds himself in a supporting role, as a member of a band of crooks or a nameless henchman under the control of the primary villain – often Hamegg.

Notable Roles

One of Tezuka’s older Stars, Issen Hage first appeared in the amateur work Old Man’s Treasure Island (1945). However he had to wait until Fossil Island (1951) to get his first gig in a commercial work. Although he has appeared in several of Tezuka’s manga tales, one of his most memorable roles was as “Peter Lorre” (named after the actor) in Age of Adventure (1951-53).

Manga Appearances

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

1951

Fossil Island
The Cactus Kid as “a passenger on the stagecoach”
Age of Adventure as “Peter Lorre”

1952

Fire Valley
Jungle Emperor as “a member of the expedition”

1956

Lion Books (“Space Airport”) as “one of Lamp‘s minions”

1957

Whirlwind Z as “the judge”

1959

Hikari as “one of the crooks”
Zero Men
My Son-Goku

1960

Fire Valley

1968

Astro Boy (“The Man Who Returned from Mars”) as “one of Judah’s subordinates”

1970

Phoenix (“Resurrection”) as “a man at the nose bar”

1972

Lion Books (“Mother River”) as “Ichimura Yoko”

1973

Lion Books (“A Distant Star”) as “the man at the ticket counter”

1974

Black Jack (“Save the Baby!”) as “the hotel bellboy”

1975

Black Jack (“Treasure Island”) as “one of the kidnappers”
Black Jack (“Tatsu the Outie”) as “the reporter”

1976

Black Jack (“U-18 Knew”) as “a member of the hospital staff”
Black Jack (“Pinoko’s Challenge”) as “high school teacher”
Black Jack (“Lost and Found”) as “the station staff member”
Metamorphosis (“Zamuza Revival”)

1977

Black Jack (“Black and White”) as “a member of the gang”
Black Jack (“Gunshot Wound”) as “the boy”

1978

Futureman Kaos as “one of the subordinates”

1979

The Insect Collector (“The Butterfly Road Smells of Death”) as “one of the people who dies”

1981

The Rainbow Parakeet (“Peter Pan“) as “one of the drug smugglers”