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As if to describe his status as Tezuka’s top-billed star, Kenichi’s name is made up of the Hiragana characters for Ken<\/em> (\u30b1\u30f3) and Ichi<\/em> (\u4e00), or “one.” So, he literally is “Ken Number 1!”<\/p>\n A prototypical hero who draws a lot of his look from early American animation, you can usually spot by the quiet look of determination in his large black eyes, as well as his “spit-curl and-polish” hair style.<\/p>\n Kenichi is the earliest and one of Tezuka\u2019s most frequently cast boy heroes. \u00a0In fact, he more or less set the standard by which all the others are measured and is often seen as the antithesis of the “morally complex” Rock Holmes<\/a>. \u00a0The eternal optimist, he possesses an unshakable faith in the inherent goodness in the world and human nature. \u00a0As the chief protagonist figure in many of Tezuka’s manga works, Kenichi’s plucky “never say die” attitude has seen him through a multitude of Earth-shattering crisis. \u00a0When not in a starring role as the boy hero, Kenichi’s nobility, loyalty and friendship usually serve him well as a classmate (usually class president) and\/or a friend.<\/p>\n Although he made his debut as “Pete” in Osamu Tezuka’s first professional long-form story manga New Treasure Island<\/em> (1947)<\/a>, it is from his appearance as “Kenichi” in Dr. Mars<\/em> (1947) that he gets his name. \u00a0However his full name, “Kenichi Shikishima” comes from his role as the scientist in Lost World<\/em> (1948). \u00a0While he had a multitude of starring roles early on, including a memorable one in\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em> (1950-54)<\/a>, in all of them\u00a0he basically embodies the kind of conscientiousness and purity of “childhood days”.<\/p>\n However, as the days of the Akahon<\/em><\/a> (\u8d64\u672c) or “Red Book” manga – a term derived from the cheap and childish manga that was produced in early post-war Japan, which were usually printed on cheap paper that had a reddish brown colour – came to an end, Tezuka realized he needed to make a change. The “eternal boy scout” motif can only take a story so far, and Tezuka realized that his manga needed to focus on “realities that cannot be communicated through the agency of simple integrity”. Since his characters needed to exist as outsiders from human society to be most effective in delivering on his themes, his story leads (even Astro Boy<\/a>) came to develop other facets to their personalities than simple, innocent righteousness. \u00a0But, since this was such a core component of his personality, as Tezuka himself explains, “I was forced to relinquish Kenichi from his role as protagonist because he lacked individuality.”<\/p>\n This realization marked a huge turning point in Kenichi’s career. \u00a0Although Tezuka’s personal fondness for the character\u00a0led him to create Chief Detective Kenchi<\/em> (1954-57) specifically as a vehicle to give Kenichi another starring role – this time with a bit of a harder edge – it was more or less his last. \u00a0Yet, instead of putting Kenichi through the moral transformation that Rock Holmes was forced to endure, Tezuka chose to let Kenichi maintain his purity and innocence of youth, and continued to cast him in straight supporting roles as “the righteous boy”.<\/p>\n Despite this, Kenichi did have a chance to expand his repertoire cast as the murderer in the Black Jack<\/em> (1973-83)<\/a> chapter “Twice Dead” (1974) and as the paralyzed boy in \u201cThe Legs of an Ant\u201d (1974).<\/p>\n If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n Romance Island<\/em>\u00a0as “Kei-chan”<\/p>\n New Treasure Island<\/em> as “Pete” The Mysterious Underground Men<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as “John” Angel Gunfighter<\/em>\u00a0as “Jim” The Golden City<\/em>\u00a0as “a passenger” The Road to Utopian Lurue<\/em>\u00a0as “Dr. Doshin’s assistant” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cGas People\u201d) as “Kenichi\u201d Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cRed Cat\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cMission to Mars\u201d) as “Kenichi”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cYouth Gas\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cShootout In The Alps\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe Mysterious Ball\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cFortress of the Centaurs\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSecret of the Egyptian Conspirators\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe White-Hot Being\u201d) as “Kenichi” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cRobot Land\u201d) as\u00a0“Kenichi”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe Brain Swap\u201d) as\u00a0“Kenichi”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cBlue Knight\u201d) as \u201cKenichi\u201d Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cZolomon\u2019s Jewels\u201d) as \u201cKenichi\u201d Rubbish Poetry<\/em>\u00a0as \u201ca member of the audience\u201d<\/p>\n Gachaboi’s Biography<\/em><\/p>\n Black Jack<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(\u201cTwo Shujis\u201c) as “the class president” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cYou Did It!\u201d) as \u201cone of the\u00a0classmates” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cLooking Good\u201d) as “the truck driver” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cMove, Solomon!\u201d) as “one of the classmates”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSpace Doll\u201d) as \u201cKenichi\u201d<\/p>\n Rainbow Parakeet<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(“Tartuffe”) as “Inoue”<\/p>\nDistinguishing Features<\/h3>\n
Status:\u00a0Major\u00a0Star (\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605)<\/h3>\n
Notable\u00a0Roles<\/h3>\n
\nManga Appearances<\/h3>\n
\n1946<\/h4>\n
\n1947<\/h4>\n
\nDoctor Bat and Jim<\/em>\u00a0as “Jim”
\nDr. Mars<\/em>
\nDr. Koronko, The Mystery Man<\/em>
\nGolden Bat<\/em>\u00a0as “Tommy”<\/p>\n
\n1948<\/h4>\n
\nThe Magic House<\/em>
\nThe Jungle Kingdom<\/em>\u00a0as “George”
\nThe World of the Queen from a Thousand Years in the Future<\/em>
\nTuberculosis<\/em>
\nLost World<\/em>\u00a0as “Dr. Kenichi Shikishima”
\nQ-chan\u2019s Arrest Warrant<\/em>
\nTobi\u2019s 20<\/em>\u00a0as “Peter”\u00a0and “Kid”
\nKing Rocket<\/em>\u00a0as “Liu Chan”
\nSecret Base on the Shari River<\/em>\u00a0as “John Hall Kang”
\nMars Exploration Corps<\/em><\/p>\n
\n1949<\/h4>\n
\nMen with Tails<\/em>\u00a0as “Piggy”
\nMetropolis <\/em>
\nA Country Without Air<\/em>
\nTarzan\u2019s Cave<\/em>\u00a0as “Prince Hamusara”<\/p>\n
\n1950<\/h4>\n
\nThe Wonderful Journey<\/em>
\nThe Plain of Abusegahara\u00a0<\/em>as “in Baek”
\nMad Jungle<\/em>\u00a0as “Huwei”
\nManga University<\/em>\u00a0as “Tom”
\nAshiato Hot Spring<\/em>
\nJungle Emperor<\/em><\/a> as “Kenichi”<\/p>\n
\n1951<\/h4>\n
\nAmbassador Atom<\/em><\/a>
\nNext World<\/em>
\nThe Moony Men<\/em> [Manga Shonen] as “Dr. Mangetsu’s son”<\/p>\n
\n1952<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cFrankenstein\u201d) as “Kenichi\u201d
\nThe Fossil Man<\/em> as “Kenichi\u201d
\nThe Fossil Man Strikes Back<\/em> as “Kenichi\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1953<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSea Serpent Island\u201d)\u00a0as “Kenichi”
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cFlying Skyscraper\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nX-Point in the South Pacific<\/em>\u00a0as “Eric”
\nThe Monster of the 38th<\/sup> Parallel<\/em>
\nSpace Rhapsody<\/em> as “Fukuma”
\nLight from the Mountain Lodge<\/em>\u00a0as “the boy with the strong sense of justice”<\/p>\n
\n1954<\/h4>\n
\n1955<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cYellow Horse\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nLost World<\/em>
\nChief Detective Kenichi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cThe Case of the Gorilla\u201d) as “Chief Detective Kenichi\u201d and “Kenta the Boss”<\/p>\n
\n1956<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cAtlas\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cRobot Bombs\u201d) as “Kenichi”<\/p>\n
\n1957<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books<\/em> (“The Multiple-Eyed Devil”) as “one of the guests at\u00a0the station”<\/p>\n
\n1958<\/h4>\n
\nThe Three Who Glimpse the Future<\/em>\u00a0as “one of Rock<\/a>‘s classmates”
\nChief Detective Kenichi<\/em><\/p>\n
\n1959<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSubterranen Tank\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nThe Devil Garon<\/em>
\nThe Doodle Encyclopedia<\/em><\/p>\n
\n1961<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cPlant People\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe Hot Dog Corps\u201d) as “Kenichi”
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe Third Magician\u201d)\u00a0as “Kenichi”<\/p>\n
\n1962<\/h4>\n
\n1964<\/h4>\n
\n1965<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSlippery Catfish in Imminent Danger\u201d) as \u201cKenichi, a Champion of Justice\u201d
\nLeo the Lion Cub<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(\u201cThe Robbers\u2019 Rehabilitation\u201d) as \u201cKenichi\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1967<\/h4>\n
\nAstro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cBeginning of the Contradiction\u201d) as \u201cKenichi\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1969<\/h4>\n
\n1970<\/h4>\n
\n1974<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cTwice Dead\u201d) as \u201cthe murderer”
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cThe Legs of an Ant\u201d) as \u201cthe paralyzed boy\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1975<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cCall Sign\u201d) as “Jun”
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cLooking Good\u201d) as ” a member of the school festival executive committee”<\/p>\n
\n1976<\/h4>\n
\nThe Three-Eyed One<\/em><\/a> (“Towering Miracle”)\u00a0as “one of Sharaku<\/a>‘s classmates”<\/p>\n
\n1978<\/h4>\n
\n1980<\/h4>\n
\n1981<\/h4>\n
\n1986<\/h4>\n