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Tako<\/em> is the Japanese word for “octopus”.<\/p>\n With his completely bald head, round, beady eyes’ and small “O-shaped” snout, Tako is the spitting image of his namesake! Besides his face,\u00a0he is sometimes depicted as having octopus legs threaded through his sleeves instead of his hands.<\/p>\n Despite being a minor background character, Tako’s strange and visually striking appearance often jumps off the page. \u00a0A true veteran of the Star System, he is usually cast as the oddball in character in any group of villagers, passengers, or crooks, on occaision, he will fill-in with a small role as a cook, an assistant, a postman, etc.<\/p>\n Although he made his debut all the way back in The World of the Queen from a Thousand Years in the Future<\/em> (1948), his career is one of the longest, with appearances in both Say Hello to Bookila!<\/em> (1985) and Atom Cat<\/em> (1986-87)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sometimes known as “Shuriken Throwing Octopus”, his knife-throwing prowess is on display in The Jungle Kingdom<\/em> (1948), Metropolis<\/em> (1949)<\/a>, and The Wonderful Journey<\/em> (1950), where he started using a unique “one leg in the air” pose that he copied from the 1943 Sino-Japanese co-produced movie The Signal Fire Rises in Shanghai<\/em>.<\/p>\n If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n The World of the Queen from a Thousand Years in the Future<\/em>\u00a0as “a man in the crowd” Angel Gunfighter<\/em>\u00a0as “an engineer” The Wonderful Journey<\/em>\u00a0as “the Chinese cook”<\/p>\n Next World<\/em>\u00a0as “a Buddhist priest” A Man From Mars\u00a0<\/em>as “the priest”<\/p>\n Chief Detective Kenichi<\/em>\u00a0as “the Chinese magician’s assistant”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/a><\/em>\u00a0 [‘Robot Bombs’] as “one of Mason<\/a>‘s minions” The Three Who Glimpse the Future<\/em> as “one of the people listening to Hegeoyagi<\/a>‘s prediction” I am Sarutobi!<\/em><\/a> as “one of the soldiers fishing”<\/p>\n Brave Dan<\/em><\/a> as “the ship’s cook”<\/p>\n Ambassador Magma<\/a><\/em> as “a member of the human resistance”<\/p>\n Dororo<\/a><\/em> (\u201cThe Misery Chronicles\u201d) as “the monk serving gruel” Phoenix<\/em><\/a> (“Resurrection”) as “Dinosaur Dept. Store staff”<\/p>\n The Transparent Brain<\/em>\u00a0as “the Shinto priest” Lion Books<\/em> (\u201cMother River\u201d) as “a member of the Ichimura Yoko Theatrical troupe” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cOn a Snowy Night\u201d) as \u201ca member of the rescue party\u201d<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cTwo Shujis\u201d) as “one of the priests” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cEmergency Shelter\u201d) as \u201cthe President’s secretary” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cVibration\u201d) as \u201ca passenger on the bullet train” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cDownpour (part 2)\u201d) as \u201cone of the islanders” Black Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cBath of the Floating World\u201d) as \u201cone guests at the public bath” The Rainbow Parakeet<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cPeter Pan<\/a>\u201c)\u00a0as \u201cone of the drug smugglers\u201d<\/p>\n Say Hello to Bookila!<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cWhy Studio 13?<\/a>\u201d) as \u201ca staff member at the TV station”Distinguishing Features<\/h3>\n
Status: Minor\u00a0Star (\u2605)<\/h3>\n
\nManga Appearances<\/h3>\n
\n1948<\/h4>\n
\nThe Jungle Kingdom<\/em>\u00a0as “one of the thieves”
\nKing Rocket<\/em> as “a cook”<\/p>\n
\n1949<\/h4>\n
\nMetropolis <\/em><\/a>as “the Chinese swordsman”<\/p>\n
\n1950<\/h4>\n
\n1951<\/h4>\n
\nPippy<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as “a gang member”<\/p>\n
\n1952<\/h4>\n
\n1955<\/h4>\n
\n1956<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books<\/em> (\u201cSpace Airport\u201d) as “one of Lamp<\/a>‘s minions”<\/p>\n
\n1958<\/h4>\n
\nSuper Taiheiki<\/em>\u00a0as “Kizuroku<\/a>‘s assistant”<\/p>\n
\n1960<\/h4>\n
\n1962<\/h4>\n
\n1965<\/h4>\n
\n1967<\/h4>\n
\nDororo<\/a><\/em> (\u201cHell Screen”) as “the man serving the tea”<\/p>\n
\n1970<\/h4>\n
\n1971<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books<\/em> (\u201cOne Hundred Tales: Wandering\u201d) as “a ronin”<\/p>\n
\n1972<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books\u00a0<\/em>(\u201cDorodarake March\u201d) as “a reporter”<\/p>\n
\n1973<\/h4>\n
\n1974<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cWhite Lion\u201d) as \u201cthe mailman\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1975<\/h4>\n
\nThe Lower Angel<\/em>\u00a0as “a laborer”<\/p>\n
\n1976<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/em><\/a> (\u201cA Rapid Current\u201d)<\/p>\n
\n1977<\/h4>\n
\nThe Three-eyed One<\/a><\/em> (\u201cMoa, the Mysterious Bird\u201d) as “one of the sailors”
\nTeneke March<\/em>\u00a0as “one of the villagers”<\/p>\n
\n1978<\/h4>\n
\nPhoenix<\/em><\/a> (“Civil War”) as “a samurai”<\/p>\n
\n1981<\/h4>\n
\n1985<\/h4>\n
\nSay Hello to Bookila!<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe First Attack<\/a>\u201d) as “a staff member at the TV station”<\/p>\n
\n1986<\/h4>\n