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No special meaning is known.<\/p>\n
Recognizable by his squat frame, plump face, large round spectacles and droopy jowels, Chiruchiru’s comedic appearance hides his inner qualities.<\/p>\n
A kindly and gentle father-figure, Chiruchiru is slow to anger. \u00a0However that doesn’t mean he’s a pushover. \u00a0Despite his droopy, rolly-polly exterior, he has the stalwart\u00a0heart of a lion – especially when he’s protecting his cubs. \u00a0He approaches his tasks with a solid determination to get the job done, and as such\u00a0he is usually cast in roles of quiet authority.<\/p>\n
Although he is most associated with his namesake role in The Wonderful Journey<\/em> (1950), he actually first appeared in the early version of The Moony Men<\/em> [Fuji Shobo] (1948) as “Dr. Mangetsu” – a wholly appropriate casting considering the name means “Dr. Fullmoon” in English. \u00a0However, when Tezuka rewrote the story as The Mooney Men<\/em>\u00a0[Manga Shonen] (1951), he lost the role to his round-faced rival \u00a0Mokusan<\/a>. However, it was his role in The Wonderful Journey<\/em> as “Chiruchiru” that his stage name is derived. He has also had a memorable “good guy” role as the Martian homesteader, Mr. Hoshino in Captain Ken<\/em> (1960-61)<\/a>, among many others.<\/p>\n One thing to note for English readers who are familiar with the Dark Horses edition<\/a> of Astro Boy<\/em> (1952-68)<\/a> – you won’t spot Chiruchiru in his role as “Dr. Ochanomizu<\/a>‘s lab assistant” in “Ambassador Atom” as it was left on the cutting room floor when Tezuka redrew the intro to the story for the Akita Shoten collection upon which it’s based.<\/p>\n If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n The Moony Men<\/em> [Fuji Shobo] as “Dr. Mangetsu”<\/p>\n The Wonderful Journey<\/em> as “Chiruchiru” Next World<\/em>\u00a0as “a member of the Atomic Energy Commission” Astro Boy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cFuhrer ZZZ<\/a>\u201d) as \u201cPrime Minister Hakone” The Story of Tonkara Valley<\/em>\u00a0as “Sanae’s father”<\/p>\n Chief Detective Kenichi<\/em><\/p>\n Captain Ken<\/em><\/a> as “Mr. Hoshino” The Shinsen-gumi<\/em> as “Shohei Yamatoya”<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(“Vibration”) as “a man on the train”<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(“The Sinking Woman”) as “the hospital director”<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(“Timid Cyrano”) as “a doctor”<\/p>\n\nManga Appearances<\/h3>\n
\n1948<\/h4>\n
\n1950<\/h4>\n
\nAshiato Hot Spring<\/em> as “Kuroda, a businessman”<\/p>\n
\n1951<\/h4>\n
\nAmbassador Atom<\/a><\/em> as “Dr. Ochanomizu<\/a>‘s lab assistant”
\nThe Cactus Kid<\/a><\/em> as “the\u00a0elementary school principal”<\/p>\n
\n1954<\/h4>\n
\nWhite Rose Railway<\/em><\/p>\n
\n1955<\/h4>\n
\n1958<\/h4>\n
\n1960<\/h4>\n
\nAngel\u2019s Hill<\/em> as “Akemi’s neighbour”<\/p>\n
\n1963<\/h4>\n
\n1974<\/h4>\n
\n1976<\/h4>\n
\n1977<\/h4>\n
\n1978<\/h4>\n