View source for Sazae-san

{{Short description|Japanese manga and anime television series}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=manga|サザエさん|date=February 2022}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Sazae-san
| image = sazaesanvolume11.jpg
| caption = Cover of the eleventh volume of the manga, depicting the lead character Sazae riding a horse with her little sister Wakame.
| ja_kanji = サザエさん
| ja_romaji = 
| genre = [[Slice of Life]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| author       = [[Machiko Hasegawa]]
| publisher    = [[Asahi Shimbun]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|JP = [[Kodansha]] Bilingual Comics}}
| magazine     = Fukunichi Shinbun<br />Asahi Shimbun, etc.
| first        = April 22, 1946
| last         = February 21, 1974
| volumes      = 68 (6,477 comic strips)
| volume_list  =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type         = tv series
| director     =
| producer     = Kouya Watanabe (2016–)<br />Youichi Tanaka (2016–)
| writer       =
| music        = Nobuyoshi Koshibe<br />Kunihiro Kawano
| studio       = [[Eiken (studio)|Eiken]]
| network      = [[Fuji TV]]
| first        = {{Start date|1969|10|5}}
| last         =
| episodes     = 2,771<!--Increment after episodes air-->
| episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{nihongo|'''''Sazae-san'''''|サザエさん|lead=yes}} is a Japanese ''[[yonkoma]]'' [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Machiko Hasegawa]]. It was first published in Hasegawa's local paper, the {{nihongo|''Fukunichi Shinbun''|フクニチ新聞}}, on April 22, 1946. When the ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' wished to have Hasegawa draw the four-panel comic for their paper, she moved to Tokyo in 1949 with the explanation that the main characters had moved from [[Kyūshū]] to Tokyo as well. The first ''Sazae-san'' strip run by the ''Asahi Shimbun'' was published on November 30, 1949. The manga dealt with everyday life and contemporary situations in Tokyo until Hasegawa retired and ended the series, with the final comic published on February 21, 1974.

As of 1999, the manga had over 86 million copies in circulation, making it one of the [[List of best-selling manga|best-selling manga series of all time]].<ref name="Shimizu, Isao 1999 111–112">{{cite book | script-title=ja:図説・漫画の歴史 | author=Shimizu, Isao | publisher=Kawade Shobō Shinsha | year=1999 | pages=111–112 | isbn=978-4309726113}}</ref> An [[anime]] television adaptation by TCJ (later renamed [[Eiken (studio)|Eiken]]) began airing in Japan in October 1969 and holds the [[Guinness World Record]] for the longest-running animated television series.<ref name="worldrecord">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-05/guinness-certifies-sazae-san-as-longest-running-animated-show |title=Guinness Certifies Sazae-san as Longest Running Animated Show – News |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2013-09-05 |access-date=2013-12-01}}</ref> It has also been adapted into a radio show, theatrical plays and songs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hasegawa_machiko.htm|title=Machiko Hasegawa|website=lambiek.net}}</ref>

==Plot==
In the beginning, Sazae was more interested in being with her horse than dressing up in a kimono and makeup to attract her future husband. Hasegawa was forward-thinking in that, in her words, the Isono/Fuguta clan would embody the image of the modern Japanese family after [[World War II]].

Sazae was a very liberated woman, and many of the early plotlines revolved around Sazae bossing around her husband, to the consternation of her neighbors, who believed that a man should be the head of his household. Later, Sazae became a feminist and was involved in many comical situations regarding her affiliation with her local [[women's lib]] group.

Despite the topical nature of the series, the core of the stories revolved around the large family dynamic, and were presented in a lighthearted, easy fashion. In fact, the final comic, in 1974, revolved around Sazae's happiness that an egg she cracked for her husband's breakfast produced a double [[yolk]], with Katsuo remarking about the happiness the "little things" in life can bring.

In current culture, the popular ''Sazae-san'' anime is frequently viewed as a nostalgic representation of traditional Japanese society, since it represents a simpler time before many of the changes brought by modern technology. Its social themes, though very liberal at the time of its publication, are evocative of a bygone and nostalgic era.

==Characters==
[[File:Sazae-san rocks.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical ''Sazae-san'' strip]]

===Isono and Fuguta family===
*{{nihongo|'''Sazae Fuguta'''|フグ田 サザエ|''Fuguta Sazae''}} (''née'' {{nihongo|Isono|磯野|}})
: The main character. Age 24 (27 in the manga). She marries Masuo.
: She is a housewife, but occasionally works part-time as a maid for the Yumizu family, a wealthy family in the neighborhood.
: She has a unique hair style. This is one of the [[Victory rolls]] that were popular at the time Manga was started, and she has maintained this hairstyle since the fad passed.
: She is bright, cheerful, and popular in the town with a personality like that of a split bamboo.
: Her talkativeness and goofiness are shortcomings, and she is sometimes taken aback by her family, but most of the time she is well-liked by those around her.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Midori Katō]] (1969–present )

*{{nihongo|'''Namihei Isono'''|磯野 波平|''Isono Namihei''}}
: Sazae's father and patriarch of the family. Aged 54.
: He is characterized by a single hair on his bald head, and he is very protective of that single hair.
: He hates crookedness and can be stubborn, often scolding Sazae and Katsuo, but he also has a compassionate and good-natured side.
: He appears to be full of dignity and dignity, but in fact has an unreliable side.
: When he scolds, he often says, {{nihongo|"Baka-monn!"|馬鹿者!}} (It means "Fool!") However, he does not really believe this, and in his heart of hearts, he has a love for his children, wanting them to grow up to be good people. This is also known as a famous line that symbolizes him.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Ichirō Nagai]] (1969–2014), [[Chafurin]] (2014–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Fune Isono'''|磯野 フネ|''Isono Fune''}} (''née'' {{nihongo|Ishida|石田|}})
: Sazae's mother. In her 50s (48 in the manga); born in [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]].
: She is a stay-at-home mom and proud of her position. She does all the housework and is the epitome of a good wife and wise mother.
: She is calm and trusted by all of her family. She is an important behind-the-scenes supporter of the family, mediating domestic disputes.
: On the other hand, as a girl she was a tomboy, and this side of her personality is sometimes apparent.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Miyoko Asō]] (1969–2015), [[Yorie Terauchi]] (2015–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Masuo Fuguta'''|フグ田 マスオ|''Fuguta Masuo''}}
: Sazae's husband. He is a [[salaryman]] in the sales department of a trading company. 28 years old (32 in the manga). Born  in [[Osaka]]. 
: After marrying Sazae, they lived together in a rented house, but were advised by the landlord to move out of the house due to misconduct (in his case, trying to remove the fence of the house without permission), and soon moved in with her family.
: He is good-natured and timid, which can lead to a loss-making role, and he sometimes says and does things that one might consider black-hearted. However, his gentle and honest nature has earned him the trust of Sazae's family, and he himself lives happily every day surrounded by Sazae's family.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Shinsuke Chikaishi]] (1969–1978), [[Hiroshi Masuoka (voice actor)|Hiroshi Masuoka]] (1978–2019), [[Hideyuki Tanaka]] (2019—)

*{{nihongo|'''Katsuo Isono'''|磯野 カツオ|''Isono Katsuo''}}
: Sazae's little brother who is an 11-year-old fifth grader.
: He is quick-witted, well-spoken, and has a flattering personality. He knows how to get on in the world and to be good with people. In the manga in 1973, he was sarcastically referred to by Sazae as "the [[Henry Kissinger|Kissinger]] of our family". but, he does not do well with schoolwork and refuses to do his homework.
: He likes mischief and often suffers under the wrath of Sazae when he accidentally insults other guests in the manner of faux-pas.
: He is often scolded by Namihei, usually when he finds out about Katsuo's low test grades and mischief.
: His main activities consist of playing baseball and soccer with his friends.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Nobuyo Ōyama]] (1969–1970), [[Kazue Takahashi]] (1970–1998), [[Miina Tominaga]] (1998–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Wakame Isono'''|磯野 ワカメ|''Isono Wakame''}}
: Sazae's little sister. Age 9 (7 in the manga). She features a [[Bob cut]].
: She is one of the characters whose personalities differ greatly between manga and anime.
: In the manga, she is a talkative girl with a noticeably mischievous personality due to her young age.
: In the anime, she is a kind honor student. Therefore, her role in the manga is sometimes handled by Tarao, but sometimes, she shows her mischievous nature from the manga.
: She likes to study, but is not good at PE. Her main hobbies are reading and fashion.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Yoshiko Yamamoto (voice actor)|Yoshiko Yamamoto]] (1969–1976), [[Michiko Nomura]] (1976–2005), [[Makoto Tsumura]] (2005–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Tarao Fuguta'''|フグ田 タラオ|''Fuguta Tarao''}}
: Sazae and Masuo's 3-year-old son. Usually called {{nihongo|'''Tara-chan'''|タラ ちゃん}}. 
: He is interested in everything and has a curious nature.
: While a mostly well-behaved toddler, he can be a bit stubborn.
: Sometimes he tries to be selfish and annoys Sazae and Masuo. However, he is a child who can honestly admit and apologize when he knows he is wrong.
: In the anime, he is so polite and uses honorifics that makes it hard to believe he is 3 years old. This is said to reflect the character of Takako Sasuga, who played him from the beginning of the broadcast until her sudden death in 2023.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Takako Sasuga]] (1969—2023), [[Rikako Aikawa]] (2023–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Tama'''|タマ|}}
:The Isono family's pet cat. He hates mice.
:''Voiced by:'' ? ''

===Isono and Fuguta family's kin===
*{{nihongo|'''Norisuke Namino'''|波野 ノリスケ|''Namino Norisuke''}}
: He is a nephew of Namihei and a cousin of Sazae, Katsuo, and Wakame. Ages 24–26. He works for a newspaper publisher.
: He is a cheerful character, an optimist who is always ready to take it easy without worrying about details.
: He is also shrewd and has a brazen side, such as entering Isono family's house without telling them and eating the cakes they keep without permission, but he is not a hateful type of person, so he gets a lot out of life.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Ichirō Murakoshi]] (1969–1998), [[Tarō Arakawa]] (1998–2000), [[Yasunori Matsumoto]] (2000–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Taiko Namino'''|波野 タイ子|''Namino Taiko''}}
: Norisuke's wife. Age is about 22 years old.
: She is known as a particularly beautiful woman in the anime and has a demure personality. She also has a strong core and supports Norisuke behind his back like his wife would, and Norisuke cannot resist her.
: She is very comfortable with Sazae, who she is close in age with.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Ryoko Aikawa]], [[Masako Ebisu]] (1969–1979), [[Emiko Tsukada]] (1979–2013), [[Sayaka Kobayashi]] (2013–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Ikura Namino'''|波野 イクラ|''Namino Ikura''}}
: Norisuke and Taiko's son. Age is about one and a half years old.
: He is Tarao's friend and only says "chan", "hai", and "babuu".
:''Voiced by:'' Reiko Katsura

*{{nihongo|'''Isono Mokuzu Minamoto no Sutamina'''|磯野藻屑源素太皆}}
: Namihei's [[Meiji Restoration|Meiji Revolution]] [[samurai]] ancestor. Around the time of the [[Bon Festival]], he haunts Namihei's (or sometimes Katsuo's) dreams.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Ichirō Nagai]] (1970–2013), [[Chafurin]] (2014–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Umihei Isono'''|磯野 海平|''Isono Umihei''}}
: Namihei's twin older brother.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Ichirō Nagai]] (1970–2013), [[Chafurin]] (2014–present)

===Isasaka family===
*{{nihongo|'''Nanbutsu Isasaka'''|伊佐坂 難物|''Isasaka Nanbutsu''}}
: A novelist who lives in the next house over from the Isono family's house.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Sanji Hase]] (1970–1978), [[Eken Mine]] (1985–2002), [[Atsushi Ii]] (2002), [[Yasuo Iwata]] (2002–2009), Kōtarō Nakamura (2009–2023), [[Shigeru Ushiyama]]（2023–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Karu Isasaka'''|伊佐坂 軽|''Isasaka Karu''}}
: Nanbutsu's wife. Fune's childhood friend.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (1970–1978), [[Reiko Yamada]] (1985–2023), ? (1994, 1996), [[Yui Komazuka]]（2023–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Ukie Isasaka'''|伊佐坂 浮江|''Isasaka Ukie''}}
: Nanbutsu's daughter.
: She is one of the characters that Katsuo is secretly in love with.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?), Miho Ochiai (1974), ? (?), [[Keiko Han]] (1985–1989), Reiko Katsura (1989), [[Miina Tominaga]] (1989–1998), [[Eriko Kawasaki]] (1998–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Jinroku Isasaka'''|伊佐坂 甚六|''Isasaka Jinroku''}}
: Nanbutsu's son.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (1970–1978), [[Hiroshi Takemura]] (1985–2023), [[Manabu Sakamaki]]（2023–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Hachi'''|ハチ|''Hachi''}}
: The Isasaka family's pet dog.

===Other characters===
*{{nihongo|'''Grandpa ''Ura-no'' '''|裏のおじいちゃん|''Ura-no Ojīchan''}}
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
: An old man who lives in a house in back of the (''ura-no'') Isono family's house.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?–1985), [[Eken Mine]] (1985–2002), [[Atsushi Ii]] (2002–2013), [[Mitsuru Takakuwa]] (2013–present),

*{{nihongo|'''Grandma ''Ura-no'' '''|裏のおばあちゃん|''Ura-no Obāchan''}}
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
: ''Ura-no'' Grandpa's wife.
:''Voiced by:'' ?, [[Sumiko Shirakawa]], [[Keiko Yamamoto]], [[Reiko Yamada]], ? (1990s substitute)

*{{nihongo|'''Saburo'''|三郎|''Saburō''}}
: The employee of Mikawaya who makes house calls for food orders.
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Issei Futamata]]

*{{nihongo|'''Rika Nozawa'''|野沢 リカ|''Nozawa Rika''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Tarao's friends.
:''Voiced by:'' Reiko Katsura, [[Taeko Kawata]] (1997)

*{{nihongo|'''Takeo'''|タケオ|''Takeo''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Tarao's friends.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Sumiko Shirakawa]] (?), [[Reiko Yamada]] (?–2019), [[Eriko Kawasaki]] (?), [[Miina Tominaga]] (?), [[Nozomi Mikajiri]] (2020–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Hiroshi Nakajima'''|中島 博|''Nakajima Hiroshi''}}
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
: Katsuo's best friend and his classmate.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Sumiko Shirakawa]] (1969–2015), [[Rumi Ochiai]] (2015–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Kaori Ozora'''|大空 カオリ|''Ōzora Kaori''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Katsuo's classmates, she is said to be the most beautiful girl in her class.
: She is one of the characters that Katsuo is secretly in love with.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (1969–?), Reiko Katsura (?–present), [[Michiko Nomura]] (1972, 1975), [[Taeko Kawata]] (1997)

*{{nihongo|'''Hayakawa'''|早川|''Hayakawa''}}
: One of Katsuo's classmates.
: She is one of the characters that Katsuo is secretly in love with.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?), Reiko Katsura (1975), [[Keiko Han]] (1985–1990), [[Miina Tominaga]] (1990–1998), [[Eriko Kawasaki]] (1998–present),

*{{nihongo|'''Hanako Hanazawa'''|花沢 花子|''Hanazawa Hanako''}}
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
: One of Katsuo's classmates, who has a crush on him. She is the daughter of a real estate agent.
: Although Katsuo is bewildered and avoids her ardent approach, they actually tend to get along quite well.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Mitsuko Asō]] (1971–?), [[Tikako Akimoto]] (1971–?), [[Yoshiko Ōta]], [[Keiko Yamamoto]] (?–2023), [[Teiya Ichiryusai|Teiyū Ichiryūsai]] (2015), [[Kazue Ikura]] (2020), [[Kumiko Watanabe]] (2023—present)

*{{nihongo|'''Tōru Hashimoto'''|橋本 とおる|''Hashimoto Tōru''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Katsuo's classmates.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (1971–?), [[Reiko Yamada]] (?–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Takuma Nishihara'''|西原 卓磨|''Nishihara Takuma''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Katsuo's classmates.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Katsue Miwa]] (1972–?), [[Emiko Tsukada]] (?–2013), [[Sayaka Kobayashi]] (2014–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Teacher'''|先生|''Sensei''}}
: An original anime character.
: Katsuo's teacher.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Hiroshi Ōtake]] (1969), ? (?), [[Kaneta Kimotsuki]] (1971), ? (?), [[Eken Mine]] (?–2002), [[Sanji Hase]] (?), ? (2002), [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (2002–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Horikawa'''|堀川|''Horikawa''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Wakame's classmates.
: Since the 2010s, he has been described as a psychopathic speaker and has become an [[Internet meme]] in Japan. also, He used to be set up by Wakame as secretly liking him, but in recent years Wakame has sometimes made statements that seem to indicate that he dislikes him.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Sumiko Shirakawa]] (1971–?), ? (?), [[Emiko Tsukada]] (?–2013), [[Sayaka Kobayashi]] (2014–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Suzuko Siota'''|塩田 スズ子|''Shiota Suzuko''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Wakame's classmates.
:''Voiced by:'' Reiko Katsura (?–2022), Sayaka Kitahara (2022–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Miyuki'''|ミユキ|''Miyuki''}}
: An original anime character.
: One of Wakame's classmates.
:''Voiced by:'' Reiko Katsura (?–1990), [[Miina Tominaga]] (1990–1998), [[Eriko Kawasaki]] (1998–present),

*{{nihongo|'''Anago'''|穴子}}
: An original anime character modeled after a guest character from the manga.
: One of Masuo's co-workers. He has thick lips, which are his charm.
:''Voiced by:'' [[Kazuya Tatekabe]] (1971−197?), [[Norio Wakamoto]] (197?–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Kinzō Yumizu'''|湯水 金蔵|''Yumizu Kinzō''}}
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?), [[Norio Wakamoto]]

*{{nihongo|'''Mikawaya'''|三河屋|''Mikawaya''}}
: The shopkeeper of Mikawaya, a sake shop.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?), [[Norio Wakamoto]] (?), [[Ikuya Sawaki]] (2019–present)

*{{nihongo|'''Kintarō Hanazawa'''|花沢 金太郎|''Hanazawa Kintarō''}}
: An original anime character.
: Hanako's father. Boss of the Hanazawa Real Estate Agency.
:''Voiced by:'' ? (?), [[Norio Wakamoto]] (?–present)

==Media==
===Manga===
The comic strip was published in book form by {{nihongo|Shimaisha|姉妹社}} from 1946 to 1974, which Machiko ran with her sister, Mariko. In April 1993, this publishing company went out of business and the comic books went out of print. The same year, ''Asahi Shimbun'' purchased the right to publish the forty-five paperback volumes. Twelve bilingual (Japanese-English) manga volumes were published by [[Kodansha]] between 1997 and 1999 as ''The Wonderful World of Sazae-San''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/B00GEYO30E/ |title=Amazon listing |website= www.amazon.com|access-date=2020-11-10}}</ref> The volumes were re-released in 2004,<ref>{{Cite book|title=サザエさん―対訳 (12)【講談社英語文庫】|first=町子|last=長谷川|id={{ASIN|4770025440|country=jp}}}}</ref> and in 2015 another three bilingual manga volumes were released as ''The Best of Sazae-san''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=ベスト・オブ対訳サザエさん 白版 オーモーレツの時代 The Best of Sazae-san|first=町子|last=長谷川|id={{ASIN|4062500841|country=jp}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=ベスト・オブ対訳サザエさん 赤版 ベビーブームの時代 The Best of Sazae-san|first=町子|last=長谷川|id={{ASIN|4062500817|country=jp}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=ベスト・オブ対訳サザエさん 青版 オリンピックの時代 The Best of Sazae-san|first=町子|last=長谷川|id={{ASIN|4062500825|country=jp}}}}</ref> By 1999, it has sold over 86 million copies.<ref name="Shimizu, Isao 1999 111–112"/>''Sazae-san'' won the 8th [[Bungeishunjū Manga Award]] in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ztv.ne.jp/keiko/comic_lab/prize/bungei_shunju_mangasho.html |script-title=ja:文藝春秋漫画賞 |publisher=Comic Lab |access-date=June 9, 2013 |language=ja |archive-date=June 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618173353/http://www.ztv.ne.jp/keiko/comic_lab/prize/bungei_shunju_mangasho.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Anime===
{{Infobox television
| image                = Sazaesan-Logo.svg
| native_name          = {{Infobox name module|Japanese|サザエさん}}
| genre                = [[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]<!-- Must be reliably sourced -->
| based_on             = {{Based on|Sazae-san|[[Machiko Hasegawa]]}}
| director             =
| creative_director    = Hiromitsu Morita (2012–)
| voices               = {{plainlist|
* [[Midori Katō]]
* [[Hideyuki Tanaka]]
* [[Miina Tominaga]]
* [[Makoto Tsumura]]
* [[Rikako Aikawa]]
* [[Chafurin]]
* [[Yorie Terauchi]]
}}<!-- Organized by broadcast credit order, with new main cast added to the end of the list -->
| theme_music_composer = [[Kyōhei Tsutsumi]]
| open_theme           = 
| end_theme            = 
| composer             = Nobuyoshi Koshibe<br />Kunihiro Kawano
| country              = Japan
| language             = Japanese
| num_seasons          = 214 (2023, Conversion)<!-- Or num_series. Increment when new seasons/series begin. See template documentation for more info. -->
| num_episodes         = 8540 (2023)<ref group="n" name="sazae-note" /><!-- Value is incremented when new episodes air. See template documentation for more info. -->
| producer             = Kouya Watanabe (2016–)<br />Youichi Tanaka (2016–)
| animator             = 
| runtime              = 24 minutes<!-- Reliable source required -->
| company              = [[Fuji Television]]<br>TCJ (1969-1973)<br>[[Eiken (studio)|Eiken]] (1973-present)
| budget               = 
| network              = [[Fuji Network System|FNS]] (Fuji TV)
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1969|10|5}}
| last_aired           = present
| related              = <!-- To be used only for remakes, spin-offs, and adaptations --> 
}}
In October 1969, [[Fuji Television]] started an anime series, which is still on the air today and currently in production, making it [[List of longest-running television shows by category|one of the longest-running scripted TV series in history]] and the longest running animated show. The broadcast time is every Sunday from 18:30 to 19:00 and has never been changed since its inception. The format is in the form of three vignettes. The anime series has some characters, like Katsuo's classmates, who have not appeared in Hasegawa's original works.

On September 5, 2013, the anime achieved the [[Guinness World Record]] for the "'''Longest running animated TV series'''".<ref name="worldrecord" /> As of November 2021, there have been over 2250 episodes aired.<ref group="n" name="sazae-note">Each weekly airing of ''Sazae-san'' consists of three separate seven-minute segments. The episode count includes specials.</ref>

The stories are based on at least one strip of the original manga. Due to the limited number of strips, different episodes are based on the same strips. In addition, the unique culture and events in a typical Japanese household, including the four seasons, will always be reflected in the story.

At the start of the anime, it was a [[slapstick comedy]] with references to [[Tom and Jerry]], but within a year the genre shifted towards a [[family drama]]. From this point onward, there has been no major change in style for more than 50 years, in either directing, scriptwriting, or character design. Also because of its popularity, a survey conducted by NIPPON RESEARCH CENTER, LTD. (NRC) in 2020 recorded a high recognition rate of 97% for this anime in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nrc.co.jp/report/210218.html |title=第７回 NRC全国キャラクター調査 【Part5:マンガ・アニメキャラクター編】 |trans-title= |accessdate=2023-03-23 |date=2021-02-18 |website=NIPPON RESEARCH CENTER, LTD. |language=ja}}</ref> For this reason, it is often described as a "'''national anime'''" in Japan and is regarded as a symbol of "universality" and "permanence". Whenever a change is made, such as a change in voice actors, there is always a great deal of media coverage, and the anime retains a strong influence on the public.

In recent years, due to the influence of its unchanging style, it is sometimes criticized as being "anachronistic" or a "period piece", such as the absence of [[smartphones]] and [[convenience stores]] in the setting even though the time period is the present day. In response to this, the staff stated, "The appeal of this anime is that it depicts scenes of everyday life and universal relationships that can be found in any family. Therefore, we have no plans in the future to incorporate events or items that would change them." However, some things which have come to be considered inappropriate due to changing times, such as smoking and corporal punishment, have been removed or otherwise addressed.

The anime is not well known outside of Japan, as it has never been exported overseas or otherwise developed globally due to the wishes of the rights holders. However, in 2019, the producer said in a conversation that he hopes to be able to expand globally in the future.

As for voice actors, as of 2023, only [[Midori Katō]], who plays Sazae, has never been changed. Katō was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2019 as the "Longest career as a voice actor for the same character of an animated TV series".<ref name="Guinness1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.jp/news/2019/11/longest-career-as-a-voice-actor-for-the-same-character-of-an-animated-tv-series-598577 |title=サザエさんの声を50年 声優・加藤みどりさん、ギネス世界記録に認定 |trans-title= |accessdate=2023-02-20 |last=Masakazu |first=Senda |date=2019-11-17 |website=Guinness World Records |language=ja}}</ref> As of 2008, 40 years after the anime was first broadcast, four of the seven main characters were the original cast members, but in 2014 [[Ichirō Nagai]], who played Namihei, was replaced due to his sudden death at age 82,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranma 1/2's Happōsai Voice Actor Ichirô Nagai Passes Away |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-27/ranma-s-happosai-voice-actor-ichiro-nagai-passes-away |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=January 29, 2020 |date=January 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voice Actor Chafurin to Replace Ichirô Nagai as Sazae-san's Father |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-09/chafurin-to-replace-ichiro-nagai-as-sazae-san-father |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=February 9, 2020 |date=February 9, 2014}}</ref> and the following year [[Miyoko Asō]], who played Fune, was changed to reflect her age at 89. [[Takako Sasuga]], who played Tarao, died suddenly in 2023 at the age of 87 and was replaced.

The opening is an introduction to the places that Sazae has traveled to and visited throughout Japan. The settings change approximately every three months. Because of the popularity of the anime, this has come to be viewed by cities as a "cost-effective means of promoting tourism," and since 2000, the program has received approximately 5–10&nbsp;million yen in aid from prefectures and municipalities wishing to introduce the program.

Since November 1991, after the closing credits and the next episode previews, each show has ended with a [[Rock-paper-scissors|janken]] match between Sazae and the viewers at home, in which Sazae holds up a sign representing one of the appropriate hand gestures.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081231130553/http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood-Theater/2500/english_sazaedata.html] Sazae's Past Jankens (via archive.org; updated through 2008)</ref> From 1969 until October 1991, Sazae ended each episode by tossing a bean or rice cake in the air and catching it in her mouth. Fuji Television switched to the janken match after doctors at Tohoku University Hospital and the National Center for Child Health and Development raised concerns that children may try to imitate Sazae and potentially choke on food.

The anime series was originally sponsored solely by [[Toshiba]]—Later, in 1998, the program expanded to other sponsors, but the association between Toshiba and Sazae-san remained strong. When Toshiba withdrew its sponsorship due to poor management, it was widely covered in the media.

''Sazae-san'' was the last animated television series to use traditional [[cel animation]], although as of April 2009, the opening credits were digital;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-08-29/sazae-san-is-last-tv-anime-using-cels-not-computers|title=Sazae-san is Last TV Anime Using Cels, Not Computers|website=Anime News Network|date=27 April 2024 }}</ref> the series finally switched to fully digital animation in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Scott |title=Last Cel Animated TV Anime Series Switching To Digital |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2013/09/27/last-cel-animated-tv-anime-series-switching-to-digital |website=[[Crunchyroll]] |publisher=[[Sony]] |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=27 September 2013}}</ref> Despite the series being a hit, Hasegawa stated that she never wanted any merchandise to be made for it, including home video rights, making availability of past episodes, especially those prior to the introduction of the VCR, very rare. Following her death, her request to prohibit older episodes from being released in home media was honored.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-longest-running-tv-cartoon-ever/|title=The Longest Running TV Cartoon, Ever -|date=April 9, 2013|website=cartoonresearch.com}}</ref> Despite this, however, Fuji TV made an agreement with [[Amazon Prime Video]] in December 2018 to release the 1969 and early-to-mid 1970s episodes available on their streaming service. Some episodes from the mid-2000s are also on the service.

The Opening Song and Ending Song are original songs sung by [[Yuko Uno]]. Since the anime first started airing, the audio itself has not been altered in any way, such as by arrangement, although it was trimmed to fit the length of the sequences during the early years of airing.

There have been two previous suspensions of animation production: the first, for about a month beginning in February 1975, due to the [[1970s energy crisis]]; the second, for about a month beginning in May 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Japan|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Programming during these periods was handled by rebroadcasting past productions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-09/sazae-san-anime-delays-new-episodes-for-1st-time-in-45-years-due-to-covid-19/.159400|title=Sazae-san Anime Delays New Episodes For 1st Time in 45 Years Due to COVID-19|website=Anime News Network|date=27 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-13/sazae-san-anime-resumes-new-episodes-after-covid-19-delay/.160609|title=Sazae-san Anime Resumes New Episodes After COVID-19 Delay|website=Anime News Network|date=27 April 2024 }}</ref>

In Japan, there is a term called "Sazae-san [[syndrome]]" (サザエさん症候群, ''Sazae-san shōkōgun''), which refers to a depressed mood on Sunday night after an episode has finished on television, reminding people that the weekend is coming to an end.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://manabink.com/en/2020/04/13/what-is-sazae-san-syndrome/|title = What is Sazae-san Syndrome? &#124; MANABINK|date = 13 April 2020}}</ref>

====Episodes====
=====1969=====
{{Episode table
|overall=
|title=
|director=
|writer=
|airdate=
|episodes=
{{Episode list
| NumParts            = 3
| EpisodeNumber       = 1
| Title_1             = 
| TranslitTitle_1     = 
| NativeTitle_1       = 75点の天才
| Title_2             = 
| TranslitTitle_2     = 
| NativeTitle_2       = 押売りよ今日は
| Title_3             = 
| TranslitTitle_3     = 
| NativeTitle_3       = お父さんは ノイローゼの巻
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy_1        = Toru Murayama
| DirectedBy_2        = Takahiro Okada
| DirectedBy_3        = Isao Yamamoto
| WrittenBy_1         = [[Masaki Tsuji]]
| WrittenBy_2         = Masaki Tsuji
| WrittenBy_3         = Noboru Shiroyama
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1969|10|5}}
| ShortSummary        = 
}}
}}

===Live-action===
In 1955, a radio station aired a serial drama based on the comic strip.

The same year, a short-lived live-action television series was started, and was aired on what is now [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]].

In November 1965, TBS started a dramatic television series modeled after the comic strip. It aired until September 1967.

In 1979, [[NHK]] made a dramatic serial which ran for six months, focusing on the creation of ''Sazae-san'' and Machiko Hasegawa in her younger days.

In 2010, Fuji Television debuted a live-action situation comedy series, {{nihongo|''Sazae-san 2''|サザエさん2}}, followed the following year with {{nihongo|''Sazae-san 3''|サザエさん3}}. The series is patterned after the anime series and uses the same elements, including the theme music and the closing janken match.

===Commercials===
In 2008, [[Ezaki Glico|Glico]] showed the family in "25 years later"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kl1y-B5qsQ&list=PLFVUzrjnNcEZ1zxG8iOAzBSSyW1kVKWFo&index=1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8Kl1y-B5qsQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=大人グリコ 25年後の磯野家|date=April 4, 2014|website=YouTube, Sazae san Otona Glico CM playlist|access-date=September 21, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> commercials, as adults, for the firm's "Otona Glico" chocolates. The characters were portrayed by Eita (as Fuguta Tarao), [[Tadanobu Asano]] (as Isono Katsuo), Rie Miyazawa (as Isono Wakame) and [[Shun Oguri]] (as Namino Ikura).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gigazine.net/news/20081118_grico_sazaesan_new_cm/|title=「サザエさん25年後CM」の第2弾が既にネットで公開中|date=November 18, 2008|website=gigazine.net|language=ja|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, the characters Sazae and Masao were depicted in a [[Cup Noodles]] commercial drawn by [[Katsuya Kondō]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Baseel |first=Casey |date=22 November 2017 |title=Stars of Japan's longest-running anime get gorgeous modern makeover in new video【Video】 |url=https://soranews24.com/2017/11/22/stars-of-japans-longest-running-anime-get-gorgeous-modern-makeover-in-new-video%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/ |work=Sora News 24 |access-date=11 March 2020 }}<br/>{{cite news |last=McGee |first=Oona |date=9 January 2018 |agency=Sora News 24 |title=It's Japanese commercial time! Watch the best ads from 2017 in one glossy 4K video |url=https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/it%E2%80%99s-japanese-commercial-time!-watch-the-best-ads-from-2017-in-one-glossy-4k-video |work=Japan Today |access-date=11 March 2020 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of anime series by episode count]] for a full list of lengthy anime.
* ''[[Anpanman]]''
* ''[[Chibi Maruko-chan]]''
* ''[[Crayon Shin-chan]]''
* ''[[Doraemon]]''
* ''[[Nintama Rantarō]]''
* ''[[Ojarumaru]]''

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/rensai/list.html?id=251|title=サザエさんをさがして|newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]]|place=[[Tokyo]]}}

==External links==
* {{anime News Network|manga|4553}}
* {{anime News Network|anime|870}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q11304591|id=tt0236924|title=Sazae-san}}

{{Eiken}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1946 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1946 manga]]
[[Category:1969 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:1974 comics endings]]
[[Category:Japanese children's animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:Animated sitcoms]]
[[Category:Comedy anime and manga]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into animated series]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into radio series]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1946]]
[[Category:Comics set in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Eiken (studio)]]
[[Category:Fuji TV original programming]]
[[Category:Josei manga]]
[[Category:Slice of life anime and manga]]
[[Category:Television shows based on comic strips]]
[[Category:Works originally published in Asahi Shimbun]]
[[Category:Yonkoma]]
[[Category:Anime postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Anime productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]