Ippei Kuri


Toyoharu Yoshida, better known as Ippei Kuri, was a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Production.

History

Ippei Kuri was born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, in Kyoto. As a child, he read comics such as Superman that were discarded by American troops stationed in Japan during the Allied occupation following World War II. Kuri stated he wanted to make a manga like that when he grew up. This had an influence on his manga and anime character design style. He attended Kyoto Municipal Rakuyō High School, but left in 1958 before graduating to join his older brother Kenji in Tokyo to work as a manga artist.
Kuri worked as an assistant for his older brother Tatsuo, who was already a successful illustrator and manga artist. Kuri made his manga debut in 1959 with Abare Tengu, published as an akahon and in the Japanese magazine Z-Boy from Shueisha. From 1960 to 1961, Kuri worked on Mach Sanshirō with creator Minoru Kume. In 1962, Kuri co-founded the animation production company Tatsunoko Production with his brothers, Kenji and Tatsuo. Thereafter, he worked in many roles, including as an animation producer, in planning and design, and as a director.
Kuri was appointed the managing director of Tatsunoko Production subsidiary Anime Friend in 1977. In 1987, due to his brother Kenji's retirement, Kuri became the president of Tatsunoko Production. Anime Friend was dissolved in 1990. When Tatsunoko Production became a subsidiary of the major toy manufacturer Takara on July 1, 2005, Kuri stepped down as president. The Yoshida brothers' involvement in the company then became very limited.
At the 10th Animation Kobe event in October 2005, Kuri was awarded the special award for lifetime contributions to anime as a general producer at Tatsunoko Production. Kuri served as a guest professor at the Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts.
Ippei Kuri died on July 1, 2023, at the age of 83. His family held a private funeral on July 10.

Works

Listed in chronological order.

Manga

  • Mach Sanshirō with
  • Heaven's Oath
  • Judo Boy
  • Bullet Boy
  • Judo Boy
  • Fighter Ken
  • Oath of Allah
  • Submariner 8823
  • Underwater Boys' Team
  • Messenger of Allah
  • ''Concentrated Darkness: Tsubanari Kenshirō, Ghost Killer''

    Anime

  • Space Ace
  • Speed Racer
  • Judo Boy
  • The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee
  • Animentary: Determination
  • Pinocchio: The Series
  • Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
  • Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog
  • Casshan
  • New Honeybee Hutch
  • Tekkaman: The Space Knight
  • Time Bokan
  • Gowappa 5 Gōdam
  • Paul's Miraculous Adventure
  • Temple the Balloonist
  • Yatterman
  • Gatchaman II
  • Gatchaman Fighter
  • Zenderman
  • Gordian Warrior
  • Muteking, The Dashing Warrior
  • Rescueman
  • Dash Kappei
  • Golden Warrior Gold Lightan
  • Yattodetaman
  • Gyakuten! Ippatsuman
  • Itadakiman
  • Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman
  • Showa Idiot's Notebook: Style Is #1!
  • Doteraman
  • Zillion
  • Oraa Guzura Dado
  • The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee
  • Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
  • Kyatto Ninden Teyandee
  • Robin Hood
  • Tekkaman Blade
  • Casshan: Robot Hunter
  • Time Bokan: Royal Revival
  • The Story of Cinderella
  • Speed Racer X
  • ''Yobarete Tobedete! Akubi-chan''

    Books

  • ''Kyoto Nights, Yesterday's Memories: The Me from Those Days Is Beckoning''