Takashi Yanase


Takashi Yanase was a Japanese manga artist and writer, poet, illustrator and lyricist.
He is known as the creator of the picture book and animated series Anpanman. Yanase was chairman of the Japan Cartoonists Association from May 2000 to 2012.

Early life, military service

After graduating from the Tokyo School of Arts and Crafts in 1939, Yanase was hired by Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals where he worked in the marketing department.
In 1941, he was drafted into the army under the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Reserve Company stationed in China. As an educated non-commissioned officer, he was assigned to senbu operations, presenting kamishibai to Chinese civilians. His younger brother was killed in action during the Pacific Campaign of World War II.
Post-war, alongside other veterans, Yanase made a living collecting garbage. To pursue his artistic career, he joined Kōchi Shimbun newspaper as an editor in 1946. Once he learned that his co-worker, Nobu Komatsu, was quitting and relocating to Tokyo, Yanase did the same. They got married in 1947.
While working at Mitsukoshi department store as a graphic designer, Yanase would pick up drawing manga seriously, submitting his works to newspapers and magazines. Finding success, Yanase would quit to work on manga full-time in 1953. His income from manga was triple that of his department-store job.

Views on religion

The day after his death, an obituary in the October 16, 2013, edition of the Tokyo Shimbun reported that he was "a dandy Christian with a strong faith". However, a correction was later published in the November 20, 2013, edition of the same newspaper: "It was an error to refer to Takashi Yanase as a Christian".
Further supporting this correction were Yanase's own words in Gekkan Omoshihan No. 57, Special Feature: "No Need for Religion!", and "I don't have any religious beliefs at all. I’ll probably never turn to religion.", and “I’m not religious at all, even though I respect religion and worship God in my own way. I’m not religious at all."
Photographs of his gravesite also show no evidence of him being a Christian. His gravesite lacks a cross, Bible verses, or other references to Jesus Christ and Christianity. He was cremated and buried at his father’s former home, where he spent his early childhood. On his gravestone, a Japanese poem is engraved. Translated from Japanese, "I want to be a magnolia tree. In the season, bashful and shy, white flowers will bloom. I want to sway with the breeze."

Works

Prose nonfiction

Anpanman's TestamentLife Is Strange: Words to Live BySecond Youth Is a Thrill!Life Is But a DreamAnyone Can Be a PoetLife Gets Interesting at 90!If I Were to Talk About JusticeNext to Despair Lies Hope! – written in response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Picture books

Standalone works

The Gentle LionLittle JumboGoodbye Jumbo

''Mighty Cat Masked Niyandar'' series

  1. The Magic Backpack – A Hero Is Born
  2. The Mysterious Adventure
  3. ''Miiko's Transformation''

''Anpanman'' series

; The first four books:In 2009, the anime Anpanman series entered the Guinness World Records for having the highest number of characters.
  1. Anpanman
  2. Go! Anpanman
  3. Anpanman and Gorillaman
  4. Anpanman and Baikinman
; Children's Fairytale Storybooks Masterpiece Selection series:
  1. Anpanman and Shokupanman
  2. Shokupanman
  3. Akachanman
  4. Anpanman and Currypanman
; Anpanman Mini-Books series:
  1. Anpanman and the Lost Alien
  2. Anpanman and the Giant Monster Ankora
  3. Anpanman and the Graffiti Kid
  4. Anpanman and the Kabirunruns
  5. Anpanman and the Ghost Forest
  6. Anpanman and Lookalikepan
  7. Anpanman and Lumpman
  8. Anpanman and Butamanman
  9. Anpanman and Kazekonkon
  10. Anpanman and Currypanman/Omusubiman
  11. Anpanman and the Yawn-Bird
  12. Anpanman and Hedoroman
  13. Anpanman and Nankahendaa
  14. Anpanman and Ramen Angel
  15. Anpanman and Thunder Pika-tan
  16. Anpanman and Toothpasteman
  17. Anpanman and Namekujira
  18. Anpanman and Beroberoman
  19. Anpanman and the Snifflebomb
  20. Anpanman and Tendonman
  21. Anpanman and the Fireball Kid
  22. Anpanman and Apple-chan
  23. Anpanman and the Lake Princess
  24. Anpanman and Takoyakiman
  25. Anpanman and Milk Boy
; The Adventures of Anpanman series:
  1. Anpanman and Pot-chan
  2. Anpanman and Piichiku Forest
  3. Anpanman and Dadandan
  4. Anpanman and Mogurin
  5. Anpanman and The Building-Block Castle
  6. Anpanman and Dokin
  7. Anpanman and the Sea-Devil
  8. Anpanman and Bonbon Island
  9. Anpanman and Invisibleman
  10. Anpanman and Chikurin
  11. Anpanman and Dodo
  12. Anpanman and Tartan
  13. Anpanman and Crescent-Moon Man
  14. Anpanman and Karen's Forest
  15. Anpanman and the Black Bird
; Omusubiman series
; Anpanman no Ohanashi Detekoi series:
  1. Anpanman and the Water Castle
  2. Anpanman and Princess Greenleaf
  3. Anpanman and the Magic Wooden Horse
  4. Anpanman and Rollpanna
  5. Anpanman and Toothpaste Mountain
  6. Anpanman and Marimo-kun
  7. Anpanman and the Land of Dreams
  8. Anpanman and Marbleman
  9. Anpanman and PunchPunchPuuunch
  10. Anpanman and Balloonman
  11. Anpanman and the Magic Brush
  12. Anpanman and Chibizou-kun
; Anpanman Lullabies series
  1. The Sleepy Sleepy Uncle
  2. The Night-Night Sleepy Tree
  3. Shidoro and Modoro
  4. The Dream Foal
; Anpanman no Ohanashi Wakuwaku series:
  1. Anpanman's Secret
  2. Anpanman and the Rainbow Ghost
  3. Keep It Secret from Anpanman
  4. Anpanman and Naganegiman
  5. Anpanman and Dokinchan's Dream
  6. Anpanman and the Desert Treasure
  7. Anpanman and Snow Black
  8. Anpanman and the Blue Tears
  9. Anpanman and the Question-Mark Tower
  10. Anpanman and the Flying Ume Fruit
  11. Anpanman and Shabondaman
  12. Anpanman and Horror Horrorko
; "Anpanman no Runrun Ehon" series:
  1. Anpanman and Friends
  2. Dokinchan and Pillow Kid
  3. Baikinman's Sudden Change
  4. Melonpanna's Drink-drink-drink
; Anpanman no Ohanashi Runrun series:
  1. Anpanman and Bookman
  2. Anpanman and the Twin Stars
  3. Anpanman and the Artist Beret-chan
  4. Anpanman and the Flower Castle
  5. Anpanman and the Forest Treasure
  6. Anpanman and Yawn-Boy
  7. Anpanman and Shidoro & Modoro
; Anpanman Christmas books:
  1. Anpanman's Santa Claus
  2. Anpanman's Christmas
  3. Merry Christmas! with Anpanman
  4. Anpanman's Christmas Eve
;Soreike! Anpanman theatrical movie series:
  1. Nossy the Dinosaur's Great Adventure
  2. Lyrical Magical Magic School
  3. Defeat the Ghost Ship!
  4. The Flying Picture-Book and the Glass Slippers
  5. The Rainbow Pyramid
  6. Palms to the Sun
  7. When the Flower of Courage Blooms
  8. Tears of the Mermaid Princess
  9. Gomira's Star
  10. Roll & Rolla: Secret of the Floating Cloud Castle
  11. Ruby's Wish
  12. Nyanii of Dream Cat Land
  13. Hapii's Great Adventure
  14. Dolly of the Star of Life
  15. Purun the Soap-Bubble
  16. Secret of the Fairy Rinrin
  17. Dadandan and the Twin Stars
  18. Black Nose and the Magic Song
  19. ''Rescue them! Kokorin and the Miracle Star''

Comics

; Little Bō
; Hot-Blooded Fairytale Masterpiece Anpanman
; Anpanman
; Fly! Anpanman
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Animation

Creator

Vocal performance

Metropolis – minor role as a tribute to his former colleague Osamu TezukaSoreike! Anpanman Christmas special – "Dance! Sing! Christmas for Everyone" : Special cameo as "Yanase Bunny"

Lyrics

Norakuro – opening theme that was sung by Norakuro's voice actor, Nobuyo Oyama, who was known for dubbing Doraemon in Doraemon's 1979 series and being the first voice actor of Katsuo Isono from Sazae-san.Mighty Cat Masked Niyander
  • ''Tenohira wo Taiyou ni''