Zenigata Heiji


Zenigata Heiji is a Japanese fictional character, the hero of a series of Japanese novels, films and TV programmes set in the Edo period of Japanese history. He is a policeman who catches criminals by throwing coins, the zeni of the title, thus Zenigata Heiji. The hero was created by novelist Kodō Nomura in 1931. Heiji's beat is Myōjin-shita, "beneath the (Kanda) Myōjin shrine".

Situation

The hero, Heiji, lives with his wife Oshizu. His sidekick is Hachigorō, also known as Karappachi or just Hachi. He uses deduction, a jutte, and old-fashioned coins with a hole, called kan'eitsūhō, as weapons to catch criminals.
It's implied that "Zenigata" isn't his surname, but a nickname given to him.

Novels

The original series of stories ran from 1937 to 1959. The first story was published in the Japanese magazine Bungei Shunjū Ōru Yomimono-han. In all, 383 stories were produced. Many are still in print in Japan today.

Films

Films about Zenigata Heiji include:
  • 銭形平次捕物控 振袖源太
  • 七人の花嫁
  • 銭形平次捕物控 富籖政談
  • 銭形平次捕物控 復讐鬼
  • 銭形平次捕物控 紅蓮地獄
  • 銭形平次捕物控 濡れた千両箱
  • 銭形平次捕物控
  • 銭形平次捕物控第二話 名月神田祭
  • 銭形平次捕物控 平次の女難
  • 銭形平次捕物控 南蛮秘法箋 Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Heiji Happyakuyacho Zenigata Heiji Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Koibumi Dochu Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Jigoku no Mon Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Karakuri Yashiki Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Kin'iro no ókami Zenigata Heiji: Ghost Lord Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Dokuro Kago Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Shi Bijin Fuuro Zenigata Heiji: Human-skin Spider Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Madara Hebi Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Megitsune Yashiki Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Hachinin no Hanayome Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Onibi Tourou Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Yuki-onna no Ashiato Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Bijin-gumo Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Yoru no Emma Chou Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae: Bijin Zame
  • 銭形平次捕物控
  • 銭形平次

TV series

The lyrics of the ending theme of the TV show changed every week depending on the plot line. In the TV series, the closing credits show a coin, based on the kan'eitsūhō coin thrown by Heiji, with Zenigata Heiji written on it.
TV series about Zenigata Heiji include:
  • 銭形平次捕物控 Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae - 103 episodes
  • 銭形平次捕物控 Zenigata Heiji Torimono-Hikae - 48 episodes
  • 銭形平次 Zenigata Heiji - 888 episodes. The longest-running Zenigata Heiji, Hashizo Okawa made a total of 888 programmes, with several different co-stars, from 1966 until his death in 1984. Hashizō Ōgawa is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-running actor in a one-hour long television series for his performance as Heiji. Sanae Tsuchida was in the cast from 1970 to 1973.
  • 銭形平次 Zenigata Heiji - 26 episodes
  • 銭形平次 Zenigata Heiji Kin'ya Kitaōji played Heiji in the 1990s, and in 2005, a new cast features Hiroaki Murakami in the lead role.
  • 銭形平次 ''Zenigata Heiji''