# Fujiko Fujio

Fujiko Fujio (藤子 不二雄) was a manga writing duo formed by Japanese manga artists Hiroshi Fujimoto (藤本 弘, Fujimoto Hiroshi, December 1, 1933 – September 23, 1996) and Motoo Abiko (安孫子 素雄, Abiko Motoo, March 10, 1934 – April 6, 2022). Professional debut in 1951 (under the authors' names "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi"). Used the Fujiko Fujio name from 1953 until dissolution of the partnership in 1987, upon Fujimoto's illness. The pair was best known for their popular comedies, including Obake no Q-Tarō, Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, Perman, Kiteretsu Daihyakka, and Doraemon, which is officially recognized as a cultural icon of modern Japan. Some of their influences have included Osamu Tezuka as well as international cartoons and comic books.

## Pen name

From their debut, they collaborated and wrote individually under one pen name. But after 1988 they published under separate names.

### Fujiko Fujio

Used from July 1953 to around January 1988.
All works (collaboration, one person's work) published under one pen name "Fujiko Fujio".

### Fujiko F. Fujio

Pen name used by Fujimoto since 1989.
The above is notation without symbols.
The official notation is Fujiko・F・Fujio (藤子・F・不二雄, Fujiko Efu Fujio).

### Fujiko Fujio A

Pen name used by Abiko since 1988.
The above is notation without symbols.
The official notation is Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ (藤子不二雄Ⓐ, Fujiko Fujio Ē).
As a reminder, "Fujiko A. Fujio" is a non-existent name notation. If it exists, it is a misunderstanding or typo.
Pen name (or author name) of each era :
| AD | Fujimoto | collaboration | Abiko |
| 1951(Dec)- | "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi" | "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi" | "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi" |
| 1952(Nov)- | Ashizuka Fujio | Ashizuka Fujio | Ashizuka Fujio |
| 1953(Jul)- 1988(Feb) | Fujiko Fujio | Fujiko Fujio | Fujiko Fujio |
| 1988(Feb)- | Fujiko Fujio F | | Fujiko Fujio A |
| 1989(Jan)- | Fujiko F. Fujio | "Fujiko F. Fujio" or "Fujiko Fujio A" or "Fujiko F. Fujio, Fujiko Fujio A" | Fujiko Fujio A |

## Biography

Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko were both from Toyama Prefecture. Fujimoto was born on December 1, 1933, and Abiko on March 10, 1934. Abiko transferred to Fujimoto's elementary school in Takaoka City and happened to see Fujimoto drawing in a notebook. The two became lifelong friends, and during the early years of their friendship kept their illustrations hidden from friends and classmates out of embarrassment.
In junior high school they were greatly influenced by Osamu Tezuka and his manga series Shin Takarajima. Fujimoto built a homemade episcope and together they wrote a piece for it called Tenküma, which was their first collaborative work. They started submitting work to periodicals such as Manga Shōnen and opened a joint savings account through Japan Post to which they both contributed funds and which they used to purchase art supplies. They divided all income and expenses equally between each other, a practice they continued throughout the life of their partnership.
In high school they made their publishing debut, Tenshi no Tama-chan being adopted for serialization by Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun in 1951. That same year they paid a visit to Tezuka's residence in Takarazuka, Hyōgo and showed him illustrations for their work titled Ben Hur. Tezuka complimented the two, some years later commenting that he knew then they were going to be major figures in the manga industry. Abiko and Fujimoto treasured the meeting with the respected Tezuka, and kept the Ben Hur illustrations for their entire lives. It was at this time they decided to make their partnership permanent, initially adopting the name Tezuka Fujio out of respect, later changing this to Azhizuka Fujio when they perceived adoption of the Tezuka name as too close to that of their idol.
Because both Fujimoto and Abiko were eldest sons respectively, they decided to take company jobs after graduating from high school in 1952. Fujimoto found employment with a confectionery company, and Abiko began working for the Toyama Newspaper Company. However, Fujimoto quit within a matter of days. Fujimoto then dedicated his time to submitting work to periodicals, with Abiko assisting him on the weekends. Their first serial as Ashizuka Fujio was terminated in a few episodes, followed by success with the post-apocalyptic science fiction series Utopia: The Last World War (UTOPIA—最後の世界大戦, UTOPIA: Saigo no Sekai Taisen).
They elected to move to Tokyo in 1954 as professional manga artists at Fujimoto's urging, Abiko only reluctantly as he had steady employment at the Toyama Newspaper Company. Their first place of residence was a two-tatami mat room at the second floor of a watch shop. They eventually moved to the Tokiwa-sō apartment complex when Tezuka offered them a room that he was moving out of. Together with Hiroo Terada and several other manga artists of the period, they formed a collaborative group called "New Manga Party" (新漫画党, Shin Manga-To). At the apartment complex where the group was based, they enjoyed a period of productivity that had Fujimoto and Abiko carry up to six serials a month for publication. Additionally, Abiko contributed to Tezuka's works as an artist assistant, such as drawing a blizzard on the last page of Jungle Emperor.
The workload proved excessive, and in 1955 on return to Toyama for Japanese New Year the pair missed all the deadlines for their serials. The loss of credibility with publishers hurt Fujimoto and Abiko for a year. During the Tokiwa-sō era, they purchased a television set in Akihabara and made independent films with an 8mm camera. By 1959 they left Tokiwa-sō and moved to Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture. In the 1960s Fujimoto and Abiko founded Fujiko Studio Co., Ltd., a joint manga production company. Fujimoto found time to get married on Halloween of 1962, at the age of 28.
In 1963 Fujimoto and Abiko established Studio Zero with Shin'ichi Suzuki, Shotaro Ishimori, Jirō Tsunoda and Kiyoichi Tsunoda. Later Fujio Akatsuka joined, and at its peak the studio employed about 80 people. The studio produced several animated series and stood in for Mushi Production for an episode of Astro Boy. For Fujimoto and Abiko these were some of their most productive years, resulting in series such as Obake no Q-Tarō which eventually were made into anime series on television. Abiko got married in 1966 at the age of 32. Fujimoto concentrated on titles for children, with a particular interest in science fiction.
In 1968, Abiko started making manga for a more mature audience, with titles such as Kuroi Salesman. In the 1970s, Abiko focused on both adult and boys manga. The style was full of black humor.
In the 1970s, Fujimoto focused on both adult and childhood manga. His style was notable for its sense of wonder.
Doraemon was created in 1969. Since around 1974, its popularity has skyrocketed among Japanese children. CoroCoro Comic released its first issue in 1977 to showcase the works of Fujiko Fujio. With syndication of Doraemon on TV Asahi in 1979, a surge of popularity saw up to a dozen collaborative and solo works by Fujimoto and Abiko picked up for publication and syndication throughout the 1980s. Doraemon is the only work by the duo to ever get an official release in English-speaking countries, most notably the United States. However, English dubs of work such as Perman and Ninja Hattori-kun aired in Asia, and an English dub of Studio Bones' adaptation of their series Time Patrol Bon is available worldwide on Netflix.
In 1987, citing creative differences, Fujimoto and Abiko ended their long partnership to concentrate on solo projects. From now on, Abiko would work at Fujiko Studio K.K. and Fujimoto in Fujiko F. Fujio Pro K.K.
Abiko adopted the pen name Fujiko Fujio A.
Fujimoto adopted the pen name Fujiko F. Fujio.
According to Abiko, the cause for the dissolution of the partnership was due to Fujimoto discovering he had stomach cancer in 1986 (Since it was not announced, neither Fujimoto nor Abiko knew the exact name of the disease), and both Fujimoto and Abiko had a desire to settle copyright and financial issues before the other died.
Fujimoto died of liver failure at a hospital in Shinjuku on September 23, 1996.
A documentary was aired on TV Asahi on February 19, 2006, chronicling the life and times of Fujiko F. Fujio.
A Fujiko F. Fujio museum opened in Kawasaki, Kanagawa on September 3, 2011, which features a reproduction of Fujio's studio and a display of their artwork.
Abiko died of natural causes at his home in Kawasaki on April 6, 2022.

## Awards
### Fujiko Fujio

* 1963 – Shogakukan Manga Award (Susume Roboket and Tebukuro Tecchan)
* 1973 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Excellence Award (Doraemon)
* 1981 – Kawasaki City's Cultural Prize (川崎市文化賞) (Fujiko Fujio)
* 1982 – Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga (Doraemon)
* 1984 – "Movie day" Special Achievement Medal (Fujiko Fujio)
* 1984 – Golden Gloss Prize (ゴールデングロス賞) (Movie Doraemon)

### Fujiko F. Fujio

* 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, and more – Golden Gloss Prize (ゴールデングロス賞) (Movie Doraemon etc.)
* 1989 – "Movie day" Certificate of appreciation (Fujiko F. Fujio)
* 1994 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Minister of Education Award (Doraemon)
* 1995 – Fujimoto Award Encouragement Award (Fujiko F. Fujio (Movie Doraemon series production))
* 1996 – "Movie day" Special Achievement Medal (Fujiko F. Fujio)
* 1997 – The first Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize (Doraemon)

### Fujiko Fujio A

* 1990 – Fujimoto Award Special prize (Fujiko Fujio A (Movie Shonen jidai producer))
* 1990 – Yamaji Fumiko Cultural Foundation Special Award (Fujiko Fujio A (Shonen jidai producer))
* 2005 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (All works)
* 2008 – Order of the Rising Sun (Fujiko Fujio A)
* 2014 – Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award (Manga Michi and Ai... Shirisomeshi Koro ni...)

## Works

* All works (Japanese)
** Fujiko Fujio's Serialization list
** Fujiko Fujio's One-shot list

### Fujiko Fujio's works (Collaboration)

| English Title | Japanese Title | Year |
| Angel Tama-chan | Tenshi no Tama-chan (天使の玉ちゃん) | 1951–1952 |
| Drifting for 40,000 years | 4 Man-nen hyōryū (四万年漂流) | 1953 |
| UTOPIA: The Final World War | UTOPIA: Saigo no Sekai Taisen (UTOPIA 最後の世界大戦) | 1953 |
| Prince of the Sea | Umi no Ōji (海の王子) | 1959–1965 |
| Invisible Racing Car | Kieru Kaisokusha (きえる快速車) | 1963 |
| Little Ghost Q-Taro | Obake no Q-Tarō (オバケのQ太郎) | 1964–1966 |
| Wakatono | (わかとの) | 1964–1965 |
| Great Dog Tintin | Meiken Tantan (名犬タンタン) | 1965–1968 |
| Beret Shin-chan | Berē no Shin-chan (ベレーのしんちゃん) | 1965–1966 |
| Jirokichi | (ジロキチ) | 1965–1966 |
| Gloves Te-chan (1966) | Tebukuro Tetchan (てぶくろてっちゃん) | 1966 |
| Perman (1966) | Pāman (パーマン) | 1966–1968 |
| Chintara Kami-chan | (チンタラ神ちゃん) | 1967 |
| New Little Ghost Q-Taro | Shin Obake no Q-Tarō (新オバケのQ太郎) | 1971–1973, 1976 |
| Senbe | Senbē (仙べえ) | 1971–1972 |

### Fujiko Fujio's works (Fujimoto alone)

| English Title | Japanese Title | Year |
| Gloves Te-chan (1960) | Tebukuro Tetchan (てぶくろてっちゃん) | 1960–1963 |
| Go! Roboket | Susume Roboket (すすめロボケット) | 1961–1965 |
| 21 Emon : The 21st Century Kid | 21 Emon (21エモン) | 1967–1969, 1981 |
| Super-san (One-shot) | (スーパーさん) | 1968 |
| Plum Star Denka | Umeboshi Denka (ウメ星デンカ) | 1968–1970 |
| Mojacko | Mojakō (モジャ公) | 1969–1970 |
| Doraemon | (ドラえもん) | 1969–1988 |
| Pokonyan (Rocky Rackat!) | (ポコニャン) | 1970–1978 |
| Bonom: Sokonuke-san (One-shot) | (ボノム =底ぬけさん=) | 1970 |
| Dojita Dojiro's Lucks (One-shot) | Dojita Dojirō no Kōun (ドジ田ドジ郎の幸運) | 1970 |
| Adventures of Dobinson | Dobinson Hyōryūki (ドビンソン漂流記) | 1971–1972 |
| Old Bachelor (One-shot) | Jijinuki (じじぬき) | 1970 |
| Self Meeting (One-shot) | Jibun Kaigi (自分会議) | 1972 |
| Jungle Kurobe | Jungle Kurobē (ジャングル黒べえ) | 1973 |
| Pajamaman | (パジャママン) | 1973–1974 |
| Mokkoro-Kun | (モッコロくん) | 1973–1975 |
| Bakeru-kun | (バケルくん) | 1974–1976, 1984 |
| Nostaljii (One-shot) | Nosutarujī (ノスタル爺) | 1974 |
| Kiteretsu | Kiteretsu Daihyakka (キテレツ大百科) | 1974–1977 |
| Zo-kun and Risu-chan | Zō-kun to Risu-chan (ぞうくんとりすちゃん) | 1974–1975 |
| Mikio and MIKIO | Mikio to MIKIO (みきおとミキオ) | 1974–1975 |
| Red-Haired Anko (One-shot) | Akage no Anko (赤毛のアン子) | 1974 |
| Fourth dimension hat P-Poko | 4 Jigen Bō P-Poko (4じげんぼうPポコ) | 1975–1976 |
| 33,000 Square Meters (One-shot) | 3 Man 3 Zen Hēbē (3万3千平米) | 1975 |
| Lone War of the Worlds (One-shot) | Hitoribotchi no Uchū Sensō (ひとりぼっちの宇宙戦争) | 1975 |
| Ultra-Super-Deluxeman (One-shot) | (ウルトラ・スーパー・デラックスマン) | 1975 |
| Bellavo | Berabō (ベラボー) | 1968–1969 |
| U-bow | U-Bō (Uボー) | 1976–1978 |
| Minister Bowbow | Baubau Daijin (バウバウ大臣) | 1976 |
| Captain Bon | (きゃぷてんボン) | 1976 |
| Mami the Psychic | Esper Mami (エスパー魔美) | 1976–1983 |
| Alien Report: Sample A and B (One-shot) | Uchūjin Report: Sample A to B (宇宙人レポート サンプルAとB) | 1977 |
| Middle-aged Superman Mr. Saenai | Chūnen Superman Saenai-shi (中年スーパーマン左江内氏) | 1977–1978 |
| That idiot aims for the wilderness (One-shot) | Ano Baka wa Kōya wo Mezasu (あのバカは荒野をめざす) | 1977 |
| Time Patrol Bon | T. P. Bon (T・Pぼん) | 1978–1985 |
| His Time Machine (One-shot) | Aitsu no Time Machine (あいつのタイムマシン) | 1979 |
| Mira-cle-1 | Mira-kuru-1 (ミラ・クル・1) | 1979 |
| One Day... (One-shot) | Aru Hi... (ある日……) | 1982 |
| Worldscope (One-shot) | Shikaikyō (四海鏡) | 1982 |
| Perman (1983) | Pāman (パーマン) | 1983–1986 |
| Chu-Poko | Chū-Poko (宙ポコ) | 1983 |
| Toppi the Space Puppy | Chūken Toppi (宙犬トッピ) | 1983–1984 |
| Chimpui | (チンプイ) | 1985–1988 |

### Fujiko Fujio's works (Abiko alone)

| English Title | Japanese Title | Year |
| My name is X-kun | Wagana wa X-kun (わが名はXくん) | 1957–1958, 1959–1962 |
| Silver Cross | (シルバー・クロス) | 1960–1963 |
| Galaxy Captain | Ginga Senchō (銀河船長) | 1961–1962 |
| Big 1 | (ビッグ・1) | 1962 |
| Prince Ciscon | Shisukon Ōji (シスコン王子) | 1963–1964 |
| Futa-kun | Fūta-kun (フータくん) | 1964–1967 |
| Ninja Hattori | Ninja Hattori-kun (忍者ハットリくん) | 1964–1968, 1981–1988 |
| Three Z Men | (スリーZメン) | 1964–1965 |
| Tako-kun in my house | Bokunchi no Tako-kun (ぼくんちのタコくん) | 1965–1967 |
| The Monster Kid | Kaibutsu-kun (怪物くん) | 1965–1969, 1972, 1980–1982 |
| Masked X-kun | Mask no X-kun (マスクのXくん) | 1965–1966 |
| Manganica | (マンガニカ) | 1967–1971 |
| Monster Boy Wakatono | Kaijin Wakatono (怪人わかとの) | 1967–1968 |
| The Black Salesman (One-shot) | KUROI SEeRUSUMAN (黒イせぇるすまん) | 1968 |
| Biriken | (ビリ犬) | 1969 |
| The Black Salesman (Serialization) | KUROi SEeRUSUMAN (黒ィせぇるすまん) | 1969–1971 |
| Kurobe | Kurobē (黒ベエ) | 1969–1970 |
| Masked Taro | Kamen Tarō (仮面太郎) | 1969–1970 |
| Madmen team | Kyōjin gun (狂人軍) | 1969–1970 |
| Uncle HiTLer | HitTORAa Oji San (ひっとらぁ伯父サン) | 1969, 1971 |
| Mumako | (夢魔子) | 1970 |
| Gekiga Mao Zedong | Gekiga Mō Takutō Den (劇画毛沢東伝) | 1970–1971 |
| Phantom Hen-dayou | Maboroshi Hendayū (マボロシ変太夫) | 1971–1972 |
| Mr. Nameless | Mumei-kun (無名くん) | 1971–1976 |
| Kappa Kappo | Kappa no Kappo (かっぱのカッポ) | 1972–1974 |
| Mataro is Coming!! | Matarō ga Kuru!! (魔太郎がくる!!) | 1972–1975 |
| Mr. Tour Conductor | Tenjō-san (添乗さん) | 1972–1974 |
| Nonsense man | Zare Otoko (戯れ男) | 1973 |
| Love Thief | Ai Nusubito (愛ぬすびと) | 1973 |
| Katsuagemaru Extortion Company | Katsuagemaru Yusuri Shōkai (喝揚丸ユスリ商会) | 1973 |
| Sasurai-kun | Sasurai-kun (さすらいくん) | 1973–1981 |
| Saru the ProGolfer | ProGolfer Saru (プロゴルファー猿) | 1974–1980, 1982–1988 |
| Love Traveler | Ai Tazunebito (愛たずねびと) | 1974 |
| Old man Bo-Taro | Oyaji Bōtarō (オヤジ坊太郎) | 1975–1976 |
| Miss Dracula | (ミス・ドラキュラ) | 1975–1980 |
| I am Assistant Chief | Ore Kakarichō Hosa (オレ係長補佐) | 1975–1976 |
| Black Company Henkiro | Black Shōkai Henkirō (ブラック商会変奇郎) | 1976–1977 |
| Manga Michi | (まんが道) | 1977–1982, 1986–1988 |
| Parman's days | Parman no Hibi (パーマンの日々) | 1978–1980 |
| Shonen Jidai (Childhood Days) | Shōnen Jidai (少年時代) | 1978–1979 |
| Futa-kun NOW! | (フータくん NOW!) | 1982–1983 |
| Parman's Reserved Seat | Parman no Shiteiseki (パーマンの指定席) | 1982–1987 |
| Dream Tunnel | Yume Tonneru (夢トンネル) | 1983–1984 |
| Ninja Hattori + Perman | Ninja Hattori-kun + Pāman (忍者ハットリくん+パーマン) | 1983–1985 |
| Ultra B | (ウルトラB) | 1984–1988 |

### Fujiko F. Fujio's works (Fujimoto)

| English Title | Japanese Title | Year |
| Doraemon | (ドラえもん) | 1988–1997 |
| Chimpui | (チンプイ) | 1988–1991 |
| Memories of the Future | Mirai no Omoide (未来の想い出) | 1991 |
| Alien Mr. Andro (One-shot) | Ijin Andoro-shi (異人アンドロ氏) | 1995 |

### Fujiko Fujio A's works (Abiko)

| English Title | Japanese Title | Year |
| Ninja Hattori | Ninja Hattori-kun (忍者ハットリくん) | 1988 |
| Saru the ProGolfer | ProGolfer Saru (プロゴルファー猿) | 1988, 1989 |
| Manga Michi | (まんが道) | 1988 |
| Ultra B | (ウルトラB) | 1988–1989 |
| Biriken | (ビリ犬) | 1988–1989 |
| Takamori Runs | Takamori ga Hashiru (タカモリが走る) | 1988–1991 |
| Biriken All Trading Company | Biriken Nandemo Shōkai (ビリ犬なんでも商会) | 1988–1989 |
| Parasol Henbe | Parasol Hembē (パラソルヘンべえ) | 1989–1991 |
| The Laughing Salesman | WARAu SEeRUSUMAN (笑ゥせぇるすまん) | 1989–1995 |
| Love... When I knew it... :Youth of Maga Michio | Ai... Shirisomeshi Koro ni... :Maga Michio no Seishun (愛…しりそめし頃に… — 満賀道雄の青春) | 1989, 1990, 1995–2013 |
| Sudden Death | (サドンデス) | 1991–1992 |
| Prince Demokin | (プリンスデモキン) | 1991–1999 |
| YOUM | YOUM (憂夢, Yūmu) | 1991–1995 |
| PARMAN's days | PARMAN no Hibi (PARMANの日々) | 1991–1992 |
| Drifting Around The World | World Hyōryūki (ワールド漂流記) | 1993–1995 |
| Kirito Come!! | Kirito ga Kita!! (切人がきた!!) | 1994–1996 |
| Parman's Days of Dream and Roses | Parman no Yume to Bara no Hibi (パーマンの夢とバラの日々) | 1995–1996 |
| The Salesman Returns | KAEtTEKITA SEeRUSUMAN (帰ッテキタせぇるすまん) | 1996, 1998–2000 |
| Moguro Fukujiro's work | Moguro Fukujirō no Shigoto (喪黒福次郎の仕事) | 1997–1998 |
| Yojimbo | Yōjinbō (用心棒) | 1998 |
| Hoa!! Koike-san | (ホアー!! 小池さん) | 1998–2001 |
| SARU | (サル) | 1998–2005 |
| The Dancing Salesman | ODORU SEeRUSUMAN (踊ルせぇるすまん) | 2001, 2003–2006 |
| PARman's Passionate Days | PARman no Jōnetsuteki na Hibi (PARマンの情熱的な日々) | 2007–2015 |
| Life Proverb Funny "MAN" Encyclopedia | Jinsei Kotowaza Omoshiro "Man" Jiten (人生ことわざ面白"漫"辞典) | 2007–2022 |
| The Monster Kid (One-shot) | Kaibutsu-kun (怪物くん) | 2011 |