Hikaru Sulu (TOS)

Hikaru Sulu is a main character in Star Trek: The Original Series and appeared in the first six films. He was played by the Japanese-American actor George Takei.
The character's name was originally just Sulu, and he had no given name until Hikaru, previously used in some of the tie-in novels, was added for the sixth film. 
==Origin of Name and Controversies==
Novelist Vonda McIntyre first introduced "Hikaru" as the character's first name in the novel The Entropy Effect. McIntyre derived the character's first name from The Tale of Genji. Although McIntyre was unaware at the time of any controversy surrounding her giving Sulu a first name, editor David Hartwell had to clear his name with Gene Roddenberry and Takei to override Paramount's objections. However, the name did not become canonical until its mention in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Peter David wrote about making the suggestion to director Nicholas Meyer at Takei's request during a visit to the set.
The name Sulu, for example, was based on the Sulu Sea off the coast of the Philippines, so as to render his Asian nationality indeterminate. 
In some Japanese dubs, Commander Sulu's last name is changed to Kato. According to Bernardi, Sulu is not a Japanese name and would likely be unpronounceable by Japanese speakers as the language has no "l" sound and "u" is silent. Ojaste cites the reason for this as a lack of effort to be culturally accurate by the writers of the time to portray a true Japanese character. However, in recent films it is only slightly altered; the name スールー (Sūrū, with long vowels) is used instead of スル (Suru, with short vowels). Although the latter is a closer transliteration of the name "Sulu", may sound strange to Japanese audiences because "Suru" with short vowels is the verb "to do" in the Japanese language.
==Fandom==
===Sulu in Fanon===
===Pairings===
*Sulu/Chekov
==Fanworks==
===Fanfic===
===Sulu-centric Zines===
* Orion Archives: 2284-2323 Captain Sulu
* Swords and Sulu
* Sulu's Vacation, a novel zine published as Saurian Brandy Digest #30
* Murasaki 
 
==Gallery of Sulu Fannish Art==
=== 1960s ===
File:Plaktow12.jpg|Cover art from Plak-Tow #12 by Kathy Bushman (1969)
===1970s===
File:Trisk4art12.jpg|Art from Triskelion #4 by Alice Jones (1971)
File:sulubybarr.jpg|original art, used as the centerfold by George Barr for the zine Graveside Grope and Grup #2 (1973)
File:Startrekscene3front.jpg|Cover art of The Star Trek Scene #3 by John Price (1974)
File:Halkan10.jpg|cover of Halkan Council #10 (1975)
File:Interphase2-6.jpg|Art from Interphase #2 by Connie Faddis (1975)
File:Landoncard-2.jpg|from Signe Landon Star Trek Postcards (1976)
File:Tet10back.jpg|Art from Tetrumbriant #10 by Gee Moaven (1976)
File:Koonart2.jpg|Art from Koon-ut-kal-if-fee #1 by unknown artist (1977)
File:Returntotomorrow4-3.jpg|Art from Return To Tomorrow by Janice Hrubes (1977)
File:Stardateunknownfour.jpg|front cover of Stardate Unknown #4 (1978)
File:Solplus7.jpg|cover of Sol Plus #7 (1979)
File:Saurian17back.jpg|Art from Saurian Brandy Digest #17 by Melinda Shreve (1979) 
 File:Alphatouch1inside5.jpg| portrays Sulu in the episode, "The Naked Time," artist is [L L], the zine is Alpha Touch #1 (1979)
===1980s===
File:Nearandfar-8.jpg|Art by Barbara P. Gordon from Friends & Strangers, Near & Far (1980)
File:Neutralzineoneback.jpg|Art from Neutral Zine #1 by Vel Jaeger (1981)
File:Captainswoman3-3.jpg|Art from The Captain's Woman by Barbara J. Setzer (1981)
File:Alternaties 1.jpg|cover of Alternaties (1982)
File:Interstat 54.jpg|Cover art from Interstat #54 by Sat Nam Kaur Keahey (1982)
File:Organia30.jpg|Art from Organia by Ann Crouch (1982)
File:Eternaltriangle3-5.jpg|Art from Eternal Triangle #3 by Gennie Summers (1983)
File:Vault of Tomorrow 4 back cover.jpg|Art from Vault of Tomorrow #4 by Lydia Moon (1983)
File:Parallaxartgordon-4.jpg|Art from Parallax Ring by Barbara P. Gordon (1984)
File:Quastar4art7.jpg|Art from Quastar #4 Tarsie Dehne (1984)
File:Inadiff20one.jpg|alt=illustration of Sulu looking up while stting at the helm, in the background Spock sits on the captain's chair|Art from In a Different Reality #20 by Christine Myers (1984)
File:Beyondant5-6.jpg|Art from Beyond Antares R-Rated by unspecified artist (1985)
File:Moremissions5-1.jpg|Art from More Missions, More Myths #5 (1986)
File:Starsailors3back.jpg|back cover of Star Sailors #3 (1987)
File:Highly5art2.jpg|alt=illustration of Sulu in an exercise outfit, arms raised with one holding a fencing sword|Art from Highly Illogical #5 by Juanne Michaud (1987) 
===1990s===
File:Novatrekdeeb-4.jpg|Art from Nova Trek by Deeb (1990)
File:Wright2-3.jpg|Cover art of The Wright Stuff v.2 n.3 by Sharon Young (1991)
File:Log87.jpg|Cover art of Enterprise Log Entries #87 by Paul Privitera (1992)
File:Osirisfiles7-3.jpg|Art from Osiris Files #7 by an unknown artist (1993) 
File:Orion33.jpg|cover of Orion #33 (1993)
File:Orionthirtysix.jpg|Cover art of Orion #36 by unknown artist (1996) 
===Unknown Date===
Image:Tnegative art3.jpg|art in T-Negative (unknown date) 
==Archives and Links==
*Hikaru Sulu, Original Series, tag at AO3
*Sulu, Original Series at FanFiction.net
*Hikaru Sulu at trekiverse
==Resources==
*Hikaru Sulu entry at Wikipedia
*Sulu entry at Memory Alpha
==References==
 Category: Star Trek TOS Characters