Otasuke Shiketa

**Otasuke Shiketa** (志毛田おた助), created by Fujio Akatsuka, is the lead character from the series Otasuke-kun. He also notably appears as a supporting cast member of Leave it to Chota, initially by the Otasuke name but later called "**Demekin**" (lit: "bulging eyes").

## Overview

As the protagonist of his series, Otasuke is initially meant to be the character with the most focus and who the stories build from. However, as time goes by, he is outshone by various members of his supporting cast; Ichiro being the most frequent and notable example.

Outside his own series, Otasuke lives up to the meaning of his name in being the assistant for another character, up until that name setting is changed and instead refers to his wide eyes.

## Physical Appearance

Otasuke is a young boy with a rather Chibita-esque face, complete with "cheek beard". Where he differs would be the fact that he is taller, as well as bearing a bowlcut hairstyle that is either brown or gray depending on the whim of the assistant colorist or Akatsuka himself.

He is often dressed in a buttoned school uniform jacket and a pair of slacks, along with running shoes. However, he can often wear a simple shirt and shorts for the summer as well. At some points, he may bear a hachimaki tied around his head.

Otasuke is basically identical in appearance to Ganmo, save for usually being somewhat taller and not dressed in the yukata. His mouth also never gets as sharp as Ganmo's comes to be drawn in his later redesigns.

### "Otasuke-kun after 10 Years" (or 20 Years, with reprints)

The adult version of Otasuke seen in this chapter is a taller man in a business suit, and bearing a Chaplin-style mustache to denote him as more grown up than his child design.

## Personality

Otasuke is a serious, dedicated and active boy with great courage but who can wind up pulled into unusual adventures and unexpected tasks in his everyday life. Even so, it is difficult for him to be exhausted and he will power through situations for a solution, if not having to deal with the chaos that will result.

He also has a mischievous and wild side, which comes out when he has to deal with foolish sorts like Ichiro or in handling others that may give trouble.

## Relationships with Other Characters

### Ichiro

Otasuke initially encounters the company president's son imitating a crow atop their fence, and beats up the "giant crow". Ichiro quickly pays Otasuke back with the beating by whacking him over the head with a mallet. This still does not stop Otasuke from having further urges to try to beat sense into Ichiro out of frustration over the other's stupidity.

He finds that Ichiro is a more simplistic boy who wants to play games rather than study, and it is through further fooling around that he discovers Ichiro to become temporarily smart after a head injury. A second head injury, however, quickly undoes this.

Further instances after their meeting show Otasuke to have fun in pranking Ichiro, but he finds that Ichiro himself is rather crafty and mischievous and can often be the catalyst for further dysfunctions.

### Tamao

As seen in the first chapter, Otasuke and Tamao enjoy making mischief and roughhousing together, to the chagrin of their father who wishes they'd take their education more seriously. Tamao serves as the energetic, cheerful younger brother of the two.

The brothers often tag closely along together, and play the part of a combined *tsukkomi* to Ichiro's shenanigans but also may be left vulnerable to them all the same.

### Chikako

A girl in the neighborhood, who comes to be part of Otasuke's friend group and is suggested to bear some feelings for him, particularly when she becomes vindictive and jealous at him being seen playing with a new girl.

Still, if Chikako winds up the subject of Ichiro's chaos, it is up to Otasuke to have to help her out.

### Mother and Father

His mother is an average, dutiful housewife who he and Tamao must respect and obey.

Though Otasuke's father can get frustrated at how casual he is about some things, he appreciates his son's hard work and dutiful ways.

### The President of Otoboke Pharmaceutical

Since this man lives right next door to Otasuke's home, he and Tamao are in close contact with the man when it comes to having to assist him in dealing with Ichiro. This president can at times accompany the boys on trips, such as hiking and camping in the mountains.

### Gorilla the Housekeeper

Otasuke is the one to first suggest that this woman resembles a gorilla, earning her the name that will come to be attached to her for the rest of the series. Although he takes her brutal looks lightly, he soon regrets that when he experiences how physically strong she is in dealing out punishment as well as her strict nature making it easy for her to order him and the other children to do their homework.

### Chota

Otasuke/Demekin is Chota's sidekick in some plots, with Chota's height somewhat exceeding his own and making him a "Chibita"-type role to Chota's "Osomatsu". However, their dynamic does not have the bullying angle, and the two are more consistently friends.

If Chota cannot get out of a situation on his own, it'll be this boy's help that he'll come to rely on. But sometimes, the two will wind up dragged into danger or chaos together, and have to rely on their combined wills to get out of it.

## Appearances in other works

*See also: Akatsuka's Star System*

* *Osomatsu-kun*
* *2nd-Generation President Ichiro-kun*
* *Nyarome's World Expo Surprise Surprise Surprise Guide*

## Appearances in Animation

Otasuke and Tamao briefly appeared among other Akatsuka Stars in the 1982 "Nyarome's Fun Mathematics Classroom" TV special. Unlike most animated efforts, this one continues to see a lack of republishing and can only be viewed at the Yokohama Broadcasting Library.

## Trivia

* Although Otasuke was irrelevant as a character and forgotten after the 1970 expo guide, Chibidon can be seen as somewhat of a spiritual successor as well as bearing the same kind of design template.
* In chapter plots that were recycled from Nama-chan, Otasuke is put in the role Nama-chan was once in, while Ichiro tends to fulfill the role of Konpe and Tamao is substituted in place of Kantaro.

## External Links

* Otasuke profile at Koredeiinoda (Japanese)