Bakabon's Mama

**Bakabon's Mama** (バカボンのママ) is one of the prominent characters in The Genius Bakabon, and a part of Akatsuka's Star System.

As with her husband being "Papa", she is only truly known as "Mama".

## Overview

As the sensible wife character of the series, Mama may wind up confused or even directly opposed to Papa's actions if a prank involves her, but she nonetheless loves her husband and can take a backseat to all the shenanigans.

## Physical Appearance

Mama is a tall, slender woman, towering over her considerably shorter husband. She often wears a dress (sometimes a turtleneck dress is some of the anime adaptations such as the 1975 series) and apron, or a blouse and skirt beneath the apron, and sandals or simple shoes.

Her eyes are round and pitch-black, with some sparkle to them, and initially start off much smaller before evolving to be more of a visible design motif. Her hair also lengthens some through art evolution.

Though her hair is pitch black in the manga artwork, it can at times appear brown in animated adaptations such as the 1971 series and *Late Night!*

## Personality

Mama is a gentle, smart housewife and mother who has expert skill in taking care of her family while having to be involved in Papa's mischief. She is usually calm and unable to have her anger raised, but if Papa messes around too much and does something most unforgivable, she will lose her temper and show her own strong will and strength with words. In a situation where her kids may also be in danger, she can also show herself to have great physical strength as well.

However, it is that steely patience and her endurance that are the greatest virtues, especially for someone that must have to deal with Papa as the head of the household and all of the chaos that can ensue. She is repulsed by frogs, snakes, and bugs, and it is possible to get her terror provoked if she has to deal with any of those. Her favorite hobby is reading, be it books or the newspaper, but she really enjoys fairy tales.

Mama is also very interested in anything to do with beauty, and will be aggressively adamant about getting things clean and in order such as when she sees the state of Kaoru Hanayama's decrepit home. She was the one who ultimately proposed to Papa, after initially being hesitant to go forth with his impulsive idea to get married.

## History

As Papa had been a student at Bakada University in his young adulthood, Mama was a student of the nearby Kuroyuri Womens' University, where she was considered the Madonna and top of her class.

Papa had kept an eye on her through a telescope, amazed at the girl he'd call "Shungiku no Kimi" and the "star of his youth". He spontaneously proposed to her with a bouquet of pampas grass, and insisted that she marry and have future sons with him. Although there was some awkwardness, she did agree to go on a date, though she initially would refuse his further proposals as they still did not know each other well. Upon Mama stating she wanted to know more about the man, Papa dropped his pants to show her the moles on his butt.

However, after an unwanted intrusive man accosted Mama at the park, Papa initially refused to help, but was charmed when Mama finally called out for him to marry her.

## Appearances in other works

*See also: Akatsuka's Star System*

* *Oh! Great Jailbreak*
* *Cat's Eye News*
* *Nyarome's World Expo Surprise Surprise Surprise Guide*
* *Wanpei and Mo-chan*
* *BC Adam*
* *Kensaku the Architect*
* *Nyarome's Fun Mathematics Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Fun Cosmology Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Fun Biology Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Fun Computer Exploration*
* *Nyarome's Fun Exploration of the Body's Mysteries*
* *Nyarome's Fun Sexual Education Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Big Blood Type Studies*
* *What Will Fujio Akatsuka Do!?*
* *Japan Laughter Story*
* *Collapse of the Sheeh! Religion*

## Portrayals

### Voice Acting

* 1971 series, Original, Nyarome's Fun Mathematics Classroom, Heisei, Rerere, commercials, pachinko- Eiko Masuyama
* 1971 series episode 35B- Haruko Kitahama (one-time understudy)
* That's How Things Should Be!! Fujio Akatsuka★The Movie- Ayumi Ishida
* The Genius Bakavon: ~Reviving the Dog of Flanders~- Asa Ueno
* Late Night! The Genius Bakabon- Noriko Hidaka

Though Masuyama was retained through all the first four adaptations by Akatsuka's request, Masuyama would retire from acting in her advanced age and thus modern versions have replaced Mama's voice by necessity.

### Live Action

Nao Matsushita played Mama in the live-action TV Drama specials by Nippon Television through 2016 to 2018.

## Trivia

### Name

Although Mama has no true name like with Papa, this hasn't stopped there from being speculation or occasions where a name may appear to be given for a one-time setting.

In "A Fool Should Be Made in Japan", as well as its adaptations in animation, her old friend Non-chan refers to her as "**Akko**" and "**Acchan**". This lead to some fans wondering if Mama had relation to another certain Akko or was perhaps her grown up, and asking such, but the Koredeiinoda FAQ clarified that it was not her real name and merely coincidental. Both names are diminutives for Atsuko or Akiko, and Akatsuka's then-wife Tomoko had a sister by the latter name (which had been previously used to inspire Akko-chan).

Another apocryphal instance of naming comes from *The Original Genius Bakabon*'s adaptation of when Papa and Mama met; in the manga, Papa arbitrarily nicknames the girl he likes as "**Shungiku no Kimi**", while in the anime it is Mama who confesses her name to Papa as "**Shungiku**".

## External Links

* Bakabon's Mama profile at Koredeiinoda (Japanese)