Hatabō

**Hatabō** (ハタ坊), created by Fujio Akatsuka and Kenichiro Takai, is a supporting cast member in the series Osomatsu-kun as well as a recurring character in Akatsuka's Star System.

He is also the star of the short-lived spinoffs Hatabō and Wanpei, which ran in the Red Flag Sunday newspaper through 1971 to 1972.

## Overview

Hatabō is another smaller child introduced into -kun, who may either be much younger than the Sextuplets or at their very age. Compared to Chibita, he is a simple, dull boy often ignorant to what is going on, or left vulnerable.

The flag on his head initially spawned from a favored cartoon gag Akatsuka loved, in which flags would shoot out of ears in surprise. This is why he often also had a flag dangling from his ear early on.

## Physical Appearance

He is a short young boy with a Kappa or "bat wing"-like hairstyle and fringe, upon which a Hinomaru flag extends from his head. He has a "cheek beard" on his face much like Chibita, caused by wiping his runny nose, and the lines beneath his nose are also meant to indicate dried mucus.

His fashion sense is often simple, being a single-buttoned shirt and pants, though the 1988 Pierrot anime opts to have him wear green overalls with a baby chick pattern on the front pocket.

Depending on the settings of a story, the flag on his head may not be the Hinomaru and may instead be swapped out with something else; the red Communist flag can be seen in the newspaper strips (for the Red Flag Sunday demographic), or he may have another country's flag when set as living elsewhere such us the USA or the UK. In the Pierrot anime, there can be some sight gag moments where the symbol on his flag will be replaced when following his emotions; an exclamation point for surprise or shock, a heart, etc.

This flag may also be removable most of the time, though some settings like the ***Burst of Laughter World-zansu*** guide depict him as even having a flagpole-shaped bone protrusion coming from his skull as a sight gag. In the series itself at one point, it is explained that Hatabō was given his flag by his older brother though most of the time the rest of his family can also be seen to wear identical ones.

## Personality

He is a simple-minded sort who "doesn't think or know anything", and vaguely lively as he wanders about; though he lacks a sense of direction and cannot tell left from right. There are times he will not understand or follow what's going on or what others are talking about, but will curiously observe the situation.

It is easy for others to bully him and he is not as pro-active as Chibita, even being pushed around by that child, but there can be occasions where he will show himself to be stronger especially when he is set in a less innocent type of role.

Though he is portrayed as somewhat more intelligent in the Shonen King run of -kun, this was reverted for his following appearances in the 1980s where he was back to being a more foolish child with a dull, dry impression at times.

## Relationships with Other Characters

### Dekapan

Hatabō can be seen to help Dekapan on some occasions, while other times he may even be set as the man's son to strengthen such a relationship in the story.

## Appearances in other works

*See also: Akatsuka's Star System*

* *Leave it to Chota*
* *Otasuke-kun*
* *Songo-kun*
* *Nonsensical NO.1*
* *Kantaro*
* *Opposite Address 3*
* *Ken-chan*
* *Akatsuka-kun Can Do Anything*
* *Gyahaha, the Three Musketeers!*
* *Meanness Contest*
* *Chibita-kun*
* *Thriller Professor*
* *The Monkey's Foolish Guardmen*
* *Good Morning with Mi-tan* (as a cat friend of Chibira)
* *The Genius Bakabon*
* *Extraordinary Ataro*
* *There's no Wonderful Business like that of a Gag!*
* *Oh! Great Jailbreak*
* *Unkor Wat*
* *Nyarome's World Expo Surprise Surprise Surprise Guide*
* *Gag + Gag*
* *Cat's Eye News*
* *Hatabō and Wanpei*
* *Wanpei and Mo-chan*
* *The Great Stupid Detective Kogoro Hakuchi*
* *Nyarome*
* *Let's La Gon*
* *Noragaki*
* *Occhan*
* *A Turning and Turning World*
* *Nyarome's Fun Cosmology Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Fun Biology Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Fun Computer Exploration*
* *Nyarome's Fun Exploration of the Body's Mysteries* (as a form of Scatan and as himself)
* *Nyarome's Fun Sexual Education Classroom*
* *Nyarome's Big Blood Type Studies*
* *Fujio's Waru Waru World*
* *What Will Fujio Akatsuka Do!?*
* *Japan Laughter Story*
* *Basho Matsuo*
* *Ramen Great Escape*
* *Sheeh! Comeback*
* *Reading Dai-sensei*
* *Yarasete-ojisan*
* *MR. Masashi*
* *Gag Shop*
* *Collapse of the Sheeh! Religion*

## Appearances in Animation

### Osomatsu-san

*For additional detailed information, see also the Osomatsu-san wiki*

## Portrayals

### Voice Acting

* Osomatsu-kun (1966)- Midori Kato\*
* Furious Ataro (1969)- Hiroshi Otake (episode 44), Masako Nozawa (episode 57)
* We are Manga-ka: The Tokiwa-so Story- Kazuko Sugiyama
* Hitachi Television City: Nyarome's Fun Mathematics Classroom- Seiko Nakano
* Osomatsu-kun (1988), CR Osomatsu-kun, Pachislot Osomatsu-kun- Mari Mashiba
* Rerere's Genius Bakabon- Kurumi Mamiya
* That's How Things Should Be!! Fujio Akatsuka★The Movie- Tae Kimura
* Osomatsu-san- Momoko Saito

\*Though the book "TV Anime Memories of 25 Years" laid claim that Takako Sasuga was the voice of the character, there was never any credit or corroboration to prove this and the book has been noted to have many other mistakes. Midori Kato was actually the actress, and was only credited all of once in the show.

## External Links

* Hatabo profile at Koredeiinoda (Japanese)