Mitsutoshi Furuya

Furuya, circa a 1995 Akatsuka documentary.

**Mitsutoshi Furuya** (古谷三敏, August 11,1936- December 8, 2021) was a Japanese manga-ka, formerly affiliated with Fujio Akatsuka and Fujio Pro from the mid 1960s to 1974.

## Life and Career

Furuya was born in Mukden, Manchuria, where his family had taken up residence during the time and his father had run a sushi restaurant. Though he was the first son to be born, his father had bestowed the name of "Mitsutoshi" upon him due to being born within the third year of living in the country. Growing up in the country was not without its difficulties, as the family had to move to Beijing but Furuya found that he had to commute 5 hours to the nearest elementary school that was in Qinghuangdao. His father in the meantime, had become a cook for the Beidahe Army Hospital.

Upon his family's return to Japan, he spent his time growing up in Kashima-gun, Ibaraki and made his manga debut in 1955 with the kashihon "Tangerine Flowers Blooming on a Hill". In 1958, he managed to break further into the industry by becoming an assistant to Osamu Tezuka until his independence in 1961, where he wrote works for Kobunsha's Shojo magazine. He continued to publish more kashihon and manga one-shots through other shojo magazines through the early 1960s, sometimes under the aliases of **Mutsuko Furuya** (*ふるや・ムツ子)* or **Satoshi Kitano** (*北野智,* a pen-name taken from the authors Satoshi Inoue and Hideaki Kitano).

As the decade went on, Furuya's editor suggested that he become an assistant for Fujio Akatsuka, and he helped form the main core of Fujio Pro when it was established. As he assisted on the art for Akatsuka's features, he also published his own within various shonen and shojo magazines of the time.

In late 1970, Furuya and Akatsuka would collaborate on a new series together, "No-Good Father", along with Akatsuka's series of Bukkare\*Dan. However, the stories for half of the first year had actually been plotted and drawn out by Akatsuka (with finishing touches by Furuya), showing how the two would easily assist on each others' works. This would lead to Damesuke popping up in cameo in some of Akatsuka's works as a gag as well.

But by September 1974, an embezzlement case that had occured at Fujio Pro and that had greatly affected Furuya's own money played a part in him leaving the company to go independent, along with his growing discomfort and creative differences in having to work with Kunio Nagatani as part of the Fujio Pro team even if he held no grievances about Akatsuka himself. Keiji Yoshitani followed Furuya in his departure, and the two would start their own company, "Family Planning". Over time and to the present, Furuya had become better known for his older audience-geared manga about salarymen such as BAR Lemon Heart, and managed an actual bar named after the series.

Sadly, on December 13th, 2021, Futabasha's official BAR Lemon Heart Twitter account announced a death notice for Furuya, stating that he had passed away from cancer five days prior.

## List of Works

*Years and detailed serialization information must be found and determined for some works.* *As with contemporaries like Akatsuka, his name could also appear partially or fully notated in the hiragana alphabet, adding another variation to authorship credits.*

### Series

* **Kondo-kun** (近藤くん, July to November 1966, Manga King)
* **Pinky-chan** (ピンキーちゃん , November 12, 1968-April 15, 1969, Weekly Shojo Friend #46 - #16)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Komi-Kuru-Pa** (コミクルパァ, 1969, Shojo Comic #1-7)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Princess Pudding-chan** (プリンセスプリンちゃん, January to December 1969, Nakayoshi)- Also published in extra New Year and Spring special issues. Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Mako-chan** (魔子ちゃん, June 10th to July 22nd 1969, Weekly Shojo Friend #24 to #30)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Birikkasu Hina-chan** (びりっかすヒナちゃん, August 19, 1969-1970, Weekly Shojo Friend #34-#14)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro". Chaptes reprinted as extra content in the Akebono release of *Dotekabo-chan*.
* **For Sensei** (センセのためなら,1969, Deluxe Shonen Sunday)
* **Horror Room 13** (恐怖の13号室, 1970, Deluxe Shonen Sunday)
* **Dotekabo-chan** (ドテかぼちゃん, 1970-1972, Weekly Shonen King)
* **No-Good Father** (ダメおやじ, 1970-1982, Weekly Shonen Sunday #43 to #30)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro", though after his departure from Fujio Pro the billing would change to instead read "Family Planning" at the end.
* **Do-Chojin Do-3-Biki!** (ド超人ド3匹！Weekly Bokura Magazine #38-45)- Collaboration with Kunio Nagatani and Kazuyoshi Torii. Handled the middle chapters as lead artist, with the credit being for "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Mandom Father and Son** (マンダム親子, 1971-1972, Weekly Shonen King)- Originally credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro".
* **Gutara Mama** (ぐうたらママ, April to July 1971, Separate Edition Shonen Magazine)- Prototype to better-known version of the series
* **Mr. Dokudami** (どくだみ先生, 1973-1974, Weekly Shonen Champion)
* **Trash Dump Boy** (はきだめっ子, 1974-1976?, Weekly Shonen Magazine)
* **Gutara Mama** (ぐうたらママ, 1975-2020, Mainichi Shimbun "Sunday Club")
* **Tecchan** (手っちゃん, Weekly Shonen Champion)
* **Mother-Loving Chidori** (母恋い千鳥, April 1976-May 1978, Princess)
* **Tomurai-kun** (とむらいクン, 1976?)
* **Netaro-kun** (寝太郎くん, 1976?-, Monthly Manga Shonen)
* **Hachamecha Lab** (ハチャメチャラボ, Monthly Manga Shonen)
* **Muchakuchayanke** (ムチャクチャヤンケ, 1977-1978, Dokkan V)
* **Deduction Papa** (減点パパ, January 13, 1978-March 28, 1986, Weekly Post)
* **Gyasuka Dad** (ギャースカ父ちゃん, 1978, Dokkan V)
* **Rakugo Artist Biography** (寄席芸人伝, August 25, 1978-November 25, 1989, Big Comic)
* **Mansion President** (マンション大統領, 1978-1979, Monthly Shonen World)
* **BAR Lemon Heart** (ＢＡＲレモン・ハート,1985-2021, Manga Action)
* **Our Jingoro** (うちの甚五郎, 1988, Manga Time Family)
* **Cross the Dandelion Bridge!** (タンポポ橋わたれ!, 1999?, Comic Alpha)
* **No-Good Father 2000/No-Good Father 2001** (ダメおやじ2000, ダメおやじ2001, 2000-2001, Weekly Shonen Sunday)
* **My Teacher Osamu Tezuka** (ボクの手塚治虫せんせい,2008,A-ZERO)

### One-shots

* **The Reaper Girl** (死神少女, February 1963, Kokeshi issue #45, Wakagi Shobo)
* **Though the Road is Long** (道はとおけれど, June 1963, Kodama issue #14, Wakagi Shobo)
* **Mochiko Mochitaro** (モチ子モチ太郎, February 1, 1969, Separate Edition Shojo Friend)
* **Yokai Girl Gaiko-chan** (妖怪少女ガイ子ちゃん, August 1, 1969, Separate Edition Shojo Friend)- Credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro"
* **El-chan of the Wild** (野生のエルちゃん, August 1969, Ribon)
* **Iyanako-chan** (いやな子ちゃん, September 1, 1969, Separate Edition Shojo Friend)
* **Oh! Extraordinary Boss** (Oh!もーれつ親分, September 1969, Deluxe Shonen Sunday)
* **Kosodoro Blues** (こそどろのブルース, Deluxe Shonen Sunday)
* **Yaa-na Yatsu** (やーな やつ, February 1970, Separate Edition Shojo Friend)
* **Laughter of the Future** (わらいの未来派, July 1970, Nakayoshi)
* **Woman Planet** (女の惑星, August 1, 1970, Weekly Shonen Sunday Summer Vacation Special)
* **Chitaro the Graveyard Mouse** (墓場ネズミの血太郎, 1970, Separate Edition Shonen Champion)
* **Graduation** (卒業, 1972, COM)
* **Gangaragan** (ガンガラガン, 1972, Weekly Shonen Champion)
* **Dakini** (ダキニ ,1977, Manga-kun)
* **No-Good Father ~Heisei Version~** (1999, Weekly Shonen Sunday)

### Book works

* **Tangerine Flowers Blooming on a Hill** (みかんの花さく丘, 1955, Shimamura Publishing)
* **A Song to Call Forth Spring** (春を呼ぶ歌, May 15, 1958, Shimamura Publishing)

#### As Mutsuko Furuya

* **The Green Paradise** (みどりの楽園, Togetsu Shobo/兎月書房, June 1962)
* **The Girl at the Lake** (湖の少女, Togetsu Shobo, July? 1962)
* **Tulip Angel** (チューリップ天使, Togetsu Shobo, August 1962)

#### As Satoshi Kitano

* **Satoshi Kitano Shojo Thriller "The House with a Grave"** (北野智少女スリラー 「墓のある家」, Kobundo/宏文堂) - The title page lists a reference to "**Three Great Dragons**" (三竜会), and a bookshelf in the story can be shown to have works of Furuya, Satoshi Inoue, and Hideaki Kitano, lending hints to the "dragons" and identity of the author. The book also contains a backup story, "**Death**" (死).

### Collaborations with Fujio Akatsuka/Fujio Pro

In more general assistant work, Furuya was responsible for illustrating the elaborate night scenes shown in series such as *Extraordinary Ataro* and *The Genius Bakabon*, working from vague draft pages by Akatsuka that had the descriptor of "Night" marked on them to indicate the type of setting to be drawn. From this, Akatsuka would include the character of the Dog of Night, and later the early take on Nyarome.

#### Series

* **Professor Iyami** (イヤミ教授, July to October 1966, 5th Grade)- Credited to "Mitsutoshi Furuya and Fujio Pro", with no involvement from Akatsuka.

* **Osomatsu-kun Fun Quiz Manga** appendix booklets (1966, 2nd Grade)- Alternated between Furuya and Kunio Nagatani. The two also assisted on chapters in Shogakukan's 2nd Grade and other grade magazines around this time as well.

* **Today's Leading Role Iyami!** (現代の主役　イヤミ!!, November 1966 to February 1967, 5th Grade)- Alternated between Furuya and Tokuo Yokota for the story and art. This had no involvement from Akatsuka itself, and was wholly a work of those two authors.
* **Dekunobo of the Wilderness** (荒野のデクの棒, Weekly Shonen King #34-37)- Art. Originally credited to "Fujio Akatsuka and ***Furuya*** Pro", but this was changed to "Fujio Pro" in reprints.
* **We are 8 Pro** (われら8プロ, 1968, Weekly Shonen King #43-44)- Art for chapter 2. Originally credited to "Fujio Akatsuka and ***Furuya*** Pro", but changed to "Fujio Pro" for reprints.
* **The Genius Bakabon's Old Man** ( 天才バカボンのおやじ, 1969-1971, Weekly Manga Sunday)- Took over the full art duties midway into the series (chapters 8-25)
* **All Night Decco** (オールナイトデッコ, 1970, Weekly Shojo Friend #18-31)- Art, though he also wound up handling the story as well due to Akatsuka's busy schedule.
* **Bukkare\*Dan** (ぶッかれ＊ダン, 1970-1971, Weekly Shonen Sunday #32-#11)- Art for some parts of feature, done as collaborative work with Fujio Akatsuka in tandem with *No-Good Father*
* **Bukkare\*Dan + No-Good Father** (ぶッかれ・ダン＋ダメおやじ, Weekly Shonen Sunday #12-13)- Story and Art, collaboration with Fujio Akatsuka

#### One-shots

* **St. Harenchi Girls' School** (聖ハレンチ女学院, December 1968, Ribon extra appendix)- Collaboration on story and art with Akatsuka and Keiji Yoshitani
* **Nonsense~** (ナーンセーンス～, April 25, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* **Telephone** (でんわ, June 10, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* **I Want to Try This** (こんなコトしてみたい, June 25, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* (こんなコトシテはいけない, July 10, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* (こんなコトってありますか！！, July 25, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* **I'm Sorry Shino-chan** (ごめんお志乃ちゃん, August 1969, Nakayoshi)- Collaboration with Kazuyoshi Torii as "Kazuyoshi Torii, Mitsutoshi Furuya, and Fujio Pro"
* **Big Extraordinary Company** (オーオーもーれつ会社, August 10, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* (ウーミーは広いーな大きいな～, August 25, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* **Oyome-san** (おヨメさん, November 25, 1969, Big Comic)- Art
* **I'll Strike Back** (カタキウチでやんす, February 25, 1970, Big Comic)- Art
* **Dr. Nyarome** (ドクターニャロメ , April 1970, Myojo)- Art
* **Bad Policeman** (ダメなおまわりさん, May 9, 1970, Sunday Daily supplement comic book)- Art
* **Mr. Iyami** (ミスターイヤミ, July 10, 1970, Big Comic)- Art
* **Keko-tan of Hokkairo** (ホッカイローのケイコターン, August 7, 1970, Sunday Daily Extra) - Art
* **Oh! Great Jailbreak** (September 13, 1970, Weekly Shonen Sunday)- Story and Art provided by Furuya, Kunio Nagatani, Akira Saito, and Don Sasaki due to Akatsuka's absence for the week.
* **Mr. Iyami: Tomorrow Morning** (ミスターイヤミ氏　あしたの朝, January 10, 1971, Big Comic)- Art
* **Liquor Hermit Dayoon** (酒仙人ダヨーン, January to February 1999, Big Comic)- Art for chapter 2

#### Characters designed for Fujio Pro works

Furuya was responsible for the creation of many later incidental guest characters for *Ataro*, after Kenichiro Takai departed Fujio Pro, as well as being seen to contribute other guest designs for series (*Osomatsu-kun, Bakabon*, among others). His own art and character design output would increase through the late 1960s and early 1970s, up until he departed Fujio Pro for his independent career.

Some specific *Ataro* characters include the wicked girl from the final chapter, as well as the son and wife of The Police Officer with the Connected Eyes.

* The cast of All Night Decco (with Baka Yakko's design also seen as the man Hirobou in The Genius Bakabon's Old Man*)*
* Kazuko, of Mr. Iyami (variations of this character design can pop up in works produced around the same time as well)
* The Fighting Family in Bukkare\*Dan
* Dayon's daughter in *I'll Strike Back*
* "That Daughter" in *Do-Chojin Do-3-Biki!*