The Sazae-san family returns to Osaka Expo ’70 for the first time in 55 years!
(C) Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art
A special episode, “Celebrating the Expo! Special,” commemorating the Osaka-Kansai Expo will air on August 24th.
The special will air two episodes back-to-back: “Sazae Goes to the Expo,” which aired on June 14, 1970, the year Osaka hosted the last Expo, and “Sazae Goes to the Expo Again,” a new episode in which the Sazae-san family visits the currently ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo
“Sazae Goes to the Expo,” originally aired on June 14, 1970.
(C) Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art
In the new series, “Sazae Goes to the Expo Again,” Norika Fujiwara, honorary director of the Japan Pavilion, and her husband, kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, appear as themselves and meet the Sazae-san family as they arrive at the Expo site. In addition to the Japan Pavilion, the episode also features numerous other international pavilions and famous Expo sites, including the Food and Festival Expo, the Flying Car Station, the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, and the signature pavilions “The Future of Life” and “Earth at Night.” Fujiwara also played the role of Sazae Fuguta in the play “Sazae-san,” which ran from June to July this year.
(C) Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art
The full comments from Fujiwara and Kataoka are below.
[Fujiwara Norika, Kataoka Ainosuke (playing themselves)]
(C) Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art
● After the recording: Kataoka: “I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to appear as myself in the nationally beloved anime, Sazae-san, and to appear as a couple. It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever. My wife was in the stage version of “Sazae-san,” so I went to see it countless times. The Sazae-san family was faithfully recreated, and I always enjoyed watching it. So, I’m thrilled to be able to appear in the anime, have the real side of us as a couple, and have that be broadcast on “Sazae-san.”
Fujiwara: “Appearing as myself in Sazae-san was a dream come true. I had so much fun during the recording, and the recording progressed with laughter. I was just recently playing Sazae on stage, so I’m truly grateful for this opportunity to have had the chance to be a part of such a nationally beloved anime.”
Kataoka: Of course, I was happy to have had the chance to talk to Sazae-san. Not only that, but I got to drink and laugh with the Sazae-san family, and the moment their screen came on, I was really excited.
Fujiwara: “My husband and I also had a moment where we made jokes with Namihei and Masao, and it was the ultimate joy!
●How did you feel about appearing in the episode that collaborated with Expo 2005 Osaka-Kansai?Fujiwara: It was an honor for me to be able to appear in this powerful collaboration between the nationally beloved anime “Sazae-san” and the nationally celebrated event, Expo 2005. As Honorary Director of the Japan Pavilion, I believe that “Sazae-san” is a show watched by people of all ages, and Expo 2005 is also a place where wisdom and inspiration can be shared with people on a global scale. I’m very happy that we were able to introduce this place to you through our animation, and as Director, I’m also pleased that even people who haven’t been to an Expo yet will be able to enjoy it.
Kataoka: We’ve been to Expos many times, and the level of detail in the reproduction was so high that I thought, “Wow! That brings me back to memories!” Fujiwara: As I mentioned in my final comments for the play “Sazae-san,” “Sazae-san” truly cherishes each and every season and event in Japan, from the flowers blooming in the gardens to festivals. It also visited the Osaka Expo 55 years ago, appeared in the opening video for Expo 2005 Aichi, and is visiting again this time. In this way, it cherishes Japan’s irreplaceable four seasons, festivals, tourist attractions, and even Expo 2005, and I think it’s an anime that conveys Japanese culture to children. I was truly happy to be able to appear in such a production.
Kataoka: Today’s world has become so convenient that conversations between parents and children, especially with grandparents, are disappearing, and family time is disappearing. I think “Sazae-san” is a truly meaningful program in times like these. I want everyone to watch it, especially in a world where things that were once commonplace are becoming less common.
Fujiwara: We watch “Sazae-san” both live and on tape. Sometimes the family love is enough to move us to tears. It was a real honor to be involved in such a wonderful anime. This is a permanent edition!
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