Shunsaku Ban

Easily recognizable by his huge, bristly mustache, Shunsaku Ban, also affectionately known as “Higeoyaji” and/or “Mustachio”, is one of Tezuka’s longest-running characters. Most often cast in the role of a spirited, if not particularly sophisticated, middle-aged man, he has appeared in many of Tezuka’s most important series, including (but not limited to): Lost World (1948), Metropolis (1949), Next World (1951), Astro Boy (1952-68), The Adventure of Rock (1952-54), Lion Books (1956-57), Black Jack (1973-83), The Three-Eyed One (1974-78), MW (1976-78), Rainbow Parakeet (1981-82), among many others. Short-tempered and rough, he is also warm-hearted with a burning sense of justice – perfect for his usual occupation as a plucky detective.

It is interesting to note that, even though Shunsaku Ban appears in so many of Tezuka’s series, he didn’t really create him. As Tezuka confesses in his book…