Anime "Sazae-san" introduces new character Hoshimiya-kun for the first time in 39 years

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of the broadcast of the popular anime "Sazae-san" (Fuji TV), "Sazae-san 55th Anniversary Special" will be broadcast from 6pm on December 1st. Seven episodes will be broadcast, focusing on each member of the Isono family - Sazae, Katsuo, Wakame, Tarao, Namihei and Fune, Masuo, and Tama - including "Tara-chan's Adventures," "Masuo's Independence," "Wakame-chan and Fairyland," "Katsuo's Rival Appears!," "Tama's Patrol," "One Day with Namihei and Fune," and "Sazae is a Space Guide." In "Katsuo's Rival Appears!", a new character, Hoshimiya-kun, who will become Katsuo's rival, will appear. This will be the first time in about 39 years that a new character, excluding guest characters and characters who only appear in one episode, will appear in "Sazae-san." In "Katsuo, a Rival Appears!", Katsuo breaks a new record in the long jump during a gym class, but the next day he hears that a transfer student named "Hoshimiya" from the next class has broken Katsuo's record. Kaori and Hayakawa say that Hoshimiya has a lovely smile. Hoshimiya's appearance and voice actor will be announced during the broadcast. To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the show, Fuji TV will be broadcasting various special content related to "Sazae-san" from November 25th to December 1st under the title "Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Show: Autumn Sazae-san Week". The special program "National Anime Festival Sazae-san 55th Anniversary SP" aired on November 26th, and "Tuesday Sazae-san", also known as "Manga Masterpiece Theater Sazae-san", was revived for the first time in about 27 years, which also became a hot topic. "Sazae-san" is based on a manga by Machiko Hasegawa. The TV anime began airing on October 5th, 1969. In 2013, it was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest-running TV anime program," and in 2019, it updated its own record by five years. This year, it updated its record by another five years and was recognized by the Guinness World Records. Voice actress Midori Kato, who has played Fuguta Sazae since the first broadcast, was also recognized as the "longest-running voice actress (female) playing the same TV anime character." It airs every Sunday at 6:30 pm on Fuji TV.