An iconic anime series that has been airing for just over 55 years has now broken a world record — one that it set for itself several years ago for the longest-running anime TV show in history.
Per Oricon News, the anime Sazae-san has broken its own world record for the longest-running animated television series in history. Lead actor Midori Kato, the voice of Sazae Fuguta, also re-earned a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a voice actor for the same character in an animated TV series. Sazae-san and Kato are both celebrating their newly received awards in conjunction with the show’s 55th anniversary, and their fifth anniversary since originally receiving the records.
Sazae-san, one of Fuji TV’s most beloved and enduring programs, first premiered on Oct. 5, 1969. Based on Machiko Hasegawa’s manga of the same name, Sazae-san follows the heartwarming and humorous daily lives of Sazae Isono and her family. In celebration of the anniversary, Fuji TV will be running a special “Celebration and Broadcast 55th Anniversary Autumn Sazae-san Week” from Nov. 25-Dec. 1, airing carefully selected Sazae-san episodes daily, and ending the week with a one-hour special.
On Nov. 15, a special awards ceremony was held with Kato at the Machiko Hasegawa Museum of Art, where the voice actor received her plaque. In an interview with Comic Natalie, Kato stated, “I won the award once on the 50th anniversary, and I received it again on the 55th anniversary, 5 years later. The past 5 years have gone by in a flash, but there are many people involved in each anime, and we will cherish it as a weighty award.” Kato also stated that she gives her thanks to all the anime’s viewers over the years, and hopes that the next generations will continue to watch Sazae-san. Kato celebrated her 85th birthday on the same day that she received the award.
The CEO of Eiken, the anime studio behind Sazae-san and several other classic series, including Cooking Papa and Glass no Kamen, stated, “I am very grateful to have been with many of you for a long time, including Midori Kato, who has been full of ‘Sazae-san’s love’ for a long time. Next time, I would like to work hard to make a program with even more love, aiming for a 60th anniversary.”
“Sazae-san Autumn Week” will be running on Fuji TV starting Nov. 25, 2024.
