Masato Tenma (天馬 正人 Tenma Masato, circa 1927-1994), born Katsumaru Tatsumi (たつみ勝丸 Tatsumi Katsumaru) was a manga artist, author, and screenplay writer known for being an apprentice of Jiro Ota as well as his association with Tatsunoko Production.
He was also known by his other aliases: Eiji Otaka (大田加 英二 Otaka Eiji), Kazuo Takahashi (高橋 一夫 Takahashi Kazuo), Datsujin Aran (阿蘭 脱人 Aran Datsujin), and Runia Takahashi (ルーニア高橋) .
Bio[]
Born in Chiba Prefecture. He became an assistant to the author Jiro Ota at the age of 25, and later made his debut with an original book. At the time of his debut, he actively published works such as Wrestling King Rikidozan (as Eiji Otaka), Yasha King (as Kazuo Takahashi), and Edogawa Ranpo's Black Panther Monster (as Masato Tenma) under his various pen names.
He later expanded his field of activity to magazine manga, writing Super Z (original story by Ichiro Miyagawa), Patrol Q (original story by Teruo Ito), and The Black Hooded Hero (original story by Hitomi Takagaki) under the name of Tenma, and The Eyes of the Jaguar (original story by Hitomi Takagaki) and Kamikuzu Oyako under his birth name of Katsumaru Tatsumi.
Due to his honest personality, he was relied upon by many editorial departments, and was often called upon to help Taku Horie and Jiro Kuwata. In addition to serializing in magazines, he also wrote the book Super Giants.
Involvement with the Tatsuo Yoshida Group/Tatsunoko[]
Later, at the request of Tatsuo Yoshida, he joined the early Tatsunoko Production as a serial manga writer. He was involved in the planning and compositions of the manga Boy Ninja Squad Moonlight and Heaven's Oath. He later planned and wrote scripts for Tatsunoko's first anime, Space Ace, and later, as the head of Tatsunoko Productions' publishing department, he was in charge of planning and composition of magazine serial manga such those for Hutch and Hakushon Daimao, as well as TV picture books and other publications.
While there was a large exodus of staff after Yoshida's death in 1977, Tenma remained at the company through the 1980s and continued to write and draw works put out through the publishing department. In the early 1990s, he established the mail-order service Tatsunoko Anime Correspondence School where Tatsunoko staff would correspond with fans and teach them how to become part of the company, and sold actual Tatsunoko items such as screenplays and cels to recoup their debt. He would also welcome fans to tour the then-still standing studio in Takanodai.
Sadly, Tenma would pass away of illness at some point in 1994, marking another loss of an original guard Tatsunoko alumni.
Body of Work[]
Manga[]
- The Wrestling King Rikidozan (レスリング王 力道山): 1954, Tsuru Shobo - Under alias of Eiji Otaka
- Earth Conquest Team (地球征服団): January to May 1958, Shonen Club
- The Yokai Boy (妖怪少年): December 1958, Adventure King
- The Eyes of the Jaguar (ジャガーの眼): September 1959 to December 1960, Shonen Club- Based on the novel by Hitomi Takagaki
- The Black Hooded Hero (怪傑黒頭巾): 1959 - Based on the novel by Hitomi Takagaki
- Planet Prince (遊星王子): 1959- Based on TV series by Masaru Igami
- Super Giants: The Devil's Incarnation (スーパージャイアンツ悪魔の化身): 1959, Fujimi Publishing- Based from the Ichiro Miyagawa film "Super Giants"
- Patrol Q (パトロールQ): 1959 No.30- 1960 No.16, Weekly Shonen Magazine
- Super Z (スーパーゼット): Shonen Club 1959 Summer Special Issue, 1960 New Year Issue to September Issue, 1960 New Year Issue Supplement, 1960 Summer Vacation Special Issue - Based from movie by Ichiro Miyagawa
- Boy Hawk (少年ホーク): 1959, Omoshiro Book - Under alias of Datsujin Aran
- Kamikuzu Oyako (かみくずおや): October 1960 to December 1962, Shonen Club
- Boy Ninja Squad Moonlight (少年忍者部隊 月光): 1963 No. 1 - 1965 No. 10, Weekly Shonen King - Composition/planning for series, credited to Tatsuo Yoshida (art)
- Heaven's Oath Part 1 (大空のちかい 1): November 4, 1962 to December 15, 1963, Weekly Shonen Sunday - Composition/planning, credited to Ippei Kuri (art)
- Malay White Tiger Squad (マレー白虎隊 ): May to December 1963, Shonen Book - Composition/planning, credited to Ippei Kuri (art)
- Heaven's Oath Part 2 (大空のちかい 2): January 10th to May 3rd, 1964, Weekly Shonen Sunday - Composition/planning, credited to Ippei Kuri (art)
- Space Ace (宇宙エース): July 1964 to May 1966, Shonen Book - Composition/planning, credited to Tatsuo Yoshida (art)
Picture Books[]
Tenma composed and illustrated a large variety of picture books featuring the Tatsunoko characters, from the 1970s to 1980s.
Shogakukan Picture Library[]
- The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch (6 volumes)
- Kerokko Demetan
Land of Light TV Picture Books[]
There were usually two books released per show, one at the start and one during the broadcast.
- Time Bokan 1
- Time Bokan 2
- Yatterman 1
- Yatterman 2
- Yatterman 3
- Gatchaman II 1: Defeat Galactor!
- Gatchaman II 2: Let's Form the Firebird Together!
- Zenderman 1
- Zenderman 2
- Gatchaman Fighter 1
- Gatchaman Fighter 2
- Time Patrol Team Otasukeman 1
- Time Patrol Team Otasukeman 2
- Time Patrol Team Otasukeman 3
- Time Patrol Team Otasukeman 4
- Cheerful Dwarves of the Forest: Belfy and Lillibit
- Yattodetaman 1
- Yattodetaman 2
- Gyakuten! Ippatsuman
- Itadakiman
Eikosha Picture Books[]
- PC Travel Detectives
- Okawari Boy STARZAN S
Anime[]
- Space Ace - Planning, Screenplays for episodes 6, 7, 26, and 38