Fisherman Sanpei (Japanese: 釣りキチ三平, Hepburn: Tsurikichi Sanpei) is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Takao Yaguchi. The manga was serialised in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1973 to 1983. Kodansha has published the manga's 65 bound volumes between February 18, 1974, and May 16, 1983.
The manga was adapted into an 109-episode anime series. Directed by Yoshikata Nitta, the anime's 109 episodes were broadcast on Fuji TV between April 7, 1980, and June 28, 1982. The official English name is Fisherman Sanpei.
As of October 2020, the Fisherman Sanpei manga had over 50 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.
Contents
Plot
Raised by his wise grandfather, Sanpei spends much of his time exploring rivers, lakes, and mountains in search of fish, gradually developing his angling skills.
Although fishing is the central theme, the series is really about personal growth. Each journey introduces Sanpei to new people, environments, and challenges. He encounters experienced fishermen, talented rivals, and legendary fish that test not only his technical ability but also his character. Through success and failure, he learns perseverance, humility, patience, and respect for nature.
Unlike many sports-oriented stories, Sanpei's victories rarely come from strength alone. He succeeds by observing carefully, learning from others, adapting to changing conditions, and refusing to give up when confronted with setbacks. Every fish becomes a puzzle, and every expedition teaches him something about himself and the world around him.
The series also highlights the beauty and diversity of Japan's natural landscapes. Rivers, lakes, forests, and mountain streams are portrayed with great detail, emphasizing the close relationship between people and the environment. Fishing is depicted not merely as a hobby or competition, but as a way of understanding nature and appreciating its complexity.
At its heart, Fisherman Sanpei is the story of a curious and determined boy searching for mastery, adventure, and meaning. The lessons he learns from fishing extend far beyond the water, shaping him into a resilient, thoughtful, and compassionate young man. The anime combines adventure, education, and heartfelt storytelling, making it much more than a simple fishing series.
In essence, Fisherman Sanpei is a tale of growth, perseverance, and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, told through the eyes of a boy whose love for fishing opens the door to countless lessons about life.
Characters
Sanpei Mihira (三平三平)
Ippei Mihira (三平 一平)
Gyoshin Ayukawa (鮎川魚紳)
Masaharu Kase (加瀬 正治)
Yuri Takayama (高山 ユリ)
Anime
The anime uses two pieces of theme song. "Wakaki Tabibito" (若き旅人) by MoJo is the series' opening theme, while "Ore wa tsurikichi Sanpei da" (おれは釣りキチ三平だ) also by MoJo is the series' ending theme. An OVA called まんがビデオシリーズ 釣りキチ三平 was released in 2001 on VHS only.
Episode list
Monster of Yonaki (夜泣き谷の怪物)
Blue Crucian Carp of the Caldera (カルデラの青鮒)
Wild Koi of Mikazukiko (三日月湖の野鯉)
The Mitsumatachi Gang (三ツ又池のギャング)
The God of Fury Hook (毛バリの神サマ)
The Goro Pulling Rascal (ゴロ引きゴンベ)
Takitaro of O-ike (池の滝太郎)
The King of The Rock (磯の王者)
The Tears of Shiro Itsu (シロギスの涙)
Saida Iwas Denya (𩹷の原野)
Meko Iwa (メッコ岩魚の怪)
The Little Fox Near The Fishing Field (釣り場の子ギツネ)
Night Catching Kaikatsu (カジカの夜突き)
The Monster of Sanga Ike (三角瀞の主)
The Sad Song of Zukiga Field ススキ川原エレジー
The Sogiyo of Kabura Wata 蕪渡しの草魚
The Mini Big Game 小さなビッグゲーム
The Rod of Unrest Soul 怨み竿
Naboromo Buna of Syunema 幽沼の羽衣鮒
The weird fishes in old billabong 古沼の大怪魚
The red crucian in cave billabong おっぽり沼の緋鮒
The bareheaded in the Bareheaded Bog 坊主沢の沢坊主
Film
A live action film adaptation of the manga was released in 2009, starring Kenta Suga, Takashi Tsukamoto and Yuu Kashii. The official English name of this film is Sanpei the Fisher Boy.
Video games
There were two official video games, developed by Victor Musical Industries, and published by Cross Media Soft for MSX home computers and the Famicom:
Fisherman Sanpei Blue Marine Edition (釣りキチ三平ブルーマリン編) (1988)
Tsurikichi Sanpei Tsurisennin Hen (釣りキチ三平釣り仙人編) (1989)
