Guest Post by Mitchell Clark
Nonki na Tōsan Shusse Sugoroku, or Carefree Dad Success Story Gameboard.
One of the many strengths of the manga collection at OSU is a subcollection of gameboard prints, or sugoroku. Our collection contains dozens of these, dating from as far back as the Edo period to as recently as the 1980s. One sugoroku, dating to 1925, features one of Japan’s earliest serialized comic strips, Nonki na Tōsan, or Carefree Dad (often translated as Easygoing Daddy).
Nonki na Tōsan was first published in the newspaper Hōchi Shimbun in 1923—interestingly, in the wake of the Great Kantō Earthquake. Its lighthearted nature was seen by publishers as a salve to lift spirits at a time when the capital region was still reeling from disaster. Inspired by the American comic Bringing Up Father by George McManus, Nonki na Tōsan became immensely popular for its slice-of-life comedy and portrayal of everyday Japanese virtues. Created by Asō Yutaka, the cartoon quickly inspired Nonki na Tōsan merchandise, toys, games, and even three silent films released in 1925.
