TV Special
Description
Hosuke Sharaku originates from Osamu Tezuka's manga *The Three-Eyed One* (1974–1978). He is a junior high school student distinguished by a third eye concealed under a forehead bandage. Ordinarily, with the bandage sealing this eye, he appears as a timid, physically weak, and childlike boy, frequently bullied. When the bandage is removed and his third eye opens, he transforms into a vengeful, intellectually brilliant entity possessing supernatural abilities like ESP and the power to summon the Red Condor weapon. This alternate persona identifies as the last descendant of the ancient Three-Eyed Ones, a race linked to the Mu Empire responsible for ancient world wonders, and harbors global conquest ambitions.
His adoptive human father, Dr. Kenmochi, applied the bandage to suppress the third eye and protect humanity. While sealed, Sharaku remains unaware of his other personality or actions. His classmate, Chiyoko Wato, serves as his primary human connection and guardian, trusted in both states. She frequently intervenes to manage his transformations or mitigate the consequences.
Across Tezuka's works employing the "Star System," Sharaku appears in different narratives with varying roles. In *Buddha*, he appears as "Assaji," a boy with precognitive abilities. In the *Black Jack* 2004 TV series, he is reimagined as a timid, trivia-knowledgeable middle schooler who is frequently bullied and befriends Pinoko; here, Chiyoko Wato is adapted as his older sister and kendo practitioner. Conversely, in the *Astro Boy* 2003 series, Wato is depicted as his missing mother, and Sharaku possesses a magnetic orb device to locate her.
In the video game *Astro Boy: Omega Factor*, his third-eyed persona is the central antagonist, Prince Sharaku of the Mu Empire, who deploys an orbital weapon to eradicate robots. After defeat, Wato bandages his eye, reverting him to his docile state. In the animated special *Tezuka Osamu ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken*, Sharaku participates as one of Tezuka's characters investigating the disappearance of Osamu Tezuka himself during a New Year's Eve party. His established role as a detective figure aligns with the narrative’s mystery-solving premise.
Sharaku’s character embodies Tezuka's exploration of latent potential and duality, reflecting the creator's personal experiences with bullying and his belief in hidden capabilities within marginalized individuals. His military-style school uniform design was influenced by Tezuka's visit to the Asuka ruins, inspiring themes of ancient mysteries intersecting with modernity.
His adoptive human father, Dr. Kenmochi, applied the bandage to suppress the third eye and protect humanity. While sealed, Sharaku remains unaware of his other personality or actions. His classmate, Chiyoko Wato, serves as his primary human connection and guardian, trusted in both states. She frequently intervenes to manage his transformations or mitigate the consequences.
Across Tezuka's works employing the "Star System," Sharaku appears in different narratives with varying roles. In *Buddha*, he appears as "Assaji," a boy with precognitive abilities. In the *Black Jack* 2004 TV series, he is reimagined as a timid, trivia-knowledgeable middle schooler who is frequently bullied and befriends Pinoko; here, Chiyoko Wato is adapted as his older sister and kendo practitioner. Conversely, in the *Astro Boy* 2003 series, Wato is depicted as his missing mother, and Sharaku possesses a magnetic orb device to locate her.
In the video game *Astro Boy: Omega Factor*, his third-eyed persona is the central antagonist, Prince Sharaku of the Mu Empire, who deploys an orbital weapon to eradicate robots. After defeat, Wato bandages his eye, reverting him to his docile state. In the animated special *Tezuka Osamu ga Kieta?! 20 Seiki Saigo no Kaijiken*, Sharaku participates as one of Tezuka's characters investigating the disappearance of Osamu Tezuka himself during a New Year's Eve party. His established role as a detective figure aligns with the narrative’s mystery-solving premise.
Sharaku’s character embodies Tezuka's exploration of latent potential and duality, reflecting the creator's personal experiences with bullying and his belief in hidden capabilities within marginalized individuals. His military-style school uniform design was influenced by Tezuka's visit to the Asuka ruins, inspiring themes of ancient mysteries intersecting with modernity.