TV-Series
Description
Chairman Harabote, whose full name is Harabote Muscle, is a central supporting figure in the Kinnikuman universe, appearing as a key authority in the second series, Kinnikuman Nisei, known internationally as Ultimate Muscle. He is an elderly Chojin, or superhuman, who hails from Planet Harabote and serves as the long-standing chairman of the Chojin Committee, the governing body that oversees all Chojin activity, matches, and tournaments across the universe. In English adaptations, his name is changed to Vance McMadd as a parody of a prominent wrestling promoter, and his organization is renamed the Intergalactic Wrestling Federation.
In his youth, Harabote was an active and accomplished Chojin wrestler, famously winning the 11th Chojin Olympics and thereby blocking his close friend and rival, Mayumi Kinniku, from achieving a third consecutive championship. During his wrestling days, he had long hair, a stark contrast to his later appearance. By the time of the original series, he is already a portly, short-statured individual with a perpetually stern expression, often seen wearing a cape and the distinctive head fin of his home planet. In the first anime series, he spoke with a Kyushu dialect and had the Japanese character for chairman written on his forehead, though these traits were discontinued in the sequel.
Personality-wise, Chairman Harabote is a complex blend of bureaucratic officiousness and petty stubbornness. While he holds the highest administrative position in Chojin wrestling, he is not particularly well-respected by the Chojin community, who often view him as ineffective or out of touch. His primary role is to oversee matches, determine tournament brackets sometimes using whimsical methods like a giant pachinko machine, and occasionally serve as a referee or commentator. He spends much of his time alongside his old friend Mayumi, and their bickering banter provides a source of comic relief throughout the series.
His motivations are rooted in maintaining order and tradition within the Chojin world, but his judgments are often clouded by personal biases. He initially acknowledges the physical abilities of the young protagonist Suguru Kinniku but quickly becomes annoyed by what he perceives as unprofessionalism and stupidity, expressing disappointment whenever Suguru advances in tournaments. This disdain is amplified in Kinnikuman Nisei, where he directs a strong personal vendetta against Suguru's son, Mantaro Kinniku. He considers Mantaro a lazy, good-for-nothing slacker unworthy of the Kinniku legacy. This motivation drives much of his behavior in the sequel series, leading him to bend rules and create unfair advantages to sabotage Mantaro and his allies.
The character shows a clear development arc from a former champion to a powerful administrator and finally to a diminished, somewhat senile old man. By the time of Kinnikuman Nisei, his management skills have deteriorated significantly with age, and his status and influence within the Committee have fallen. His desire to rid himself of Mantaro leads him to hire a replacement team called Generation EX and actively manipulate matches against Mantaro's group, Team Aho. He justifies questionable actions, such as permitting the use of weapons and moving a fight to a disadvantageous location, on flimsy pretexts. Despite his antagonism, he is forced to acknowledge the latent capabilities of the new generation in critical moments. Ultimately, he hands over his position as chairman to his son, Ikemen Muscle, transitioning to a more ceremonial figurehead role.
Key relationships define Harabote's actions and history. His lifelong bond with Mayumi Kinniku is his most significant, as they are rivals, close friends, and former teammates who discovered the imprisoned entity Nemesis in their youth, an event that shaped their views on justice. His animosity toward Suguru Kinniku develops into an even stronger prejudice against his son, Mantaro. This bias is inherited by his own son, Ikemen Muscle, who takes over as chairman and continues to oppose Mantaro. His family includes his son Ikemen and his daughter Jacqueline Muscle. He is portrayed as having a closer relationship with Ikemen, whom he favors as his successor, while he maintains a respectful but more distant relationship with his capable daughter.
Despite being primarily an administrator in his later years, Chairman Harabote is a former wrestler of considerable skill. His Chojin Kyodo, a measure of power, is rated at 450,000 units. His repertoire of trademark techniques includes the Atomic Drop, the Body Scissors, and the Killer Key Lock, a type of key lock hold. He has a documented win-loss record against Mayumi Kinniku, with victories and defeats involving holds like the Figure Four Leg Lock and the Iron Claw. In the English dub, he is voiced with a personality reminiscent of a wrestling promoter.
In his youth, Harabote was an active and accomplished Chojin wrestler, famously winning the 11th Chojin Olympics and thereby blocking his close friend and rival, Mayumi Kinniku, from achieving a third consecutive championship. During his wrestling days, he had long hair, a stark contrast to his later appearance. By the time of the original series, he is already a portly, short-statured individual with a perpetually stern expression, often seen wearing a cape and the distinctive head fin of his home planet. In the first anime series, he spoke with a Kyushu dialect and had the Japanese character for chairman written on his forehead, though these traits were discontinued in the sequel.
Personality-wise, Chairman Harabote is a complex blend of bureaucratic officiousness and petty stubbornness. While he holds the highest administrative position in Chojin wrestling, he is not particularly well-respected by the Chojin community, who often view him as ineffective or out of touch. His primary role is to oversee matches, determine tournament brackets sometimes using whimsical methods like a giant pachinko machine, and occasionally serve as a referee or commentator. He spends much of his time alongside his old friend Mayumi, and their bickering banter provides a source of comic relief throughout the series.
His motivations are rooted in maintaining order and tradition within the Chojin world, but his judgments are often clouded by personal biases. He initially acknowledges the physical abilities of the young protagonist Suguru Kinniku but quickly becomes annoyed by what he perceives as unprofessionalism and stupidity, expressing disappointment whenever Suguru advances in tournaments. This disdain is amplified in Kinnikuman Nisei, where he directs a strong personal vendetta against Suguru's son, Mantaro Kinniku. He considers Mantaro a lazy, good-for-nothing slacker unworthy of the Kinniku legacy. This motivation drives much of his behavior in the sequel series, leading him to bend rules and create unfair advantages to sabotage Mantaro and his allies.
The character shows a clear development arc from a former champion to a powerful administrator and finally to a diminished, somewhat senile old man. By the time of Kinnikuman Nisei, his management skills have deteriorated significantly with age, and his status and influence within the Committee have fallen. His desire to rid himself of Mantaro leads him to hire a replacement team called Generation EX and actively manipulate matches against Mantaro's group, Team Aho. He justifies questionable actions, such as permitting the use of weapons and moving a fight to a disadvantageous location, on flimsy pretexts. Despite his antagonism, he is forced to acknowledge the latent capabilities of the new generation in critical moments. Ultimately, he hands over his position as chairman to his son, Ikemen Muscle, transitioning to a more ceremonial figurehead role.
Key relationships define Harabote's actions and history. His lifelong bond with Mayumi Kinniku is his most significant, as they are rivals, close friends, and former teammates who discovered the imprisoned entity Nemesis in their youth, an event that shaped their views on justice. His animosity toward Suguru Kinniku develops into an even stronger prejudice against his son, Mantaro. This bias is inherited by his own son, Ikemen Muscle, who takes over as chairman and continues to oppose Mantaro. His family includes his son Ikemen and his daughter Jacqueline Muscle. He is portrayed as having a closer relationship with Ikemen, whom he favors as his successor, while he maintains a respectful but more distant relationship with his capable daughter.
Despite being primarily an administrator in his later years, Chairman Harabote is a former wrestler of considerable skill. His Chojin Kyodo, a measure of power, is rated at 450,000 units. His repertoire of trademark techniques includes the Atomic Drop, the Body Scissors, and the Killer Key Lock, a type of key lock hold. He has a documented win-loss record against Mayumi Kinniku, with victories and defeats involving holds like the Figure Four Leg Lock and the Iron Claw. In the English dub, he is voiced with a personality reminiscent of a wrestling promoter.