Wakadaishō series

The Wakadaishō series is a series of films starring Yūzō Kayama and Kunie Tanaka. The first film in the series was Daigaku no Wakadaishō from 1961.^[1]

Masao Kusakari portrayed the role of Wakadaishō in two other films.^[2]^[3]

All of the films star Kayama as Yuichi Tanuma, nicknamed the Wakadaishō (若大将) meaning "young ace" or "whizz kid" for his prowess in various sports. His perpetual antagonist is the lecherous Shinjiro Ishiyama, played by Kunie Tanaka, who is nicknamed "Aodaishō" (青大将), the Japanese name of the Japanese rat snake.^[4]^[5]

Yuzo Kayama as Wakadaishō

Title	Title translation	Date of release (Japan)	Featured sports
Daigaku no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace at university	July 8, 1961 (1961-07-08)	Swimming
Ginza no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in Ginza	February 10, 1962 (1962-02-10)	Martial arts
Nihon-ichi no Wakadaishō^[6]	Japan's number one young ace	July 14, 1962 (1962-07-14)	Running, water skiing
Hawai no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in Hawaii	August 11, 1963 (1963-08-11)	Yacht racing
Umi no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace at the sea	August 8, 1965 (1965-08-08)	Swimming
Ereki no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young electric guitar master	December 19, 1965 (1965-12-19)	American football, horse riding
Arupusu no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in the Alps	May 28, 1966 (1966-05-28)	Skiing
Rettsu Go! Wakadaishō^[6]	Let's go! Young ace	September 10, 1966 (1966-09-10)	Soccer
Minami Taiheiyō no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in the South Pacific	January 1, 1967 (1967-01-01)	Judo, water skiing, scuba diving
Gō! Gō! Wakadaishō^[6]	Go! Go! Young ace	December 31, 1967 (1967-12-31)	Rally driving, Ekiden
Rio no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in Rio	July 13, 1968 (1968-07-13)	Surfing, fencing
Freshman Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace is a new employee	January 1, 1969 (1969-01-01)	Ice skating
New Zealand no Wakadaishō^[6]	The young ace in New Zealand	July 12, 1969 (1969-07-12)	Skiing
Bravo! Wakadaishō^[6]	Bravo, young ace!	January 1, 1970 (1970-01-01)	Tennis
Ore no Sora da ze! Wakadaishō^[6]	Young ace: the sky's all mine!	August 14, 1970 (1970-08-14)	Skydiving
Wakadaishō Tai Aodaishō^[6]	The young ace versus the snake	January 9, 1971 (1971-01-09)	Motorcycling
Kaette Kita Wakadaishō^[6]	The return of the young ace	February 11, 1981 (1981-02-11)	New York City Marathon

Masao Kusakari as Wakadaishō

Title	Title translation	Date of release (Japan)	Featured sports
Gambare Wakadaishō^[2]		July 12, 1975 (1975-07-12)
Gekitotsu Wakadaishō^[3]		May 29, 1976 (1976-05-29)

References

^ Schilling, Mark (1997). The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. Weatherhill. pp. 281–284. ISBN 0-8348-0380-1
^ ^a ^b "Gambare Wakadaishō". Kinenote. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Gekitotsu Wakadaishō". Kinenote. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^ "加山雄三の追憶「田中邦衛さんがいたから"若大将"は輝けた」". NEWSポストセブン. April 17, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^ "「田中邦衛さんがいなかったら、若大将シリーズは今のようにはなっていなかった」加山雄三が盟友との秘話を語る". FUJI TV. 20 April 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q "加山雄三"伝説の青春喜劇"『若大将』シリーズがこの9月DVDで一挙発売". excitenews. September 12, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

[1] Schilling, Mark (1997). The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. Weatherhill. pp. 281–284. ISBN 0-8348-0380-1

[kine1-2] "Gambare Wakadaishō". Kinenote. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

[kine2-3] "Gekitotsu Wakadaishō". Kinenote. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

[4] "加山雄三の追憶「田中邦衛さんがいたから"若大将"は輝けた」". NEWSポストセブン. April 17, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

[5] "「田中邦衛さんがいなかったら、若大将シリーズは今のようにはなっていなかった」加山雄三が盟友との秘話を語る". FUJI TV. 20 April 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

[excite-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q "加山雄三"伝説の青春喜劇"『若大将』シリーズがこの9月DVDで一挙発売". excitenews. September 12, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

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