Onihei Hankachō (鬼平犯科帳) is a series of historical novels written by Japanese author Shōtarō Ikenami.
Following the character Heizo Hasegawa in the Edo period of Japan, Ikenami wrote the first story for the December 1967 issue of the light novel magazine Ōru Yomimono [ja] published by Bungeishunjū.
[2] Onihei Hankachō was also adapted into TV programs,[3][4] a manga series, live-action films[5] and theater productions.
[6] The title character is Heizo Hasegawa, a historical person who was a Hitsuke Tōzoku Aratamekata Chōkan (Superintendent General of the investigation agency specialized in theft and armed robbery and arson).
He started as a chartered libertine before succeeding his father as his heir and being appointed the head of the special police who had jurisdiction over arson-robberies in Edo.
When his father died, he inherited his birthright and a villain eventually nicknamed him "Onihei," meaning "Heizō the demon,".
Later, he was titled "Hitsuke tōzoku aratamekata" (police force for arson and theft), and opened an office at his official residence.
Four actors, Matsumoto Hakuō I,[a] Tamba Tetsurō[b] and Nakamura Kinnosuke[c] also played the lead in Toho series on NET.
Until his death in 2001, Edoya Nekohachi III portrayed the informant Hikojū, often paired with Omasa (Meiko Kaji).
Guests have included Akira Emoto, Frankie Sakai, Rokusaburo Michiba, Makoto Fujita, Shima Iwashita, Isuzu Yamada, Yoshizumi Ishihara, and Tetsuro Tamba.
Premium Service and Jidaigeki Senmon Channel co-produced four extra editions called "Onihei Gaiden".
[e][8] Broadcast programs on satellite are: "Yousagi no Kakuemon" (2011),[f][9] "Kumagorō no Kao" (2011/2012),[g][10] "Shōgatsu Yokkano Kyaku" (2012/2013),[h][10] and "Rōtō Ruten" (2013).
Onihei Hankachō (コミック 鬼平犯科帳) is a manga adaptation of Ikenami's novels, originally written by Sentaro Kubota and illustrated by Takao Saito.
In 2012, JManga licensed the series for digital English release under the title Onihei, the Devilish Bureau Chief.
[16] The manga was serialized continuously for 25 years until a mistake by the editorial department resulted in the September 2019 issue of Comic Ran becoming the first not to include a chapter.