Fujiko Fujio

Fujiko Fujio (藤子 不二雄) was a manga writing duo formed by Japanese manga artists Hiroshi Fujimoto (藤本 弘) and Motoo Abiko (安孫子 素雄).

Fujimoto was born on December 1, 1933, and Abiko on March 10, 1934.

Abiko transferred to Fujimoto's elementary school in Takaoka City and happened to see Fujimoto drawing in a notebook.

The two became lifelong friends, and during the early years of their friendship kept their illustrations hidden from friends and classmates out of embarrassment.

In junior high school they were greatly influenced by Osamu Tezuka and his manga series Shin Takarajima.

Fujimoto built a homemade episcope and together they wrote a piece for it called Tenküma, which was their first collaborative work.

They started submitting work to periodicals such as Manga Shōnen and opened a joint savings account through Japan Post to which they both contributed funds and which they used to purchase art supplies.

They divided all income and expenses equally between each other, a practice they continued throughout the life of their partnership.

Professional debut in 1951 (under the authors' names "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi").

In high school they made their publishing debut, Tenshi no Tama-chan being adopted for serialization by Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun in 1951.

That same year they paid a visit to Tezuka's residence in Takarazuka, Hyōgo and showed him illustrations for their work titled Ben Hur.

Tezuka complimented the two, some years later commenting that he knew then they were going to be major figures in the manga industry.

Abiko and Fujimoto treasured the meeting with the respected Tezuka, and kept the Ben Hur illustrations for their entire lives.

It was at this time they decided to make their partnership permanent, initially adopting the name Tezuka Fujio out of respect, later changing this to Azhizuka Fujio when they perceived adoption of the Tezuka name as too close to that of their idol.

Because both Fujimoto and Abiko were eldest sons respectively, they decided to take company jobs after graduating from high school in 1952.

Fujimoto found employment with a confectionery company, and Abiko began working for the Toyama Newspaper Company.

However, Fujimoto quit within a matter of days.

Fujimoto then dedicated his time to submitting work to periodicals, with Abiko assisting him on the weekends.

Their first serial as Ashizuka Fujio was terminated in a few episodes, followed by success with the post-apocalyptic science fiction series Utopia: The Last World War (UTOPIA—最後の世界大戦).

Used the Fujiko Fujio name from 1953 until dissolution of the partnership in 1987, upon Fujimoto's illness.

The pair was best known for their popular comedies, including Obake no Q-Tarō, Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, and Doraemon, the main character of which is officially recognized as a cultural icon of modern Japan.

Some influences of most of their projects are the many works of acclaimed manga artist Osamu Tezuka and some cartoons and comic books—including the works of Hanna-Barbera.

From their debut, they collaborated and wrote individually under one pen name.

Used from July 1953 to around January 1988.

All works (collaboration, one person's work) published under one pen name "Fujiko Fujio".

They elected to move to Tokyo in 1954 as professional manga artists at Fujimoto's urging, Abiko only reluctantly as he had steady employment at the Toyama Newspaper Company.

Their first place of residence was a two-tatami mat room at the second floor of a watch shop.

They eventually moved to the Tokiwa-sō apartment complex when Tezuka offered them a room that he was moving out of.

Together with Hiroo Terada and several other manga artists of the period, they formed a collaborative group called "New Manga Party" (新漫画党).

At the apartment complex where the group was based, they enjoyed a period of productivity that had Fujimoto and Abiko carry up to six serials a month for publication.

But after 1988 they published under separate names.

Pen name used by Abiko since 1988.

The above is notation without symbols.

The official notation is Fujiko Fujio Ⓐ (藤子不二雄Ⓐ).

As a reminder, "Fujiko A. Fujio" is a non-existent name notation.

If it exists, it is a misunderstanding or typo.

Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko were both from Toyama Prefecture.

Pen name used by Fujimoto since 1989.

The above is notation without symbols.

The official notation is Fujiko・F・Fujio (藤子・F・不二雄).