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{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
{{Infobox animanga/Header
|image = The Laughing Salesman Manga Cover.jpg
| image = The Laughing Salesman Manga Cover.jpg
|caption = Volume 1 of the ''bunkobon'' version of the manga ''The Laughing Salesman''.
| caption = First {{Transliteration|ja|[[bunkobon]]}} volume cover
|ja_kanji = 笑ゥせぇるすまん
| ja_kanji = 笑ゥせぇるすまん
|ja_romaji = Warau Sērusuman
| ja_romaji = Warau Sērusuman
|genre = {{ubl|[[Dark comedy]]<ref name="Crunchyroll"/>|[[Psychological thriller]]<ref name="Crunchyroll">{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Paul|title=Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/04/03/crunchyroll-streams-alice-zoroku-and-the-laughing-salesman|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=January 1, 2020|date=April 3, 2017}}</ref>}}<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
| genre = {{ubl|[[Dark comedy]]<ref name="Crunchyroll"/>|[[Psychological thriller]]<ref name="Crunchyroll">{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Paul|title=Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/04/03/crunchyroll-streams-alice-zoroku-and-the-laughing-salesman|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=January 1, 2020|date=April 3, 2017}}</ref>}}<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
{{Infobox animanga/Print
|type = manga
| type = manga
|title = {{noitalic|One-shot}}
| title = The Black Salesman {{noitalic|(One-shot)}}
| author = [[Fujiko Fujio]]{{efn|name=@II|Motoo Abiko alone<ref>{{cite book|author=Fujio A, Fujiko|author-link=Fujiko Fujio|script-title=ja:＠ｌｌ 藤子不二雄Ａ～藤子不二雄Ａを読む。|trans-title=@ll Fujiko Fujio A|date=May 28, 2014|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4-09-179196-2|pages=106, 172|language=ja}}</ref>}}
⚫
|author = [[Fujiko Fujio]]
|publisher = [[Shogakukan]]
| publisher = [[Shogakukan]]
|demographic = ''[[Seinen]]''
| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]}}
|imprint =
| imprint =
|magazine = [[Big Comic]]
| magazine = [[Big Comic]]
|published = 1968
| published = 1968
|volumes =
| volumes =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
{{Infobox animanga/Print
|type = manga
| type = manga
|author = [[Fujiko Fujio|Fujiko A. Fujio]]
| title = The Black Salesman
| author = Fujiko Fujio{{efn|name=@II}}
⚫
|publisher = {{ubl|[[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]|[[Chuokoron-Shinsha]] {{small|(reprint)}}}}
|demographic = ''[[Seinen]]''
| publisher = [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]
| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
⚫
|imprint =
|magazine = [[Weekly Manga Sunday|Manga Sunday]]
| imprint =
| magazine = [[Weekly Manga Sunday|Manga Sunday]]
|first = 1969
| first = 1969
|last = 1972
| last = 1971
|volumes = {{ubl|6 {{small|(original)}}|5 {{small|(reprint)}}}}
| volumes = 2
|volume_list =
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
| title = The Laughing Salesman
|director = {{ubl|Toshirō Kuni (chief)|[[Yoshitomo Yonetani]]}}
| type = tv series
| director = {{ubl|Toshirō Kuni (chief)|[[Yoshitomo Yonetani]]}}
|producer = {{ubl|Sōichi Besshi|Seitarō Kodama|Hiroshi Inoue}}
| producer = {{ubl|Sōichi Besshi|Seitarō Kodama|Hiroshi Inoue}}
|writer = Yasuo Tanami
| writer = Yasuo Tanami
|music = [[Kohei Tanaka (composer)|Kōhei Tanaka]]
| music = [[Kohei Tanaka (composer)|Kōhei Tanaka]]
|studio = [[Shin-Ei Animation]]
| studio = [[Shin-Ei Animation]]
|licensee =
| licensee =
|network = [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]]
| network = [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]]
|network_en =
| network_en =
|first = '''Original run'''<br />October 10, 1989 –<br />September 29, 1992<br />'''Specials'''<br />December 26, 1992
| first = '''Original run'''<br />October 10, 1989 –<br />September 29, 1992<br />'''Specials'''<br />December 26, 1992
|last = December 28, 1993
| last = December 28, 1993
|episodes = 127
| episodes = 127
|episode_list = List of The Laughing Salesman episodes
| episode_list = List of The Laughing Salesman episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| title = The Laughing Salesman
⚫
| author = Fujiko Fujio A
⚫
| publisher = [[Chuokoron-Shinsha]]
| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
⚫
| imprint =
| magazine = Chuokoron
| first = 1990
| last = 1995
| volumes = 5{{efn|Including the previously uncollected chapters from ''The Black Salesman''.}}
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| title = The Salesman Returns
| author = Fujiko Fujio A
| publisher = Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha
| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
| imprint =
| magazine = Manga Sunday
| first = 1996
| last = 2000
| volumes = 2
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = drama
| type = drama
|director = {{ubl|Mitsuo Ezaki|Takahito Hara|Hiroshi Ikezoe|Gō Nakajima|Kyōji Mafune}}
| director = {{ubl|Mitsuo Ezaki|Takahito Hara|Hiroshi Ikezoe|Gō Nakajima|Kyōji Mafune}}
|producer = {{ubl|Fumio Igarashi|Masaru Takahashi|Gō Nakajima}}
| producer = {{ubl|Fumio Igarashi|Masaru Takahashi|Gō Nakajima}}
|writer = {{ubl|[[Reiko Yoshida]]|[[Natsuko Takahashi]]|Atsushi Maekawa}}
| writer = {{ubl|[[Reiko Yoshida]]|[[Natsuko Takahashi]]|Atsushi Maekawa}}
|music = Kōji Endō (e-KLAY 1999)
| music = Kōji Endō (e-KLAY 1999)
|studio = Cosmic Utopia Corporation
| studio = {{ubl|[[TV Asahi]]|Cosmic Utopia Corporation}}
|network = [[TV Asahi]]
| network = TV Asahi
|first = June 26, 1999
| first = June 26, 1999
|last = September 18, 1999
| last = September 18, 1999
|episodes = 10
| episodes = 10
|episode_list =
| episode_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
{{Infobox animanga/Print
|type = manga
| type = manga
|title = The Salesman Returns
| title = The Dancing Salesman
|author = [[Fujiko Fujio|Fujiko A. Fujio]]
| author = Fujiko Fujio A
|publisher = [[Chuokoron-Shinsha]]
| publisher = Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha
|demographic = ''[[Seinen]]''
| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}
|imprint =
| imprint =
|magazine = Comic Densetsu Magazine
| magazine = Manga Sunday
|first = 2002
| first = 2001
|last = 2004
| last = 2004
|volumes = 2
| volumes =
|volume_list =
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
| type = tv series
|title = The Laughing Salesman NEW
| title = New Laughing Salesman
|director = Hirofumi Ogura
| director = Hirofumi Ogura
|producer =
| producer =
|writer = {{ubl|Naohiro Fukushima|Asami Ishikawa|Midori Natsu}}
| writer = {{ubl|Naohiro Fukushima|Asami Ishikawa|Midori Natsu}}
|music = Kōhei Tanaka
| music = Kōhei Tanaka
|studio = Shin-Ei Animation
| studio = Shin-Ei Animation
|licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=[[Crunchyroll]]}}
| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=[[Crunchyroll]]}}
|network = [[Tokyo MX]], [[Yomiuri TV]], [[Nippon BS Broadcasting|BS11]], [[Animax]]
| network = [[Tokyo MX]], [[Yomiuri TV]], [[Nippon BS Broadcasting|BS11]], [[Animax]]
|network_en =
| network_en =
|first = April 3, 2017
| first = April 3, 2017
|last = June 19, 2017
| last = June 19, 2017
|episodes = 12 (24 segments)
| episodes = 12 (24 segments)
|episode_list = List of The Laughing Salesman episodes#The Laughing Salesman NEW
| episode_list = List of The Laughing Salesman episodes#New Laughing Salesman
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title = Video games
| title = Video games
|content =
| content =
* ''The Laughing Salesman'' (1991)
* ''The Laughing Salesman'' (1991)
* ''The Laughing Salesman'' (1993)
* ''The Laughing Salesman'' (1993)
}}
}}
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''The Laughing Salesman'''''|笑ゥせぇるすまん|Warau Sērusuman|lead=yes}} is a Japanese manga series created by [[Fujiko Fujio|Fujiko A. Fujio]]. The manga began as a one-shot series serialized in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic]]'' magazine on 1968, later becoming a full-fledged series published by [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]'s ''[[Manga Sunday]]'' magazine from 1969 to 1971. The manga tells the story of a salesman named Moguro{{efn|"Mokoku" earlier in the manga.}} Fukuzou, whose job is to help people fill gaps in their soul. In reality, he often ruins the lives of his clients if they do not follow his strict instructions or if they betray his trust.
{{nihongo|'''''The Laughing Salesman'''''|笑ゥせぇるすまん|Warau Sērusuman|lead=yes}} is a Japanese manga series created by [[Fujiko Fujio A]]. The manga "The Black Salesman" began as a one-shot manga in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic]]'' magazine on 1968, later serialized in [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]'s ''[[Manga Sunday]]'' magazine from 1969 to 1971. The manga tells the story of a salesman named Moguro Fukuzou{{efn|"Mokoku Fukuzou" in ''The Black Salesman''.}}, whose job is to help people fill gaps in their soul. In reality, he often ruins the lives of his clients if they do not follow his strict instructions or if they betray his trust.


It is notable in Japan as the only series by the duo to be darker and more mature in its themes than their previous works. An anime adaptation was produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]], directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami. It aired on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] from October 10, 1989 to December 28, 1993 with a total of 127 episodes. A second anime adaptation aired on [[Tokyo MX]] from April 3 to June 19, 2017.<ref name=anime>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-10/warau-salesman-new-tv-anime-video-reveals-april-3-premiere/.112065|title=Warau Salesman New TV Anime's Video Reveals April 3 Premiere|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|first=Tai|last=Anita|date=2017-02-10|access-date=2021-02-15}}</ref>
An anime "The Laughing Salesman" adaptation was produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]], directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami. It aired on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] from 1989 to 1993 with a total of 127 episodes. The manga "The Laughing Salesman" was serialized in ''Chuokoron'' from 1990 to 1995. A second anime adaptation aired on [[Tokyo MX]] in 2017.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Society is filled with people who struggle through their lives or never achieved their goals. The stories in the series focus on individuals who meet a shadowy and ominous salesman called {{nihongo|Moguro Fukuzou|喪黒 福造}}. Moguro promises to "fill your empty soul" and give them a better life, if they follow his advice or agree to his conditions. However, once Moguro's clients begin to enjoy the fruits of their new life, they often breach their conditions, betray his trust, or deny that they received assistance at all. When this invariably happens due to their avarice, greed or selfishness, Moguro punishes his clients by using their reliance on his aid against them. With their lives ruined, he believes that they have been justly rewarded and he looks for more potential clients that he can help in a similar way.
Society is filled with people who struggle through their lives or never achieved their goals. The stories in the series focus on individuals who meet a shadowy and ominous salesman named {{nihongo|Moguro Fukuzou|喪黒 福造}}. Moguro promises to "fill your empty soul" and give them a better life, if they follow his advice or agree to his conditions. However, once Moguro's clients begin to enjoy the fruits of their new life, they often breach their conditions, betray his trust, or deny that they received assistance at all. When this invariably happens due to their avarice, greed or selfishness, Moguro punishes his clients by using their reliance on his aid against them. With their lives ruined, he believes that they have been justly rewarded and he looks for more potential clients that he can help in a similar way.


The names of Moguro's clients are often [[pun]]s on their situation or predicament, or refer to aspects of Japanese culture or history. For example in Episode 18, the name of the client, Urashima Taichi, alludes to the legend of [[Urashima Tarō]], a type of Japanese [[Rip Van Winkle]].
The names of Moguro's clients are often [[pun]]s on their situation or predicament, or refer to aspects of Japanese culture or history. For example in Episode 18, the name of the client, Urashima Taichi, alludes to the legend of [[Urashima Tarō]], a type of Japanese [[Rip Van Winkle]].


==Media==
==Media==

===Manga===
===Manga===
Co-creator Motoo Abiko first created the manga as a one-shot called {{nihongo|''The Black Salesman''|黒イせぇるすまん|Kuroi Sērusuman}} in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic]]'' magazine in 1968. However the manga was deemed too scary for the publisher, and he ended up publishing the work in [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]'s ''[[Manga Sunday]]'' magazine from 1969 to 1971, under the same title as the one-shot. After the first anime adaptation's release, the series continued from 1990 to 1995 in [[Chuokoron-Shinsha]]'s ''[[Chūōkōron]]'' magazine, this time under the title of {{nihongo|''The Laughing Salesman''|笑ゥせぇるすまん|Warau Sērusuman}}, and later in ''Manga Sunday'' from 1996 to 2000 as {{nihongo|''The Salesman Returns''|帰ッテキタせぇるすまん|Kaettekita Sērusuman}}, with a bilingual (Japanese-English) version released in 2013.<ref>{{cite book|title=英語コミックス-帰ッテキタせぇるすまん(実日イングリッシュコミック) (The Salesman Returns)|location=[[Amazon (company)]]|id={{ASIN|4408612790|country=jp}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.j-n.co.jp/books/?goods_code=978-4-408-61279-9|title=英語コミックス 帰ッテキタせぇるすまん|publisher=[[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd.]]|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> The fourth sequel, {{nihongo|''The Dancing Salesman''|踊ルせぇるすまん|Odoru Sērusuman}}, ran in Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's ''Comic Densetsu Magazine'' from 2001 to 2002 and ''Manga Sunday'' from 2003 to 2004. Both the ''Chūōkōron'' version and ''The Salesman Returns'' have been published in both physical and digital formats, with volume 1 of the [[bunkobon]] edition of the former and volume 1 of the latter including the previously uncollected chapters from ''The Black Salesman''. As of 2021, ''The Dancing Salesman'' chapters have yet to be collected in a [[tankōbon]].
Fujiko Fujio first created the manga as a one-shot called {{nihongo|''The Black Salesman''|黒イせぇるすまん|Kuroi Sērusuman}} in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic]]'' magazine in 1968. Later serialized in [[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha]]'s ''[[Manga Sunday]]'' magazine from 1969 to 1971. After the first anime adaptation's release, Fujiko Fujio A continued the series from 1990 to 1995 in [[Chuokoron-Shinsha]]'s ''Chuokoron'' magazine, this time under the same title of the anime, {{nihongo|''The Laughing Salesman''|笑ゥせぇるすまん|Warau Sērusuman}}, and later in ''Manga Sunday'' from 1996 to 2000 as {{nihongo|''The Salesman Returns''|帰ッテキタせぇるすまん|Kaettekita Sērusuman}}, with a bilingual (Japanese and English) version released in 2013.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.j-n.co.jp/books/?goods_code=978-4-408-61279-9|script-title=ja:英語コミックス 帰ッテキタせぇるすまん|date=26 December 2018|publisher=[[Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd.]]|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> The fourth sequel, {{nihongo|''The Dancing Salesman''|踊ルせぇるすまん|Odoru Sērusuman}}, ran in Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's ''Manga Sunday'' from 2001 to 2004. Both the ''Chuokoron-Shinsha'' version and The Salesman Returns have been published in both physical and digital formats, with volume 1 of the [[bunkobon]] edition of the former and volume 1 of the latter including the previously uncollected chapters from ''The Black Salesman''.


===Anime===
===Anime===
{{see also|List of The Laughing Salesman episodes}}
{{see also|List of The Laughing Salesman episodes{{!}}List of ''The Laughing Salesman'' episodes}}
An anime adaptation of the manga was produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]] and aired as part of the 1989–1992 variety show {{Nihongo|'''Gimme a Break'''|ギミア・ぶれいく|Gimia・bureiku}} on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] from October 10, 1989 to September 29, 1992 and later continued as 2 hour specials which aired from December 26, 1992 to December 28, 1993. It was directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami, while [[Kohei Tanaka (composer)|Kōhei Tanaka]] composed the music. The opening song is titled {{nihongo|''Kodoku no Uta''|孤独の唄||lit. Song of Loneliness}} while the ending is titled {{nihongo|''Kokoro no Uta''|ココロの唄||lit. Song of the Heart}}, both performed by Tomio Umezawa.
An anime adaptation of the manga was produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]] and aired as part of the 1989–1992 variety show {{Nihongo|''Gimme a Break''|ギミア・ぶれいく|Gimia・bureiku}} on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] from October 10, 1989, to September 29, 1992, and later continued as 2 hour specials which aired from December 26, 1992, to December 28, 1993. It was directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami, while [[Kohei Tanaka (composer)|Kōhei Tanaka]] composed the music. The opening song is titled {{nihongo|''Kodoku no Uta''|孤独の唄||lit. Song of Loneliness}} while the ending is titled {{nihongo|''Kokoro no Uta''|ココロの唄||lit. Song of the Heart}}, both performed by Tomio Umezawa.


A [[DVD]] boxed set of the series was released by [[Pony Canyon]] on March 20, 2013. The anime has also been digitally remastered and released on various [[video on demand]] streaming services in Japan.
A [[DVD]] boxed set of the series was released by [[Pony Canyon]] on March 20, 2013. The anime has also been digitally remastered and released on various [[video on demand]] streaming services in Japan.


A second anime adaptation titled {{nihongo|'''''The Laughing Salesman NEW'''''|笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW|Warau Sērusuman NEW|lead=yes}} was also produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]]. It was directed by Hirofumi Ogura, with Naohiro Fukushima, Asami Ishikawa and Midori Natsu writing the scripts and Kohei Tanaka composing the music. Fujio Suzuki designed the characters and served as chief animation director. Minoru Nishida was the art director, with Akiko Inoue in charge of color design. The series aired on [[Tokyo MX]] from April 3, 2017, to June 19, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animeanime.jp/article/2016/12/16/31784.html|title=アニメ「笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW」2017年春スタート 喪黒福造は玄田哲章|website=アニメ！アニメ！}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-16/doraemon-co-creator-warau-salesman-manga-gets-new-tv-anime/.109979|title=Doraemon Co-Creator's Warau Salesman Manga Gets New TV Anime|website=Anime News Network}}</ref><ref name=anime/> It was streamed on [[Crunchyroll]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-04-03/crunchyroll-streams-the-laughing-salesman-starmyu-season-2-anime/.114291|title=Crunchyroll Streams The Laughing Salesman, Starmyu Season 2 Anime|website=Anime News Network|date=April 3, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2021}}</ref> making it first ''The Laughing Salesman'' material available online outside Japan.<ref name="crunchyroll">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/04/03/crunchyroll-streams-alice-zoroku-and-the-laughing-salesman|title=Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"|first=Paul|last=Chapman|website=Crunchyroll}}</ref> The opening song is titled "Don't" by NakamuraEmi while the ending theme is titled {{nihongo|"Bam! The Time I Got Suckered"|ドーン！やられちゃった節|Dōn! Yararechatta setsu}} by [[Junji Takada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-13/junji-takeda-performs-warau-salesman-new-anime-ending-theme-song/.113378|title=Junji Takeda Performs Warau Salesman New Anime's Ending Theme Song|website=Anime News Network|date=March 13, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref>
A second anime adaptation titled {{nihongo|''New Laughing Salesman''|笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW|Warau Sērusuman Nyū|lead=yes}} was also produced by [[Shin-Ei Animation]]. It was directed by Hirofumi Ogura, with Naohiro Fukushima, Asami Ishikawa and Midori Natsu writing the scripts and Kohei Tanaka composing the music. Fujio Suzuki designed the characters and served as chief animation director. Minoru Nishida was the art director, with Akiko Inoue in charge of color design. The series aired on [[Tokyo MX]] from April 3, 2017, to June 19, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animeanime.jp/article/2016/12/16/31784.html|title=アニメ「笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW」2017年春スタート 喪黒福造は玄田哲章|website=アニメ！アニメ！|date=16 December 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-16/doraemon-co-creator-warau-salesman-manga-gets-new-tv-anime/.109979|title=Doraemon Co-Creator's Warau Salesman Manga Gets New TV Anime|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=3 June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-10/warau-salesman-new-tv-anime-video-reveals-april-3-premiere/.112065|title=Warau Salesman New TV Anime's Video Reveals April 3 Premiere|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|first=Tai|last=Anita|date=2017-02-10|access-date=2021-02-15}}</ref> It was streamed on [[Crunchyroll]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-04-03/crunchyroll-streams-the-laughing-salesman-starmyu-season-2-anime/.114291|title=Crunchyroll Streams The Laughing Salesman, Starmyu Season 2 Anime|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=April 3, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2021}}</ref> making it first ''The Laughing Salesman'' material available online outside Japan.<ref name="crunchyroll">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/04/03/crunchyroll-streams-alice-zoroku-and-the-laughing-salesman|title=Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"|first=Paul|last=Chapman|website=Crunchyroll|date=3 April 2017 }}</ref> The opening song is titled "Don't" by NakamuraEmi while the ending theme is titled {{nihongo|"Bam! The Time I Got Suckered"|ドーン！やられちゃった節|Dōn! Yararechatta setsu}} by [[Junji Takada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-13/junji-takeda-performs-warau-salesman-new-anime-ending-theme-song/.113378|title=Junji Takeda Performs Warau Salesman New Anime's Ending Theme Song|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=March 13, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref>


===Video games===
===Video games===
[[Compile (company)|Compile]] released the first video game based on the series for the [[MSX2]] in Japan in 1991.
[[Compile (company)|Compile]] released the first video game based on the series for the [[MSX2]] in Japan in 1991.


A [[visual novel]] of the series was released on the [[Sega CD]] in Japan on September 17, 1993. It was also developed by Compile and published by [[Sega]], adapting three episodes of the anime. In the game, the player can change the outcome of the events of the customer. If the player makes the right choices, the customer can have a happy ending. However, if the player makes the wrong choices, the customer will get the bad ending just like in the anime.
A [[visual novel]] of the series was released on the [[Sega CD]] in Japan on September 17, 1993. It was also developed by Compile and published by [[Sega]], adapting three episodes of the anime. In the game, it features fully-voiced cutscenes with 2D artwork and as they progress through, they will go through some [[mini-game]]s, related to the episode (e.g. following Moguro by choosing the correct path). The player can change the outcome of the events of the customer. If the player makes the right choices, the customer can have a happy ending. However, if the player makes the wrong choices, the customer will get the bad ending, just like in the anime.


Fukuzou Moguro makes an appearance as a guest character in the 2012 game ''Girls RPG Cinderelife'' developed by [[Level-5 (company)|Level-5]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-16/sailor-moon-tuxedo-mask/kamen-joins-level-5-girls-rpg|title=Sailor Moon's Tuxedo Mask/Kamen Joins Level-5's Girls RPG|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|first=Egan|last=Loo|date=2011-10-16|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref>
Fukuzou Moguro makes an appearance as a guest character in the 2012 game ''Girls RPG Cinderelife'' developed by [[Level-5 (company)|Level-5]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-16/sailor-moon-tuxedo-mask/kamen-joins-level-5-girls-rpg|title=Sailor Moon's Tuxedo Mask/Kamen Joins Level-5's Girls RPG|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|first=Egan|last=Loo|date=2011-10-16|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref>
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===Live-action drama===
===Live-action drama===
A live-action adaptation was produced by [[TV Asahi]], which stars [[Shirō Itō]] as Moguro Fukuzou. It aired from June 26 to September 18, 1999.
A live-action adaptation was produced by [[TV Asahi]], which stars [[Shirō Itō]] as Moguro Fukuzou. It aired from June 26 to September 18, 1999.

==Reception==
In June 1999, the manga sold more than 3.5 million copies in Japan alone.<ref>「世紀末のココロのスキマお埋めします「笑ゥせぇるすまん」テレ朝系でドラマ化」『[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]』1999年6月22日付東京夕刊、9面。</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://warau-new.jp|''The Laughing Salesman NEW'' anime website}}
* {{Official website|http://warau-new.jp|''The Laughing Salesman New'' anime website}}
* {{Official website|https://www.nelke.co.jp/stage/warau-stage/|''The Laughing Salesman'' stage play website}}
* {{Official website|https://www.nelke.co.jp/stage/warau-stage/|''The Laughing Salesman'' stage play website}}
* {{YouTube|channel=UCozHSCJikNZC24-W-LpPVDA}}
* {{Anime News Network|anime|7412|The Laughing Salesman}}
* {{Anime News Network|anime|7412|The Laughing Salesman}}


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[[Category:1990s Japanese television series]]
[[Category:1990s Japanese television series]]
[[Category:2017 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:2017 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:Anime reboots]]
[[Category:Anime series based on manga]]
[[Category:Anime series based on manga]]
[[Category:Crunchyroll anime]]
[[Category:Dark comedy anime and manga]]
[[Category:Dark comedy anime and manga]]
[[Category:Fujiko Fujio A]]
[[Category:Fujiko Fujio A]]
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[[Category:Shin-Ei Animation]]
[[Category:Shin-Ei Animation]]
[[Category:TBS Television (Japan) original programming]]
[[Category:TBS Television (Japan) original programming]]
[[Category:Tokyo MX original programming]]
[[Category:TV Asahi original programming]]
[[Category:TV Asahi original programming]]
[[Category:TV Asahi television dramas]]
[[Category:TV Asahi television dramas]]

Latest revision as of 11:12, 19 November 2024

The Laughing Salesman
First bunkobon volume cover
笑ゥせぇるすまん
(Warau Sērusuman)
Genre
Manga
The Black Salesman (One-shot)
Written byFujiko Fujio[a]
Published byShogakukan
MagazineBig Comic
DemographicSeinen
Published1968
Manga
The Black Salesman
Written byFujiko Fujio[a]
Published byJitsugyo no Nihon Sha
MagazineManga Sunday
DemographicSeinen
Original run1969 – 1971
Volumes2
Further information
Anime television series
The Laughing Salesman
Directed by
Produced by
  • Sōichi Besshi
  • Seitarō Kodama
  • Hiroshi Inoue
Written byYasuo Tanami
Music byKōhei Tanaka
StudioShin-Ei Animation
Original networkTBS
Original run Original run
October 10, 1989 –
September 29, 1992
Specials
December 26, 1992 – December 28, 1993
Episodes127 (List of episodes)
Manga
The Laughing Salesman
Written byFujiko Fujio A
Published byChuokoron-Shinsha
MagazineChuokoron
DemographicSeinen
Original run1990 – 1995
Volumes5[b]
Manga
The Salesman Returns
Written byFujiko Fujio A
Published byJitsugyo no Nihon Sha
MagazineManga Sunday
DemographicSeinen
Original run1996 – 2000
Volumes2
Television drama
Directed by
  • Mitsuo Ezaki
  • Takahito Hara
  • Hiroshi Ikezoe
  • Gō Nakajima
  • Kyōji Mafune
Produced by
  • Fumio Igarashi
  • Masaru Takahashi
  • Gō Nakajima
Written by
Music byKōji Endō (e-KLAY 1999)
Studio
Original networkTV Asahi
Original run June 26, 1999 – September 18, 1999
Episodes10
Manga
The Dancing Salesman
Written byFujiko Fujio A
Published byJitsugyo no Nihon Sha
MagazineManga Sunday
DemographicSeinen
Original run2001 – 2004
Anime television series
New Laughing Salesman
Directed byHirofumi Ogura
Written by
  • Naohiro Fukushima
  • Asami Ishikawa
  • Midori Natsu
Music byKōhei Tanaka
StudioShin-Ei Animation
Licensed by
Original networkTokyo MX, Yomiuri TV, BS11, Animax
Original run April 3, 2017 – June 19, 2017
Episodes12 (24 segments) (List of episodes)
Video games
  • The Laughing Salesman (1991)
  • The Laughing Salesman (1993)

The Laughing Salesman (Japanese: 笑ゥせぇるすまん, Hepburn: Warau Sērusuman) is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko Fujio A. The manga "The Black Salesman" began as a one-shot manga in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine on 1968, later serialized in Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's Manga Sunday magazine from 1969 to 1971. The manga tells the story of a salesman named Moguro Fukuzou[c], whose job is to help people fill gaps in their soul. In reality, he often ruins the lives of his clients if they do not follow his strict instructions or if they betray his trust.

An anime "The Laughing Salesman" adaptation was produced by Shin-Ei Animation, directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami. It aired on TBS from 1989 to 1993 with a total of 127 episodes. The manga "The Laughing Salesman" was serialized in Chuokoron from 1990 to 1995. A second anime adaptation aired on Tokyo MX in 2017.

Plot

[edit]

Society is filled with people who struggle through their lives or never achieved their goals. The stories in the series focus on individuals who meet a shadowy and ominous salesman named Moguro Fukuzou (喪黒 福造). Moguro promises to "fill your empty soul" and give them a better life, if they follow his advice or agree to his conditions. However, once Moguro's clients begin to enjoy the fruits of their new life, they often breach their conditions, betray his trust, or deny that they received assistance at all. When this invariably happens due to their avarice, greed or selfishness, Moguro punishes his clients by using their reliance on his aid against them. With their lives ruined, he believes that they have been justly rewarded and he looks for more potential clients that he can help in a similar way.

The names of Moguro's clients are often puns on their situation or predicament, or refer to aspects of Japanese culture or history. For example in Episode 18, the name of the client, Urashima Taichi, alludes to the legend of Urashima Tarō, a type of Japanese Rip Van Winkle.

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]

Fujiko Fujio first created the manga as a one-shot called The Black Salesman (黒イせぇるすまん, Kuroi Sērusuman) in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine in 1968. Later serialized in Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's Manga Sunday magazine from 1969 to 1971. After the first anime adaptation's release, Fujiko Fujio A continued the series from 1990 to 1995 in Chuokoron-Shinsha's Chuokoron magazine, this time under the same title of the anime, The Laughing Salesman (笑ゥせぇるすまん, Warau Sērusuman), and later in Manga Sunday from 1996 to 2000 as The Salesman Returns (帰ッテキタせぇるすまん, Kaettekita Sērusuman), with a bilingual (Japanese and English) version released in 2013.[3] The fourth sequel, The Dancing Salesman (踊ルせぇるすまん, Odoru Sērusuman), ran in Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's Manga Sunday from 2001 to 2004. Both the Chuokoron-Shinsha version and The Salesman Returns have been published in both physical and digital formats, with volume 1 of the bunkobon edition of the former and volume 1 of the latter including the previously uncollected chapters from The Black Salesman.

Anime

[edit]
See also: List of The Laughing Salesman episodes

An anime adaptation of the manga was produced by Shin-Ei Animation and aired as part of the 1989–1992 variety show Gimme a Break (ギミア・ぶれいく, Gimia・bureiku) on TBS from October 10, 1989, to September 29, 1992, and later continued as 2 hour specials which aired from December 26, 1992, to December 28, 1993. It was directed by Toshirō Kuni and written by Yasuo Tanami, while Kōhei Tanaka composed the music. The opening song is titled Kodoku no Uta (孤独の唄, lit. Song of Loneliness) while the ending is titled Kokoro no Uta (ココロの唄, lit. Song of the Heart), both performed by Tomio Umezawa.

A DVD boxed set of the series was released by Pony Canyon on March 20, 2013. The anime has also been digitally remastered and released on various video on demand streaming services in Japan.

A second anime adaptation titled New Laughing Salesman (Japanese: 笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW, Hepburn: Warau Sērusuman Nyū) was also produced by Shin-Ei Animation. It was directed by Hirofumi Ogura, with Naohiro Fukushima, Asami Ishikawa and Midori Natsu writing the scripts and Kohei Tanaka composing the music. Fujio Suzuki designed the characters and served as chief animation director. Minoru Nishida was the art director, with Akiko Inoue in charge of color design. The series aired on Tokyo MX from April 3, 2017, to June 19, 2017.[4][5][6] It was streamed on Crunchyroll,[7] making it first The Laughing Salesman material available online outside Japan.[8] The opening song is titled "Don't" by NakamuraEmi while the ending theme is titled "Bam! The Time I Got Suckered" (ドーン！やられちゃった節, Dōn! Yararechatta setsu) by Junji Takada.[9]

Video games

[edit]

Compile released the first video game based on the series for the MSX2 in Japan in 1991.

A visual novel of the series was released on the Sega CD in Japan on September 17, 1993. It was also developed by Compile and published by Sega, adapting three episodes of the anime. In the game, it features fully-voiced cutscenes with 2D artwork and as they progress through, they will go through some mini-games, related to the episode (e.g. following Moguro by choosing the correct path). The player can change the outcome of the events of the customer. If the player makes the right choices, the customer can have a happy ending. However, if the player makes the wrong choices, the customer will get the bad ending, just like in the anime.

Fukuzou Moguro makes an appearance as a guest character in the 2012 game Girls RPG Cinderelife developed by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS.[10]

Live-action drama

[edit]

A live-action adaptation was produced by TV Asahi, which stars Shirō Itō as Moguro Fukuzou. It aired from June 26 to September 18, 1999.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Motoo Abiko alone[2]
  2. ^ Including the previously uncollected chapters from The Black Salesman.
  3. ^ "Mokoku Fukuzou" in The Black Salesman.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Chapman, Paul (April 3, 2017). "Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Fujio A, Fujiko (May 28, 2014). ＠ｌｌ 藤子不二雄Ａ～藤子不二雄Ａを読む。 [@ll Fujiko Fujio A] (in Japanese). Shogakukan. pp. 106, 172. ISBN 978-4-09-179196-2.
  3. ^ 英語コミックス 帰ッテキタせぇるすまん. Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd. December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "アニメ「笑ゥせぇるすまんNEW」2017年春スタート 喪黒福造は玄田哲章". アニメ！アニメ！. December 16, 2016.
  5. ^ "Doraemon Co-Creator's Warau Salesman Manga Gets New TV Anime". Anime News Network. June 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Anita, Tai (February 10, 2017). "Warau Salesman New TV Anime's Video Reveals April 3 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "Crunchyroll Streams The Laughing Salesman, Starmyu Season 2 Anime". Anime News Network. April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Chapman, Paul (April 3, 2017). "Crunchyroll Streams "Alice & Zoroku" and "The Laughing Salesman"". Crunchyroll.
  9. ^ "Junji Takeda Performs Warau Salesman New Anime's Ending Theme Song". Anime News Network. March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Loo, Egan (October 16, 2011). "Sailor Moon's Tuxedo Mask/Kamen Joins Level-5's Girls RPG". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
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