Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo Prelude

In 1976, in a Weekly Shonen Jump still living in a more innocent era of gags, sports and the occasional drama, a simple gag series about the life and times of an unusual policeman started out amidst all the others...unknowing that it would eventually become one of the longest running continuous series in manga history! And now, we take you back to the day...where Ryoutsu's crazy life all began!

Kochira Katsushika-ka Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo (KochiKame)
By Osamu Akimoto

Volume 1: Ryou-san is Early!?
Chp. 1: Ryou-san of the Apology Report

5.
Visitor: Well, I’m lost again.
Visitor: There has to be a police box somewhere…ah, there.
(TN: A “police box” is a typical station for policemen in Japan, also known in Japanese as “kouban”)
Visitor: I’ll ask at the police box…Here I go.
Traffic Light Sign: KAMEARI KOUENMAE (In front of Kameari Park)
Top Sign: Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujou (Local Police Station in Kameari Kouemae)
Right Sign: Agnes Lum is finally coming to Japan. Signing at this Police Box, 7/7
(TN: Agnes Lum is a notable swimsuit model in the 1970s)
Left Sign: Now Recruiting Policemen!! 450-500/hr.
(TN: Really can’t read the far left sign too well, doesn’t really have to be translated if it can’t be)

6.
Visitor: Here I go.
Visitor: Uh…um…I have a bit to ask but…
Visitor: ………………
Ryoutsu: (thinking numerical odds, don’t change when TLing it)
Ryoutsu: O…OK………good………keep running! Donketsu Shinbori…
(TN: The name essentially translates to “Lack-of-Brains Shinbori”)
Ryoutsu: What!?
Ryoutsu: Here he comes! That Hashichism! Wh…what is that fool doing, s**t! You can do it! Donketsu Shinbori, do it for me!
Visitor: ………………

7.
Ryoutsu: N…no! No no! Are you planning to betray me, Donketsu Shinbori! I bet ten special tickets on you, 10 tickets!
Ryoutsu: Ah…………………
Radio: Hashichism takes first. Donketsu Shinbori is scratched.
Ryoutsu: ………………………(to himself) Hii—hii—Donketsu Shinbori—hii—
Visitor: Um…uh, Cop-san……
(TN: The visitor calls Ryoutsu “omawari-san”, which is a friendly way to say “Mr. Policeman” or “Policeman-san”. It’s crucial for the joke coming up so I made it “Mr. Cop” or “Cop-san”)
Ryoutsu: What are you, don’t you know my post!?
Ryoutsu: WHAT IS “COP-SAN”! CALL ME “POLICEMAN-SAN”! “POLICEMAN-SAN”!
(TN: Ryoutsu goes on to tell him to call him “junsa-san”, which is a more honorific version of the same thing, therefore why I went with “Mr. Policeman” or “Policeman-san”)
Visitor: !
Visitor: So then, Policeman-san………I want to know directions but…

8.
Ryoutsu: Where do you want to go, where!
Visitor: Please wait a moment, u~~h, ah, there!
Visitor: Tomodaore Industrial Private Company……I heard it was around here but……
(TN: A bit of a joke: “Tomodaore” is “joint bankruptcy”)
Ryoutsu: Tomodaore Industrial……..um~~Tomodaore……
Ryoutsu: Haven’t heard of it! Aren’t you mistaking it?
Visitor: I…I’m not! I heard that there was a cop nearby in front of the station that would help me!
Visitor: I took a 10-hour train ride from Niigata to get this far to Ueno……what made me come to Tokyo—
(TN: Niigata is a town on the north-west corner of Honshu)
Ryoutsu: I’ll kindly draw on your map to the person in the police-box in front of the station…you did get lost coming so close to it…

9.
Visitor: I heard that you immediately go to a police box when you get lost…huh……huh?
Ryoutsu: Would I lie to you! If I didn’t, I’d never be able to!
Visitor: You’re…confused…
Ryoutsu: I’ll really kill you for throwing me off while I was into the horse-race! But I’m not holding on to my pistol!
Visitor: I…I get it!
Ryoutsu: A peasant like you shouldn’t come to Tokyo, go home immediately!
Visitor: Ri—ght.
Ryoutsu: Hmph! They grow rice in Niigata!

10.
Ryoutsu: A—ah, I was too irritated, really.
Ryoutsu: ………………
Ryoutsu: What are you all doing! This isn’t a show!
Woman: Kyaa!
Man: Uwaaa, save me~~
Ryoutsu: What were they all doing………(SFX) Haa haa
SFX: GRUMBLE GRUMBLE
Ryoutsu: Now that I think of it, where’s lunch? I’m hungry…
Salesman: He—y, thanks for waiting!

11.
Ryoutsu: Now this is the right scene, hehehehehe. This is truly great for hunger.
Salesman: Thanks—
Ryoutsu: When I make the tea, I’ll eat. Tea, tea…
Ryoutsu: It’s been a while since I’ve had tendon. I always just have morisoba. I’ll take it easy while I drink my tea…
(TN: “Tendon” is rice with fried fish or seafood on top; “morisoba” is chilled soba noodles served on a flat pan or basket)
Ryoutsu: It’s great that payday is the day after tomorrow…..Hehehe…
Ryoutsu: Ah, that thieving cat again!
Ryoutsu: O...OK! In this moment, I won’t move………
Sign: Always smile while working: Chief

12.
Ryoutsu: Isn’t he always just eating, that thieving cat! At this rate, he’ll eat the morisoba down to the tsuyu sauce and the negi……Today: I think you won’t be coming back alive today!
(TN: “tsuyu sauce” is a sauce usually used for soba noodles or tempura, while negi is a spring onion)
SFX: BLOODTHIRST
Ryoutsu: Hey you! Die! Die!
Ryoutsu: Wait…you running away, coward!
Girl: KYAA!!

13.
Ryoutsu: I’ll be waiting to the very end~~
Ryoutsu: Huh?

14.
Ryoutsu: No! No! I’m hungry and I don’t know what to do with my post! I’m really in a terrible position.
Ryoutsu: And to further this, my uproar now made me exhaust all my bullets. I must write an apology again…
(TN: “apology” is in Japanese “Shimatsusho”, which is a written explanation or apology)
Ryoutsu: I think the only thing that would help is to throw my gun away, even if it’s empty…oh well, they’ll understand just what they see outside. And now, for my meal. Luckily, I was able to save one tempura shrimp through that gun battle.
Ryoutsu: We—ll, let’s eat………!?
Ryoutsu: What’s this?
Ryoutsu: Ah: he ate only the inside!

15.
Ryoutsu: So I’m fated to not eat tendon this time? That cat has moved me to tears.
Ryoutsu: Well, even so, do I have a bit of tea left? I don’t remember if I still have tea……this smells funny.
Ryoutsu: ………!
Ryoutsu: Phew, I just give up. Its better that I don’t get a duodenum ulcer…
Ryoutsu: I’m still hungry since I only ate a bit. Should I buy some bread!
Ryoutsu: The price of bread has gone up and it’s high now……Hey, Terai, can you keep watch while I go get some bread? Terai!

16.
Ryoutsu: Tera………Right! He’s in the hospital now! He actually jumped into his patrol car yesterday and is said to be in critical condition.
Ryoutsu: That’s a problem. I can’t go since the police box would be empty. And if a passer by comes through…so then, I’m hungry and can’t do anything without a partner.
Ryoutsu: And I’ve got to make rounds in another hour…now that I say that, the chief said that there was a new officer coming here, but he’s late……
Ryoutsu: What sort of person is coming? It should be a beautiful policewoman that’s “my type”: “Ryoutsu-san, please take care of me”. That would never be possible, though a unique person like Matsumoto who was here before would be nice……
Ryoutsu: Ultimately, playing Russian Roulette leads to instant death…they’ll be a fun guy then. Ahahaha

17.
“Younger Cop”: Driver, the ride is on the chief.
Driver: Thanks~~
“Younger Cop”: Are you head patrol officer Ryotsu-san?
Ryoutsu: Aah…well, I’m Ryoutsu here at the station in front of Kameari Park!
Keiichi: I’m Nakagawa Keiichi; I’ll be working at this station starting today! Please to meet you, senpai!
Ryoutsu: Well, how nice. You don’t have to be so honorable, take it easy; relax. Hahaha.

18.
Ryoutsu: I’ve got the desk over there. You can use the desk here. I’m taking a break from here to buy some bread.
Keiichi: Alright!
Ryoutsu: While you’re at it, can you clean up inside? The broom is standing out front. Please do it.
Bottle: KOIWAI
(TN: Koiwai is a Japanese brand notable for its dairy products, including milk and cheese from both cows and sheep)
Ryoutsu: Hey, you said you were Nakagawa.
Keiichi: Yep, what is it senpai!
Ryoutsu: I didn’t realize it in my delirium for bread earlier, but aren’t your and my uniforms quite different!?
Keiichi: Oh, this? Hahaha, you have a good eye as expected. These are designed by Pierre Erodan. It’s an outfit special ordered for a uniform.
(TN: There is no company called “Pierre Erodan”, it is assumed to be a reference to designer Pierre Cardin)
Ryoutsu: Doesn’t it speak badly for your necktie?
Keiichi: Wh—at, please don’t worry. It’s cheap: a French-styled that’s merely 20,000 yen…
(TN: 20,000 yen isn’t cheap; it’s typically around $200.00)

19.
Ryoutsu: I haven’t spoken to many in this station recently, but you are sociable. I’ll forgive you for that outfit.
Keiichi: No, you’re not speaking bad at all………I changed my clothes in the taxi. This really is an era of individuality for Japanese policemen.
Ryoutsu: ……………….
Ryoutsu: It is, then you’ve done that too! Well, I think we’ll get along.
Keiichi: Well, hahahha, I say so too.
Keiichi: Senpai is famous amidst this station. That you’re “Ryou-san of the Apology Report”.
Ryoutsu: How could you say that in front of your senpai!
Keiichi: N…no, it wasn’t this moment! It was from the women generally around this station.
Ryoutsu: How rude, that rumor has no basis! (to himself) But it is true…
Keiichi: While we’re at it, senpai!
Keiichi: What is it that we do at this police station?

20.
Ryoutsu: Since you’re asking, I’ll tell you…we mange traffic violations…go around the park……occasionally we play pachinko or see a porno on the side while on patrol……
Keiichi: Well—that’s rather busy.
Ryoutsu: Naturally, the people living in peace every day are thanks to us, humbly! With us around, we’re the halo that points the way towards Japan’s future! Hahahaha.
Keiichi: So, the young are discovered and gradually they’re fine with killing? BABA—NG……
Ryoutsu: Wh…what? That pistol is different from the ones equipped by the police.
Keiichi: Yep, it’s a gun I ordered from Smith & Wesson in America.
Keiichi: It’s bigger in two ways than your New Nambu. Its barrel is 3.5 inches longer!
(TN: “New Nambu” is a manufacturer of guns, many of which were used in Japan at the time)
Ryoutsu: You’re right, it’s longer…
Keiichi: It’s coated in nickel to stand out.
Ryoutsu: Well……
Keiichi: Guns are better made in America than in Japan.

21.
Keiichi: Comparatively on the outside, it’s light. It is a K-frame. I saw this being used by Eastwood in “Dirty Harry” and I was numbed by it. I immediately ordered it from America. Hahahaha. Its bullets are .44 Special.
(TN: A "K-frame" is a 6 shot gu using .38 or .357 bullets, usually made for carrying. On the other hand, a .44 Special is a special Smith & Wesson smokeless powder center fire metallic cartridge, developed for their revolvers but used rather prominently until the development of the .44 Magnum in the 1950s. BTW: Dirty Harry, from the movie in 1971 which is being referenced, actually used .44 Magnum bullets, not .44 Special like Nakagawa obtained)
Ryoutsu: It’s better than mine, s**t.
Keiichi: Haven’t you seen “Dirty Harry”? It’s a wonderful film that’s a mirror for us policemen!
Ryoutsu: Whatever I say, I more love pornos…..(Hahahaha)
Keiichi: It inspired me. The scene where he faced the car of the bank gang in particular already brings me to tears. Eastwood gripped this Magnum with his big hand…
Keiichi: Right…Ah, hold on. Let’s assume that light van is the car in the bank robbery.
Ryoutsu: He…hey, are you seriously going to shoot!
Keiichi: I won’t shoot; I’m merely explaining the scene.
Keiichi: Here’s where we finally reach the climax. Alright, let’s begin.
Ryoutsu: OK, understood.
Keiichi: Eastwood, without a bit of haste, immediately pulled out his M29 to the car with the escaping criminals!

22.
Keiichi: He couldn’t really flat-out fire his gun, with the greatest strength in the world. There, he lowered his waist, opened his legs and took a wider stance. Calming down, quickly he made his action!
Ryoutsu: Mhmm, understood……
Keiichi: And then he took a two-handed maintenance firing stance, unique due to the large size of the gun.
Keiichi: And then………
Keiichi: And then……Uh…he aimed for the car of the criminals………he aimed for it…………
Ryoutsu: Ah, hey, you shouldn’t be so serious! Nakagawa!
SFX: BANG
Ryoutsu: You dummy, are you really going to go that far!
Keiichi: No! I forgot that the trigger is sensitive to a feather touch!
Ryoutsu: Fine then, hide it!

23.
Keiichi: Senpai, what happened to that light van from earlier?
Ryoutsu: I don’t know. They won’t know if you play dumb.
Ryoutsu: However, don’t deceive me by reducing the bullets in your gun to one, even if you leave it other there.
Keiichi: How about if I just have a spare one?
Ryoutsu: Don’t worry about it…well; this is a report document up through this morning! You need to rewrite it with your shooting.
Keiichi: As expected, I’m in your debt!
Ryoutsu: Phew…..so then, I’ll leave that to you. Really, this position uses nerves………
Keiichi: Senpai, to make this really consistant, shouldn’t it just be one parking violation for this morning!
Ryoutsu: I leave that to you to finish it well. Your “suitability” as a policeman is in this way.

24.
Keiichi: With this……
Ryoutsu: Naturally. If you can’t do this, then you won’t be a mature policeman.
Keiichi: So then, how about this: I was warning a parking violation and since the man there suddenly attacked me with a knife he had, I dodged it and fired a warning shot as he was running……
Ryoutsu: N~~~
Ryoutsu: It’s a tad weak……for example, how about your opponent had not a knife but an axe? He released a shotgun from the trunk of his car……
Keiichi: That….won’t be enough.
Keiichi: So then, how about this: I was warning him and since he suddenly fired a shotgun and threw hand grenades, I dodged him and fired a warning shot as he was running……
Ryoutsu: Well, it did go there.
Keiichi: Great! I can do this. However, senpai, this image is exciting, well done! It’s as if I can never do anything.
Ryoutsu: So then, increase it to five of them! Huh?
Keiichi: What!? Why?

25.
Ryoutsu: Well, it’ll be fine. You won’t get promoted with such minute things. Hahahaha.
Keiichi: Huh? Then, I fired around six…
Keiichi: Phew, I’ve really done it……but will the chief truly believe it?
Keiichi: A—ah—do I really have still two more hours? This is boring. How about playing cards?
Ryoutsu: Wh…what!!
Keiichi: I…I was joking. Hahahaha, a slight joke.
Ryoutsu: Why didn’t you say so sooner! Let’s do this now!
Keiichi: AAH—

26.
Ryoutsu: However, cards are for kids to play with! At our age, we’re limited to Hanafuda!
(TN: Hanafuda cards are “flower cards” usually played by nobility involving using specially designed cards to make combinations to obtain the highest score)
Keiichi: You have those here…
Ryoutsu: Can you play “Oicho-kabu”?
(TN: “Oicho-kabu” is a card game usually using kabufuda cards, but can also be done with Hanafuda cards, where you have to reach a total closest to 9 without going over)
Keiichi: Um, well, a little…
Ryoutsu: Alright, now you’re an adult!
Ryoutsu: First, we’ll go by adultness. Since that’s me, I’ll go!
Ryoutsu: No, a f**king Sakura!
Keiichi: Now it’s my turn.
Keiichi: Rain. So then I’m an adult.
Ryoutsu: It’s been a while since I’ve been so excited. Hihihihi.
Keiichi: What’s wrong? Senpai?

27.
Ryoutsu: Hold on a moment, delivery………
Keiichi: Ah, right…
Man: What’s a cop doing playing Hanafuta without hesitation while on duty?
Delivery: He really doesn’t look sincere.
Mustache: N…no, that cop there is holding a gun.
Mustache: He’s coming here. Is he going to fire on us?
Deliverer: How could he threaten us?
Man: B…but, he has a reputation of not knowing what he’s doing when he’s angry……
Men: Ugyaa…there he is! Save me.
Ryoutsu: Hyaa
Ryoutsu: There. I’m not calm so I’m going to the back!.
Keiichi: Huh? It’s gotten empty in here.
Ryoutsu: Don’t care! Well, we’re going in the zashiki. There aren’t any crooks that are in this police box. Come with me quickly!
(TN: The “zashiki” is in reference to the “zashikirou”, an old Edo-era room where criminals or lunatics were stored)
Keiichi: Well, then, of course but………then, alright!

28.
“Glasses”: I’m sorry, I need a bit of directions……
“Glasses”: There’s no one here? Ah!
Ryoutsu: What is it? Shut up already.
Youtsu: What are you doing! Hurry along!
“Glasses”: So I’m mistaken? No? This really is a police box?
“Glasses”: I want to get to the university building but………
Ryoutsu: University building? For that, go on the Shousen line from the station and it’s immediately around Hitotsubashi.
“Glasses” Thanks……
Ryoutsu: No, it’s nothing.
Ryoutsu: I’ve notice that I’ve seen that face now somewhere but…did I imagine it?
Sign:
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN
BOMBING OFFENSE
TERAI YOUICHI (23)

29.
Ryoutsu: No! That’s not it now! I got him lost!
Ryoutsu: Well, I’m sorry. Well, let’s hurry along and start over!
Keiichi: Huh, we’re still doing this?
Ryoutsu: I foolishly left my equipment on my uniform: my gun, my walkie-talkie.
Keiichi: Do it later…?
Ryoutsu: What are you saying? They’re my trump cards! I have to get them immediately!
Keiichi: Then, let’s end this first. I…already……
Ryoutsu: This is my final offer: several tickets to the Kansai Strippers who are currently at the Kameari Assembly Hall!
Keiichi: ………………
Ryoutsu: Alright, this will get back the rest of it…n~~consider this.
Keiichi: Do we have to? How about we do with one?
Ryoutsu: Well, men have courage! Let’s do it already.
Keiichi: ……
Ryoutsu: Ge! Ni zou!! Damn!
(TN: “Ni zou” is presumably a good combination in Oicho-kabu)

30.
Keiichi: Senpai, since we’ll write off earlier, please at least just have your uniform.
Ryoutsu: Shut up: how can a man take back things he lost in a game!
Ryoutsu: On a hot day like today, it’s easier to work by dressing light, hahahaha.
Keiichi: He’s stubborn.
Construction: It’s terrible! There’s a fight!
Ryoutsu: What?
Ryoutsu: Right, hold on. Our post will now…ah, right.
Ryoutsu: Hey, new guy, go out there now.
Keiichi: Huh?
Keiichi: I…I don’t know this. I just came to this police box………
Ryoutsu: Understood, understood. I’ll go! I’ll go!!
Keiichi: Thus…well, your outfit is……
Ryoutsu: This raincoat is a bit small but I really can’t help it.

31.
Keiichi: Senpai! Even if it’s how it is, the jokes’ gone too far. If it’s not impossible, please change into this.
Armband: TRAFFIC SAFE
Ryoutsu: You take a break in there, I’ll be going for a bit.
Keiichi: Aah, senpai!
Keiichi: It’s true. Even if you say you’re police, no one will believe you like that…
Ryoutsu: Hey, coming through, coming through.
Ryoutsu: Well, is the fight over yet?

32.
Man: It wasn’t a fight. A man who stole money from a shop was fighting with the workers at the shop and ended up running away.
Ryoutsu: Hmmhmm, well then, a robbery.
Ryoutsu: You work at the beer shop. Explain the circumstances…
Worker: Well…I’ll explain it inside……
Sign: KANTORI BEER
Worker: !?
Worker: While you’re at it, who are you? Why are you asking me this!
Ryoutsu: What, this is my job. Complaining?
Worker: I’m irritated because I really got hurt!
Ryoutsu: That’s why I’ve come here, you.
Worker: What!
Ryoutsu: What’s with the what!
Worker: What’s with the what’s with the what!
Keiichi: Hello, this is the police station in front of Kameari Park………
Ryoutsu: Ah.
Keiichi: What are you doing, senpai!?
Ryoutsu: Um, well, the owner of the beer shop doesn’t believe I’m a policeman no matter how much I tell him, hahahaha. Can’t you come to explain……Um, right. Get here as quick as possible…

33.
Man: I’m really sorry. We really have to be better around here…
Ryoutsu: We—ll, that’s good. Don’t worry about it, Hahahaha.
Girl 1: That cop is so cool…
Girl 2: Such a modern sense.
Girl 3: Ah, come over here—
Keiichi: Anytime you want to play, I’ll be at the police box there…if it’s fine, then we’ll go through a drive to Edogawa in the patrol car.
Girls: Uwaa, great, really!?
Ryoutsu: He—y, what are you doing?
Keiichi: See you! We were in the midst of transporting that evil criminal over there. Pardon me.
Ryoutsu: Were you saying something about me?
Keiichi: Huh!? No, I was telling them you were a good senpai.
Ryoutsu: What, is that intended to be sarcasm?
Keiichi: Huh? What? It was…Ah~~isn’t that a case of beer! Is it alright to have that while we’re on duty?
Ryoutsu: Idiot! I took it as an apology from the owner of the beer shop. Since you’re turning it down…why complain about me taking it!

34.
Keiichi: We were gone for a bit, but I don’t think a thief came in.
Ryoutsu: People who have courage for that wouldn’t do something so strange.
Ryoutsu: However, what should we do? By leaving this beer here, then it may be drunken by those who take over at 3…and I can’t drink 12 of them.
Ryoutsu: Can’t help doing this…want to drink them too? We have to have them all by 3.
Keiichi: So then, I can help you too?
Ryoutsu: Fuu~I, I drank them so fast that I wasn’t able to taste them…
Ryoutsu: Oh, the relief is here!
Ryoutsu: GYA! Sergeant, why are you with them again!
Sergeant: Are you surprised? We are in our monthly investigation.
Ryoutsu: Wasn’t that next week?
Sergeant: We were going to investigate without warning this month, but this happened.
Sergeant: I feel that the two of you aren’t suited for this police box. I’ve found you a much better station for you…

35.
Ryoutsu: ……so when I said that I wanted a place we wouldn’t need to switch for meals, we were sent to a police station where we wouldn’t need to commute. Why did I say that?
Keiichi: But senpai! Don’t be disappointed. Isn’t this a fine place? The air is fresh and…
Ryoutsu: Dummy! There aren’t any pachinko shops, beer shops or movie theaters around here!
Ryoutsu: However, the good thing, well, this area is cheap for the chief………
Sign: NOSAPPU STATION
(TN: Nosappu is in reference to Cape Nosappu on the island of Hokkaido, the eastern-most point of Japan)
Keiichi: Senpai, the weather is so nice today that we can rea—lly see Kunashir!
(TN: Kunashir is the southernmost island of the Kuril Islands, a disputed area currently under the control of Russia but on occasion controlled by Japan in history, which it is closer to)
Ryoutsu: That’s fine, I’m tired of looking at it………

TN: The year was 1976: the Bicentennial year in the United States. After many years of crisis and controversy, we were trying to escape from it all in many different ways, celebrating life, admiring new freedoms won in the previous times that were so tubulant, or just tuning it all out into a devil-may-care society. (that probably explains disco and punk) In Japan, the economy was skyrocketing as the nation continued to experience astounding post-war growth. Around this period of time, Weekly Shonen Jump pretty much was just part of the shonen landscape with not too much to differentiate it from the others, sticking to the try and true of shonen for the era, from gag series and comedies to sports series (mostly the national sport of baseball considering what was in there at the time) to the occasional more action or dramatic work within the pages. (primarily filled by Buronson & Shinji Hiramatsu's "Doberman Detective") Amidst the many gag series that were in the magazine, a newcomer just seemed to pop right in there without too much prestige or notice. It actually started with a one-shot in issue 29 and depicted the trials and tribulations of probably a policeman you wouldn't really want helping you out but who was just living at his own pace in life. Finding potential, the series began in issue 42 in the same year...and to this day, has yet to reach it's ending. Hundreds of other Jump series have come and gone...but this policeman, his friends, family and coworkers, continue to captivate readers every issue with it's sense of the world as combined and brought forth from a more innocent time. And to many, that's just how they always want to see it. This is the world of Kankichi Ryoutsu...this is the world of "Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo"...or just "KochiKame" to many.

Well...it's sort of strange considering that I really didn't expect to be doing this...whether it was this early or at all...but here it is: the very first KochiKame chapter translated in English! Strangely, I think this is actually the issue 29, 1976 one-shot as opposed to the actual first chapter...but I will treat it as chp. 1 since it does continue forwards a bit later as you'll see in a later chapter. (that and it's treated in vol. 1 as chp. 1 as opposed to a one-shot) I really don't know what exactly to say about this...particularly since, to tell the truth, this was probably the hardest translation I've done in my life! I'm not really joking: when I went into this, I sort of expected something a bit easier, but the first chapter was just so packed with dialogue that it took me two days to get through it! Oh course every word of dialogue is important so it's not like it's going to be wasted or anything, but considering that Jump didn't use kana in the 70s like all series do in there today, translating all that dialogue over 30 pages did seem to nearly get to me. I know it probably is really screwed up, but I did present it as best as possible.

As for the chapter itself...well, it was interesting to say the least. A lot of the intro chapter was driven by Ryoutsu himself and about how peculiar a cop he is, from the way he works to the pride he has as a man. Sure he goes through a lot of troubles some would say would be silly or cheesy, but remember that this was a more innocent time in the mid-late 1970s so it's not like it would be something too complex or it's the really wild KochiKame that came about later. The art style seems to make Ryoutsu gruffer than usual...and similarly, Nakagawa seemed way more bishonen or boyish than how he usually is depicted later on. Speaking of Nakagawa, it was interesting to see him as a clueless newbie partnered up with Ryoutsu, using his admiration of "Dirty Harry" (yeah, didn't expect a whole speech on that movie in a KochiKame pilot, let alone being said by him or that Eastwood cameo) to drive his desire to be an officer and showing him in drastic contrast to the older, more worldly, and much shorter officer he was paired up with. The pilot/first chapter was super-tough to do and probably nearly drove me to the breaking point...but considering a lot of the later chapters even from the next time on are less so, maybe it won't break me after all. (though it's not like Ryoutsu and Keiichi will remain on Hokkaido for long)

Well now that this is out, I sort of consider KochiKame as a bit of an experiment. I will be continuing on with vol. 1 of the series, showing the world as seen in 1976 through these eyes (and hoping we get a cameo by Agnes Lum in the near future...), but who knows what the future may bring! Maybe I'll surrender, maybe I won't, but I hope that Ryoutsu gives us more crazy innocent smiles for scripts to come! (whether by me nor not)

Edit: Though this is the one-shot, it's also a prelude since it sort of is the beginning but the one-shot...adjusting accordingly.