Fisherman Sanpei

• Ja Kanji — 釣りキチ三平 • Ja Romaji — Tsurikichi Sanpei

• Type — Manga Sanpei • Author — Takao Yaguchi • Publisher — Kodansha • Magazine — Weekly Shōnen Magazine • First — 1973 • Last — 1983 • Volumes — 65

• Type — Manga • Author — Takao Yaguchi • Publisher — Kodansha • First — 2002 • Last — 2010 • Volumes — 12

• Type — TV series • Director — Yoshikata Nitta • Studio — Nippon Animation • Network — FNS (Fuji TV) • First — April 7, 1980 • Last — June 28, 1982 • Episodes — 109 Fisherman Sanpei is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Takao Yaguchi. The manga was serialised in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1973 to 1983. Kodansha has published the manga's 65 bound volumes between February 18, 1974, and May 16, 1983. The manga was adapted into an 109-episode anime series. Directed by Yoshikata Nitta, the anime's 109 episodes were broadcast on Fuji TV between April 7, 1980, and June 28, 1982. The official English name is Fisherman Sanpei. As of October 2020, the Fisherman Sanpei manga had over 50 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.

Raised by his wise grandfather, Sanpei spends much of his time exploring rivers, lakes, and mountains in search of fish, gradually developing remarkable angling skills. Although fishing is the central theme, the series is really about personal growth. Each journey introduces Sanpei to new people, environments, and challenges. He encounters experienced fishermen, talented rivals, and legendary fish that test not only his technical ability but also his character. Through success and failure, he learns perseverance, humility, patience, and respect for nature. Unlike many sports-oriented stories, Sanpei's victories rarely come from strength alone. He succeeds by observing carefully, learning from others, adapting to changing conditions, and refusing to give up when confronted with setbacks. Every fish becomes a puzzle, and every expedition teaches him something about himself and the world around him. The series also highlights the beauty and diversity of Japan's natural landscapes. Rivers, lakes, forests, and mountain streams are portrayed with great detail, emphasizing the close relationship between people and the environment. Fishing is depicted not merely as a hobby or competition, but as a way of understanding nature and appreciating its complexity. At its heart, Fisherman Sanpei is the story of a curious and determined boy searching for mastery, adventure, and meaning. The lessons he learns from fishing extend far beyond the water, shaping him into a resilient, thoughtful, and compassionate young man. The anime combines adventure, education, and heartfelt storytelling, making it much more than a simple fishing series. In essence, Fisherman Sanpei is a tale of growth, perseverance, and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, told through the eyes of a boy whose love for fishing opens the door to countless lessons about life.

• Sanpei Mihira (三平三平) • Ippei Mihira (三平 一平) • Gyoshin Ayukawa (鮎川魚紳) • Masaharu Kase (加瀬 正治) • Yuri Takayama (高山 ユリ)

The anime uses two pieces of theme song. "Wakaki Tabibito" by MoJo is the series' opening theme, while "Ore wa tsurikichi Sanpei da" also by MoJo is the series' ending theme. An OVA called まんがビデオシリーズ 釣りキチ三平 was released in 2001 on VHS only.

• Monster of Yonaki (夜泣き谷の怪物) • Blue Crucian Carp of the Caldera (カルデラの青鮒) • Wild Koi of Mikazukiko (三日月湖の野鯉) • The Mitsumatachi Gang (三ツ又池のギャング) • The God of Fury Hook (毛バリの神サマ) • The Goro Pulling Rascal (ゴロ引きゴンベ) • Takitaro of O-ike (池の滝太郎) • The King of The Rock (磯の王者) • The Tears of Shiro Itsu (シロギスの涙) • Saida Iwas Denya (𩹷の原野) • Meko Iwa (メッコ岩魚の怪) • The Little Fox Near The Fishing Field (釣り場の子ギツネ) • Night Catching Kaikatsu (カジカの夜突き) • The Monster of Sanga Ike (三角瀞の主) • The Sad Song of Zukiga Field ススキ川原エレジー • The Sogiyo of Kabura Wata 蕪渡しの草魚 • The Mini Big Game 小さなビッグゲーム • The Rod of Unrest Soul 怨み竿 • Naboromo Buna of Syunema 幽沼の羽衣鮒 • The weird fishes in old billabong 古沼の大怪魚 • The red crucian in cave billabong おっぽり沼の緋鮒 • The bareheaded in the Bareheaded Bog 坊主沢の沢坊主 • The universal crucian of the Burn Bog 焼沼の宇宙ブナ • The bomb fish of the Youming beach • The competition of salmon in Canada • The dancer of the lake mountain • RCフィッシング • The Sakura and Black Cyprinoid 桜吹雪カラス鯉 • The battle between Raigyo and Kuma-hawk ライギョ対ミサゴ王者の対決 • The Gold Carp • The Blue Flag Marlin of Hawaii • The Finger fish in Hand bog 手形沼の指切り魚 • The Dragon of Dragon Waterfall • 蝉しぐれのブラウン • The Esa fish after the Northwest rain 驟雨のオトリアユ • Fishing dog Shou Hachi • The weird rockfish in Shower Valley しぐれ谷の化物イワナ • The secret technique of River Zhuchuan 簗川流簗秘伝 • Battle of Sanpei Syringe 三平式珍ドウ作戦 • The legend of Ali Crucian お里鮒伝説 • The dream net 茜屋流小鷹網 幻の投網の巻 • Aneka eagle net, Kigawa 茜屋流小鷹網 紀ノ川の巻 • Net in a house; devil but Buddhisms heart. 茜屋流小鷹網 鬼手仏心の巻 • Kluck sound, brawniness ガッチンがん鉄 • Killer of the lake, Black rocket launcher 湖の殺し屋ブラックバス • Maple leaf dike big rainbow trout 紅葉堤の大ニジマス • Rintaros great carp 太郎沼の巨鯉 • Fishing mother 1553 フィッシングかあちゃん • Instruction fish fishing law トモ釣り伝授 • Golden Valleys Gold fish 黄金谷のキンイワナ • Red Eddy Fish and The Famous Fishing-Rod アカブチと幻の名竿 • Fight Bravely At The Pond Fishing 釣り堀奮戦記 • Fighting Of The Transplantation Of Rock Fish イワナ大移植作戦 • Fishing The Egret Fish In The Ice Cave ワカサギの氷穴釣り • Red Dragonfly Fishing Method Of 1 Meter Long Dragon Fish 尺バヤのアカネ釣り • ペンペン釣りとポカン釣り • Use The Wood Toon To Tooning The Guqi Fish クキのドン突き • The Big Black Silver Carp 幻の大魚コクレン • Secret Of The Fire Rock 火の石の謎 • Lakes Monster Of Nian Zhu Lake 念珠湖のネッシー • Fossil Fishing Way 石化け • Fighting With Carp 巨鯉釣り大作戦 • Secret Method! Reed Rod 秘技!ススキ釣り • Gold colour trout - Golden Trout 黄金のマス・ゴールデントラウト • Enticement Of Aquatic larva ニンフの誘惑 • Odd Fish With Vine Cane Flower Look カラクサ模様の怪魚 • Princess Water 水のプリンセス • the magician of the brook Mountain Jade 渓流の魔術師ヤマセミ • The summer of the delicious fish 若鮎たちの夏 • The king of fisherman- The ghost fish 湿原の王者釣り • Facing Attack Rockfish Catcher 襲われたイワナ密漁者 • Hunters superior... Sansi Lang 熊撃ちマタギの三四郎 • Bulrush fishing-rod to fishing frigid zone Arhat fish 寒バヤのアシ竿釣り • Chinese Toon Fish Wujinqiu group ドン突き!たまきんトリオ • Fishing Chinese Toon Fish San Ping secret battle ドン突き!三平（秘）作戦 • Summer Brook - Movement of Sliver crap 春の小川・ギンブナ騒動 • Lower savory fish Rotate Fishing 落鮎のコロガシ釣り • The Strange Fish was Curse 呪い谷の怪奇魚 • The secret of Flying bird カジカの夜突き・蛍火の謎 • The Struggle of Worm ケダニ先生奮戦記 • Aiko, Spread the Wings! 大空へはばたけ、三平!

There were two official video games, developed by Victor Musical Industries, and published by Cross Media Soft for MSX home computers and the Famicom: • Fisherman Sanpei Blue Marine Edition (釣りキチ三平ブルーマリン編) (1988) • Tsurikichi Sanpei Tsurisennin Hen (釣りキチ三平釣り仙人編) (1989)