There you go, Astroboy, on your flight into space….

As a kid in the 1960s, nothing could get me into the living room faster than to hear the cheerful strains of the Astroboy theme song coming from our old black-and-white TV set. Astroboy was in many ways the original Japanese anime, with over 100 original black-and-white episodes and over 50 color episodes from the 1980s sequel series. The brainchild of the late Dr. Osamu Tezuka, Astroboy was (according to the storyline) “born” in Tokyo, Japan on April 7, 2003. Today, of course, Japan is celebrating this milestone on many levels and in many ways, and not just at the official website. Today, Fuji Television Network broadcast the first segment of a new 50-part Astro Boy series that is to travel to the United States later this year. With this export in the offing, Astro Boy will contribute to what one essayist recently called Japan’s “gross national cool.” Unless you’ve seen (or grown up with) the original Astroboy, you can’t fully appreciate the true genius of what Tezuka created, infused with a childlike wonder of the world seen thru Astroboy’s eyes and sweetly endowed with his philosophy: “Love all creatures! Love everything that has life! Preserve nature! Bless life! Be careful of a civilization that puts too much stock in science! Do not wage war!”

Thank you, Dr. Tezuka. Happy birthday, Astroboy!