Monkey
| Pigsy | Sandy | Tripitaka
| Yu Lung Please,
click on a character for more information! Also
on The
part of Monkey was played by Massaki Sakai. A former
vocalist in a 60's Japanese mod band called 'The Spiders', Masaaki
Sakai is still a popular TV entertainer in Japan, sort of a cross between
Shane Ritchie and Noel Edmunds (are these popular entertainers?!
- Ed.) Tonight
Matthew I'm going to be.... (Masaaki Sakai as he is today) Further
to Monkey! Sakai currently fronts a Japanese cookery programme, "Where's
the Kitchen?" (watch out Jamie Oliver et al!) and previously
worked on the infamous endurance gameshow "Superhuman Coliseum",
clips of which have been featured from time to time on the late-night
British finger-wagging show "Tarrant on TV". In the
90s this was held an example of television at it's worse. Today of course
such grotesque fun as eating bugs and being trapped with snakes has been
outdone by our own shows, including "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me
Out of Here!" and "The Farm". Monkey's
most notable skill is that he is able to summon a pink fluffy cloud (that
thing that looks like a sponge on the background to this text) on which
to be air-transported with a just quick wave of two fingers in front of
his mouth. The
ring Monkey wears around his temple is not stolen 'Wonderwoman' memorabilia
but is instead Monkey's source of power. This in turn is controlled
by Tripitaka who, when Monkey gets a little too cheeky
or out of hand, can chant a headache sutra that tightens the ring, causing
Monkey to speak in tongues. Monkey
fights using his amazing magic wishing staff, given to him by the Princess
of the Western Ocean, which can grow to any size upon his command. Demonstrating
the staff's ability to grow from matchstick size to the size of a telegraph
pole, Monkey quips "I can use it as well!"
Pigsy
is probably the second most recognised character from Monkey Magic,
despite Sandy having far more lines! Pigsy forewent
the glamour of a magically-charges weapon, using instead his trademark
muckrake! Pigsy was always trying to woo the delectable maidens in the
series (never with any success) and when feasting could, in keeping
with his name, consume an inordinate amount of food in a very short
time! Pigsy
was played by Toshiyuki Nishida in the first series, who was also known
in the world of Japanese entertainment as an actor and comedian. Nishida
still acts today and has featured in films including The Silk Road,
Dream Of Russia and Heavenly Sin. In
series three, the part of Pigsy was played by a different actor, Tonpei
Hidari.
With
his necklace of nine human skulls and bizarre haircut, one can be forgiven
for wondering why the mild-mannered Sandy was not as well known as Pigsy,
especially as he was Monkey's closest companion. Sandy
was played by Shiro Kishibe, like Massaki Sakai a former Japanese pop
star, Kishibe was a singer in a group called 'The Spiders'. Since
starring in Monkey! Kishibe has left acting to pursue a career in table
tennis (I jest ye not - although heaven only knows how we find this stuff
out for you...) In
the programme as in the book, it is the monk Tripitaka that Monkey and
his pals are ordered to protect on his journey to India to retrieve
the scriptures. Tripikata does not fight with Monkey et al and is a
peaceful character, who always wants to help. Through the use of the
headache sutra, he has control over Monkey so can force him to help
whenever he is less than cooperative. Despite
Tripikata being a bloke, the role in the programme was actually played
by a woman, the enigmatic Masako Natsume. Natsume
had already featured in Japanese entertainment programmes and was well-known
throughout Japan and well-liked as an actress. She was the face of Japanese
cosmetics company 'Kanebo' for some time prior to playing the role of
the 'boy monk' Tripikata. So a bit like Natalie Imbrulia with a hat on
then. Tragically,
Natsume died in 1985 of leukemia, aged just 27. The whole of Japan was
saddened by her death and she remains a popular figure (try searching
'Masako Natsume' on Ask Jeeves below). Memorabilia sells well
in Japan to this day. Yu
Lung is a dragon at the beginning of the series, but then turns into
a horse. Follow so far? Oh, and of course, Yu Lung can speak. Though
played by a horse and a series of bizarre props in series one and two,
Yu Lung was played by Shunji Fujimura in series three. By
most standards it would probably be fair to say that Shunji Fujimura is
a bit of a nut-case too. Though we haven't yet traced him to some
World table-tennis contest he does look like a man posessed and has probably
started his own cult or something (though don't quote me on that one please).
Who knows, he might even be Tony Blair. Yu
Lung is certainly one of the gang, and during fight scenes helps contribute
to the cause - usually with a vicious horse-kick! There
are loads of official (and not-so-official) bits and bobs of merchandise
bearing the images of the famous pilgrims from Monkey! For instance
there are some great Monkey
T-Shirts available from the good people on eBay. "Take
care what you think. Only the illumined can know reality. Wanting nothing
from the world, they are still here with everyone and less certain than
we. Take care what you do. All the harm people do in the world is done
by people who are certain of something. It is sometimes better to follow
the signposts than to lose yourself making new paths. There is a path,
give up certainty but try to do good, and good will be done." Site
content by Monkeymania. Monkey
© NTV Networks (Japan)
Click here for details!
Yu Lung (Shunji Fujimura, series 3)
Yu
Lung (played by Shunji Fujimura)
Monkey
(Masaaki Sakai)
Pigsy
(Toshiyuki Nishida)
Sandy (Shiro Kishibe)
Tripitaka
(Masako Natsume)
