Hataraki Man (働きマン) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Moyoco Anno, serialized in the seinen magazine Morning since 2004. The story centers on 28-year-old Hiroko Matsukata, editor at the magazine Weekly JIDAI (週刊「JIDAI」, Shūkan JIDAI). Talented and hard-working, Hiroko's colleagues refer to her as Hataraki Man (literally "working man") because of her dedication to her job. But despite her successes in the workplace, she struggles with moments of self-doubt and with the challenge of balancing life and career.
Hataraki Man | |
働きマン | |
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Manga | |
Written by | Moyoco Anno |
Published by | Kodansha |
Magazine | Morning |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | March 2004 – March 2008 (on hiatus) |
Volumes | 4 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Katsumi Ono |
Music by | Yugo Kanno |
Studio | Gallop |
Licensed by | |
Original network | Fuji TV (Noitamina) |
Original run | October 13, 2006 – December 22, 2006 |
Episodes | 11 |
Television drama | |
Directed by |
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Original network | Nippon TV |
Original run | October 10, 2007 – December 19, 2007 |
Episodes | 11 |
Hataraki Man was adapted into an anime television series broadcast from October to December 2006 and a drama that aired from October to December 2007. In North America, the anime series has been licensed by Maiden Japan.[1]
Hiroko Matsukata is a woman who works for a magazine company. She puts all she has into her work, and is known as a strong, straightforward working woman, who can at will turn herself into Hataraki man (working man) mode. Despite Hiroko's success at work, her life lacks romance. Even though a hard worker, she would leave early anytime to go on a date. Too bad her boyfriend is an even bigger workaholic than Hiroko.
Anno has said that "Absolutely, women need a Man Switch", saying that more understanding is needed of male and female psychology in the workplace. She is critical of a "laziness" in modern Japanese culture, saying that "The traditional virtue of Japan was that people took everything very seriously. As those traditions have been eroded, the quality of Japanese work has been downgraded."[2]
Hataraki Man is written and illustrated by Moyoco Anno. The series started its serialization in Kodansha's seinen magazine Morning in 2004. The series has been on hiatus since March 2008, due to Anno's health.[3][4]
No. | Release date | ISBN | ||
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1 | November 22, 2004 | 978-4-06-328999-2 | ||
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2 | July 22, 2005 | 978-4-06-372453-0 | ||
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3 | October 6, 2006 | 978-4-06-372550-6 | ||
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4 | August 23, 2007 | 978-4-06-372626-8 | ||
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No. | Title | Original air date[5] | |
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1 | "The Female Hataraki Man" Transliteration: "Onna no Hataraki Man" (Japanese: 女の働きマン) | October 13, 2006 | |
Hiroko writes a cover article exposing political corruption. But is she prepared for the consequences? | |||
2 | "Stake Out Man" Transliteration: "Harikomi Man" (Japanese: 張り込みマン) | October 20, 2006 | |
Hiroko goes stakeout with the stakeout man. she discovers that he admire the sky. | |||
3 | "Ramen Man" Transliteration: "Rāmen Man" (Japanese: ラーメンマン) | October 27, 2006 | |
Kobu chan gets the new magazine work on ramens. | |||
4 | "Error Man" Transliteration: "Ayamari Man" (Japanese: あやまりマン) | November 3, 2006 | |
Shinji reflects on past mistakes, questioning what he wants in life. | |||
5 | "Turn Around Man" Transliteration: "Furimuki Man" (Japanese: 振り向きマン) | November 10, 2006 | |
6 | "Princess Man" Transliteration: "O-Himesama-n" (Japanese: お姫さマン) | November 17, 2006 | |
7 | "Fussy Man" Transliteration: "Kodawari Man" (Japanese: こだわりマン) | November 24, 2006 | |
8 | "Reward Man" Transliteration: "Mukuware Man" (Japanese: 報われマン) | December 1, 2006 | |
9 | "Full-Fledged Hataraki Man" Transliteration: "Ichininmae no Hataraki Man" (Japanese: 一人前の働きマン) | December 8, 2006 | |
Hiroko struggles against a cold and time to write interviews. Her relationship with Shinji further deteriorates, as each forgets about the other due to work and just stops caring. | |||
10 | "Non-working Man" Transliteration: "Hatarakanai Man" (Japanese: 働かないマン) | December 15, 2006 | |
11 | "Even So, Hataraki Man" Transliteration: "Soredemo Hataraki Man" (Japanese: それでも働きマン) | December 22, 2006 |
A drama adaptation aired from October to December 2007.
The realism of the series has been regarded as key to its popularity with readers facing the same issues in life.[6]