Baruuba’s Adventures: Cryptids

The Cryptids of Baruuba’s Adventures

Ngargiya (ンガルギヤ/ガルギヤ) 

An endonym for the Chimp like men who live in the woods. Sometimes there’s a single loner fighting alone but more often, they’re in a gang of mooks led by a senior. 

Akako (赤子) - A friend of Barumba who lives in a shelter. 

Kabiniro (カビニロ) 

Likely an endonym for the Baboon like men who live in the savanna. They come in crowds, have the tendency to be rough as guts and are quite dangerous when not in a good mood. 

Dido (ダイド) - Dido is one of Barumba’s distrustful neighbours in the swamp. She is from the Kabiniro tribe who owns a shelter next door to his holiday one. 

Kibambangwe/Kibambangue (キバンバンウェ/キバンバンゲ/キバンバングェ/キバンバングエ) 

The Kibambangue is a dastardly, large lion-like hominid creature living in Southern Uganda near the volcanoes of Virunga. 

Ntarargo (ンタラルゴ) 

Singular Rutarargo (ルタラルゴ) 

Rutarargo is in fact a Rukonjo endonym for an uncommon, pseudo melanistic morph of a leopard. 

Kikomba (キコンバ) 

Kikomba as a term most likely refers to bipedal cryptid anthropoids who live in some parts of Uganda and Rwanda, plus much of northeastern DRC south of the main Iturian basin. Even though they also live in jungles, Kikombas are reserved savanna dwellers who just want be out of the spotlight. Torso and head wise, they surely are piggish in appearance, coupled with being dangerous omnivores who predominantly feed on plants for the most part. 

Kakundakari (カクンダカリ)

Kakundakari as a term refers to a tribe of skittish bipedal ape relicts who prowl in the woods. Being both human and squirrel like in appearance, complete with long hair and leaves, Kakundakaris tend to make pranks on everyone involved. 

Fifi (フィフィ) 

Kenya Boy: Locations

The Locations of Kenya Boy

India

Ahwa: Ahwa is the town where Joe was born. His Kukna mother met his Japanese father years before that. 

Bhenskatri: This town in the southeast of present day Gujarat is close to where the hero was born. It is one of the towns that would fund the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary decades later. 

Purna Wildlife Sanctuary: It is a tropical deciduous forest filled with a lot of wild animals, such as Asian elephants and Indian leopards. 

Ireland 

Ballybricken: Ballybricken is the town where Kate O’Connell and her siblings were born. Older sister Mara had to bottle feed her frequently as they departed for Nairobi in Kenya, when the former was a baby. 

Japan

Nagasaki: Joe Moriyama’s father Shotaro came from this city, which was nearly destroyed by atomic bombs at the end of WW2. 

Kenya

Aberdare National Park: North of Nairobi is Aberdare National Park, where the eponymous Aberdare fences protect a lot of bush elephants from being poached to death. 

Borana and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies: A pair of Wildlife Conservancies which would become known as such in more recent times. 

Cherangani Hills: Both Kapcherop and Tembu forests are within the Cherangani hills range. 

Enonkishu Conservancy: Enonkishu is where the crazy Nazis were from. 

Hells Gate and Mt Longonot National Parks: A pair of national parks north of Mt Suswa but south of Lake Naivasha and the Kingono Game Ranch. 

Il Ngwesi Community Trust: 

Kakamega Forest National Reserve: Kakamega Forest National Reserve contains Kenya’s only predominantly lowland rainforest, which is filled with blue monkeys and many other animals. 

Katimok Provincial Forest: A forest reserve in the Mau Escarpment. 

Kapcherop and Tembu Forests: A pair of forest fragments in the Cherangani Hills range. 

Kerio Valley National Park: 

Kiangombe Forest Reserve:

Kingono Game Ranch: Kingono Game Ranch is near lake Naivasha. 

Lake Kisima: 

Lake Naivasha: Lake Naivasha is in the northwest of Nairobi but southeast of Lake Nakuru.  

Lake Nakuru National Park: Lake Nakuru National Park is in the northwest of Lake Naivasha. 

Lekurruki Conservation Trust: 

Leparua Community Conservancy: 

Loita Forest: This Tropical Forest is in the Mau Escarpment. 

Loita Hills: Loita hills is where the eponymous Loita Forest is. Its mystical inhabitants include cryptids like Dingoneks. 

Losiolo Escarpment: 

Lugari Forest: 

Maasai Mara National Reserve: Close to the Serengeti National Park is its equally famous Kenyan equivalent known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Rhinos, lions, crocodiles and countless other animals live in this place. 

Malava and Teresia Forests: A pair of tropical forest fragments where the blue guenons live. 

Mara North Conservancy: Being in the northeast of the Maasai Mara Triangle, this conservancy is full of large animals like rhinos and leopards. 

Mara Triangle: The famed Maasai Mara National Park is in the southwest of Kenya. It is also where Joe started his journey throughout the Kenyan hinterland (and some parts of two other East African nations). 

Mau Escarpment: The Mau Escarpment, with its gorgeous forested mountains, has long been inhabited by Ogiek warriors, ladies and children for hundreds of years.

Mugie Wildlife Conservancy: 

Mwea National Reserve: 

Mt Kenya National Park: Mt Kenya National Park contains Kenya’s namesake mountain, which means the ‘Mountain of Whiteness’ in Kikuyu. 

Mt Kipiri Forest Reserve:

Mt Suswa Conservancy: Mt Suswa is South 

Naboisho Conservancy: 

Nairobi National Park: What would become a National Park was a warriors’ hunting ground. 

Ngare Dare Forest: This Tropical Forest Fragment is both close to and a part of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. 

Ngong Hills Forest Reserve: Southwest of Nairobi National Park is the Ngong Hills where Maasai warriors and ladies live. 

Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary: Northwest of what would become Nairobi National Park is a sanctuary where the nasty rock ogres live. 

Ol Ari Nyiro Conservancy: 

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park: Ol Donyo Sabuk is in the Kyanzavi Division south of Nairobi. As with many Kenyan National parks, lions and various other animals live in this place. Its name means ‘large mountain’ in the Maasai language. 

Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy: 

Ol Pejeta Conservancy: 

Rimpa Estates Wildlife Conservancy: Near the Ngong Hills is what would become the Rimpa Estates Wildlife Conservancy. 

Ruma National Park: Ruma National Park is near Lake Victoria. 

Rumuruti Forest: 

Sosian Reserve: 

South Nandi Forest: The South Nandi Forest is where the other cryptids live. 

Southwestern Mau National Reserve: 

Twilight Cave: 

Tanzania

Grumeti Game Reserve: 

Ikorongo Game Reserve: 

Maswa Game Reserve: 

Serengeti National Park: Next to Maswa Game Reserve is the Serengeti National Park. It has long been well known as a primary subject of many documentaries and fiction movies about rhinos and lions.  

Uganda

Bwindi National Park: Being full of fruit bats, parrots and mountain gorillas, Bwindi is where Joe finally meets his father again. The small but complex ecosystem hosts a variety of wildlife, with some being more widespread than others. 

Kitum Cave: It is a place where bush elephants mine the salts in its walls and where there’s a lot of bat guano in its deeper corners. 

Mt Elgon National Park: Mt Elgon is the place that contains Kitum Cave.

Yoshimasa Ikeda Baruuba Translations

Yoshimasa Ikeda Baruuba Translations 

Baruuba (Barooba) the Wild Jungle Snowboy 

In one language: Finnish (Baruuba Villi Viidakon Lumipoika), Estonian (Barumba Metsiku Džungli Lumepoiss), Swedish (Baruba den Vilda Djungelns Snöpojke), Danish (Barubar den Vilde Jungle Snedreng), Hungarian (Baruba a Vad Dzsungel Hófiúja) 

In multiple languages: Dutch dialects (Baroeba/Baroemba de Wilde Jungle Sneeuwjongen), German languages (Baruba/Barüba/Barümba/Barüba/Barubar/Barübar der Wilde Dschungel Schneejunge), Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin (巴倫巴野生叢林雪男孩) 

Baruuba (Barooba) the Wild Jungle Snowman 

In one language: Finnish (Baruuba Villi Viidakon Lumiukko), Afrikaans (Barumba die Wilde Oerwoud Sneeuman), Estonian (Barumba Metsiku Džungli Lumeinimemene), Luxembourgish (Baruba de Wëlle Dschungel Schnéimännchen), Swedish (Baruba den Vilda Djungelns Snögubben), Latvian (Baruba Savvaļas Džungļu Sniegavīrs), Lithuanian (Baruba Laukinių Džiunglių Sniego Senis), Danish (Barubar den Vilde Jungle Snemand), Hungarian (Baruba a Vad Dzsungel Hóember)

In multiple languages: Dutch dialects (Baroeba/Baroemba de Wilde Jungle Sneeuwman), German languages (Barubar/Baruba/Barüba/Barübar/Barumba/Barümba der Wilde Dschungel Schneemann), Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin (巴倫巴野生叢林雪人) 

Baruuba (Barooba) from the Chilly Wild Hills 

Swedish (Baruba från de Kyliga Vilda Kullarna), Norwegian (Baruba fra de Kjølige Ville Åsene), Latvian (Baruba no Vēsajiem Savvaļas Kalniem), Lithuanian (Baruba iš Vėsių Laukinių Kalvų), Danish (Barubar fra de Kølige Bilde Bakker), Hungarian (Baruba a Hideg Vad Dombokról), Korean (쌀쌀한 야생 언덕의 바룸바/바루바), Galician (Baruba dos Fríos Outeiros Salvaxes), Greek (Μπαρούμπα από τους Ψυχρός Αγριος Λόφοι), Maltese (Baruba mill Għoljiet Selvaġġi Kiesaħ), Irish (Barúba ó na Cnoic Fuar Fiáin)

In multiple languages: Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin (來自寒冷的野山的巴倫巴), Spanish dialects (Báruba/Bárubar de las Frías Colinas Salvajes), French dialects (Baroubar/Barouba des Collines Sauvages et Froides), Catalán dialects (Baruba dels Turons Freds i Salvatges), Italian dialects (Baruba/Barubar/Barúbar/Barúba/Barùbar/Barùba dalle Fredde Colline Selvagge), Portuguese dialects (Baruba/Barubar das Frias Colinas Selvagens), Romanian dialects (Baruba/Barubar de pe Dealurile Sălbatice Reci)

The Great Warrior Baruuba (Barooba)  

In one language: Czech (Velký Válečník Baruba), Slovak (Veľká Bojovníčka Baruba), Polish (Wielki Wojownik Baruba), Slovenian (Veliki Bojevnik Baruba), Croatian (Veliki Ratnik Baruba), Basque (Gerlari Handia Baruba), Irish (An Laoch Mór Barúba), Scots Gaelic (An Gaisgeach Mòr Baruba), Welsh (Y Rhyfelwr Mawr Baruba) 

Baruuba’s (Barooba’s) Adventures 

In one language: Japanese (バルーバの冒険), Czech (Barubina Dobrodružství), Slovak (Barubine Dobrodružstvá), Finnish (Baruuban Seikkailut), Estonian (Barumba Seiklus), Swedish (Barubas Äventyr), Norwegian (Barubas Eventyr), Latvian (Barubas Piedzīvojumi), Polish (Przygody Baruby), Lithuanian (Barubos Nuotykiai), Danish (Barubars Eventyr), Hungarian (Baruba Kalandjai), Korean (바루바/바룸바의모험), Slovenian (Barubine Dogodivščine), Croatian (Barubine Avanture), Basque (Barubaren Abenturak), Irish (Eachtraí Barúba) 

In multiple languages: Dutch dialects (Baroeba/Baroemba’s Avonturen), German languages (Barüba/Barübar/Baruba/Barubar/Barumba/Barümba’s Abenteuer), Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin (巴倫巴的冒險)

Both Baruuba (Barooba) series

Single-word title in one language: Japanese (バルーバ), Polish and Luxembourgish + Czech and Slovak (Baruba), Finnish (Baruuba), Afrikaans + Estonian (Barumba), Punjabi (ਬਰੂੰਬਾ), Swedish and Norwegian + Latvian and Lithuanian (Baruba), Danish (Barubar), Korean (바루바/바룸바), Gujarati (બરુમ્બા), Hindi (बारुम्बा/बरुम्बा), Greek (Μπαρούμπα)

Single word title in multiple languages: Dutch dialects (Baroeba/Baroemba), Croatian and German languages (Baruba/Barümba/Barumba/Barüba/Barübar/Barubar), Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin (巴倫巴), Spanish dialects (Báruba/Bárubar), French dialects (Baroubar/Barouba), Galician + Slovenian and Catalan dialects (Baruba), Hindi and Bhojpuri (बरुम्बा), Italian and Irish (Barùbar/Barùba/Barúbar/Barúba), Bengali dialects (বারুম্বা), Maltese and Portuguese dialects (Baruba/Barubar), Romanian and Polish dialects (Baruba/Barubar), Basque + Scots Gaelic and Welsh (Baruba), Marathi and Konkani (बारुंबा) 

Real Life Models for Sōji Yamakawa’s characters

Opinions on The Boy Champion 

When it comes to The Boy Champion, a young Ken Takakura would likely inspire the epic story’s titular hero Kensaku Imano (usually known as Shingo Makimura in the editions made during Sōji Yamakawa’s lifetime) from Spring 1946 onwards, at least for the postwar picture story. Something similar could be said for Kaoru Yachigusa, who was only fifteen when she inspired the hero’s ally Hiroko Kamachi (usually Suiko Yoshikawa in the older editions). 

From July 1949 until July 1961, action star and voice actor Tsutomu Yamazaki replaced Ken, thereafter being the second and definitive early model for Kensaku Imano. 

Lasting for seventeen years from August 1949 up until August 1966, occasional actress Misa Uehara was likely the second and definitive physical model for her. Joining her in March 1959 was the semi retired Midori Seki, who would largely replace her in September 1966 for both the 1974 retelling and the 1977-78 reprint of the first and most popular postwar variant. Being the longest running, fourth and only current physical model, Hiroko Isayama has pretty much replaced her predecessor from October 1980 onwards, mainly for both the ‘Return of the Boy Champion’ analysis and the 1984 Kadokawa reprint of its partial prequel.  

At least four legendary icons might have inspired both Sanpei Shirato’s and Jirō Tsunoda’s versions of Ken Imano and Hiroko Kamachi in their shared manga adaptation of the story. As for Hiroko, the artworks of Jirō have her mostly be based on a mix of Midori Seki and Misa Uehara instead. The situation is otherwise different for Ken, because Sanpei’s artworks of the character are inspired more by Daisuke Ban, while Jirō Tsunoda’s artworks of him are modelled more on a mix of him and Tsutomu Yamazaki. Shoji Nakayama inspired Jin Kosugi in turn. 

The 1963 and 1974 picture story retellings/continuations have Ken being modelled partly upon both Daisuke Ban and Tsutomu Yamazaki to varying degrees, while Midori Seki partly inspired Yui in both retellings. Daisuke Ban’s final appearance, as Kensaku Imano’s most popular model, was in the 1977-78 Shueisha reprint. From October 1980 until July 1992, Yutaka Mizutani replaced both Jinpachi Nezu and Daisuke Ban as the hero’s longest running model up to that point. 

Since August 1992, Kentaro Shimizu is both the current and longest running model for Kensaku Imano. Although his fluctuating mental state and complicated personal life is often subjected to varying degrees of gossip, but as much as he is guilty for his ten crimes, he isn’t suitable for death row because there are human beings much scarier and more heinous than him. 

Despite all that, Shimizu is also the only one to stay as such, even after the deaths of both Sōji Yamakawa and Shotaro Ishinomori, as well as those of both Sanpei Shirato and his assistant brother Tetsuji Okamoto. 

For the future Light Novel+Picture Story+Manga versions of The Boy Champion, Kensaku Imano will always be modelled on the street smart but quite mentally unstable (and infamously fallible) pop star and straight to video actor Kentaro Shimizu. Hiroko will be modelled on action star Hiroko Kamachi. 

Models for the Kosugi family: Takiko Mizunoe for Bion Suzuka. Shin Tokudaiji for Jin Kosugi. Ken Uehara for Eisaku Kosugi. Izumi Ashikawa for Izumi Kosugi. Hiroki Matsukata for Yukiyoshi Kosugi. Kazuyo Sumida for Kazuyo Kosugi. 

Models for Hiroko’s and Michiko’s relatives: Den Obinata for Tatsuo Kamachi. Masao Komatsu for Masao Kamachi. Hiroko Isayama for Hiroko Kamachi. 

Models for Happei’s Entourage: Akiko Kazami for Yuki Tamura. 

Models for Eiji’s Entourage: Aiko Mimasu for Rumiko. Kojiro Hongō for Shotaro Makimura. Etsuko Shihomi for Yui Makimura. 

Models for the Tanaka family: Isamu Kosugi for Tomin Tanaka. Yoshie Kashiwa for Michiru Mitani. Tsutomu Yamazaki for Eiji Tanaka. Kyoko Enami for Hiromi Tanaka.

Models for the School Goers: Rikiya Iwaki for Kin Fubuki. Jun Fubuki for Yu Fubuki. Miyoko Asada for. Aki Mizusawa for Aki Yamamuro. Yutaka Mizutani for. Ran Ito for. Mari Amachi for Mari Tanaka. 

Models for the Komatsu family: Kyoji Sugi for Kyoji Komatsu. Hideyo Amamoto for Happei Komatsu. Chikako Miyagi for Chiemi. Yukihiko Sugi for Ryutaro Komatsu. Katsuko Wakasugi for Machiko. Ryu Kano for Ryuhei Komatsu.

Models for the Kutsuna family: Osamu Takizawa for Eizo Kutsuna. Kōji Takahashi for Souji Kutsuna. Meiko Kaji for Hanako Kutsuna. 

Models for the villains: Kazuo Hasegawa for Akio Kuromitsu. Rika Fujie for Sae Kuromitsu. 

Opinions on Tiger Boy

For the postwar story, its version of Jun Kodama was inspired by the late Kei Tomiyama. 

For the upcoming Light Novel+Picture Story+Manga revision, its version of Jun Kodama will be modelled on So Okuno. Eiji Moriyama for. Rikiya Imaizumi for. Satoshi Tsumabuki for. Sota Fukushi for. Kamio Fuju for Vayu. Amogh Ashdir for Manyu. Karan Kataria for Skanda. Khushali Vyas for Shachi. Radha Bhagavati for Matangi. Yasufumi Terawaki for Eizo Kodama. Minami Hamabe for Kana Moriyama.

Opinions on Jungle Hunt

For Joe Moriyama himself in the strip that started a franchise, he was inspired by Akira Kubo. As for his girlfriend Kate O’Connell, she was inspired by the late Joan O’Hara. 

Kyuuta Ishikawa’s manga adaptation of the strip has its versions of Joe Moriyama and Kate inspired by Akira Kubo’s brother the late Ken Yamauchi and, for the first time, Irish film icon Brenda Fricker.

Both of the 1968 and 1974 picture story retellings have Joe Moriyama being modelled on a varying mix of the late musician friends Ryūichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, while Kate O’Connell is still modelled mostly on Brenda Fricker, but with other body parts from then newcomers Eilish O’Carroll and Alison Doody, rather than the first one, which awkwardly mimicked that of Joan O’Hara’s own in her youth. 

For Kenya Boy’s anime film adaptation, its version of Joe Moriyama is famously inspired by Yukihiro Takahashi again, whereas its version of Kate is, once again, inspired more often by Irish actress Alison Doody. The late Hiroki Matsukata inspired Daisuke Murakami, while Margaret Fenn was modelled on Joan O’Hara. 

For the upcoming Light Novel+Picture Story+Manga revisions of Jungle Hunt, Joe and Kate are going to be inspired mostly by soccer player Arata Izumi and recent major star Jordanne Jones. 

As for Joe, he’ll be inspired by Arata Izumi and Griffin Gluck on physical terms. Whereas for Kate, she’s going to be vocally inspired fully by Jordanne Jones, while still being bodily modelled partially on the retired actress Alice Fulks Khalsa, who also is, coincidentally, the most likely real life model for Naoyuki Konno’s internationally famed take on 009-1’s titular subject, Mylene Hoffmann. 

Recurring characters who are inspired by directors and actors; Hiroki Matsukata for. Hiroshi Arikawa for Wataru Shiina. Yukihiro Takahashi for Daisuke Murakami. Danielle Galligan will inspire Mara O’Connell. Alison Doody for. Noboru Kaneko for. Russian Jewish Icon Nina Brodskaya for Galina Yelchin. Eva Birthistle is going to physically inspire Anann, even though Sharon Horgan will be the model for. 

Minor characters who are inspired by actors; Sophie Simnett. Dylan Moran. Hazel Doupe. Lara McDonnell. Horst Buchholz. Richard Sammel. Shoji Nakayama. 

Kenya Boy Through the Years

Kenya Boy through the years 

Before the Square Enix phase 

1951 strip

Has quite a lot of different prints. 

Its version of Joe makes music with both an ivory trumpet and a flute.

Its version of Kate has golden strawberry blonde hair with short bangs, which do not really appear much in the succeeding reprints. 

1953 radio drama

Is pretty much lost media, except for its own theme song.

1954 Tokusatsu film 

The hair for its version of Kate is dark reddish brown but otherwise wavy due to budget constraints. 

However, the hair for its version of Zega is somewhat more accurate to the strip, although it’s still just a pair of silvery dyed curtains due to budget constraints. 

1961 manga 

In terms of appearance, its versions of actual Kenyan characters are very bastardised. 

The hair for its version of Kate is still wavy and short fringed, but coloured in a very light ginger/golden strawberry blonde hue like in the Classic Sankei print. 

Its version of Joe makes music with an ivory trumpet like in the strip. 

1961 Tokusatsu show 

Is set in the early 1960s, or at least 1961-62, when Great Britain’s colonial occupation of Kenya was dearly showing its age.

Stars at least four major former teen idols, with the best known one ironically being Hayato Tani. 

The hair for its version of Zega is somewhat more inspired by actual Kenyan hairstyles, but it’s still not accurate to the strip. 

The hair for its version of Kate is coloured in a dark blonde/dark ginger/light auburn hue, even though it is less wavy than in the strip. 

There’s not much R rated killing in the show due to broadcasting constraints of the time.

Its version of Dana is only a rather very large rock python instead of a spirit in the form of a huge snake. 

Also due to budget constraints, its version of Dana doesn’t appear frequently. 

Its version of Joe makes music with a flute as with both the text comic and succeeding anime film, but sometimes wears a leopard skin loincloth. 

1968 strip rewrite 

Is the most likely inspiration for the 1984 anime film.  

Its version of Joe has civilian clothes, which are the bases for those worn by his anime film counterpart.  

1974 strip rewrite 

Is a really short lived distributive co-venture of Suntory and the now defunct Nippon Reader’s Digest. 

Is practically forgotten media, with the sole major exception being an odd mention in a rather good Soji Yamakawa biography. 

1984 anime film 

Its version of Joe makes music with a flute like in the strip and Tokusatsu show. 

Its version of Kate doesn’t have full on bangs like in the Tokusatsu show, but her hair is still coloured in a light golden blonde hue like in the Sankei Junior Books print. 

The Taito/Square Enix phase

Unfortunately, this will be the only chance for the actual story to end not only in its own terms but also being exported for the light novel market, since light novels are still more popular than Emonogatari stories as a cultural force. 

Kenya Boy Ishinomori Productions phase

Is there an upcoming Ishinomori Productions/Naoyuki Konno/Taito/Square Enix phase? 

Descriptions for the prequel in all three formats

Shotaro met a North Indian spinster of Kukna heritage. 

Descriptions for the main story in all three formats 

Shotaro behaved in such a questionable way that he abandoned Joe in Kenya, resulting in the latter having adventures with Zega and Kate. 

Joe is a half-North Indian Adivasi with black hair and chocolate eyes.

Kate has pretty green eyes and lengthy, light blonde hair with short bangs. 

Kate was pretty much a broken bird, thanks to witnessing too many bad things in her early life for years. Being raised by a dysfunction junction of fellow characters would still affect her into adulthood.

Joe clearly killed off a crapload of wild animals, especially when he’s in an aggressive defence mode. 

Even though a plurality of Kenyan regions has most of them, there are other places filled with cryptids (typically Kenyan ones), albeit in bits of eastern Uganda and northern Tanzania. 

As with villages of other groups, there are Maasai villages which compete with each other on a frequently regular and sometimes horrid basis.