Midori no Makibaō

Midori no Makibaō (みどりのマキバオー; lit. 'Green Meadow King') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsunomaru. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from November 1994 to February 1998, with its chapters collected in 16 tankōbon volumes.

Midori no Makibaō
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Midori Makibaō
みどりのマキバオー
Genre	Comedy, sports[1]
Manga
Written by	Tsunomaru
Published by	Shueisha
Imprint	Jump Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run	November 28, 1994 – February 9, 1998
Volumes	16
Anime television series
Directed by	Noriyuki Abe
Produced by	Koji Kaneda Madoka Takayima (ja) Ken Hagino
Written by	Hiroshi Hashimoto
Music by	Taro Iwashiro
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Original network	Fuji TV
Original run	March 2, 1996 – July 12, 1997
Episodes	61
Manga
Taiyō no Makibaō
Written by	Tsunomaru
Published by	Shueisha
Magazine	Weekly Playboy (2007–2011) Shū Play News (2011–2016)
Original run	March 26, 2007 – November 14, 2016
Volumes	36
Series titles
Taiyō no Makibaō (2007–2011, 16 volumes) Taiyō no Makibaō W (2011–2016, 20 volumes)

A 61-episode anime television series produced by Pierrot was broadcast on Fuji TV from March 1996 to July 1997. A second manga series, titled Taiyō no Makibaō, was serialized in Weekly Playboy from 2007 to 2011, and later in the Shū Play News website, under the title Taiyō no Makibaō W, from 2011 to 2016, with the overall series' chapters collected in 36 volumes.

The Midori no Makibaō manga has had over 9 million copies in circulation. In 1997, it won the 42nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the children category.

Plot

Midori Makibaō is a small, white mule. His physique, comparable to that of a donkey and characterized by wide nostrils, distinguishes him from larger thoroughbreds. Compensating for his stature with exceptional determination and speed, Makibaō achieves victory in major races.

His career begins with significant challenges, yet he is driven by two powerful motives: to defeat his lifelong rival, the thoroughbred Superhorse Cascade, and to win back his mother, Midori, who was sold to settle a debt. Despite numerous hardships, Makibaō prevails through a series of demanding races to establish himself as a celebrated racehorse.

Characters

Horses

Midori Makibaō (ミドリマキバオー) / Tarezo Unko (うんこ たれ蔵, Unko Tarezō)

Voiced by: Inuko Inuyama^[2]

Cascade (カスケード, Kasukēdo)

Voiced by: Tesshō Genda^[2]

Amago Vaccine (アマゴワクチン, Amago Wakuchin)

Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto^[3]

Nitronix (ニトロニクス, Nitoronikusu)

Voiced by: Kōji Ishii^[4]

Ancalgia (アンカルジア, Ankarujia)

Voiced by: Yoshiko Kamei^[4]

Bareknuckle (ベアナックル, Beanakkuru)

Voiced by: Takashi Nagasako^[4]

Toe Cutter (トゥーカッター, Tūkattā)

Voiced by: Nobuaki Fukuda (ja)^[4]

Morriarrow (モーリアロー, Mōriarō)

Voiced by: Masato Yamada (ja)^[4]

Satomi Amazon (サトミアマゾン, Satomi Amazon)

Voiced by: Eiji Itō (ja)^[3]

Makibako (マキバコ)

Voiced by: Ikue Ōtani^[4]

Blitz (ブリッツ, Burittsu)

Voiced by: Shinichirō Kamio (ja) (2022 special episode)^[5]

Midoriko (ミドリコ)

Voiced by: Mizuka Arima (ja)^[2]

Peter II (ピーターII, Pītā II)

Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi

Tsavider (ツァビデル, Shabiteru)

Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka^[4]

Jerusalem (エルサレム, Erusaremu)

Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa^[5]

Fried Chicken (フライドチキン, Furaido Chikin)

Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa^[4]

Hiropon (ヒロポン)

Other

Tomonori Saegusa (三枝 友則, Saegusa Tomonori)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida^[2]

Genjiro Obu (飯富 源次郎, Obu Genjirō)

Voiced by: Kenichi Ogata^[2]

Chūbei (チュウ兵衛)

Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba^[2]

Masaru Obu (飯富勝, Obu Masaru)

Voiced by: Minami Takayama^[2]

Nobuhiko Horie (堀江 信彦, Horie Nobuhiko)

Voiced by: Takeshi Watabe^[4]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Tsunomaru, Midori no Makibaō was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from November 28, 1994,^[6] to February 9, 1998.^[7] Shueisha collected its chapters 16 tankōbon volumes, released from June 2, 1995, to June 4, 1998.^[8]

A second series, titled Taiyō no Makibaō (ja) (たいようのマキバオー), started in Shueisha's Weekly Playboy on March 26, 2007.^[a] The manga was later moved to the Shū Play News website, continued under the title Taiyō no Makibaō W (たいようのマキバオーW), where it ran from May 9, 2011,^[11] to November 14, 2016.^[12] Shueisha collected the Taiyō no Makibaō chapters in 16 tankōbon volumes, released from August 17, 2007,^[13] to June 17, 2011,^[14] while the Taiyō no Makibaō W chapters were collected in 20 tankōbon volumes, released from September 16, 2011,^[15] to February 17, 2017.^[16]

Anime

A 61-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Pierrot and directed by Noriyuki Abe, was broadcast on Fuji TV from March 2, 1996, to July 12, 1997.^[17] The opening theme is "Hashire Makibaō" (走れマキバオー; "Run, Makibaō") by F.MAP, while the ending theme is "Tottemo Umanami" (とってもウマナミ; "A Very Good Average") by Men's 5.

The series was re-released on a Blu-ray Disc box on July 27, 2022, which included a five-minute-long new episode that adapted the final chapter of the original manga series.^[18]

Episodes

No.	Title	Original release date [17]
1	"Born to be Droopy!" Transliteration: "Umarete Odoro ita!" (Japanese: 生まれてオドロいた!)	March 2, 1996 (1996-03-02)
2	"Tarezo Unko!" Transliteration: "Unko Tarezō!" (Japanese: うんこたれ蔵!)	March 9, 1996 (1996-03-09)
3	"The Demon Trainer!" Transliteration: "Oni no Chōkyōshi!" (Japanese: 鬼の調教師!)	March 16, 1996 (1996-03-16)
4	"Cascade is Here!" Transliteration: "Kasukēdo Tōjō!" (Japanese: カスケード登場!)	March 23, 1996 (1996-03-23)
5	"It's Getting Worse!" Transliteration: "Dame ni Naru!" (Japanese: だめになる!)	March 30, 1996 (1996-03-30)
6	"It's the Ones Who Stand Up!" Transliteration: "Tatsunda Tare Kura!" (Japanese: 立つんだ たれ蔵!)	April 6, 1996 (1996-04-06)
7	"Who's Going to Get In?" Transliteration: "Dare ga Noru no?!" (Japanese: 誰がのるの?!)	April 20, 1996 (1996-04-20)
8	"The King of Green Farm" Transliteration: "Midori Bokujō no Ōsama" (Japanese: みどり牧場の王様)	April 27, 1996 (1996-04-27)
9	"We're Going to be Strong!" Transliteration: "Tsuyoku Naru zo!!!" (Japanese: 強くなるぞっ!!)	May 4, 1996 (1996-05-04)
10	"Stormy Debut!" Transliteration: "Arashi no Debyū!!" (Japanese: 嵐のデビュー!!)	May 11, 1996 (1996-05-11)
11	"Poke It! Tarezo!" Transliteration: "Tsukkome! Tarezō!" (Japanese: つっこめ!たれ蔵!!)	May 18, 1996 (1996-05-18)
12	"Who's Stronger?" Transliteration: "Docchi ga Tsuyoi no!?" (Japanese: どっちが強いの!?)	May 25, 1996 (1996-05-25)
13	"The Black Assassin!" Transliteration: "Kuroi Koroshi-ya!" (Japanese: 黒い殺し屋!)	June 15, 1996 (1996-06-15)
14	"Don't Be So Lax!" Transliteration: "Amattareru na?!!" (Japanese: 甘ったれるな～!!)	June 22, 1996 (1996-06-22)
15	"No More Hesitations!" Transliteration: "Mō Mayowanai" (Japanese: もう迷わない!)	July 6, 1996 (1996-07-06)
16	"You've Got the Score!" Transliteration: "Hakatta na!!" (Japanese: はかったな!!)	July 13, 1996 (1996-07-13)
17	"Scatter! Mud!" Transliteration: "Kechirase! Doronko!!" (Japanese: けちらせ! 泥んこ!!)	August 10, 1996 (1996-08-10)
18	"Go! Operation Ballerina" Transliteration: "Ike!! Bareriina Sakusen" (Japanese: 行け!! バレリーナ作戦)	August 17, 1996 (1996-08-17)
19	"Cascade Debut!" Transliteration: "Kasukēdo Debyū!!" (Japanese: カスケードデビュー!!)	August 24, 1996 (1996-08-24)
20	"The Devil's Triangle" Transliteration: "Ma no Toraianguru" (Japanese: 魔のトライアングル)	August 31, 1996 (1996-08-31)
21	"200% Guts!" Transliteration: "Konjō 200％!!" (Japanese: 根性 200％!!)	September 7, 1996 (1996-09-07)
22	"Haha, Kitoku" Transliteration: "Haha Kitoku" (Japanese: ハハ キトク)	September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14)
23	"The Rain of Trials! The Morning of the Asahi Cup!" Transliteration: "Shiren no Ame! Asahi-hai no Asa!!" (Japanese: 試練の雨! 朝日杯の朝!!)	September 21, 1996 (1996-09-21)
24	"Survival at 1600M" Transliteration: "1600M no Sabaibaru!!" (Japanese: 1600Mのサバイバル!!)	September 28, 1996 (1996-09-28)
25	"The Three Strong Races! Who Will Win?" Transliteration: "Sankyō Gekisō!! Katsu no wa?!" (Japanese: 三強激走!! 勝つのは?!)	October 5, 1996 (1996-10-05)
26	"It's a Game? Kansuke's Tearful Whip!" Transliteration: "Shōbuari?! Kansuke Namida no Muchi!!" (Japanese: 勝負あり?! 菅助 涙のムチ!!)	October 12, 1996 (1996-10-12)
27	"To Mongolia, the White Steppe!" Transliteration: "Shiroi Sōgen, Mongoru e!" (Japanese: 剛VS柔!空前絶後の兄弟喧嘩!)	October 19, 1996 (1996-10-19)
28	"Ride to the Wilderness!" Transliteration: "Gen'ya no Ikkiuchi!!" (Japanese: 原野の一騎討ち!!)	October 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)
29	"Awaken! The Power of the Wild!" Transliteration: "Mezamero!! Yasei no Chikara!!" (Japanese: 目覚めろ!! 野性の力!!)	November 2, 1996 (1996-11-02)
30	"Tarezo Runs for His Life!" Transliteration: "Tarezō Inochigake no Shissō!!" (Japanese: たれ蔵・命がけの疾走!!)	November 9, 1996 (1996-11-09)
31	"Rush! A Death Battle of Rage!" Transliteration: "Mō Tosshin!! Ikari no Shitō!!" (Japanese: 猛突進!! 怒りの死闘!!)	November 16, 1996 (1996-11-16)
32	"The Devil's Lucky Horse" Transliteration: "Akuma no Rakkii Hōsu" (Japanese: 悪魔のラッキーホース)	November 23, 1996 (1996-11-23)
33	"There's a Foul! Arrow's Persistence!" Transliteration: "Hansoku Ari! Arō no Shūnen!!" (Japanese: 反則あり! アローの執念!!)	November 30, 1996 (1996-11-30)
34	"Showdown! Dangerous Race!" Transliteration: "Taiketsu! Kiken'na Rēsu!!" (Japanese: 対決! 危険なレース!!)	December 7, 1996 (1996-12-07)
35	"Clash!! The Wounded Spirit!!" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu! Kizudarake no Konjō!!" (Japanese: 激突!! 傷だらけの根性!!)	December 14, 1996 (1996-12-14)
36	"Two Traps! The Start of the Satsuki Shō!" Transliteration: "Futatsu no Wana! Satsuki-shō Sutāto!!" (Japanese: 2つの罠! 皐月賞スタート!!)	December 21, 1996 (1996-12-21)
37	"Make It Happen! White Miracle!" Transliteration: "Okose!! Shiroi Kiseki!!" (Japanese: 起こせ!! 白い奇跡!!)	January 11, 1997 (1997-01-11)
38	"Fear! The Invisible Enemy!" Transliteration: "Senritsu!! Mienaiteki!!" (Japanese: 戦慄!! 見えない敵!!)	January 18, 1997 (1997-01-18)
39	"The Fierce Battle! Japan Derby!" Transliteration: "Gekitō!! Nihon Dābī!!" (Japanese: 激闘!! 日本ダービー!!)	January 25, 1997 (1997-01-25)
40	"Deliver! To the Goal of Japan's Best!" Transliteration: "Todoke!! Nihon'ichi no Gōru e!!" (Japanese: 届け!! 日本一のゴールへ!!)	February 1, 1997 (1997-02-01)
41	"Banei Racing to Visit Mother" Transliteration: "Haha O Tazunete Ban'eikeiba" (Japanese: 母を訪ねてばんえい競馬)	February 8, 1997 (1997-02-08)
42	"The Ambition of the Nemesis, Beard and His Parents" Transliteration: "Shukuteki Hige Oyako no Yabō" (Japanese: 宿敵・ヒゲ親子の野望)	February 15, 1997 (1997-02-15)
43	"The Challenge from Makibako!" Transliteration: "Makibako kara no Chōsen!" (Japanese: マキバコからの挑戦!)	February 22, 1997 (1997-02-22)
44	"Farewell, Mother!" Transliteration: "Saraba O Ka-chan!!" (Japanese: さらばおかーちゃん!!)	March 1, 1997 (1997-03-01)
45	"Secret Training Deep in the Mountains!" Transliteration: "Yamaoku no Himitsu Tokkun!!" (Japanese: 山奥の秘密特訓!!)	March 8, 1997 (1997-03-08)
46	"A Change? Tarezo's Big Change!" Transliteration: "Ihen?! Tarezō Dai Henshin?!" (Japanese: 異変?! たれ蔵大変身?!)	March 15, 1997 (1997-03-15)
47	"Running! The Kikuka-shō of Determination!" Transliteration: "Hassō!! Ketsui no Kikka-shō!!" (Japanese: 発走!! 決意の菊花賞!!)	March 22, 1997 (1997-03-22)
48	"The First Move is a Must! Kansuke's Big Game!" Transliteration: "Sente Hisshō!! Kansuke no Dai Shōbu!" (Japanese: 先手必勝!! 菅助の大勝負!!)	March 29, 1997 (1997-03-29)
49	"Collapse! The Legend of the Black King!" Transliteration: "Hōkai!! Kuroi Teiō Densetsu!!" (Japanese: 崩壊!! 黒い帝王伝説!!)	April 5, 1997 (1997-04-05)
50	"New Coach Tsavidel!" Transliteration: "Shin Kōchi Tsabideru!!" (Japanese: 新コーチ・ツァビデル!!)	April 12, 1997 (1997-04-12)
51	"Clash! The Decisive Battle of Arima Kinen!" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu!! Kessen no Arima Kinen!!" (Japanese: 激突!! 決戦の有馬記念!!)	April 19, 1997 (1997-04-19)
52	"The Last Spurt of the Dangerous Race!" Transliteration: "Inochigake no Rasutosupāto!!" (Japanese: 命がけのラストスパート!!)	April 26, 1997 (1997-04-26)
53	"Pour All Your Strength! The Final Closing!" Transliteration: "Sosoge Zenryoku!! Saigo no Kecchaku!!" (Japanese: 注げ全力!! 最後の決着!!)	May 10, 1997 (1997-05-10)
54	"Hungry! The Tarezo Trial" Transliteration: "Harapeko! Tarezō Saiban" (Japanese: はらぺこ！たれ蔵裁判)	May 17, 1997 (1997-05-17)
55	"American Makibao!" Transliteration: "Amerika no Makibaō!" (Japanese: アメリカのマキバオー!!)	May 24, 1997 (1997-05-24)
56	"Trapped Makibako!" Transliteration: "Toraware no Makibako!!" (Japanese: とらわれのマキバコ!!)	May 31, 1997 (1997-05-31)
57	"Discovery? The Phantom Strongest Horse!" Transliteration: "Hakken?! Maboroshi no Saikyō-ba!!" (Japanese: 発見?! 幻の最強馬!!)	June 7, 1997 (1997-06-07)
58	"Operation Magnet of Fear!" Transliteration: "Kyōfu no Magunetto Sakusen!!" (Japanese: 恐怖のマグネット作戦!!)	June 14, 1997 (1997-06-14)
59	"Rampage! Escape from the Amazon!" Transliteration: "Dai Abare!! Amazon Dasshutsu!!" (Japanese: 大暴れ!! アマゾン脱出!!)	June 21, 1997 (1997-06-21)
60	"The Greatest Race Ever!" Transliteration: "Shijō Saidai no Rēsu!!" (Japanese: 史上最大のレース!!)	July 5, 1997 (1997-07-05)
61	"Run! Makibao of the World!" Transliteration: "Hashire!! Sekai no Makibaō!!" (Japanese: 走れ!! 世界のマキバオー!!)	July 12, 1997 (1997-07-12)

Dokodemo Makibao

A spin-off original net animation (ONA) series, titled Dokodemo Makibao (どこでもマキバオー; 'Makibao Everywhere'), premiered on December 16, 2024, on the YouTube, X/Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram platforms. It was directed by Frogman (ja), who also oversaw the scripts, and produced the series at DLE with cooperation by KDDI. The music was composed by Kyohei Matsuno (ja), and starred Inuko Inuyama, Shigeru Chiba, Toshiharu Sakurai, and Frogman.^[19]

A second season, titled Dokodemo Makibao: World Tour (どこでもマキバオー ～ワールドツアー～), premiered on October 8, 2025. It is directed by Frogman and Tsukasa Nishiyama, with Naotoshi Nakajima and Yuh Ochiai overseeing the scripts, and Matsuno returned to compose the music.^[20]

Other

An art exhibition to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary ran at the Graveyard Gallery in Nakano, Tokyo from November 7 to December 2, 2024.^[21]

Reception

The manga has had over 9 million copies in circulation.^[22] In 1997, the manga won the 42nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the children category.^[23]

See also

• List of fictional horses

Notes

1. It started in the magazine's 15th issue of 2007,^[9] released on March 26 of that same year.^[10]