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[[Image:Mito Komon-banner.jpg|frame|The cast of ''Mito Komon'', season 36]]

==Details==
*'''Title:''' 水戸黄門
*'''Title (romaji):''' Mito Komon
*'''Genre:''' Jidaigeki renzoku with a kanzen-choaku flare
*'''Episodes:''' 1152 (as of end of season 39)
*'''Broadcast network:''' TBS
*'''Broadcast period:''' 1969-Aug-4 to present, with one-season breaks in-between
*'''Air time:''' Monday 22:00

==Synopsis==
With over 1000 episodes aired, ''Mito Komon'' is currently the longest running Japanese TV drama in history.

The main character, Mito Mitsukuni, is based on [[Wikipedia:Tokugawa Mitsukuni|Tokugawa Mitsukuni]], one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandsons (son of [[Wikipedia:Tokugawa Yorifusa|Tokugawa Yorifusa]]) and lord of the province of Mito (now Ibaraki prefecture). Born in 1628, he was a scholarly recluse best known for researching the ''Dai-Nihonshi'', a history of ancient Japan. Late in his life, he adopted the literary name "Komon" (Yellow Gate). The stories are based on popular legends about his incognito rovings around Ibaraki. Of course, in the series, he also puts right any wrongs wherever he finds them.

The plots are basically the same. Accompanied by his faithful attendants, servants and ninja, Mito Komon wanders around the countryside, helping those he finds oppressed by corrupt officials or evil landowners. A violent struggle typically ensures near the end of each episode, at which point one of his attendants flashes Komon's ''inro'', a lacquered case bearing the Tokugawa crest, thus revealing his true identity and proclaiming, "Here before you is Lord Mitsukuni of Mito, uncle of the Shogun." Realizing they are facing someone who wields incredible power, the evil doers drop to their knees and grovel. Suppressing their rage as being outdone, the episode ends with Mito Komon always putting everything right once again and then continuing on his journey.

==Season-by-season Schedule==
<div style="float:left; width:48%;">
*'''Season 01''': 1969-Aug-04 to 1970-Mar-09 (32 eps)
*'''Season 02''': 1970-Sep-28 to 1971-May-10 (33 eps)
*'''Season 03''': 1971-Nov-29 to 1972-Jun-05 (28 eps)
*'''Season 04''': 1973-Jan-22 to 1973-Sep-17 (34 eps)
*'''Season 05''': 1974-Apr-1 to 1974-Sep-30 (26 eps)
*'''Season 06''': 1975-Mar-31 to 1975-Nov-03 (32 eps)
*'''Season 07''': 1976-May-24 to 1977-Jan-10 (34 eps)
*'''Season 08''': 1977-Jul-18 to 1978-Jan-30 (29 eps)
*'''Season 09''': 1978-Aug-07 to 1978-Jan-30 (27 eps)
*'''Season 10''': 1979-Aug-13 to 1980-Feb-11 (26 eps)
*'''Season 11''': 1980-Aug-18 to 1981-Feb-09 (26 eps)
*'''Season 12''': 1981-Aug-31 to 1982-Mar-01 (27 eps)
*'''Season 13''': 1982-Oct-18 to 1983-Apr-11 (26 eps)
*'''Season 14''': 1983-Oct-31 to 1984-Jul-09 (37 eps)
*'''Season 15''': 1985-Jan-28 to 1985-Oct-21 (39 eps)
*'''Season 16''': 1986-Apr-28 to 1987-Jan-19 (39 eps)
*'''Season 17''': 1987-Aug-24 to 1988-Feb-22 (26 eps)
*'''Season 18''': 1988-Sep-12 to 1989-May-01 (33 eps)
*'''Season 19''': 1989-Sep-25 to 1990-Apr-16 (29 eps)
*'''Season 20''': 1990-Oct-22 to 1991-Oct-07 (48 eps)
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*'''Season 21''': 1992-Apr-06 to 1992-Nov-09 (32 eps)
*'''Season 22''': 1993-May-17 to 1994-Jan-24 (36 eps)
*'''Season 23''': 1994-Aug-01 to 1995-May-15 (40 eps)
*'''Season 24''': 1995-Sep-11 to 1996-Jun-10 (37 eps)
*'''Season 25''': 1996-Dec-09 to 1997-Oct-27 (43 eps)
*'''Season 26''': 1998-Feb-09 to 1998-Aug-17 (26 eps)
*'''Season 27''': 1999-Mar-22 to 1999-Oct-18 (30 eps)
*'''Season 28''': 2000-Mar-06 to 2000-Nov-20 (34 eps)
*'''Season 29''': 2001-Apr-02 to 2001-Sep-17 (25 eps)
*'''Season 30''': 2002-Jan-07 to 2002-Jul-01 (25 eps)
*'''Season 31''': 2002-Oct-14 to 2003-Mar-24 (22 eps)
*'''Season 32''': 2003-Jul-28 to 2003-Dec-15 (17 eps)
*'''Season 33''': 2004-Apr-12 to 2004-Sep-13 (22 eps)
*'''Season 34''': 2005-Jan-10 to 2005-Jun-06 (20 eps)
*'''Season 35''': 2005-Oct-10 to 2006-Mar-13 (20 eps)
*'''Season 36''': 2006-Jul-24 to 2006-Dec-18 (20 eps)
*'''Season 37''': 2007-Apr-09 to 2007-Sep-17 (23 eps)
*'''Season 38''': 2008-Jan-07 to 2008-Jun-30 (24 eps)
*'''Season 39''': 2008-Oct-13 to 2009-Mar-23 (22 eps)
*'''Season 40''': 2009-Jul-06 to 2009-Dec
</div><br clear="all"/>

==Cast==
'''NOTE:''' The episodes weren't numbered. Fans attempted to number the episodes, but the numbers differ between collections. Therefore, it is impossible to indicate which episode a particular cast member made an appearance. Also, there were literally thousands of guests appearing throughout the years. As a result, the cast listing consists of artistes who are considered regulars.

*[[Satomi Kotaro]] as Mito Mitsukuni (S31 to present)
*[[Ishizaka Koji]] as Mito Mitsukuni (S29 to S30)
*[[Nishimura Ko]] as Mito Mitsukuni (S14 to S29)
*[[Tono Eijiro]] as Mito Mitsukuni (S1 to S13)
*[[Harada Ryuji]] (S36)
*[[Goda Masashi]] (S36)
*[[Yumi Kaoru]] (由美かおる) (S36)
*[[Shoei]] (S36)
*[[Saito Akira]] (斉藤晶) (S36)
*[[Yamamoto Gaku]] (S29)

==Related Movies==
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198764/ Mito Komon - Umi wo Wataru] (TOEI, 1961)

==External Links==
*[http://www.tbs.co.jp/mito/ Official website]
*[[Wikipedia:ja:水戸黄門 (ナショナル劇場)|Japanese Wikipedia]]

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