[Sunday Culture] Final Episode Candidates of 'Doraemon' After Over Half a Century

Three Candidate Episodes... Opinions Divided
All Contain the Protagonist's Growth Narrative

Editor's NoteOn a sluggish Sunday, both body and mind. Our international department reporter brings you an interesting read related to Japanese culture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] "I wish I could do everything I want~"

Does this song remind you of a certain cartoon? It's Doraemon. When I was a student, during exam periods, I wanted to ask Doraemon for the 'memorization bread' that would let me memorize anything I ate. But now, in working life, I desperately wish for the 'Anywhere Door' that can take me straight home after company dinners.

Doraemon is a children's manga series created by Japanese manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio, serialized since 1969. Doraemon is a cat-shaped robot from the 22nd century who comes to help the main character Nobita Nogu, who is bad at studying and physically weak, often bullied. Equipped with a microcomputer that allows him to think and speak like a human, Doraemon can also deliver blunt 'fact-based blows' to Nobita, saying things like "You're stupid" or "You lack effort."

Although the creator passed away in 1996 due to liver cancer, Doraemon animations and movies continue to be released. Since the creator died during serialization, the manga remains unfinished, but among fans, various stories circulate about what is 'effectively the last episode.' Did you know that the creator had an official final episode in mind?

Current still cut from the Doraemon animation airing in Japan. (Photo by Official Doraemon Website, Japan)

Three episodes considered as the final chapter

There are three episodes considered as the final chapter. The first is "Doraemon Returns to the Future," published in 1971. Since the manga was serialized in the elementary school magazine "Shogakukan," different Doraemon stories were published for each grade level. "Doraemon Returns to the Future" appeared in the 4th-grade magazine, and since it was not serialized in the 5th and 6th-grade magazines, it served as the last episode for readers moving from 4th to 5th grade.

Note that this episode was never adapted into animation, so if you want to avoid spoilers, you can skip it.

The story goes like this: People from the future start visiting the past as tourists via time machines. These visitors begin causing trouble by entering Nobita's room without permission. As these 'inconsiderate tourists' increase, regulations banning time travel are enacted, and Doraemon, who came from the future, is forced to return to his original time. Doraemon leaves Nobita with the words that he can now manage on his own. Later, while doing homework, Nobita absentmindedly opens the drawer of his desk, which was used as a time machine, and fondly remembers Doraemon.

In fact, Doraemon was forcibly sent back due to the new regulations, but the final scene where they cry because they don't want to part touches fans' hearts deeply, making this episode a masterpiece. Currently, this story is widely regarded as the closest to the final episode.

Current still cut from the Doraemon animation airing in Japan. (Photo by Japan Doraemon Official Website)

The second candidate is "Doraemon Has Disappeared?" published in 1972 in the 4th-grade magazine. As usual, Nobita tries to ask Doraemon for something, but Doraemon is destined to return. Unaware of the situation, Nobita plans to go cycling with friends the next day but cannot ride a bike himself and asks Doraemon to solve this big problem.

Normally, Doraemon would pull out various gadgets (so far, 718 gadgets have appeared) to help Nobita, but this time Doraemon scolds him, saying, "There is no such gadget, why do you keep relying on me?"

Feeling the impending farewell, Nobita clings to Doraemon, saying he can't do without him, but Doraemon persuades Nobita to stop relying on him and live independently. Nobita sends Doraemon off and, after many falls, finally succeeds in riding a bike alone.

The last is "Goodbye Doraemon," published in 1974 in the 3rd-grade magazine. The setting of Doraemon returning to the future is the same, but in this episode, Nobita fights and defeats Gian, who always bullied him. Since if Nobita keeps relying on Doraemon, Doraemon cannot leave with peace of mind. After defeating Gian, Nobita tells Doraemon not to worry and to leave, as he can now win on his own.

Current still cut from the Doraemon animation airing in Japan. (Photo by Japan Doraemon Official Website)

Which of these three candidates do you feel is closest to the official final episode?

The third story is widely believed to be the official final episode. It was published in the 3rd-grade magazine, not the 4th-grade one, and unlike the previous two stories, it was included in the collected volumes. It is said that the creator drew this episode considering it as the true final chapter.

Whether official or not, all the final episode candidates share the common theme of Nobita growing up to live without Doraemon. Perhaps Doraemon is now watching over Nobita somewhere in the future, who can stand on his own without gadgets or help.

From an adult's perspective, meeting and parting with someone, and growing through that experience, makes me reflect once again on what it means to me.