The long-running series Sazae-san will begin airing reruns for the first time since 1975 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sazae-san is the longest running animated series in the world, having broadcast regularly since it began in 1969 by Studio Eiken. In 2013 the series was even awarded the Guinness World Record for being the longest running animated TV series. Earlier this year, Sazae-san became the first anime series to win the Hashida Prize.

The show follows the titular character, the young wife Sazae and her extended family as they experience every day life and the joys and sorrows of a typical Japanese family. The series originally began as a Japanese four-panel (yonkoma) strip in 1946 by Machiko Hasegawa.

According to a spokeswoman from Fuji TV speaking to The Japan Times, this will be the first time Sazae-san has delayed broadcasting since 1975; which was during an economic recession caused by oil prices. Sazae-san has held its 6:30pm Sunday time slot for 50 years, but it’s unknown when new episodes will resume.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19 officially, or Chinese Flu to others) has affected many worldwide, from businesses to public gatherings and events.

This includes postponements of GDC, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the physical events for EVO 2020 and Tokyo Game Show 2020, and cancellations E3 2020 (including digital events), the physical event for Gamescom 2020, and Comiket 98.

We also reported the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare partnering with Love Live! Sunshine!! to promote good hygiene, as well as Gal & Dino‘s broadcasting schedule being delayed.

The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering are mapping the virus’ spread [1, 2]. As of this time of writing, there have been over 4.379 million total confirmed cases worldwide, and over 2.518 million active cases. There have been over 297,000 deaths, however over 1.564 million people have made a “total recovery.”

Japan has had a total of 16,049 cases (6,451 active cases), 678 deaths, and 8,920 recoveries.

Image: Twitter