Tentomushi no Uta ("The Song of the Ladybug") is a manga that ran from 1973 to 1975 in the pages of the magazine Shogakukan no Gakusho Zasshi, better known for its anime adaptation that ran from 1974 to 1976 on Fuji Television and lasted 104 episodes.
The premise deals with the seven Isshuu siblings Tsukimi, Kaji, Mizuo, Mokusuke, Kintaro, Tsuchimaru and Hikoyo, who were tragically orphaned. This leaves the seven siblings having to pitch in to look after one another and keep house alone.
Tentomushi no Uta provides examples of:
- The Baby of the Bunch: Hiyoko is the youngest of the Isshuu siblings at five years.
- Barbie Doll Anatomy: The few times Hiyoko is seen naked from the front, she has no visible genitals.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the manga, Mr. and Mrs. Isshuu were killed in a plane crash. In the anime, they died from overwork.
- Friend to All Living Things: Hiyoko spends a lot of time hanging out with animals.
- Girlish Pigtails: Hiyoko has pigtails to underscore that she's the youngest of the Isshuu siblings.
- Embarrassing Damp Sheets: Hiyoko has a bedwetting problem, which is a common reason she hangs her panties to dry.
- Going Commando: Hiyoko has a habit of going without underwear whenever she hangs her panties to dry.
- Joke of the Butt: Because she frequently goes without underwear, Hiyoko often ends up having her butt exposed from her skirt being hiked up. Since she's a child, the shots of her bum are more for the sake of humor rather than fanservice.
- Meaningful Name: The family's surname Isshuu is Japanese for "one week", in reference to how there are as many Isshuu siblings as there are days in a week. The youngest sibling, Hiyoki, has a name that is Japanese for "chick".
- Minor Living Alone: The Isshuu children live without adult supervision, the oldest of them being 11 years old.
- Mooning: Hiyoko bares her backside at Kintaro in contempt in the fourth episode.
- Nature Tinkling: At the end of the 56th episode, Hiyoko has to pee and tries to relieve herself behind a bush, but is startled by a police officer sneaking up on her.
- Posthumous Character: Mr. and Mrs. Isshuu have died prior to the events of the series, with their seven children doing the best they can to take care of each other in their parents' absence.
- Shoe Slap: Hiyoko likes to throw her sandals at people when she gets pissed off.
- Two Girls to a Team: The eldest and youngest of the Isshuu siblings, Tsukimi and Hiyoko, are both also the only two girls.
- Underwear Flag: Hiyoko sometimes makes a flag by tying her panties to a stick.
- Younger Than They Look: The four oldest Isshuu siblings Tsukimi, Kaji, Mizuo and Mokusuke are respectively 11, 10, 9 and 8 years old, but look as if they are in their mid-teens at the youngest.
