Kanjani Sentai Eight Ranger (関ジャニ戦隊∞レンジャー Kanjani Sentai Eitorenjā ) is a production produced by the Japanese boyband, Kanjani Eight. The title stands for two things:
This article is about the latter.
The Johnny & Associates managed website, "Johnny's Web" (which is cell phones subscriptions only), Kanjani Eight's serialization corner was named "Kanjani Sentai Eight Ranger" by the subscribing users. In this, each member has an image color (otherwise known as Ranger Color) assigned to them. Each member serialization is then organized with the text colored with their chosen image color.
In December 2005, the serialization became a on stage short performance parody of the Super Sentai Series at "Kanjani Eight Xmas Party 2005". In the performance the Kansai Juniors group B.A.D assumed the role of the evil organization known as "B.A.D Group" in which they fight against the Eight Rangers. This also was included in the manga serialization "Honma ni Kanjani Eight!" in "Betatsu Friend".
Eventually it was brought to the concert tours and a new story was weaved for each tour. Majority of the stories, or konto, are filled with jokes and a lot of dialogue is changed on the spot, or adlibed. Yokoyama Yuu, also known as the Black Ranger in the skits, uses the opportunity to ad-lib a lot in performances.
In 2008, during their Summer Tour "KANJANI8 Live Tour 2008 It's Eight! Everyone Together! It's Summer! It's a Tour! Wahaha!!!", the members said "To all of our fans, we wish for you to see a new Kanjani Eight". This was in reference to the skit not being performed at the Summer Concert tour after nearly 2 and a half years of performing it since December 2005.
In 2009, during their "KANJANI∞ TOUR 2009 PUZZLE", they again performed Eight Ranger.
The Eight Rangers are the allies of justice who stand and fight for those in "Eight City", the fictional world that the skits take place. According to their theme song, they protect the world by picking up garbage in the park and their special attack is "Mugendai" or "Infinity". They promise to there for lock up the B.A.D Group in prison and help children, thus allowing the sun to look down upon everyone with its shining rays.
Respectively their names are by their Ranger Color, and their costume or "Eitings", all have the same uniformed look. At first Ohkura Tadayoshi was a pale green and Yokoyama Yuu was green for their Eight Colors, but in May 2006 during the " Kanjani Eight Concert Tour 2006 ' Funky Tokyo Osaka Nagoya ' " tour, Ohkura became green and Yokoyama became black respectively. During the skits, " Ranger " is omitted and their colors are said only.
Kiriyaman (Kiriyama Akito) and Nakaman (Nakama Junta) lead this evil organization. They are the Eight Rangers' arch enemy because they steal candy from children, eating it all, and repeating evil deeds over and over again. When Purple Ranger yells at them, they become very nervous.
In the year 200X, everyone lived happily and got along with each other in the peaceful city of "Eight City", until one day when terrible guards and B.A.D Group came in and started their wrong doings. So now a group stands up against them as allies of justice, Kanjani Sentai Eight Ranger.
Performed at "Kanjani Eight Xmas Party 2005". This was the first time that the theme song "Eight Ranger" was performed to the public. Sankyoudai and Yamada, along with Eight Ranger, save the day.
Performed at "Kanjani Eight Concert Tour 2006 'Funky Tokyo Osaka Nagoya'". While the other members ride on their bikes, Black Ranger becomes upset because he doesn't have his bike. Because of this, a split among the group happens. Green Ranger goes to help fix the broken relationship between Black Ranger and Red Ranger and the two peacefully become friends again. On the last day that this was performed, at National Yoyogi Stadium, Black Ranger's bike appears. This was featured on the DVD " Heat Up! ".
Performed at "Kanjani Eight First National Tour 2∞6". While the other Rangers get new, shinny, belts Black Ranger is upset because he doesn't have one. This causes split among the group, but in the end, they become friends again. In the public performances, it's not just Black Ranger who gets upset, as it rotates between the other members. Their commander arrives, establishing the Eight Rangers.
Performed at "Kanjani Eight KAN FU FIGHTING National Tour 2006 Part 2". Because Black Ranger's Cracker is unable to work, he gets upset. Red Ranger then brings out his gun and fires it. After many twists and turns, one eventually hits Green Ranger and he dies. In order to save Green Ranger, the Eight Rangers go into the " Fernand Death Forest " to get help from the " Eita Cross ".
In this piece, this performance showcases each member's characteristic. Every performance had a different, ad libbed, work.
Performed at "Kanjani Eight Eh?! Really?! Shocking!! Dome Concert in Osaka". An unknown story about the Eight Rangers is told about their days in Kindergarten.
Performed at "Kanjani Eight Eh?! Really?! Shocking!! Tour 2007". It begins when Blue Ranger wants to confess to his love. Because Blue Ranger values his love over all his other feelings, Black Ranger and Blue Ranger fight. In other performances it is not just the Blue Ranger who confesses, as all the positions are swapped between each member. The switches began at the Yokohama performance.
Performed at "Yokoyama YOU does it! Concert". Black Ranger appeared in this performance without the other Eight Rangers. After saving a boy who was being bullied, Black Ranger eventually becomes interested in the boy and figures out the reason why he's being bullied. By himself, he tries to fight B.A.D Group and another group of delinquents, but ends up losing the courage so he tries to solve it with money. The honest boy eventually stands up against them. On the way there, the boy runs into Yuukan Club's Seshirou Kikumasamune who helps him and Haikei, Chichiue's Nakakawa Tokio who he jokes with.
This skit appears again in "Yokoyama YOU does it! Concert part II" in Tokyo/Nagoya but the members who help him are a surprise.
The two characters that the young boy runs into are actual characters in dramas played by Yokoyama Yuu, the Black Ranger.
Performed at " Kanjani Eight Tour 2009: Puzzle ". After a year of no activities, the Rangers come back to Eight City to resume their roles as the Eight Rangers, but, something is a little odd when the Black Ranger is now dressed as the Red Ranger. After the Red Ranger's vocal displeasure with Black's stubborn attitude, Black also reveals that Orange and Green want to switch colors with Yellow and Blue as well. Angered by the sudden actions of the taller three rangers, Blue/Red/Yellow storm off and form their own team while "New" Red/Yellow/Blue start their own team. Purple is then caught in the middle and goes off to try to reunite his teammates.
The "New" Red, Yellow, and Blue send a challenge letter to the originals declaring to settle the score. They accept the offer and the following night they begin to fight, refusing to stand down and become the "New" Black, Orange, and Green. When the fight gets heated, Yellow takes out a knife and in result accidentally stabs Purple when he rushes into the fight to break it up. Distraught, the Rangers reflect on their actions until Blue notices puzzle pieces around them. Each member grabs a piece, puts it together, and realize their faults. Suddenly, Purple wakes up and shocks the Rangers by explaining to them that it was Yellow's piece that saved his life.
"New" Red, Yellow, and Blue realize their faults and want to return to their original selves, but are unable to. Then, Purple uses his magic wand to transform them back to Black, Orange, and Green.
In this piece, it was adlibed for each performance like many of their previous skits.
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