Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger title card
Genre Tokusatsu
Created by Toei
Written by
Directed by
  • Shōjirō Nakazawa
  • Satoshi Morota
  • Noboru Takemoto
  • Katsuya Watanabe
  • Hiroyuki Kato
  • Takao Nagaishi
Starring
Voices of
Narrated by Hironori Miyata
Opening theme "Samurai Sentai Shinkenger" by Psychic Lover (Project.R)
Ending theme "Shirokujimuchū Shinkenger" by Hideaki Takatori (Project.R)
Composer(s) Hiroshi Takaki
Country of origin Japan
No. of episodes 49 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)
Running time 24-25 minutes (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel TV Asahi
Original run February 15, 2009 – February 7, 2010
Chronology
Preceded by Engine Sentai Go-onger
Followed by Tensou Sentai Goseiger
External links
Website

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (侍戦隊シンケンジャー Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā, [Note 1]) is the title of Toei Company's thirty-third entry in its long-running Super Sentai Series of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It premiered on February 15, 2009, the week following the finale of Engine Sentai Go-onger, and ended on February 7, 2010. It joined Kamen Rider Decade as a program featured in TV Asahi's Super Hero Time programming block, and following Decade‍ '​s finale it aired alongside Kamen Rider W. It incoorperates elements from the Jidaigeki drama genre and Japanese themes and aesthetics. The catchphrase for the series is "Authorized by divine providence!!" (天下御免!! Tenkagomen!!).[1]

Its footage and storyline was used for the 2011/2012 American series Power Rangers Samurai.

Story

The historic household of the Hotta clan is the setting of the Shiba House in Shinkenger.

For eighteen generations, samurai of the Shiba House (志葉家 Shiba Ke) have suppressed the evil intentions of the Gedoushu, malevolent spirits that enter the world of the living from gaps between buildings and other structures. Now, Takeru Shiba, the youngest head of the Shiba Clan must gather his four vassals (家臣 kashin) in order to battle the Gedoushu under the revived Doukoku Chimatsuri as the Shinkengers. However, as they are joined by his childhood friend Genta, the vassals slowly learn that there's a reason for Takeru's behavior that sets him apart from his predecessors.

Shinkengers

Main article: Shinkengers

Using the mystical power known as "Modikara" (モヂカラ（文力） Mojikara, translated as "Character Power"), these six youths can transform into the Shinkengers to combat the Gedoushu.

Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red (志葉 丈瑠／シンケンレッド Shiba Takeru/Shinken Reddo)
The 18th head of the Shiba clan and descendant of feudal lords, Takeru was reared since childhood by Hikoma Kusakabe to accomplish his family's legacy. Though he is cold and strict, he also cares the most about his friends and their mission. His main weapon is the zanbato.
Ryunosuke Ikenami/Shinken Blue (池波 流ノ介／シンケンブルー Ikenami Ryūnosuke/Shinken Burū)
Ryunosuke is a young man who gave up becoming a kabuki actor to answer the call of serving the Shiba clan. Due to his parents' upbringing, he is extremely enthusiastic and takes his role as Takeru's vassal seriously. His fierce loyalty and enthusiasm brings much comic relief. His main weapon is the yumi.
Mako Shiraishi/Shinken Pink (白石 茉子／シンケンピンク Shiraishi Mako/Shinken Pinku)
Mako is a strong-willed girl who fights for her own ideals. When she saw Takeru taking his responsibilities seriously, she decided to join the group. She loves children and worked at a kindergarten prior to becoming Takeru's vassal. Her main weapon is the war fan.
Chiaki Tani/Shinken Green (谷 千明／シンケングリーン Tani Chiaki/Shinken Gurīn)
Irresponsibility, selfishness and arrogance best describes this lazy young man. Chiaki had no interest in becoming Takeru's vassal and often clashes with him. He is a great strategist despite his delinquency, and comes to respect Takeru as a rival when he realizes the limits of his own abilities. His main weapon is the yari.
Kotoha Hanaori/Shinken Yellow (花織 ことは／シンケンイエロー Hanaori Kotoha/Shinken Ierō)
Kotoha is a gentle girl who worked in a bamboo shop and is skilled in both the flute and martial arts. She became Takeru's vassal in place of her older sister who fell ill. While her gentleness is criticized by Takeru, he is satisfied by her determination and willingness to do her part. Her main weapon is the land shuriken.
Genta Umemori/Shinken Gold (梅盛 源太／シンケンゴールド Umemori Genta/Shinken Gōrudo)
Genta is a childhood friend of Takeru, running his sushi stand and mastering his own personal Modikara.

Gedoushu

Main article: Gedoushu

The Gedoushu (外道衆 Gedōshū, translated as "Heretic Party") are malevolent spirits that dwell in the Sanzu River that try to escape through various gaps in the living world to cause mayhem and allow the Sanzu River to flood both the land of the living and the land of the dead. Their leading members live aboard the Rokumon Junk (六門船 Rokumonsen) and consist of Doukoku Chimatsuri, Tayu Usukawa and Shitari of the Bones. Under their control are the Ayakashi (アヤカシ) who enter the mortal world, assisted by the Nanashi Company. There is also the rogue Juzo Fuwa who acting on his interests and the mysterious Akumaro Sujigarano who has an agenda of his own.

Episodes

The episodes are numbered as Acts (第～幕 Dai (Number) Maku) and completely written in kanji. Episodes of Kamen Rider Decade on July 12 and July 19, 2009, as well as Shinkenger Act 21, featured a crossover between the two series.[2][3]

Act# Title Writer Original airdate
1 "The Gallant Appearance of the Five Samurai"
"Date Sugata Go Samurai" (伊達姿五侍) 		Yasuko KobayashiFebruary 15, 2009
2 "The Stylish Combination"
"Kiwametsuki Ikina Gattai" (極付粋合体) 		Yasuko KobayashiFebruary 22, 2009
3 "An Extermination Skill Contest"
"Udetaiji Udekurabe" (腕退治腕比) 		Yasuko KobayashiMarch 1, 2009
4 "Nightly Tears of Sympathy"
"Yowanasake Namidagawa" (夜話情涙川) 		Yasuko KobayashiMarch 8, 2009
5 "The Kabuto Origami"
"Kabuto Origami" (兜折神) 		Yasuko KobayashiMarch 15, 2009
6 "The Abusive King"
"Waruguchiō" (悪口王) 		Yasuko KobayashiMarch 22, 2009
7 "Marlin Fishing"
"Kajiki Ippontsuri" (舵木一本釣) 		Yasuko KobayashiMarch 29, 2009
8 "The Brides are Spirited Away"
"Hanayome Kamikakushi" (花嫁神隠) 		Yasuko KobayashiApril 5, 2009
9 "The Tiger's Rebellion"
"Tora no Hankōki" (虎反抗期) 		Yasuko KobayashiApril 12, 2009
10 "The Great Sky Combination"
"Daitenkū Gattai" (大天空合体) 		Yasuko KobayashiApril 19, 2009
11 "A Threefold Strife"
"Mitsudomoe Ōsōdō" (三巴大騒動) 		Yasuko KobayashiApril 26, 2009
12 "The Very First Super Samurai Combination"
"Shijō Hatsu Chō Samurai Gattai" (史上初超侍合体) 		Yasuko KobayashiMay 3, 2009
13 "Heavy Cries"
"Omoi Nakigoe" (重泣声) 		Yasuko KobayashiMay 10, 2009
14 "The Foreign Samurai"
"Ikoku no Samurai" (異国侍) 		Akatsuki YamatoyaMay 17, 2009
15 "The Imposter and the Real Deal's Arrest"
"Nisemono Honmono Ōtorimono" (偽物本物大捕物) 		Daisuke IshibashiMay 24, 2009
16 "The Power of the Kuroko"
"Kuroko no Chikara" (黒子力) 		Akatsuki YamatoyaMay 31, 2009
17 "The Sushi Samurai"
"Sushi Samurai" (寿司侍) 		Yasuko KobayashiJune 7, 2009
18 "Samurai Promotion"
"Samurai Shūmei" (侍襲名) 		Yasuko KobayashiJune 14, 2009
19 "Learning the Samurai Disposition"
"Samuraigokoro Tenaraichū" (侍心手習中) 		Yasuko KobayashiJune 28, 2009
20 "The Ebi Origami's Transformation"
"Ebi Origami Henge" (海老折神変化) 		Yasuko KobayashiJuly 5, 2009
21 "The Father and Son Bears"
"Oyakoguma" (親子熊) 		Yasuko KobayashiJuly 19, 2009
22 "Lord Butler"
"Tono Shitsuji" (殿執事) 		Yasuko KobayashiJuly 26, 2009
23 "The Rampaging Gedoushu"
"Bōsō Gedōshū" (暴走外道衆) 		Yasuko KobayashiAugust 2, 2009
24 "The True Samurai Combination"
"Shin Samurai Gattai" (真侍合体) 		Yasuko KobayashiAugust 9, 2009
25 "The Dream World"
"Yume Sekai" (夢世界) 		Yasuko KobayashiAugust 16, 2009
26 "Decisive Match Number One"
"Kessen Ōichiban" (決戦大一番) 		Yasuko KobayashiAugust 23, 2009
27 "The Switched Lives"
"Irekae Jinsei" (入替人生) 		Yasuko KobayashiAugust 30, 2009
28 "The Lantern Samurai"
"Chōchin Samurai" (提灯侍) 		Yasuko KobayashiSeptember 6, 2009
29 "The Runaway Lantern"
"Iede Chōchin" (家出提灯) 		Akatsuki YamatoyaSeptember 13, 2009
30 "The Manipulated Academy"
"Ayatsuri Gakuen" (操学園) 		Daisuke IshibashiSeptember 20, 2009
31 "The Kyoryu Origami"
"Kyōryū Origami" (恐竜折神) 		Yasuko KobayashiSeptember 27, 2009
32 "The Ushi Origami"
"Ushi Origami" (牛折神) 		Yasuko KobayashiOctober 4, 2009
33 "The Great Bull King"
"Mōgyūdaiō" (猛牛大王) 		Yasuko KobayashiOctober 11, 2009
34 "Fatherly Love, Girlish Innocence"
"Oyagokoro Musumegokoro" (親心娘心) 		Yasuko KobayashiOctober 18, 2009
35 "The Eleven Origami, The Complete Combination"
"Jūichi Origami Zen Gattai" (十一折神全合体) 		Yasuko KobayashiOctober 25, 2009
36 "The Curry Samurai"
"Karē Samurai" (加哩侍) 		Akatsuki YamatoyaNovember 1, 2009
37 "The Epic Glue Battle"
"Setchaku Daisakusen" (接着大作戦) 		Daisuke IshibashiNovember 8, 2009
38 "Showdown with the Rifle Squad"
"Taiketsu Teppōtai" (対決鉄砲隊) 		Yasuko KobayashiNovember 15, 2009
39 "The Very Urgent First Aid Emergency"
"Kyūkyū Kinkyū Daishikyū" (救急緊急大至急) 		Yasuko KobayashiNovember 22, 2009
40 "The General Heads to the Front Lines"
"Ontaishō Shutsujin" (御大将出陣) 		Yasuko KobayashiNovember 29, 2009
41 "The Sent Words"
"Okuru Kotoba" (贈言葉) 		Yasuko KobayashiDecember 6, 2009
42 "The Two-Hundred Year Long Ambition"
"Nihyakunen no Yabō" (二百年野望) 		Yasuko KobayashiDecember 13, 2009
43 "One Last Sword Stroke"
"Saigo no Hitotachi" (最後一太刀) 		Yasuko KobayashiDecember 20, 2009
44 "The Eighteenth Head of the Shiba House"
"Shiba Ke Jūhachidaime Tōshu" (志葉家十八代目当主) 		Yasuko KobayashiJanuary 3, 2010
45 "The Impersonator"
"Kagemusha" (影武者) 		Yasuko KobayashiJanuary 10, 2010
46 "The Showdown Clash"
"Gekitotsu Ōshōbu" (激突大勝負) 		Yasuko KobayashiJanuary 17, 2010
47 "Bonds"
"Kizuna" (絆) 		Yasuko KobayashiJanuary 24, 2010
48 "The Final Great Decisive Battle"
"Saigo no Daikessen" (最後大決戦) 		Yasuko KobayashiJanuary 31, 2010
Final "A Samurai Sentai Eternally"
"Samurai Sentai Eien ni" (侍戦隊永遠) 		Yasuko KobayashiFebruary 7, 2010

Films

The Fateful War

The film Samurai Sentai Shinkenger The Movie: The Fateful War (侍戦隊シンケンジャー銀幕版　天下分け目の戦 Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Ginmakuban Tenkawakeme no Tatakai) opened in Japanese theaters on August 8, 2009, double-billed with the Kamen Rider Decade film. Unlike previous films, it was filmed in 3-D, and is the first film in Japan to be filmed digitally in 3-D. A normal 2-D version is being shown in most theaters in Japan.[4]

Shinkenger vs. Go-onger

The film Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: Ginmaku Bang!! (侍戦隊シンケンジャーVSゴーオンジャー銀幕BANG!! Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Bui Esu Gōonjā Ginmakuban) was released in theaters on January 30, 2010, featuring a crossover between the Shinkenger and Go-onger casts and characters.[5] The heroes of Tensou Sentai Goseiger make a cameo appearance in the film.[6]

Goseiger vs. Shinkenger

The film Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku (天装戦隊ゴセイジャーVSシンケンジャー エピック on 銀幕 Tensō Sentai Goseijā Bui Esu Shinkenjā Epikku on Ginmaku) was released in theaters on January 22, 2011, featuring a crossover between the Goseiger and Shinkenger casts and characters. The heroes of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger make a cameo appearance in the film.

Special DVD

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: The Light Samurai's Surprise Transformation (侍戦隊シンケンジャー光侍驚変身 Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Hikari no Samurai Odoroki Henshin) is a special DVD that is used to show some of the items in the series.

Genta finds a starved member of the Nanashi Company who tells Genta that he has run away from the Rokumon Junk after being sick of his Company being abused by the stronger Gedoushu. Feeling sorry for him, Genta takes him back to the Shiba House and tries to get him a job. After Takeru refuses to help due to the fact that he is a member of the Gedoushu, Genta attempts to prove Takeru wrong about the Nanashi with the help of the kuroko. However, after nearly burning to death, the Nanashi feels that he is a lost cause, believing he is doomed to fail. Genta encourages him not to give up. The next day, Takeru discovers that the Inromaru and the Super Disk are gone along with the Nanashi. Remembering the Nanashi's love for chirashizushi, Genta lures him out with it and is shocked that the Nanashi has stolen the Inromaru.

While telling Genta another sob story, the Nanashi sucker punches him before using the Inromaru to turn into Super Nanashi. Super Nanashi reveals that he has used Genta to steal the Inromaru, and he adds on that he never liked Genta's sushi. Enraged, Genta transforms into Shinken Gold and with Shinken Red fights the Super Nanashi. The two are no match for Super Nanashi until Shinken Gold uses the Kyoryu Disk to become Hyper Shinken Gold. With his newfound power, he and Shinken Red are able to slay Super Nanashi and retrieve the Inromaru. After the fight, Genta is still disappointed that he believed Super Nanashi along with the Company member insulting sushi. Takeru cheers him up by requesting a piece of sushi and enjoying it, raising Genta's spirits.

V-Cinema

In June 2010, the V-Cinema release Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns: Special Act (帰ってきた侍戦隊シンケンジャー 特別幕 Kaettekita Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā: Tokubetsu Maku) was released. The Shinkengers are attacked by a remnant Gedoushu Ayakashi who traps them in various film genres.[7]

Cast

Songs

Opening theme
Ending theme

The opening and ending themes of Shinkenger are performed by Psychic Lover and Hideaki Takatori as part of Project.R, respectively.[9][10] The opening is also featured as a playable song in Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Do Don to 2 Daime.

Its opening theme song single ranked highly on the Oricon charts, reaching #4 on the Daily Ranking Charts on its day of release.[11] and peaked at #6 on the weekly charts selling 20,130 copies within its first week of release[12] and stayed in the top 30 ranks for 4 weeks straight.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Shinkenger" (シンケンジャー Shinkenjā) is a portmanteau of "Shinken" (真剣 Shinken) and "Ranger" (レンジャー Renjā).

References

  1. ↑ Toei's official site
  2. ↑ "仮面ライダー　他のヒーロー戦隊とコラボ！（芸能） ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex ニュース". 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  3. ↑ "2大ヒーローが並び立つ！ 仮面ライダーと戦隊シリーズが初共演（オリコン） - Yahoo!ニュース". 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  4. ↑ "侍戦隊シンケンジャー：３Ｄ劇場版完成　レッド「飛び出すのが楽しみ」２Ｄ版は別バージョン(まんたんウェブ) - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)". 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  5. ↑ "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第四十幕　御大将出陣｜東映［テレビ］". Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  6. ↑ "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第四十七幕　絆｜東映［テレビ］". 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  7. ↑ "東映ビデオ｜帰ってきた侍戦隊シンケンジャー 特別幕". Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "コロムビアミュージックエンタテインメント | 侍戦隊シンケンジャー主題歌シングルCD【通常盤】". Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  9. ↑ "【楽天市場】サイキックラバー／高取ヒデアキ／スーパー戦隊シリーズ 侍戦隊 シンケンジャー主題歌シングルCD 侍戦隊 シンケンジャー 秘伝動画からくり箱（初回生産30000枚限定盤）(CD)：ぐるぐる王国　楽天市場店". Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  10. ↑ "【古典派.com】「侍戦隊シンケンジャー」主題歌～侍戦隊シンケンジャー,サイキックラバー,PSYCHIC LOVER,コロムビア,COCC-16237,4988001116608". Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  11. ↑ "『侍戦隊シンケンジャー』主題歌が初登場4位 ニュース-ORICON STYLE-". 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  12. ↑ "2009年04月第1週の邦楽シングルランキング情報-ORICON STYLE-". 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2011-01-10.

External links