Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (侍戦隊シンケンジャー, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā) is a Japanese tokusatsu series that serves as the 33rd installment in the Super Sentai franchise and the 21st entry in the Heisei era. The series incorporates heavy elements of Japan in terms of culture, mythology and Nihon Bukkyō.[1]

Shinkengers

The historic household of the Hotta clan is the setting of the Shiba House.
The Shinkengers transformed. From left to right: Chiaki Tani, Kotoha Hanaori, Genta Umemori, Takeru Shiba, Mako Shiraishi, and Ryunosuke Ikenami.

The eponymous Shinkengers existed for eighteen generations to protect the world from the Gedoushu, demonic beings from the Sanzu River.[1][2][3] Based out of the Shiba House (志葉家, Shiba Ke) that originated from Mount Tsunobue (角笛の山, Tsunobue no Yama), the Shinkengers use a kanji-based power called Modikara (モヂカラ, Mojikara, Character Power), which is passed down from one generation to the next (currently on the 18th Generation). Once becoming a Shinkenger, they must renounce their past lives in order to keep their friends and family safe in case a member of the Gedoushu targets them. The Shiba House's manor is protected by a barrier of the Modikara "protect" (守, mamoru), keeping the Shinkengers safe. They use a Gap Sensor (隙間センサー, Sukima Sensā) to detect the presence of a Gedoushu and its whereabouts.

The primary Shinkengers utilize the Shodo Phone (ショドウフォン, Shodō Fon) in Brush Mode (筆モード, Fude Mōdo) to gain access to Modikara powers, either for transformation purposes or to summon other items with the proper kanji. When not in use, it assumes Cellphone Mode (携帯モード, Keitai Mōdo) as a basic communication tool. Their sidearm is the Shinkenmaru (シンケンマル), a katana modeled after a praxinoscope that allows them to harness the power of Secret Disks and their personal elemental attacks. Using a personal Secret Disk allows a Shinkenger to perform a Spiral Sword (螺旋之太刀, Rasen no Tachi) attack depending on the element that the disk represents. Five Spiral Sword elemental attacks can be used in the Quintuple Sword (五重之太刀, Gojū no Tachi) and Five-Colored Dance (五色之舞, Goshiki no Mai, In OST vol.1) attacks while four can be used in the Four Continual Slash (四連斬り, Yonren Giri) and Quadruple Sword (四重之太刀, Yonjū no Tachi) attacks. With Shinken Gold, they can perform the Six Continual Slash (六連斬り, Rokuren Giri) attack.

After retrieving the Inromaru (インロウマル, Inrōmaru) from the Tengen Temple and Genta completing the device, any one of the primary Shinkengers can use it to transform into a Super Shinkenger (スーパーシンケンジャー, Sūpā Shinkenjā), a white-coated form that allows them to keep up with the Gedoushu forces' increasing strength and use advanced elemental attacks. Upon transformation, the user combines the Inromaru and their Shinkenmaru to form the Super Shinkenmaru (スーパーシンケンマル, Sūpā Shinkenmaru), which allows them to perform upgraded versions of their Spiral Sword techniques. By utilizing the Dinosaur Disk to transform into a red-coated Hyper Shinkenger (ハイパーシンケンジャー, Haipā Shinkenjā) form, the user's sidearm transforms into the Kyoryumaru (キョウリュウマル, Kyōryūmaru), a variant of the Shinkenmaru that can extend its blade over long distances.

Takeru Shiba

Takeru Shiba (志葉 丈瑠, Shiba Takeru) is the main protagonist of the series, a young man referred by his vassals and servants as Lord (殿, Tono).[3] He was raised since childhood by Hikoma Kusakabe to act the role of the 18th head of the Shiba House after his father gave him the Shishi Origami. His upbringing made him create a facade to look very arrogant and proud to others, claiming none can match his strength and greatness, while keeping his cool in any situation. Though he was reluctant to have the vassals fight by his side, as he wanted no one else to bear the burden, he allowed their involvement after giving them the choice to turn back or become Shinkengers out of want rather than need, as long as they are willing to finish their mission to the last detail. By the time Genta arrives, Takeru's facade is revealed as he now questions himself of how it makes him strong along with learning he shares similar attributes with Juzo before defeating him. While at times it may not appear so, Takeru does cares greatly for his vassals and when Genta arrives, he becomes more open with them. However, in a fight against Juzo, it is revealed that Takeru started to value his life more which, in Juzo's opinion, makes him weaker and makes Takeru doubt himself. In reality, Takeru has been acting as a kagemusha for the true 18th head of the Shiba Clan, Kaoru, who was not yet born at the time of her father's death, having been chosen for his proficiency with Modikara and his swordsmanship. When Kaoru is injured while attempting to use the Sealing Character on Doukoku, she formally adopts Takeru, making him the 19th head of the Shiba House. After defeating Doukoku in the final battle, Takeru says goodbye to Kaoru and his vassals and stays in the Shiba House with Hikoma, resuming his days now as a true samurai.

As the "Samurai of Fire" (火の侍, Hi no Samurai), Shinken Red (シンケンレッド, Shinken Reddo), Takeru's personal weapon is the Rekka Daizantou (烈火大斬刀, Rekka Daizantō, Raging Fire Great Slicing Sword),[1] which allows him to perform the Many Fires Profusion (百火繚乱, Hyakka Ryōran) attack in its zanbatō-like Daizantou Mode (大斬刀モード, Daizantō Mōdo). By inserting an alternate disk, the Rekka Daizantou can assume its gun-like Ōzutsu Mode (大筒モード, Ōzutsu Mōdo) that can hold the team's personal Secret Disks to perform the Five Rings Bullet (五輪弾, Gorindan) finisher, or the Six Rings Bullet (六輪弾, Rokurindan) by adding Shinken Gold's Ika Disk to the ammunition. Using a Secret Disk with the Modikara of "Twin" (双, Sō) created by Tanba, it can be split into two swords. During the Shinkengers' team up with Kamen Rider Decade, Shinken Red uses the Blade Blade (ブレイドブレード, Bureido Burēdo) broadsword in place of his Rekka Daizantou that he loaned to the Rider in finishing off Chinomanako Diend. Additionally, Takeru can assume the following forms:

Takeru is portrayed by Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri).[3] As a child, he is portrayed by Masaki Takaiwa (髙岩 雅輝, Takaiwa Masaki).

Ryunosuke Ikenami

Ryunosuke Ikenami (池波 流ノ介, Ikenami Ryūnosuke) is a young man who gave up becoming a kabuki actor to answer the call of serving the Shiba House.[3] Due to his parents' upbringing, he is extremely enthusiastic and takes his role as Takeru's vassal seriously. Ryunosuke is also the engineer behind many of the Samurai Combinations, having figured out how to combine the Origami into Tenku ShinkenOh and later into SamuraiHaOh. He is initially unreceptive towards Genta, who he once called a "wannabe" samurai. As such, Ryunosuke is typically the one to lead the other vassals in Takeru's absence. When Kaoru reveals herself, Ryunosuke becomes confused about whom to follow, because he had pledged his life to the head of the Shiba family. After he receives some advice that clears his mind, he pledges his life to Takeru Shiba. After the final battle, Ryunosuke gives Takeru a kabuki-styled farewell dance and goes back to work as a kabuki actor.

As the "Samurai of Water" (水の侍, Mizu no Samurai), Shinken Blue (シンケンブルー, Shinken Burū), Ryunosuke's personal weapon is the Water Arrow (ウォーターアロー, Wōtā Arō), which allows him to perform the Clear and Serene (明鏡止水, Meikyō Shisui) attack, as well as the Samurai Flash Wave (侍閃光波, Samurai Senkōha) with Shinken Pink, Green, Yellow and Gold. He can also borrow the Inromaru to become Super Shinken Blue (スーパーシンケンブルー, Sūpā Shinken Burū).

Ryunosuke is portrayed by Hiroki Aiba (相葉 弘樹, Aiba Hiroki).[3] As a child, he is portrayed by Takumi Horikiri (堀切 拓海, Horikiri Takumi).

Mako Shiraishi

Mako Shiraishi (白石 茉子, Shiraishi Mako) is a strong-willed girl who fights for her ideals. She loves children and worked at a kindergarten prior to becoming a Shinkenger. When she was a little girl, her childhood was pushed aside when her parents moved to Hawaii without a word and left her in the care of her grandmother, who schooled her in the ways of bushidō. Chiaki and Kotoha both regard her as an older sister figure; Chiaki even addresses her as such.[3] Though she is a horrible cook (none of the boys can stomach her cooking), Mako tries her best in order to achieve her dream of becoming a good wife and mother. Eventually, Mako is reunited with her parents and learns that her mother had become paralyzed from the waist down as a result of her tenure as the previous Shinken Pink. After the reunion and reconciliation with her mother, Mako gains a newfound conviction to defeat the Gedoushu. Because of her gentle nature, she can read other people well, especially Takeru, and readily gives her opinion regarding the situation in question. After the final battle, Mako goes to Hawaii to live with her parents.

As the "Samurai of Sky" (天の侍, Ten no Samurai), Shinken Pink (シンケンピンク, Shinken Pinku), Mako's personal weapon is the Heaven Fan (ヘブンファン, Hebun Fan), which allows her to perform the Whole Sky Impact (迫力満天, Hakuryoku Manten) attack. She can also borrow the Inromaru to become Super Shinken Pink (スーパーシンケンピンク, Sūpā Shinken Pinku). In Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku, she performs the Pink Double Attack (ピンクダブルアタック, Pinku Daburu Atakku) with Gosei Pink.

Mako is portrayed by Rin Takanashi (高梨 臨, Takanashi Rin).[3] As a child, she is portrayed by Marina Nakajima (中島 まりな, Nakajima Marina).

Chiaki Tani

Chiaki Tani (谷 千明, Tani Chiaki) is a lazy, irresponsible, selfish, and arrogant rebel.[3] Initially, Chiaki had no interest in becoming Takeru's vassal and often clashed with him. The only reason he even worked with Takeru was because he thought it would be fun and he wanted to protect people. 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, pledging to pass Takeru in skill someday. Chiaki was without his mother from an early age and was raised solely by his father, who planted in him the seed of his interest in martial arts. Despite not being formally trained, he is an excellent strategist and adept with surprise attacks, thanks to his imagination and free-spiritedness. When Genta arrives, Chiaki is the first to accept him into the team. Chiaki is very protective of Kotoha and seems to be uncomfortable when Genta's friend shows an interest in her. Even though he often butts heads with Ryunosuke, Chiaki respects him immensely for his skill; in fact, they work together so well that they become able to execute tasks in sync with one another. During time off from his duties, or when he is troubled, he often plays Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion. He prefers American surf wear and skate wear brands like Vans and especially Gotcha, whose vintage shirts he wears in most episodes. After the final battle, Chiaki plans to take his college entrance exams.

As the "Samurai of Wood" (木の侍, Ki no Samurai), Shinken Green (シンケングリーン, Shinken Gurīn), Chiaki's personal weapon is the Wood Spear (ウッドスピア, Uddo Supia), which allows him to perform the Large Treed Late Bloomer (大木晩成, Taiki Bansei) and Foliage Concealment (木の葉隠し, Konoha Kakushi) attacks. Additionally, Chiaki can assume the following forms:

Chiaki is portrayed by Shogo Suzuki (鈴木 勝吾, Suzuki Shōgo).[3]

Kotoha Hanaori

Kotoha Hanaori (花織 ことは, Hanaori Kotoha) is a clumsy and gentle 16-year-old girl who worked in a bamboo shop and speaks with a Kyoto accent (京都弁, Kyōtoben).[3] Very much a crybaby as a child, she is close to her older sister, Mitsuba, who had been training to be Shinken Yellow. When Mitsuba became ill and unable to serve as Takeru's vassal, Kotoha stepped up to take her place. Kotoha is deeply respectful of Takeru and wants to help him in any way she can. She has rather low self-esteem; she genuinely believes that she is stupid (she claims that the only things that she is proficient at are her swordsmanship and her flute playing) and, despite her teammates' affection for her, often feels that she is a bother to them. She idolizes Mako and strives to become more like her. Kotoha often suggests that if Mitsuba never fell ill, the Shinkengers as a whole would probably be much stronger. However, her spirits are raised after she receives a letter from Mitsuba, in which Mitsuba says that Kotoha is the true Shinken Yellow. After the final battle, Kotoha returns home to Mitsuba.

As the "Samurai of Earth" (土の侍, Tsuchi no Samurai), Shinken Yellow (シンケンイエロー, Shinken Ierō), Kotoha's personal weapon is the Land Slicer (ランドスライサー, Rando Suraisā), which allows her to perform the All Out Earth Power (奮闘土力, Funtō Doryoku) attack. She can also borrow the Inromaru to become Super Shinken Yellow (スーパーシンケンイエロー, Sūpā Shinken Ierō).

Kotoha is portrayed by Suzuka Morita (森田 涼花, Morita Suzuka).[3] As a child, she is portrayed by Ayu Matsuura (松浦 愛弓, Matsuura Ayu).

Genta Umemori

Genta Umemori (梅盛 源太, Umemori Genta) is the son of a sushi chef who mysteriously disappeared prior to the beginning of the series, and a childhood friend of Takeru's. As a child, Genta often meddled in Takeru's training, which annoyed Hikoma greatly. Genta promised to help Takeru become a samurai, and in return, Takeru entrusted him with the Ika Disk. Years later, he is shown to have inherited the Gold Zushi (ゴールド寿司, Gōrudo Zushi) sushi cart and to have developed his own Electronic Modikara (電子のモヂカラ, Denshi no Mojikara), using the Sushi Changer (スシチェンジャー, Sushi Chenjā) cellphone to type the kanji needed. The other Shinkengers are initially suspicious of Genta until he makes his formal introduction as Shinken Gold. Though Takeru is reluctant at first, he eventually allows Genta to fulfill his promise and join the team. Genta considers himself Takeru's best friend, despite their personalities being complete opposites; Genta is as hyperactive and expressive as much as Takeru is reserved and stoic. When Kaoru reveals herself, Genta immediately disapproves of her because of his relationship with Takeru, but later accepts her when he sees that she is very kind. After the final battle, Genta leaves to open a restaurant with DaiGoyou in Paris in hopes of fulfilling his lifelong dream of receiving a three-star rating by the Michelin Guide.

Unlike the primary Shinkengers, Genta utilizes his personal Sushi Disk in conjunction with the Sushi Changer to access the latter's nigirizushi-like Sushi Mode (スシモード, Sushi Mōdo) and transform into the "Samurai of Light" (光の侍, Hikari no Samurai), Shinken Gold (シンケンゴールド, Shinken Gōrudo). In its default Shari Mode (シャリモード, Shari Mōdo), Genta can harness the Electronic Modikara to compensate for his lack of calligraphy training. In combat, Shinken Gold uses sushi-themed accouterments, like exploding chopsticks that he uses as a projectile weapon. His sidearm is the Sakanamaru (サカナマル) a tantō modeled after a fish (魚, sakana) that allows him to take out an entire platoon of Nanashi through Iaido. Additionally, Genta can assume the following forms:

Genta is portrayed by Keisuke Sohma (相馬 圭祐, Sōma Keisuke). As a child, he is portrayed by Ryota Koshiba (小柴 亮太, Koshiba Ryōta).

Kaoru Shiba

Kaoru Shiba (志葉 薫, Shiba Kaoru) is the true 18th head of the Shiba House, a position that Takeru was holding in her place. She is referred to by her vassals and servants as Princess (姫, Hime). As the head of the Shiba House, Kaoru is the one who possesses the knowledge of the Sealing Character (封印の文字, Fūin no Moji) also known as the Gedou Seal (外道封印, Gedō Fūin), a Modikara passed along the Shiba bloodline.[a] Because of this, she stayed in hiding while Takeru acted as her kagemusha to draw the Gedoushu away from her. When she grows tired of living in hiding, she masters the Sealing Character to defeat the Gedoushu and assumes her birthright. Even though she is kind and easy to work with, she underestimates the vassals' dedication to Takeru, and when she is injured in attempting to use the Sealing Character, she adopts Takeru and gives up her birthright to allow Takeru to lead the Shinkengers in defeating Doukoku. She makes another appearance in Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku, combining her Modikara with Alata's Gosei Power to create the Kaentornado card, which is used to free Takeru from his Gedou Shinken Red form, and allow all the Shinkengers to utilize the Super Shinkenger form.

Like Takeru, Kaoru is the "Samurai of Fire" and has the ability to become Shinken Red, referred to as Princess Shinken Red (姫シンケンレッド, Hime Shinken Reddo) to differentiate with Takeru's Shinken Red, and use the Inromaru to transform into Super Shinken Red. Her secret training allows her to easily adopt all of the weaponry the others had used before her appearance.

Kaoru is portrayed by Runa Natsui (夏居 瑠奈, Natsui Runa).

Secret Disks

The Secret Disks (秘伝ディスク, Hiden Disuku) are a series of items that the Shinkengers use in conjunction with their respective weapons. When not in use, they are normally stored at the buckle of their suits.

Origami

The Shinkengers control sentient mecha called Origami (折神, Folding Spirits).[b] The five main Origami are normally in Emblem Mode (エンブレムモード, Enburemu Mōdo) until they assume Animal Mode (アニマルモード, Animaru Mōdo) to support their masters. But with Modikara of "big" (大, dai) and the command Origami Big Transformation (折神大変化, Origami Daihenge), the Origami can be enlarged into giants with the Shinkengers using their Shinkenmaru as control sticks. The three support Origami, two of which were reclaimed after being lost in the last great battle with the Gedoushu, are summoned using each Secret Disk and require twice the amount of Modikara than the regular Origami. With the Engines, the Origami can perform the Modikara Cannonball (モヂカラキャノンボール, Mojikara Kyanonbōru) attack.

Samurai Giants

The Samurai Giants (侍巨人, Samurai Kyojin) are giant robots formed from the Origami, either through Samurai Combination (侍合体, Samurai Gattai) or Samurai Transformation (侍変形, Samurai Henkei). In certain occasion, a Samurai Giant can also arm themselves with a support Origami through the Samurai Armaments (侍武装, Samurai Busō).[4]

Allies

Hikoma Kusakabe

Hikoma Kusakabe (日下部 彦馬, Kusakabe Hikoma) is Takeru's retainer and guardian. He also serves as the Shinkengers' mentor; it is he who gathered the four vassals when the Gedoushu revived.[3] The Shinkengers affectionately call him "Jii" (ジイ, translated as "old man" or "samurai"). Every year, he gets one day off, which he uses to visit his wife's grave and visit his daughter and granddaughter. His relationship with Takeru and his vassals runs deep; he takes great care to ensure that they are safe and that they are ready to fight,[3] and he supplies them with information and weaponry. Though Genta frequently annoys him, Hikoma acknowledges the younger man's skill with Modikara and eventually does accept and connect with him. Like Mako, he is adept at reading people and often helps the vassals with their personal problems. When he goes to a hospital to be treated for a hip injury, he happens upon the Hikari Studio and gives invaluable advice to Tsukasa Kadoya during the meeting of the worlds of Kamen Rider Decade and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. While Hikoma does not typically take up arms himself, his "battle" is to ensure that Takeru and his vassals remain safe and will always have someplace to which they can return. When Kaoru makes her appearance, Hikoma remains loyal to Takeru, but bears no ill will towards Kaoru; he respects her for both her title and for the kind and diligent young woman that she is. After the final battle, he stays with Takeru even when he insists that he go visit his family and encourages Takeru to join him to experience other lifestyles other than just the samurai life.

Hikoma is portrayed by Goro Ibuki (伊吹 吾郎, Ibuki Gorō).[3]

Kuroko

The kuroko (黒子) are the Shiba House's servants who, like their namesakes, "set up" the scene during the Shinkengers' transformation. As they do not possess Modikara proficiency, they are not able to fight against the Gedoushu physically and as such, they are not directly involved in combat, although they do help evacuate civilians away from danger. They are skilled in many comparatively mundane things and are tasked with doing household chores, and help citizens in the nearby town to the best of their ability, when the Shinkengers are not in battle. Kaoru has her own group of Kuroko, who wear slightly different robes bearing the Shiba family crest.

DaiGoyou

DaiGoyou (ダイゴヨウ, Daigoyō) is a support robot created by Genta during his temporary fear of sushi, infusing his Electronic Modikara with a lantern in his sushi cart to be able to fight for him when needed, referring to his creator as "Boss" (親分, oyabun).[e] He is normally in the splintered form of his Secret Disk shooting Paper Lantern Mode (提灯モード, Chōchin Mōdo), which forms the majority of his robot mode, and Jitte Mode (十手モード, Jitte Mōdo), which Shinken Gold uses as a weapon to perform the DaiGoyou Jitte Strike (ダイゴヨウ十手打ち, Daigoyō Jitte Uchi) attack; this part forms DaiGoyou's arms. DaiGoyou also has the ability to fly in his paper lantern mode. Genta originally designed DaiGoyou after the lanterns carried by the Jitte-wielding okappiki (岡っ引き) guardsmen from old samurai films. Ryunosuke points out that these were mere guardsmen and not samurai, so the kanji for Samurai on DaiGoyou's lantern is actually a misrepresentation, much to Genta and DaiGoyou's chagrin.

Once enlarged by the "big" (大, dai) Modikara, Daigoyou can form into a Samurai Giant through the DaiGoyou Big Transformation (ダイゴヨウ大変化, Daigoyō Daihenge) by fusing its default Paper Lantern body and its Jitte forming its arms. His techniques include the DaiGoyou Big Lighting (ダイゴヨウ大点灯, Daigoyō Daitentō) and the DaiGoyou Big Spin (ダイゴヨウ大回転, Daigoyō Daikaiten), and he can retract his head and compress his torso to dodge enemy attacks. His finisher is the Secret Disks Turbulence Shot (秘伝ディスク乱れ撃ち, Hiden Disuku Midareuchi), which fires disks from his body. While combined, he requires occasional Secret Disk jam-clearing, which simply requires slapping the bottom of the lantern's handle.

Daigoyou is voiced by Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori).

Other characters

Heads of the Shiba House

The previous heads of the Shiba House (Kaoru and Takeru's predecessors) are:

  1. Shiba Retsudō (志葉 烈堂): Shiba Retsudō is the first Shinken Red (初代シンケンレッド, Shodai Shinken Reddo) who battled the Kusare Gedoushu, wielding the Kyoryumaru. After his death, he was buried at the Tengen Temple where the Inromaru is kept. Shiba Retsudō is portrayed by Masashi Goda (合田 雅吏, Gōda Masashi).
  2. Resshin (烈心)
  3. Iori (伊織)
  4. Sakuya (朔哉)
  5. Yukiyasu (行康)
  6. Koshinari (越成)
  7. Atsuhide (篤秀)
  8. Katsunoshin (勝之進)
  9. Akitsugu (明継)
  10. Aritsugu (有継)
  11. Arishige (有重)
  12. Morinobu (守信)
  13. Seisuke (誠輔)
  14. Akira (晶)
  15. Kōichirō (幸一郎)
  16. Yōjirō (陽次郎)
  17. Masataka Shiba (志葉 雅貴, Shiba Masataka, 45): Kaoru's father and the seventeenth head of the Shiba family, he set up the idea to use a kagemusha to counter Doukoku's plans to wipe his family out of existence. Masataka sealed Doukoku using the imperfect Sealing Character just before his death;[9] his then-newborn daughter was then taken into hiding and Takeru was presented as the new head of the Shiba House. Credited as the Previous Head (先代当主, Sendai Tōshu), Masataka is portrayed by Masaya Matsukaze (松風 雅也, Matsukaze Masaya).

Gedoushu

The Gedoushu (外道衆, Gedōshū, "Heretic Party") are malevolent spirits who arise as the result of sin-tainted souls that enter into the Sanzu River within the land of the dead.[f][1][10] The Gedoshu maintain their wretched existence with the water of the Sanzu, and in order to maintain the river's levels, they constantly enter into the human world with the intent of running amok in order to feed the river with negative emotions of humans. If a Gedoshu spends too long in the human world, it eventually dries out, and petrifies if it can not return to the Sanzu. Cursed to be in a state between life and death, a Gedoushu can only be free of its existence if it is slain upon taking its Second Life, or if it is able to let go of the upādāna that damned it in the first place. The Gedoushu under Doukoku reside on the Rokumon Junk (六門船, Rokumonsen, "Six realms ship") that sails along the Sanzu River.[10] Others spend their time within the River itself until Doukoku or some other powerful being calls them. Using their ability to enter the living world through cracks and narrow gaps, Doukoku's minions set up a plan to terrorize humans in any way possible so that the river overflows to point of flooding into the mortal realm in order for them to invade in full fury. The Gedoushu can also become powerful during the time of Bon Festival.

In the world of Shinkenger, the Gedoushu are the inspiration of all the yōkai in Japanese mythology. The main Gedoushu characters are modeled after the Seven Lucky Gods and sea creatures.

Doukoku Chimatsuri

Doukoku Chimatsuri (血祭 ドウコク, Chimatsuri Dōkoku) is the Bishamonten/spiny lobster-themed leader of the Gedoushu.[10][g] He is in a constant state of rage, originally endless until he heard the sound of Usuyuki's shamisen, becoming obsessed with her as he later takes her upon her rebirth into Dayu to soothe his rage along with sake. He targeted the Shiba House's previous Shinkengers, making it his goal to eliminate the Shiba House so no one would be able to stop him. However, while fighting the seventeenth head of the Shiba House, he was sealed away as the previous Shinken Red died. This seal was incomplete, and Doukoku was able to revive by the time of the next generation.[9] To reach his goal again, Doukoku sends out Ayakashi to terrorize humans so the Sanzu River can overflow its banks into the mortal realm and enable him to unleash his full fury. This method of attack was later revealed to how he loses the rejuvenating qualities of its waters much faster than any other member of the Gedoushu and takes longer to soak the river's waters back into his body.

Learning of the seal placed on him, Doukoku briefly changes his plans to target Takeru as the death of the Shiba House would ensure that he would never be sealed again. But when that plan failed, Doukoku has his force carry on the original plan without giving wind of this knowledge to any Ayakashi with his own agenda. During the summer while in a comatose state that leaves him open to his enemies, Doukoku manages to suppress his magnified power. Later, after learning of Akamaro's true colors, Doukoku risks his life to enter the mortal realm to repair Dayu's shamisen after driving off Akumaro and defeating Shinken Red. As a result, he has to be submerged in the Sanzu River to rehydrate. But after the Shiba Clan true's eighteenth head is revealed, Doukoku's followers attempt to speed up his awakening by increasing the amount of suffering until Dayu uses Shinza's anguish to bring Doukoku back to the mortal realm. After absorbing Dayu's energy to heal his body, Doukoku gains immunity to the Sealing Character and can now endure being in the mortal realm without drying up. As a result, Doukoku overpowers the Shinkengers before bringing the Rokumon Junk into the mortal realm when the Sanzu River floods the city. Thinking he had broken the Shinkengers' spirits when they attempt to defeat him, Doukoku is immobilized before Shinken Blue delivers the final blow. Assuming his second life, Doukoku overpowers SamuraiHaOh, blasting it and throwing off its components until only ShinkenOh remains, then impales it on his sword. However, the Shinkengers take advantage of the events and mortally wound him before he explodes. He attempts to take the Shinkengers down with him, but this fails as they survive the explosion.

Doukoku's personal weapons are the Shōryū Bakuzantō (昇竜抜山刀, Rising Dragon Mountain-Removing Sword) and the Kōryū Gaiseitō (降竜蓋世刀, Descending Dragon World-Covering Sword). He also possessed the power to seal his fellow Gedoushu.

Doukoku is voiced by Rintarō Nishi (西 凛太朗, Nishi Rintarō).[10]

Tayu

Tayu Usukawa (薄皮 太夫, Usukawa Dayū) is Doukoku's Benzaiten/sea slug/Futakuchi-ona-themed right hand and the only one he is kind to, provided she knows her place as his obedient, unquestioning servant.[10][g][h] Doukoku takes her in after her rebirth as a Gedoushu, giving her the name she now goes by and telling her that she has nowhere else to go but to him. But her unique origins set her apart from normal Gedoshu as she can move freely in the mortal realm. In life, she was Usuyuki (薄雪) a shamisen player who obsessed over a man named Shinza. Scorned that he loved another woman instead of her, Usuyuki set fire to the building holding his wedding ceremony, killing him, his bride, and the entirety of their wedding party, in a suicidal crime of passion. Seeing that her love would remain unrequited to the bitter end, Usuyuki's emotions corrupt her soul and caused her rebirth into Tayu.

Of all the Gedoushu, Tayu has the most trouble getting along with the Ayakashi because of her previous life as a human, which she makes attempts to reclaim. One failed attempt results with her being saved by Juzo, developing feelings for the Gedounin as she begins to defy Doukoku's orders with her shamisen damaged as a result. Though her feelings for Shinza had long died, Tayu refuses to give him up as it would end her existence and desires to know the purpose behind it. Leaving Doukoku, Tayu wanders aimlessly until she is found by Akumaro who recruits her to his group in return for her instrument's restoration. Upon learning that Akamaro never intended to repair her instrument, she attempts to reclaim her shamisen until Dokouku comes to her aid, using a piece of his body to restore the shamisen and reminding her of her place by his side. Soon after Akumaro's demise, Tayu returns to the Rokumon Junk to assist in Doukoku's reawakening. To that end, after finally having the answers to her questions, Tayu deliberately has Shinken Pink destroy her shamisen to not only discard her past life, but to also use Shinza's anguished soul to revive Doukoku. She later uses the last of her powers to restore Doukoku's body, giving him immunity to the Sealing Character and independence from the Sanzu River. With only her kimono remaining, Doukoku later throws it into the Sanzu River as a final respect to her.

Tayu's shamisen is forcefully bounded to Shinza's soul, creating the eerie and unsettling songs that serve to soothe Doukoku's rage. The shamisen's headstock also doubles as the hilt of a shortsword Tayu uses in battle. While her shamisen is under "repair" by Akumaro, Tayu uses the Sange Hankontō (散華斑痕刀, Glorious Death Spotted-Scars Sword) dagger as her alternative weapon.

Tayu is voiced by Romi Park (朴 璐美, Paku Romi),[10] who also portrayed Usuyuki in her lone appearance on-screen.

Shitari

Shitari of the Bones (骨のシタリ, Hone no Shitari) is the Fukurokuju/squid-themed Gedoushu's strategist, a squid-headed demon armed with a shakujō who awaited for Doukoku's revival.[10][g] Shitari sees humans as mere specimens for his research, uncovering means to overflow the Sanzu River. He also possessed texts from the Shiba House which he used to learn about the seal placed on Doukoku. Though he warns Doukoku not to trouble himself with the Shiba House's sealing character so not to attract attention from certain Ayakashi, Shitari recruits Isagitsune in an attempt to slake his curiosity on what the sealing character is. He later recruits Oinogare in an attempt to re-open a well the Gedoushu used in the past as their base of operations by sacrificing nine maidens, formally introducing himself to the Shinkengers as a result.

While Doukoku is in a vulnerable state struggling with his surging power, the rogue Ayakashi Gozunagumo bullies Shitari into extorting the sealing character from Shinken Red. Despite poisoning Takeru, Shitari fails to get him to reveal the sealing character due to the combined interference of Shinken Gold and Juzo. When Doukoku revives and punishes Gozunagumo, Shitari freely confesses that the one thing he values above Doukoku is his own life and gains forgiveness from his leader out of amusement with his honesty. When Akumaro arrives, Shitari expresses a great deal of distrust over the mysterious Gedoushu and not as much shocked when his impression of him was accurate yet was powerless to do anything against him as he realized Akumaro's intentions. After Dayu returns, Shitari decides to kill off Takeru, only to learn the truth behind him and the Shiba House's true leader and giving up one half of his life, in an attempt to speed up Doukoku's reawakening at the cost of having no second life should he be killed. He remains on the Rokumon Junk during Doukoku's final battle with the Shinkengers, going down with the ship as it sinks in response to its master's death while proclaiming that he will survive regardless of what happens.

Shitari later returns in Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku, becoming Brajira's right hand servant until learning his plan to drain the Sanzu River and refusing to go along with it. But during the climactic battle, gathering an army of followers to kill Buredoran and reclaim the Sanzu River, Shitari ends up facing the Gokaigers when they traveled from the near future and they mistakenly believe him to be a hindrance in their own affairs. With his army ultimately devastated, Shitari is destroyed by Gokai Red using the Go-On Red Ranger Key.

Shitari is voiced by Chō (チョー).[10]

Juzo

Juzo Fuwa (腑破 十臓, Fuwa Jūzō) is a mysterious Shōjō/Jurōjin/skeleton-themed Gedoushu,[6] regarded by the others as a lone wolf, yet he seems to know more than Doukoku about the Sanzu River's true potential.[g] 200 years ago, Fuwa was a samurai in life who made a living as an assassin, disenchanted with the ways of bushidō and thriving more on the pleasure of killing his opponents in battle until he can no longer be physically able to wield a sword. He meets Akumaro who provides him with the Uramasa (裏正, Injustice) katana, seemingly unaware that the blade was forged from the souls of his family who tried to free him from his blood lust. When he contracts a fatal illness, Fuwa enters the Sanzu River to cheat death, completely discarding the goodness in his heart to become a Gedounin (外道人, Gedōnin), a half-Gedoushu that can freely exist in both realms and assume a human form. However, unlike other Gedounin who die out in a few years, Fuwa endured over the centuries and thus is condemned with an insatiable urge to find an ideal opponent, a fellow samurai who strays from the teachings of bushidō, to clash blades with. As a result, Fuwa mistakes the blade's cries of sadness for an equal lust for battle, believing that the souls of his family have lost their desire to stop him after he entered the Sanzu River.

He finds this opponent in Takeru Shiba, after witnessing his sword fighting as Shinken Red.[6] This obsession with fighting Shinken Red leads Doukoku to seal Fuwa's Gedoushu powers, leaving him for dead in the Sanzu River. Although he barely survives with Dayu's aid, he continues to defy Doukoku by making sure that Takeru is at his strongest for their next fight, even curing him of Shitari's poisoning. After a long battle in which he manages to severely wound Shinken Red, Fuwa is defeated and falls off the cliff into the ocean below. However, Fuwa survives with Uramasa's blade snapped in half. He remains in the mountainside until Dayu finds him and relays Akumaro's offer to work for him in return for restoring his blade. To his chagrin, he has to rely on the replacement Bantō Dokuhōmatsu (蛮刀毒泡沫, Barbarian Sword Poisonous Bubbles) that hampers his normal fighting style. Later fed up waiting for the Uramasa to be repaired, Fuwa confronts Akumaro and learns his weapon's origins and that he is a pawn in Akumaro's plan. However, tricking Akumaro into giving him back his weapon and cutting him down, Fuwa reveals he knew the truth behind Uramasa from the first time he held it, thus preventing Akumaro from fulfilling his plan. Later, after the real Shiba House head is revealed, Fuwa gets Takeru to duel him once again before finally falling to him in battle with a delayed hit after Uramasa finally stops its master and denies him his only desire. Uramasa remains in the physical world after Fuwa fades away until the souls that formed it are finally able to depart into the afterlife.

Fuwa is portrayed and voiced by Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru).[6]

Akumaro

Akumaro Sujigarano (筋殻 アクマロ, Sujigarano Akumaro) is an Ebisu/shachihoko/crocodile-themed Gedoushu general with six slitted eyes and rictus grin, whose ambition is to see Hell and savor the immense suffering that it holds.[g] Akumaro's modus operandi is to set up far-reaching plots with dangerous consequences that would ultimately result in the completion of the Urami Gandōgaeshi (裏見がんどう返し, Reversed Look Next Scene Revelation), a spell that opens up the gates of Hell. To that end he needed a Gedonin, killing off Juzo's family to create Uramasa and setting up his descent into Gedou.

Having battled the original Shinkengers in the past, they left him immobilized at the bottom of the Sanzu River. But when Doukoku's power burst revives him, he offers his services to Doukoku as gratitude. However, Doukoku strikes him near his left shoulder, ultimately creating a vulnerable spot. While pretending to aid Dokoku's group in raising the levels of the Sanzu River, taking any abuse from Doukoku to keep up his act, Akumaro starts setting up markers and recruits Juzo and Dayu into his service to make use of them. Eventually found out to be using Doukoku for his own agenda, Akumaro falls back after Doukoku nearly destroys him. However, with Doukoku resting, Akumaro takes the Rokumon Junk as his own while making the finishing touches on his master plan by completing the final marker to open up Hell and finishing Uramasa's repairs. Although he comes close to his goal, Akumaro is left with nothing when he realizes Juzo can not complete the Urami Gandōgaeshi and goes into an enraged fury before the Shinkengers use the Rekka Daizantou and Super Mougyu Bazooka to slay him. After becoming a giant, Akumaro battles the Samurai Giants and DaiGoyou with his Kirigami before SamuraiHaOh uses the Kyoryu Origami to form Super SamuraiHaOh and destroy him, with Akumaro laughing as his desire to see Hell is finally granted with his death.

A master of the black arts, Akumaro can create monsters called Kirigami and teleport short distances to catch his opponents off guard. He also uses his iron claw hands, Sakushin Dantō Shaku (削身断頭笏, Sharpened Corpse Beheading Shaku), and kemari as weapons.

Akumaro is voiced by Ryō Horikawa (堀川 りょう, Horikawa Ryō).

Manpuku

Manpuku Aburame (脂目 マンプク, Aburame Manpuku) is the main antagonist of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger The Movie: The Fateful War,[g] the Hotei/flapjack octopus-themed leader of the Kusare Gedoushu (クサレ外道衆, Kusare Gedōshū),[f] a group of powerful Gedoushu that exudes a corpse-like stench that was sealed away three centuries ago by Retsudou Shiba. However, he is revived by Doukoku along with his followers during the summer-time and offers to kill off the Shinkengers for him with no intent on ruling the mortal realm. With his massive army, Manpuku overwhelmed the Shinkengers until Shinken Red breaks the seal on the Kusare Gedoushu's body to restore the Dinosaur Disk to its full power. After being slain by the primary Shinkengers, revived as a giant as he opens up into his true form with a serpentine creature sticking out of his stomach, Manpuku is destroyed by Kyoryu ShinkenOh.

Manpuku is armed with the Saihainonari Ikusaono (采配形戦斧, Saihai-Shaped Battle Axe).

Manpuku is portrayed and voiced by Shinya Owada (大和田 伸也, Ōwada Shin'ya).

Brajira

Main article: List of Tensou Sentai Goseiger characters § Brajira

Foot soldiers

Susukodama

The Susukodama (スス木霊) are a furred ball-like Susuwatari settling in roof of the Rokumon Junk's interior, appearing whenever Doukoku's infuriated enough for them to descend, annoyingly repeating people's words while giggling.[g] One accompanies Dayu in her wandering after it is tossed out of the Rokumon Junk and into the mortal realm, singing in imitation of her shamisen. After Dayu sacrifices herself, Doukoku crushes the Susukodama by stepping on it.

Ayakashi

The Ayakashi (アヤカシ) are ancient spirits with nightmarish forms that serve the Gedoushu, dwelling within the depths of the Sanzu River until being summoned to go through the gap. However, they can only remain in the mortal world until they begin to dry up, returning to the Sanzu River to regain their moisture. Each Ayakashi has two lives, the human-sized first life (一の目, ichi no me), followed by the giant second life (二の目, ni no me) after they are slain in their first life.

Akumaro's Ayakashi

These Ayakashi are used in Akumaro's plans to open the pathway between the mortal realm and Hell, each given an arena to cause enough anguish to create a marker.

Other Ayakashi

Notes

  1. ^ The kanji is fictional, but is composed of the kanji for Mon (門, "Gate"), A (亞, "Sub-"), Ken (剣, "Sword"), and Honō (炎, "Flame").
  2. ^ The name "Origami" (折神) is a portmanteau of "origami" (折り紙) and "shikigami" (式神).
  3. ^ At the time of Shinkenger, the exact species Kyoryu Origami was originally unknown. It resembles a Sauropoda and has characteristic of early, infamously erroneous, depictions of the Vulcanodon, but the Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z movie established Kyoryu Origami as part of a team of past Tyrannosaurus-themed Sentai mecha that aided the Kyoryuzin Kick Strike.
  4. ^ a b c d e The names of the Samurai Giants can be translated as; ShinkenOh (真剣王, Shinken Ō, "True Sword King"), DaiTenku (大天空, Dai Tenkū, "Great Sky"), DaiKaiOh (大海王, Daikai Ō, "Ocean King"), MouGyuDaiOh (猛牛大王, Mōgyū Daiō, "Great Raging Bull King") and SamuraiHaOh (侍覇王, Samurai Haō, "Samurai Lord").
  5. ^ The name DaiGoyou (ダイゴヨウ, Daigoyō) can be translated as "Big Order" (大御用, Dai Goyō) or "Big Mistake" (大誤用, Dai Goyō).
  6. ^ a b "Gedoushu" literally translates as "Heretical Party" (外道衆, Gedōshū). Gedō (外道) is also a term for a state of existence outside the six realms of Buddhist cosmology. The "Kusare" in Kusare Gedoushu literally means "rotting" (腐れ, kusare).
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i The names of the Gedoushu members can be translated as; Doukoku Chimatsuri (血祭慟哭, chimatsuri dōkoku, "bloodbath wailing"), Tayu Usukawa (薄皮太夫, usukawa tayū, "thin-skinned courtesan"), Shitari of the Bones (骨のしたり, hone no shitari, "triumphant bones"), Juzo Fuwa (腑破十臓, fu ha jū zō, "disemboweling ten organs"), Akumaro Sujigarano (筋殻の悪麿, sujigara no akumaro, "sinewy husked evil one"), Manpuku Aburame (脂目満腹, aburame manpuku, "greasy eye, full stomach"), Nanashi Company (名無し連中, nanashi renjū, "nameless grunts"), Nosakamata (逆叉, sakamata, "killer whale") and Susukodama (煤木霊, "soot kodama").
  8. ^ Because of the nature of rendaku in Japanese, her name is only Usukawa Dayu when it is said in full; otherwise, it is Tayu. Thus, the December 2009 issue of Hyper Hobby magazine lists her name in English as "Tayu".[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第一幕 伊達姿五侍" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ "今年はチャンバラ！侍戦隊シンケンジャー参上 (1/3ページ) - MSN産経ニュース". Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第二幕 極付粋合体" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第五幕 兜折神" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第七幕 舵木一本釣" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第九幕 虎反抗期" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第十幕 大天空合体" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  8. ^ "出演情報｜所属タレント情報｜テアトルアカデミーWebサイト". Archived from the original on 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  9. ^ a b c d "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第十一幕 三巴大騒動" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第三幕 腕退治腕比" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. ^ Hyper Hobby, December 2009
  12. ^ "天装戦隊ゴセイジャー epic4 響け、天使の歌 東映［テレビ］" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  13. ^ "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第四幕 夜話情涙川" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  14. ^ "侍戦隊シンケンジャー 第六幕 悪口王" (in Japanese). Toei. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
Category