Rangers With The Same First Names In Super Sentai

Okay, this blog entry is rather old (written last June 5, 2011) and I decided to UPDATE IT. Yes, it's because of the recent discovery that we've got another Haruka as a yellow ranger. I decided to update this list where some characters have the same first names (and even THE SAME RANGER DESIGNATION) while others have different ranger colors. With that said, here's a bit of an UPDATED history lesson, get it?

Haruka (Yellow Mask) and Haruka Kito (Oni Sister)

Recently, I really failed to notice this one and this is why I'm updating this old post. Both of them are yellow rangers. With this in mind...here are others you may have noticed had the same first names. 

Tyuyoshi Kaijo (Akaranger) and Tyuyoshi Kijino (Kiji Brother)

Both of them have named Tyuyoshi. Pink is a lighter variation of red. I just wonder if having the first male pink ranger is actually because of that? Then again many pink rangers had male stunt doubles too!

Akira Shinmei/Aoranger, Akira Momoi/Denzi Pink, Akira/Blue Mask, and Akira Nijino/ToQ-6

 

Some Japanese names are pretty much for both men and women. This kinda shocked me considering I'm just pretending to be a Japanese. Interestingly, two Akiras here are blue rangers. ToQGer also was trying to save the world from eternal darkness like Maskman was doing.

Daigo Kumano/Kiranger II (+) and Daigoro Oume

Not much can be compared between them. Next....

Goro Sakurai ( and Goro Hoshino

Both are red rangers sharing the same first name. Ohranger retroactively acknowledged both Goranger and JAKQ in 1995 as part of the Super Sentai franchise. 

Ryu Higashi (Dia Jack), Ryu Hoshikawa (Dyna Black), and Ryu Tendo (Red Hawk)

One's colored blue (since JAKQ had no yellow ranger), one's colored black, and one's colored red. Strangely, Jetman didn't name Raita as Ryu since the Gatchaman counterpart was named RYU OOSHI. The name went to the Ken the Eagle counterpart instead.

Shiro Akenba (Battle Kenya) and Shiro Gou (Red One)

I dunno if we should think of "That's racist!" to Battle Kenya or not. The same accusation was made against the first season of Mighty Morphin' as well though no one was portrayed as a negative stereotype. Not much to talk here about another Shiro except having the same first name.

Kyosuke Shida (Battle France) and Kyousuke Jinnai (Red Racer)

Both of these rangers are swordsmen in their group. Ironically, the first fencers in Super Sentai weren't always red as evidenced in JAKQ and Battle Fever J. The fencers were both the blue rangers. Kyousuke Jinnai is the first Kyousuke to be a red swordsman. 

Tatsuya Midorikawa (Denzi Yellow) and Tatsuya Asami (Time Red)

Not much to talk about again right here except they have the same name... NEXT!

Jun Kijima (Denzi Yellow) and Jun Yabuki (Yellow 4 II)

It's a strange thing (or not) that both are yellow rangers having different genders. Bioman was the first show to attempt two female rangers and the first female yellow ranger. After Yuki Yajima's rather abrupt departure (which I heard was due to a salary dispute) - Sumiko Tanaka finally came in to complete the job. I felt this almost predicted that many male yellow rangers in Japan will get a feminine counterpart such as how Boi's counterpart in America is a woman named Trini. Trini could still tell Boi, "Don't underestimate me just because I'm a woman." Jun did her job as a worthy replacement though Mika's concept didn't fizzle out too easily either. 

Yousuke ShiMA (Dyna Blue) and Yousuke ShiNA (Hurricane Red)

It's actually VERY EASY to mess up the two. There are times when pronouncing Japanese names can be very hard or sound very similar. Then again, I challenge readers to pronounce okonomiyaki 1,000x without slipping!

Hikaru Katsuragi (Pink Five), Hikaru (Ginga Yellow), and Hikaru (Magishine)

Once again, not much to talk about about having the same name name and one's a woman. Though, Hikura was dubbed as KIMBERLY before Mighty Morphin' was ever conceived. NEXT!

Sho Hayate (Change Griffin) and Sho Tatsumi (Go Green)

Both of them are expert pilots in their own fields. Both of them are involved in the military in some way. 

Takeru (Maskman) and Takeru Shiba (Shinken Red, real surname unknown)

Both Takerus are played by blackbelts namely Kazunori Inaba and Tori Matzusaka. Both are pretty much father and son in their age gaps which I think is 29-30 years). I remembered how I wished Tori would marry a Filipino woman because Kazunori did. Instead, Tori married Erika Toda while I actually shipped him first with Rhian Ramos Howell and then Beverly Caimen during Kamen Rider Build's run. I find it funny how Kazunori didn't do much in showbiz while Tori still gets pretty much a lot of following when his acting ain't that good IMHO. Shinkenger's Takeru is truly a shadow that overshadowed the real Shiba head (Kaoru) and even Takeru from 1987. 

Kenta (Black Mask) and Kenta Date (Mega Red)

Both of them are hopeless romantics but nowhere near as ANNOYING AS CANALO. I felt that Kenta knew to control his urges or didn't even pursue his first romantic interest realizing the trouble it caused. Kenta Date, on the other hand, has various one-shot love interests too though it seems writers are keen on shipping him with Chisato and so am I. However, Chisato is attracted to Kouichirou but the two never became a couple. Though it seems Kenta Date was named after the actor KENTA Sato (and Turboranger was the first show to feature teens with attitude) than Kenta from Maskman. 

Ryo Asuka (X-1 Mask) and Ryou (Ryu Ranger)

One's a prototype for two characters namely Gai Yuki and Burai - both who are DEAD. Ryo Asuka only appeared as a guest character. X-1 means experimental. It seems Toei wanted to test the concept of a new member but wasn't ready for it. Meanwhile, Ryo in Dairanger should've been named Ryu IMHO because of the dragon animal he's with and he's Ryuranger. Ryo was also having a rivalry with Shadam - a man who is as bloodthirsty as Radiguet. 

Joe Ohara (Yellow Lion) and Joe Gibken (Gokai Blue)

It would be interesting that Joe Ohara was a guest character and ran into JOE Gibken. Man, I wished I noticed the reference before. Both of them had to deal with friends who are now their enemies. Though, Joe Gibken is dealing with Barizorg - a man whose actions are no longer his own. The only way Joe Gibken could set his friend free was by defeating him. It's almost like how some Mavericks in Megaman X wish to be terminated before the virus destroys them where Death Equals Redemption. 

Riki Honoo (Red Turbo) and Riki (Kingranger)

Once again, just two rangers with the same name. Ohranger also managed to use King Pyramider with a humanoid formation to form the ultimate combination like Turbo Builder did.

Gaku Hoshikawa (Five Red) and Gaku Washio (Gao Yellow)

I could rant on and on at how Fiveman missed the mark and GoGoFive fixed what the other couldn't. What I can't discount is that Five Red himself is a great swordsman and would've probably been the best bet for Gao Yellow to regain confidence in himself in Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai.

Ken Hoshikawa (Five Blue) and Ken Hisatsu (Geki Chopper)

Both of them are athletic Kens. Five Blue is a physical education teacher who defeated a monster out-of-suit. That episode in Fiveman made me wish that Chad Lee was made a martial arts teacher to a bunch of kids in his out-of-suit fight episode in Lightspeed Rescue. Geki Chopper is a martial artist who seems to be easygoing but isn't. 

Gai Yuki (Black Condor) and Gai Ikari (Gokai Silver)

I still felt episode 28 of Gokaiger is cruel in several proportions. What in the world was Toshiki Inoue thinking of torturing Gai Ikari like that? Not that I'm so innocent either as one of my deleted old shame fan fics had Gai Yuki sire a bastard named Joe Hayasaka before dying and torturing Gai Ikari nonstop. I felt the opportunity was missed for a Double Gai .  

Daigo (Shishiranger) and Daigo Kiryu (Kyoryu Red)

My first exposure to the name Daigo was in the late 1990s reboot Ultraman Tiga back when I was in high school. Both of these Daigos have nothing in common but their names. NEXT!

Kou (Kiba Ranger) and Kou (Ryusoul Red)

I must confess I'm not rewatching Ryusoulger any time. It just got stale especially it's sandwiched in between Lupinranger vs. Patranger as well as Kiramager. Kudos to both Kazusa and Yodonna for beating up Canalo though. 

Yoko Yagami (Pink Racer) and Yoko Usami (Yellow Buster)

Both are Yokos with different colors. I still feel Yoko Usami is rather stiff. Yoko Yagami is rather likable even when she's a ditz. Funny enough, we had Carranger which was pretty much what Go-Onger was trying to repeat. Power Rangers RPM was based on Go-Onger. Go-Busters might remind some of RPM as a serious show minus the doomsday (probably executive meddling didn't allow it due to the 2012 A.D. doomsday hoax). Hmmm... see the pattern? Coincidence or not?  

Kai Samezu (Gao Blue) and Kai Ozu (Magiranger)

I don't have much to talk about them except having the same name. Though, I'll forever curse Magiranger as a waste of space while Gaoranger should be praised as an interesting "reboot" of Super Sentai. 

Tsubasa Ozu (Magiyellow) and Tsubasa Inazuka (Inu Brother)

One's a boxer and the other is a thug. I don't think I've got much to say about the two either. Hehehehehehe.