How Do Super Sentai Rangers Get Paid, If Ever?

This week's Donbrothers episode has Tyuyoshi Kijino LOSE HIS JOB because his boss (Manager Yamada) became the next MOTW or Hikotsuki. The Goggle V reference was there with the ribbon. Tyuyoshi was asking about his salary but all Donbrothers!Kaito replies is, "Superheroism has always been an act of charity. It's like doing volunteer work." In short, there's really NO PAYMENT for it presumably because the heroes have their day jobs. But how does it work PER SEASON? This would be a challenging rant since one needs to look across various entries of Super Sentai. We've already had 46 seasons and a question worth asking is, "How many older Super Sentai series did you watch up to this point?" A hard question to answer BECAUSE of the generation gaps. I doubt the newer fans will want to watch Goranger from start to end (and I confess, I FAILED THAT CHALLENGE and it's probably going to be overshadowed even more). I feel like Power Rangers fans who watch Super Sentai will probably be quite selective with the pre-Zyuranger seasons too. 

How do they get paid? Sometimes, there's no explanation. Donbrothers!Kaito might've failed to see some of the past Super Sentai teams were getting paid. Sometimes, I feel like the audience is left to imagine how the payroll happens. So, how does it work? I was thinking about it how they're paid... that's after I wrote about seven harsh realities of being a Super Sentai ranger.

Super Sentai teams with obvious government support

Unlike Power Rangers, Super Sentai began with a rather military career in the 1970s. I decided to give a few episodes of Goranger a shot as well as JAKQ. Those two shows will forever remind me of why I ended up disliking Power Rangers. One show is TOO LONG and the other is TOO SHORT. Goranger is literally called Secret Taskforce Goranger while it's run by Commander Gonpachi Edogawa. It's really possible that the Gorangers got their salaries not just from running a curry shop (which is a front) but also from the Japanese Diet. A budget is allocated especially with various EAGLE agents getting killed almost EVERY WEEK by the Black Cross Army. JAKQ seems to follow that format with the establishment of the International Science Special Investigation Squad (ISSIS) which is most likely government-funded. 

Any Super Sentai that's got a military format (or government support) gets into the government payroll. The people at Battle Fever J had members with jobs. Kyousuke Shida (Battle France) did have a day job as a beautician while he chased women. Both Miss Americas (Diane Martin and Maria Nagisa) are directly linked to the National Defense Ministry. The later entries would have people dedicated to their military salaries. Changeman had soldiers at the Earth Defense Force (EDF) so I assume the Japanese government pays them to defend the Earth. How Ibuki managed to get citizenship, get the trust of the government, and eventually blend in when he's really an alien is FUNNY. Screw logic, right? Ohranger had the UAOH as a government agency. So, being a UAOH member means getting that military salary. 

The other episodes have the police and rescue format. I think GoGoFive and Dekaranger are both paid by their respective organizations. GoGoFive like the Rescue Police Series, is linked with the government. True, their recruiter is their very own father, Mondo Tatsumi. However, Professor Tatsumi is with the government. I guess the Tatsumi family all get paid by the government after they were asked to quit their day jobs. Dekaranger probably has its rangers getting paid by their organization. How space currency translates into yen is something writers just fail to explain or is left to us to decide. I do assume Banban "Ban" Akaza probably had a pay reduction when he plucked off Horus' feathers to get badly-needed information. Sure, Ban never skips obstacle courses BUT still... we know the guy probably got pay deducations too. I also feel that members at the Energy Management Center (which is obviously government) also get paid - including the Go-Busters. 

When resources are hardly questioned

Bioman was indeed my first Super Sentai. As an adult, I started to question this one - how in the world are the Biomen living? They've all been recruited by an android who's more than a hundred years old (Peebo) who preceded Alpha Five. The first two episodes had the late Mika Koizumi attempting to leave. Mika later explained she wanted to continue her late brother's work but she'd eventually die as well. Later, Jun steps into the picture AND joins the team. Episode 13 of Bioman explored Jun's hard decision concerning her archery career. Apparently, Jun Yabuki is a government-sponsored athlete. How in the world did Peebo support five random people with Bio Particles who are probably not in their day jobs? That really started to boggle me. I guess they do have day jobs but they're never explained. I wonder if Jun is teaching archery in her spare time or Shingo Takasugi is being a mechanic. Though, one must wonder what Gou Shiro is doing since he went MIA when a giant Megazord just recruited him?

I think Flashman even has a bigger screw logic side. Like Bioman, the rangers are all living in some base with an Alpha Five-type mentor that came before Alpha Five in Mag. These children were raised in some lost galaxy in Planet Mirinoi ahem Planet Flash. How in the world are the Flashmen actually adjusting when they don't even have high school diplomas to show? Do degrees in the Planet Flash count? It's practically funny when you ask how the Flashmen get money to use during their stay on Earth.

I felt Zyuranger failed to address that in a way until later episodes. Before that, all we knew is that Barza is working as a gardener at the Sakura Apartment. The Zyurangers are practically in hibernation for MILLIONS OF YEARS. These guys wouldn't easily adapt to the modern world. How in the world di these guys even get a part-time job as shown many episodes later? Barza may be a magician but that guy's incredibly senile. If the plot of Zyuranger didn't have ancient warriors - he'd really and probably randomly pick teenagers to do the fighting for him. Barza could've used Peebo's help if you ask me. 

When Super Sentai rangers have a day job too

Some series did establish that the rangers have day jobs. Some of them have their ranger status as their day job EVEN if they're not part of the government. Maskman had the Sugata Racing Company. Fair enough, I think Commander Sanjoru Sugata is PAYING THEM though he might get into trouble since Akira is just a minor in his late teens. In the case of Shinkenger, I think it's more double trouble for the Shiba Clan since two of their vassals are also underaged (Chiaki and Kotoha). It seems that the Shiba Clan has been paying the rangers for their services. Shinkenger!Takeru apparently gets paid for his work as a decoy for the true Shiba Head. Meanwhile, Maskman!Takeru does also get paid to lead his team.

 The Donbrothers do have members with day jobs. Haruka Kito (Donbrothers!Haruka) works part-time as a waitress at Cafe Donbura and is probably the only ranger that Donbrothers!Kaito pays a salary. The rest have been relying on their day jobs. It's obvious that Donbrothers!Tyuyoshi has a day job and losing his job is a big deal. Taro works as a deliveryman to support his needs. I guess these guys are showing that the value of good work is above money. 

Carranger, unlike Turboranger, has employees of the Pegasus Garage as rangers. I felt that Dappu dragging EVERYONE against their will was unethical. Why did these guys become the rangers? It's not explained. At least Turboranger gave a backstory that defended it. The Carrangers are working and getting paid as regular employees. I doubt it Dappu actually even pays them to be Carrangers either. However, Dappu's been the one providing their equipment and maintaining it for NO PAYMENT WHATSOEVER. I guess it's a good deal, huh?

Timeranger did have the four members from the future take jobs too. They did create their own agency to earn money to support their needs. Apparently, it's illegal to transfer funds from 3,000 A.D. to 2,000 A.D., right? Though, I want to assume that douche Captain Ryuuya (who I view as a third wheel in the conflict) refuses to do it like purposely allowed Dolnero's gang to escape. Basically, it's a day job but I wonder how these people try to maintain their identities that they're from 1,000 years ahead? Tatsuya even has to guide them while Yuuri acts as the leader. 

Teens with attitude probably have it the hardest

Turboranger probably spells legal trouble for Dr. Dazai. If there's a joke that Zordon could get sued for hiring teenagers - I think Dr. Dazai is too. I wonder how keen is Misa Yamaguchi on labor laws? Though, the Turborangers are high school 18 years old students so I guess they can get a job any time soon. However, they keep getting their necks risked every time they go and fight the Bouma. I don't think Riki Honoo (Turboranger!Riki) got his bonus after he defeated Bouma Professor Rehda in episode 30 and Emperor Ragorn in episode 39. I doubt it that Daichi got a deduction or a bonus after he used a battered-up Turbo Truck to give Dr. Dazai the time he needed to complete the Turbo Rugger.

A few years later, we had Megaranger which featured high schoolers AGAIN. This time, the rangers were recruited all by some random incident. Kenta Date (Megaranger!Kenta) was playing the arcade game while the four were dragged along. I really find it something when five high school students end up STUCK with this new job. An episode even featured how Dr. Kubota was questioned for using teens with attitude for the Megaranger program. I wonder if these guys even get paid since they're officially part of INET? It's not really explained. Even one episode had the Megarangers getting extra hefty bills for communications from space to Earth. 

Other teams mixed teenagers with adults. As mentioned earlier, Maskman!Akira is only 16 years old. Ako Hayasaka is the only teenager in Jetman at the age of 17. So, that "wedding" with Gai Yuki (Jetman!Gai) is totally invalid and could result in prison time for the adult. So, are the teens getting paid less while the adults get paid more? I even think that Kotoha and Chiaki are probably paid less in contrast to the others. Maybe, Maskman!Akira gets paid lesser than the rest since he's only 16. Donbrothers!Haruka is the only teenager on the Donbrothers' team too. 

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This is probably one of those moments some fans may questions that fans may have asked. I felt like bringing it up due to this week's episode.