Sean Akizuki's Super Sentai Blog

As 2019 comes to an end and I'm really preparing for Timeranger's 20th anniversary - I would like to think of Shinkenger. Yes, it's been a long time since I haven't talked about it after I finally got over one of my hangovers. I would think this is a series that gets overappreciated. I think the really poor performance of the Neo-Saban era even led to this show getting overrated. Then I think about Shinkenger may have been praised as Yasuko Kobayashi's Magnum Opus. Heck, back then, it was the series that first got me introduced to Yasuko Kobayashi and Super Sentai. I had very little idea how things worked behind Super Sentai when I started writing this blog - I had to really read through the now-defunct blog Valsag Fantasy by Sentai Bandicoot (formerly Fantasy Leader) and had to watch through Akibaranger to know Kazuo Niibori. I could remember the 2000s were an era where I felt having a hard time accepting newer Super Sentai. It was probably because I was in purs...

So I guess the same Power Rangers snobs from last decade (or earlier) who made up the lies that Mighty Morphin' was more popular than Zyuranger in Japan or that Lost Galaxy is more popular than Gingaman in Japan (though no offense to Lost Galaxy fans who like said show over its source). So I may no longer like Shinkenger that much like I used to (though it's still in my list of favorites) because I think Yasuko Kobayashi's best work is Timeranger, I don't like the idea of fans giving it too much praise but to call it the "benchmark of last decade's quality" is just funny. I even want to say I wonder if such people ever saw other Super Sentai before and after it -- I even think Gekiranger was the best Super Sentai series during the 2000s! But I'd like to address the idiocy behind the rumor. Yeah, I know I've done some really insane stuff before (and it's an old shame if you ask me) -- I'd just like to do a bit of common sense testing. I r...

I just had a thought on making a series of what ifs for Super Sentai themes that were done once AND done after Timeranger. Gaoranger has an animal theme attached to it and animal mechas were so introduced last Dairanger (which was also kung-fu oriented), Hurricanger was sort of a ninja-ized version of Liveman, Abaranger and Kyoryuger are both dinosaur comedy series but some series were one-shot themed. Dekaranger itself is not Toei's first police-oriented show but it's the first police-oriented Super Sentai. Magiranger has a magical theme while having the siblings theme. I might as well focus on Shinkenger all because of this statement from  Shogo B'Stard : Well, Shinkenger didn't end up being the samurai Sentai I always imagined -- it needed to go more hogwild with its premise -- but I enjoyed the show when it started. And then it happened -- the infamous lull from the early teens. Just a bunch of nothing episodes, and then...the godawful Genta joined the show. He w...

Considering Ninninger is already starting to come to an end and the first episode sort of took a bit of Shinkenger's first episode, I might write on ninjatos and katanas. I would admit in the past, I was confused between the difference of a ninjato and a samurai sword until I did some more research on the matter. If anybody has anything to add, just comment. The ninjato The type of swords used by the Kakurangers, Hurricangers and lately Ninningers are examples of the Ninjato or Ninjaken. It has this description that it has a straight-edged compared to the samurai. In history, these swords were used in a stabbing motion which required more stealth to get closer to the victims. What was interesting was that they were usually shorter while the scabbards were usually longer was for other reasons than combat. These swords could be used to be shoved into the earth or a wall all the way to its hilt to reach higher. The scabbards also carried other weapons like poisons and other small...

Due to the existence of Kamen Rider Ghost with the first Kamen Rider to be named Takeru in script, I thought I might write on two red rangers who were also named Takeru. It's no secret that they are both my favorite characters in both shows. I would like to discuss about my two favorite red rangers and remember, there may be spoilers so don't read unless you don't mind getting spoiled. Takeru/Red Mask's basic introduction I would consider this guy as one of the top-tier reds perhaps due to my favoritism or preference for older school Super Sentai . I always felt like that back then, there was better acting, less power ups and more focus on writing but as the momentum came, Toei started adding more new gimmicks to keep Super Sentai going with more merchandise. Back to topic, I could discuss about him and his role in his series, Hikari Sentai Maskman. He became my first favorite red ranger in Super Sentai. I thought about the fact he's badass, he can get distra...

After watching Abaranger and Shinkenger from start to end, I thought I might want to ramble on two characters namely Yukito Sanjo and Mako Shiraishi. Abaranger was written by Naruhisa Arakawa and Shinkenger was written by Yasuko Kobayashi. Which reminds me, too bad that Shinkenger couldn't get my dream team of Yasuko Kobayashi, Toshiki Inoue, Junki Takegami and Naruhisa Arakawa as its writers each with big portions of the show! Abaranger features Yukito as the anti-hero of the show. If you noticed, he did try to leave the Abarangers, Gai Yuki style and he's the show's version of Gai Yuki. Yeah, Abaranger had some Jetman elements in it. He is featured to have had created something really disastrous in episode 10 called Curry Sponge. What Yukito did was to simply mix fruit and curry in such a way. I do find it stupid how Bunds himself was able to eat the curry while Asuka gets indigestion in the process. I mean, Asuka was freaking knocked out by the curry sponge. The hum...

Shinkenger's stray villain Juzo was played by Mitsuro Karahashi.  What I felt like this guy was so blunt and boring.  I mean we had Rintaro Nishi to voice Doukoku (he did a good job in doing Doukoku's scenes whether it was a serious scene or a minor comic relief scene), now why couldn't they go something with Juzo?  I felt the actor himself was just boring and that Juzo was a real killer.  While Shinkenger is a lighter and softer series, come on you still need a good actor to play Juzo! If one person really might be good for Juzo in Shinkenger is actually Takashi Hagino (the idea is Shogo's actually, not mine).  He played the hero in Changerion (haven't seen that series) and the villainous murderer Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja in Kamen Rider Ryuki.  What's my reason?  Think of how scary Takashi Hagino was when he was Ouja.  He was a genocidal maniac who trolled just almost everybody, he had no remorse with who he killed and Juzo is suppose...

ToQGer really pales in comparison to Shinkenger regardless in my opinion... I would like to ramble on Shinkenger and ToQGer for these reasons. ToQGer had the same head writer (Yasuko Kobayashi) and producer (Takaaki Utsunomiya) but it resulted to something that I couldn't take. This may be very unpleasant so please bear with me. I would start my own talk about how Shinkenger succeeded and ToQGer failed. It may contain my biases considering Shinkenger is the very first Sentai I watched from start to end, head-written by Yasuko Kobayashi though as of late, my favorite work from her is Mirai Sentai Timeranger and second is Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. I will admit watching more Sentai shows, admitting I was pretending to be a know-it-all before and now admitting my fault is sort of like me re-educating myself as a writer and a person. So going on with this lengthy Sentai rambling this time around.... it's time to read my opinions. Understanding the staff behind Ressha Sentai ToQ...

After with some time rambling on everything wrong in Power Rangers Megaforce as an anniversary season , I can now ramble on what went wrong with Power Rangers Samurai. Again, this is NOT a call to become a Sentai purist but me playing my concern on the welfare of Power Rangers since it's part of Toei like Saban Entertainment, Disney and as of recent Mr. Krabs. So let's begin. I had high hopes for Haim Saban's return but Power Rangers Samurai had convinced me he has become Mr. Krabs. It's a bad comeback for Saban and this series may have hurt Power Rangers fans too. So let's begin shall we? This show practically made me dislike Power Rangers all over again. I was hopeful Haim Saban's would revive the charm Power Rangers had. Instead, we get a spoiled rotten Krabby Patty. A very bad Krabby Patty that might land a person into the hospital after eating it. Likewise, Power Rangers Samurai may be a season that may land any person who watches Power Rangers into the h...

I felt the urge to write this article on Shinkenger being a decent season with four times the eye candy. So I did pass through Power Ranger Samurai (which was boring and a bad comeback for Saban) then we have Power Rangers Megaforce. So I'd probably skip comparing Shinkenger to Power Rangers Samurai or Gokaiger to Power Rangers Megaforce because the topic here is eye-candy related but I may write the topic another day but again, I find it "self-explanatory" and Gokaiger vs. Megaforce for me is also pretty "self-explanatory". I only ended up writing this because Power Rangers Megaforce for me got mega-disappointing while I still respect those who still like the season despite what I don't like about it. So I did some Gokaiger rewatching then I started to think, "Power Rangers Megaforce has eye candy but it's poorly done!" then I decided to rewatch Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. Then I thought that Samurai Sentai Shinkenger got me over the disaste...

Here's Yasuko Kobayashi's different red rangers after I wrote about her different shades of pink rangers .  Now I'd share my opinion on them. Ryoma/Ginga Red- So I've seen at least 36 episodes of Gingaman (subbed) and I'm yet to bring in my overall critique.  However, he has given me some reasons to like him.  I like the plot where he is a stand-in red ranger, he does everything to fill in his supposedly dead brother's shoes and to do everything to uphold his duty as the current Ginga Red.  He has a strong sense of responsibility and wants to do everything to uphold honor.  I also like the idea where he wanted to return his powers to his brother Hyuga. Tatsuya Asami/Time Red- Yet another "stand-in red".  In the Year 3000, one of his descendants namely Ryuya was the Time Red of that era.  When Yuuri, Ayase, Domon and Sion came in they had no choice but to make him Time Red.  I enjoy his trying to fight destiny itself especially against his fa...

While Mako isn't really all that tough, she's more of a sweet character but this was one episode where her limits are pushed.  So here's the episode's summary... Mako's dad comes to try and convince her to quit being a samurai, she has a plan to save a group of children kidnapped by Akumaro.  Although I would have preferred this kind of episode done earlier and Mako fighting against a monster-of-the-week mostly out of suit. A kid tries to escape and Mako really puts her neck at the risk.  This is one unexpected episode considering that she's probably the weakest of the group.  Mostly what she lacked in prowess, she makes it up with wits.  Throwing a Sukima sensor into one of the children's pockets isn't something you think of doing too much. Mako is followed by her dad.  She contacts the other Shinkengers.  She doesn't transform yet which made me think that although Rin Takanashi isn't really all that action-oriented BUT at least, she is...

While watching Gingaman (hopefully I'll see more subs soon), I have noticed the following similarities between both series aside from Yasuko Kobayashi being their head writer, the color arrangement of the first five rangers and the animal motif.  So what's in common between them even if there's some character uniqueness? Both the Gingamen and Shinkenger inherit their legacy by lineage.  Shinkenger has 18 Generations and Gingaman has 133 Generations of ancient warriors who protect the Earth with elemental powers.  It's lineage based for both teams who use the inner energy within them.  The Gingamen have Earth Power, the Shinkengers have Mojikara.  They are also a team of swordsmen. Now to take a look at other similarities: Stand-in Red Rangers for the real red rangers.  Shinkenger had Takeru Shiba as a stand-in decoy for the real 18th head, Kaoru Shiba who is the true Shinken Red, he is a decoy Shinken Red.  Gingaman had Ryoma standing in the p...

It's no denial that I'm a Mako Shiraishi fan although she's definitely NOT top-tier like Yuuri, Lin and Momoko though I find her better than Saya. The whole event started with Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, my first Super Sentai series I saw from start to end with Yasuko Kobayashi as its headwriter. She's still in my list of favorite pinks . I cannot deny that until now, she's still in that list. As of late, Mako went down from my first favorite Kobayashi pink to my second favorite Kobayashi pink thanks to Yuuri/Time Pink. Just a bit of background for a start. I would admit that I did return to Sentai because of other girls like Nanami, Ranru, Jasmine and Sakura and my favorite from that list is Jasmine. But I cannot deny that even Jasmine didn't really fill my void. Now I wonder why for some reasons did Kimberly stick into my head like glue. Even after seeing Megaranger's Chisato, I still think Kimberly's hotter. Then after so and so, it just got dumber...

While reading through Orends Range , here's one site I failed to notice.  It's the wooden shack in Shinkenger could be the same wooden shack in Jetman.  It made me think of a bit of similarities here.  Now for some comparisons and differences: In Chojin Sentai Jetman episode 50 one can see Ryu nursing to Kaori who manages to survive Radiguet's attack.  Now it's questionable really since she was out of suit when it happened, it could have killed her. It was in this shack that Kaori tries to reach out of Ryu one way or another. This was the scene where Ryu was still obsessed with killing Radiguet for murdering Rie.  Ryu was lost in revenge and wanting only to avenge Rie.  Kaori reminds Ryu of who he really is... a Jetman and the warrior that Rie loved so much.  She reminded him of Rie's last words prior to their final battle with Radiguet. The scene was somewhat copied into Shinkenger but in another way.  Here Takeru Shiba and Mako have anothe...

Be afraid, be very afraid!!!!! Now I'd also like to start a series of entries called the "Sentai Comedy" series. These are my opinions on what I personally think were moments in Sentai that made me LOL and LMAO. Now my first entry for this is one of Shinkenger's crazy moments... characters get scared but I am on LMAO mode. Prepare your stomach pills everyone! I would admit that bad cooking is one of my favorite sources of humor... and she and Yuuri, two of my favorite pinks , are bad cooks! Ryunosuke testifies on TV... that this was the cake that got him hospitalized!!!! The first unfortunate victim of her bad cooking was Ryunosuke. What I found funny about that episode was this. Come on, he could have just TOLD HER that the cooking was SO TERRIBLE. Takes a bite, spits it out, then consumes it and I guess that traumatized him so he's glad Mako wasn't interested in him beyond his problems. How he survived (or most characters for a fact) is really unknow...

Perhaps one of the funniest mysteries in Shinkenger for me is Kotoha's immunity to Mako's bad cooking.  The boys panic, Kotoha gets excited about Mako cooking which makes me think, "Is endurance to bad cooking part of being a Bushido girl?!"  I mean, episode 13 kind of made me think that Kotoha could endure Mako's cooking, the boys all panic in fear and she seems to be immune to it.  One may wonder how in the world is she even immune to such disgusting cooking. Now let's take a look at facts... Kotoha has an older sister whose condition forced her to take the mantle of the 18th Shinken Yellow.  Now she's not struck with poverty or anything... she has regular clothes, she seems well-to-do and they were able to pay her tuition fees.  Now I would assume she has eaten regular food throughout her life... maybe quite plain but much better than Mako's cooking which is probably the most terrifying cooking in Sentai history! Now let's take a good look...

So another character I want to speculate on is Takeru Shiba.  For Ryunosuke and Chiaki, I don't know if there's much to speculate about them but I think Takeru Shiba is worth speculating on.  Now why did they name him Takeru?  How did he turn out the way he did?  Let's try to think of Yasuko Kobayashi and her habit of recycling old stuff from the 80s-90s.  Did executives name Shinken Red as is or did Yasuko Kobayashi choose the name? Now let's a take at Yasuko Kobayashi's previous shades of red.  Now it's known that Shinkenger had two reds.  In Gingaman, Ryoma takes over his brother Hyuga's place because they all thought the latter died in the first episode only to return later as the second Bullblack.  In Timeranger, there were three reds - Ryuya was the Time Red/Time Fire from the future, Naoto was another red and the leading red is Tatsuya.  In Shinkenger, two reds were namely Takeru Shiba and the real Shinken Red, Kaoru Shiba.  L...

Another character (and spotlight is due soon) I'd like to speculate on is Kotoha Hanaori.  Now this wouldn't be quite a long post compared to Mako's (you know why) but she's still worth talking about.  I was thinking did the actress' inevitable getting chosen get the character to be shifted?  Did they already plan that Kotoha would be the way she is?  I don't really know but I want to get speculative on her as well. As much as I didn't want to admit it... Kotoha does remind me of Ako Hayasaka/Blue Swallow minus the money hungry part since the former doesn't live a poor life, she's well-to-do even if she's not rich.  But both are characters who have a destiny to face because of circumstances.  Ako had no choice but to become a Jetman because that blue bolt hit her.  Kotoha had no choice because her sister got sick.  Both may have just wanted to continue living normal lives but were by fate, chosen to be rangers.  Both characters are bubbl...

Now take MANY deep breaths as you can whether you like her or not... because as a Mako Shiraishi fan (Though I'm still more inclined to like all the 90s pink much better, sigh what's wrong with post-Timeranger?!)... this is going to be full of preposterous speculations from me.  I'll draw in some facts and I'll give in some of my assumptions of what really happened behind the scenes. Now for the basic facts.  Yasuko Kobayashi prior to her first Sentai headwriting job, she wrote 14 episodes of Megaranger as a sub-writer so at least she should be familiar with the Megarangers.  Well Miku being spacey isn't her idea.. but she may have copied the concept into Kagura.  Now let's think about the fact that she is the headwriter of Gingaman and Timeranger, both 90s Sentai when action for all rangers and villains was really badass.  I mean just think... the 80s-90s had REAL badass for almost every color.  But I'll just focus on pink since Mako is pink. Saya is...