Himitsu Sentai Gorenger

Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series

Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā, Secret Squadron Gorenger) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. Gorenger, created by Shotaro Ishinomori, was the first in the long-running Super Sentai metaseries of tokusatsu programming.^[1] The series aired on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 5, 1975, to March 26, 1977, and was itself replaced by J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai after 84 episodes.^[1] Toei distributes the series internationally under the title Five Rangers.^[2] The series was released in the Philippines under the title Star Rangers.

Plot

When world peace is threatened by the emergence of a terrorist group called the Black Cross Army, EAGLE (The Earth Guard League^[3]) is formed to combat the threat. The Black Cross Army sends five operatives to destroy each EAGLE branch in Japan, killing all but five members. These surviving members are summoned to a secret base located underneath the snack shop "Gon", where they are recruited by EAGLE Japan's commander, Gonpachi Edogawa. They become the Himitsu Sentai Gorengers and are given electronic battlesuits that endow them with superhuman strength and speed. The five dedicate themselves to stopping the Black Cross Army and its leader, the Black Cross Führer.

Characters

Gorengers

• Tsuyoshi Kaijo (海城 剛, Kaijō Tsuyoshi):^[4] The 24-year-old younger brother of the Kantō EAGLE base captain, Tsuyoshi and his teammates were playing soccer when the Black Cross Army launched the attack that killed his brother. Tsuyoshi is trained in combat planning and strategy. As the red-colored Akarenger (アカレンジャー, Akarenjā), he is the team leader and coordinates group attacks such as the Gorenger Storm (ゴレンジャーストーム, Gorenjā Sutōmu) or Gorenger Hurricane (ゴレンジャーハリケーン, Gorenjā Harikēn). He is armed with the Red Vute (レッドビュート, Reddo Byūto), a multipurpose whip that can transform into other weapons such as the Spear Vute (ヤリビュート, Yari Byūto) or the Drill Vute (ドリルビュート, Doriru Byūto). He also carries the Silver Shot (シルバーショット, Shirubā Shotto) tranquilizer gun. Tsuyoshi appeared in the final episode of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, receiving his powers back in the form of the Akarenger Key as the Gokaigers left Earth.
• Akira Shinmei (新命 明, Shinmei Akira):^[5] 25-years-old and the oldest member of the Gorenger team. Akira was training in the snowy region of Tōhoku when the Black Cross Army attacked. He is a marksmanship instructor, skilled in archery and piloting. He wants to become a racing driver. As the blue-colored Aorenger (アオレンジャー, Aorenjā), he is the second-in-command. He pilots the Variblune, and later the Varidorin. He is armed with the Bluechery (ブルーチェリー, Burūcherī) and later the Ultra Bluechery (ウルトラブルーチェリー, Urutora Burūcherī), a bow that can fire specially designed arrows known as Blue Arrows and Blue Arrow Rockets.
• Kirenger (キレンジャー, Kirenjā): The yellow-colored member of the Gorengers who is armed with the Ki Sticker (キーステッカー, Kī Sutekkā), a polearm whose head can be outfitted with various attachments such as a punching fist, and the YTC (YTC, Wai Tī Shī, Yellow Transceiver), a radio that can jam electronic circuitry. The moniker of Kirenger was used by its original user and his temporary successor.
  • Daita Oiwa (大岩 大太, Ōiwa Daita)^[6] (1–54 & 67–84): 23-years-old. Called Dai-chan by Akira, Peggy, and Yoko, Daita is a jovial engineering recruit at EAGLE's Kyushu branch who was training with his comrades when the Black Cross Army attacked. Adept in mechanics and mathematics, he has difficulty solving simple word puzzles and riddles. As a judo champion, Daita is physically strong. Daita was later promoted to Chief of EAGLE's Kyushu branch but soon returned to active duty with the Gorengers after his replacement is killed by the Black Cross Army.
  • Daigoro Kumano (熊野 大五郎, Kumano Daigorō) (55–67): After Daita became the commander of the Kyushu branch for a time, Daigoro replaced him. Daigoro was killed by a flying blade from Can Opener Mask.
• Peggy Matsuyama (ペギー松山, Pegī Matsuyama): 18-years-old. Peggy worked at EAGLE's Hokkaido branch as a chemical analyst and weapons engineer specializing in explosives. Fashion-conscious, Peggy often wears go-go boots and short hip-hugging hot pants. As the pink-colored Momorenger (モモレンジャー, Momorenjā), she is armed with the Momo Mirror (モモミラー, Momo Mirā), a jamming device that can confuse and confound her opponents. She also carries the Momo Card (モモカード, Momo Kādo) throwing shuriken and the high impact Earring Bombs (ピアス爆弾, Piasu Bakudan).
• Kenji Asuka (明日香 健二, Asuka Kenji): 17-years-old, Kenji is the youngest member of the team. Kenji was tending to pigeons on a rooftop at EAGLE's Kansai branch when the Black Cross Army attacked, thus saving him from the poison gas used in the attack. He has a happy-go-lucky temperament. As the green-colored Midorenger (ミドレンジャー, Midorenjā), he is armed with the Midomerang (ミドメラン, Midomeran), a razor-sharp boomerang that can be either flung at his opponents or used as a handheld weapon for cutting and slashing. He also carries the Mido Puncher (ミドパンチャー, Mido Panchā), an updated slingshot that can be used to fire pachinko pellets and sometimes explosives.

Other EAGLE characters

• Gonpachi Edogawa (江戸川 権八, Edogawa Gonpachi): Commander of EAGLE's Japan branch. When operating in public, Gonpachi disguises himself as the cook at the snack shop Gon (ゴン), which is the secret entrance to the Gorengers' headquarters. The shop later becomes the fruit parlor Gon.
• EAGLE Agents (イーグル連絡員, Īguru Renrakuin): A trio of secretaries and secret agents who assists Commander Edogawa: Yoko Kato (加藤 陽子, Katō Yōko) (a.k.a. Agent 007), Tomoko Hayashi (林 友子, Hayashi Tomoko) (a.k.a. Agent 008), and Haruko Nakamura (中村 春子, Nakamura Haruko) (a.k.a. Agent 009). They act behind the scenes but occasionally help the Gorengers in the field.

Black Cross Army

The Black Cross Army (黒十字軍, Kuro Jūjigun) is a terrorist group led by the Black Cross Führer whose goal is the eradication of the human race and the absolute domination of the world. They use advanced technology and magic to create an army of superhuman operatives to attack EAGLE and the Gorengers. Most of the Black Cross operatives are humans who have been enhanced through surgery. They had various secret bases across the globe. The main headquarters was the flying Black Cross Castle (黒十字城, Kuro Jūjijō), which orbited high above the ground.

• Black Cross Führer (黒十字総統, Kuro Jūji Sōtō): The leader of the Black Cross Army, often referred to as the "Machine Monster", and a highly intelligent being with supernatural powers who hides his identity even from his generals, occasionally disguising himself as a human. He is eventually revealed as the Black Cross Castle itself, controlled by a sentient alien AI, and defeated by the Gorengers' Five-Star Cassiopea Attack.
• Sun Mask (日輪仮面, Nichirin Kamen, 15–20): The so-called "Star of Africa" (アフリカの星, Afurika no Hoshi). A ruthless tyrant renowned for his successive victories in Africa, he is called to Japan to eliminate the Gorengers, but his plans are frequently hampered by his own cowardice.
• Iron Man Mask General Temujin (鉄人仮面テムジン将軍, Tetsujin Kamen Temujin Shōgun, 20–42): The so-called "Mongol Demon" (モンゴルの鬼, Mongoru no Oni). A cold and sadistic, yet overly prideful recruit from the Black Cross Army's Gobi Desert operations, he is a master tactician who leads his own army in the Steel Brigade (鋼鉄軍団, Kōtetsu Gundan).
• Volcano Mask General Magman (火の山仮面マグマン将軍, Hinoyama Kamen Maguman Shōgun, 42–54): Hailing from the Eldgjá region in Iceland, he is the leader of the ruthless Eruption Battalion (噴火軍団, Funka Gundan) and commander of his own mobile battle station, the Moving Fortress Navarone (移動要塞ナバローン, Idō Yōsai Nabarōn). He is able to fire napalm missiles from the top of his mask, and is impervious to the Gorengers' weapons.
• Commander-in-Chief Golden Mask (ゴールデン仮面大将軍, Gōruden Kamen Daishōgun, 54–84): Black Cross Army's top general, a supernatural entity awoken through black magic and the Black Cross Führer's powers. A well-versed sorcerer with an interest in astrology, Golden Mask takes command of Black Cross Army's elite Africa Troopers (アフリカ軍団, Afurika Gundan). He can repel most of the Gorengers' attacks.
• Steel Sword Dragon (鋼鉄剣竜, Kōtetsu Kenryū, Movie): A rogue Black Cross Army operative who was imprisoned for reckless and rebellious behavior, but later freed by Black Cross Führer in exchange for his help in destroying the Gorengers. He is a strong and highly-resistant fighter wielding a dao that can break almost any object.
• Masked Monsters (仮面怪人, Kamen Kaijin): The Black Cross Army's field agents, who cause chaos and disorder wherever they go. They are mainly humanoid machines with strange masks that represent their ability and skills in the field, with the ability to continuously upgrade themselves through the continued research and developments of the Black Cross Army. These humanoids can have abilities to change into other objects to help with infiltration or investigations or to assist in their chaos-causing objectives.
• Zolders (ゾルダー, Zorudā): The Black Cross Army's faceless leather-suited foot soldiers, altered with enhanced strength and speed and brainwashed to be absolutely loyal. They carry a variety of weapons including machine guns, bazookas, and iron swords. Specialized divisions include the Black Cross Camouflaged Ninja (黒十字忍団, Kuro Jūji Nindan) and a squad of mystics who served Black Cross Führer. The Zolders pilot air fighters called Condolers (コンドラー, Kondorā) (small) and Battlers (バットラー, Battorā) (large). They shout "Hoi" when attacking their victims.

Episodes

Episodes aired on Saturdays at 7:30 pm JST.

Films

• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Movie (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā): Released on July 26, 1975. The movie version of episode 6.^[7]
• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Blue Fortress (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー　青い大要塞, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā Aoi Daiyōsai): Released on December 20, 1975. The movie version of episode 15.^[8]
• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Red Death Match (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー 真赤な猛進撃！, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā Makka na Mōshingeki!): Released on March 20, 1976. The movie version of episode 36.^[9]
• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: Fire Mountain's Final Explosion (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー 火の山最後の大噴火, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā Hi no Yama Saigo no Daifunka): Released on December 19, 1976. The movie version of episode 54.^[10]
• Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Bomb Hurricane (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー　爆弾ハリケーン, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā Bakudan Harikēn): Released on July 18, 1976.^[11]
• J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger (ジャッカー電撃隊VSゴレンジャー, Jakkā Dengekitai Tai Gorenjā): Released on March 18, 1978.^[12]

Manga

The series was adapted into a manga written and drawn by Ishinomori and published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from May 4, 1975, to August 17, 1975.^[1] Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga outside Japan for North American territories.^[13]

Cast

• Tsuyoshi Kaijo: Naoya Makoto (誠 直也, Makoto Naoya)
• Akira Shinmei: Hiroshi Miyauchi (宮内 洋, Miyauchi Hiroshi)
• Daita Oiwa: Baku Hatakeyama (畠山 麦, Hatakeyama Baku)
• Daigoro Kumano: Jirō Daruma (だるま 二郎, Daruma Jirō)
• Peggy Matsuyama: Lisa Komaki (小牧 りさ, Komaki Risa)
• Kenji Asuka: Yukio Itō (伊藤 幸雄, Itō Yukio)
• Yoko Kato: Eri Kanuma (鹿沼 えり, Kanuma Eri)
• Tomoko Hayashi: Emi Shirakawa (白川 恵美, Shirakawa Emi)
• Haruko Nakamura: Miki Honda (本田 みき, Honda Miki)
• Taro Kato (加藤 太郎, Katō Tarō): Hiroyuki Konuma (小沼 宏之, Konuma Hiroyuki)
• Black Cross Führer: Mitsuo Andō (安藤 三男, Andō Mitsuo, 1-55), Nobuo Yana (八名 信夫, Yana Nobuo, 56-84) (Voicing the role in episodes 54 & 55)
• Gonpachi Edogawa: Toshio Takahara (高原 駿雄, Takahara Toshio)

Voice actors

• Gon (ゴン): Hisako Kyōda (京田 尚子, Kyōda Hisako)
• Sun Mask (日輪仮面, Nichirin Kamen): Hiroshi Masuoka (増岡 弘, Masuoka Hiroshi)
• General Iron Mask Temujin (鉄人仮面テムジン将軍, Tetsujin Kamen Temujin Shōgun): Shōzō Iizuka (飯塚 昭三, Iizuka Shōzō)
• General Fire Mountain Mask Magman (火の山仮面マグマン将軍, Hinoyama Kamen Maguman Shōgun): Eisuke Yoda (依田英助, Yoda Eisuke, 42–44), Shōzō Iizuka (45–54)
• Great General Golden Mask (ゴールデン仮面大将軍, Gōruden Kamen Daishōgun): Shōzō Iizuka
• Narrator: Nobuo Tanaka (田中 信夫, Tanaka Nobuo, 1–14): Tōru Ōhira (大平 透, Ōhira Tōru, 15–84)

Songs

Opening theme

• "Susume! Gorenger" (進め！ゴレンジャー, Susume! Gorenjā, "Proceed! Gorenger")
  • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
  • Composition & arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
  • Artists: Isao Sasaki, Mitsuko Horie, & Columbia Yurikago Kai

Ending themes

• "Himitsu Sentai Gorenger" (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー, Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā, "Secret Squad Gorenger")
  • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition & Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
  • Artist: Isao Sasaki & Koorogi '73
  • Episodes: 1–63
• "Mi yo!! Gorenger" (見よ!!ゴレンジャー, Mi yo!! Gorenjā, "Look!! Gorenger")
  • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
  • Artists: Isao Sasaki, Koorogi '73, & Wilbees
  • Episodes: 64–84

International broadcast and home video

• In its home country of Japan, Toei Video released the series on VHS and was spread throughout 20 volumes for both sale and rental releases from May 25, 1986 to May 24, 1991. Each tape contains three episodes and there was also a release of one of the movies. Only 59 out of 84 episodes were released on this format. The jacket for Volume 19 of the series used an image of Red Falcon from Choujyu Sentai Liveman by mistake. Then from November 21, 1998 to May 21, 1999, the series was released on a Laserdisc boxset and this was the first time that the series had all 84 episodes released on home video. From April 21, 2003 to August 8, 2003, the series was released on DVD throughout a span of 14 volumes. Each volume contains six episodes reach and volumes 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13 and 14 were simultaneously released. The first episode is also included in the "Shotaro Ishinomori 70th Anniversary DVD-BOX" released on July 21, 2008. The first episode is also included in the "Super Sentai 1st Episode Collection I" DVD released in April 2011, and the movie version "Bakudan Hurricane!" was also viewed on pay-per-view. The series was then released on Blu-Ray for the first time from February 8, 2017 to October 4, 2017 in five boxset volumes. Each volume holds three discs with 17 episodes included. In addition, 8 select episodes are also included in the "Super Sentai Ichimi Blu-ray 1975-1981" release which came out on April 14, 2021.
• In the United States, the original Japanese version was broadcast in Hawaii on Honolulu's KIKU-TV with English subtitles from 1975 through 1976, and the actors made personal appearances to promote the series. An unsubtitled version was also broadcast in California, on Sacramento's KMUV-TV in 1976, San Francisco's KEMO-TV in 1977.
• In the Philippines, Gorenger was dubbed into English and aired as Star Rangers in 1978 and shown on Saturday afternoon on RPN-9.^{[citation needed]} In this version, aside from their color designations, the Gorengers also had numeric designations, in order of their introduction to the enemy prior to battle:
  • Akarenger = Star 1
  • Aorenger = Star 2
  • Kirenger = Star 3
  • Momorenger = Star 4
  • Midorenger = Star 5
• In Hong Kong, the series aired on the now-defunct Commercial Television station with a Cantonese Chinese dub from July 1, 1978, until August 19, 1978. But the channel ceased operations, causing the series to be cut short.
• In Thailand, the series aired on Channel 7 originally with a Thai dub and is currently licensed by Rose Media Entertainment. It later aired on Channel 5 and also the Gang Cartoon Channel around 2009 with its license currently owned by TIGA Company.

References

1. "デジタル大辞泉プラス「秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー」の解説". KOTOBANK. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
2. "Library – English Titles – TOEI TV Website". Archived from the original on January 19, 2009.
3. Jonathan Clements; Motoko Tamamuro (2003). The Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama Since 1953. Stone Bridge Press. p. 345. ISBN 9781611725216.
4. "デジタル大辞泉プラス「アカレンジャー」の解説". KOTOBANK. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
5. "デジタル大辞泉プラス[アオレンジャー」の解説". KOTOBANK. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
6. "デジタル大辞泉プラス[キレンジャー」の解説". KOTOBANK. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
7. "秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー". 日本映画情報システム. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
8. "秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー青い大要塞". 日本映画情報システム. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
9. "秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー真赤な猛進撃". 日本映画情報システム. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
10. "秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー 火の山最後の大噴火". Movie walker. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
11. "秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー爆弾ハリケーン！". eiga.com. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
12. "ジャッカー電撃隊VSゴレンジャー". Kinnote. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
13. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 2, 2020). "Seven Seas Licenses She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wiseman Novel & Manga, Gorenger Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 31, 2021.

External links

• Super-Sentai.net (in Japanese)