Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (侍戦隊シンケンジャー, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā, ^{[Note 1]}) is the title of Toei Company's thirty-third entry in its long-running Super Sentai Series franchise of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It premiered on February 15, 2009, the week following the finale of Engine Sentai Go-onger, and ended on February 7, 2010. It joined Kamen Rider Decade as a program featured in TV Asahi's Super Hero Time programming block, and following Decade's finale, it aired alongside Kamen Rider W. It incoorperates elements from the Jidaigeki drama genre and Japanese themes and aesthetics. The catchphrase for the series is "Authorized by divine providence!!" (天下御免!!, Tenkagomen!!).^[1]

Its footage and storyline was used for the American series Power Rangers Samurai and its follow up season, Super Samurai.

Story

The historic household of the Hotta clan is the setting of the Shiba House in Shinkenger.

For eighteen generations, samurai of the Shiba House (志葉家, Shiba Ke) have suppressed the evil intentions of the Gedoushu, malevolent spirits that enter the world of the living from gaps between buildings and other structures. Now, Takeru Shiba, the youngest head of the Shiba Clan must gather his four vassals (家臣, kashin) in order to battle the Gedoushu under the revived Doukoku Chimatsuri as the Shinkengers. However, as they are joined by his childhood friend Genta, the vassals slowly learn that there's a reason for Takeru's behavior that sets him apart from his predecessors.

Shinkengers

Using the mystical power known as "Modikara" (モヂカラ（文力）, Mojikara, translated as "Character Power"), these six youths can transform into the Shinkengers to combat the Gedoushu.

Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red (志葉 丈瑠／シンケンレッド, Shiba Takeru/Shinken Reddo)

The 18th head of the Shiba clan and descendant of feudal lords, Takeru was reared since childhood by Hikoma Kusakabe to accomplish his family's legacy. Though he is cold and strict, he also cares the most about his friends and their mission. His main weapon is the zanbato.

Ryunosuke Ikenami/Shinken Blue (池波 流ノ介／シンケンブルー, Ikenami Ryūnosuke/Shinken Burū)

Ryunosuke is a young man who gave up becoming a kabuki actor to answer the call of serving the Shiba clan. Due to his parents' upbringing, he is extremely enthusiastic and takes his role as Takeru's vassal seriously. His fierce loyalty and enthusiasm brings much comic relief. His main weapon is the yumi.

Mako Shiraishi/Shinken Pink (白石 茉子／シンケンピンク, Shiraishi Mako/Shinken Pinku)

Mako is a strong-willed girl who fights for her own ideals. When she saw Takeru taking his responsibilities seriously, she decided to join the group. She loves children and worked at a kindergarten prior to becoming Takeru's vassal. Her main weapon is the war fan.

Chiaki Tani/Shinken Green (谷 千明／シンケングリーン, Tani Chiaki/Shinken Gurīn)

Irresponsibility, selfishness and arrogance best describes this lazy young man. Chiaki had no interest in becoming Takeru's vassal and often clashes with him. 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. His main weapon is the yari.

Kotoha Hanaori/Shinken Yellow (花織 ことは／シンケンイエロー, Hanaori Kotoha/Shinken Ierō)

Kotoha is a gentle girl who worked in a bamboo shop and is skilled in both the flute and martial arts. She became Takeru's vassal in place of her older sister who fell ill. While her gentleness is criticized by Takeru, he is satisfied by her determination and willingness to do her part. Her main weapon is the land shuriken.

Genta Umemori/Shinken Gold (梅盛 源太／シンケンゴールド, Umemori Genta/Shinken Gōrudo)

Genta is a childhood friend of Takeru, running his sushi stand and mastering his own personal Modikara.

Gedoushu

The Gedoushu (外道衆, Gedōshū, translated as "Heretic Party") are malevolent spirits that dwell in the Sanzu River that try to escape through various gaps in the living world to cause mayhem and allow the Sanzu River to flood both the land of the living and the land of the dead. Their leading members live aboard the Rokumon Junk (六門船, Rokumonsen) and consist of Doukoku Chimatsuri, Tayu Usukawa and Shitari of the Bones. Under their control are the Ayakashi (アヤカシ) who enter the mortal world, assisted by the Nanashi Company. There is also the rogue Juzo Fuwa who acting on his interests and the mysterious Akumaro Sujigarano who has an agenda of his own.

Episodes

The episodes are numbered as Acts (第～幕, Dai (Number) Maku) and completely written in kanji. Episodes of Kamen Rider Decade on July 12 and July 19, 2009, as well as Shinkenger Act 21, featured a crossover between the two series.^[2][3]

Films

The Fateful War

The film Samurai Sentai Shinkenger The Movie: The Fateful War (侍戦隊シンケンジャー銀幕版　天下分け目の戦, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Ginmakuban Tenkawakeme no Tatakai) opened in Japanese theaters on August 8, 2009, double-billed with the Kamen Rider Decade film. Unlike previous films, it was filmed in 3-D, and is the first film in Japan to be filmed digitally in 3-D. A normal 2-D version is being shown in most theaters in Japan.^[4]

Shinkenger vs. Go-onger

The film Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: Ginmaku Bang!! (侍戦隊シンケンジャーVSゴーオンジャー銀幕BANG!!, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Bui Esu Gōonjā Ginmakuban) was released in theaters on January 30, 2010, featuring a crossover between the Shinkenger and Go-onger casts and characters.^[5] The heroes of Tensou Sentai Goseiger make a cameo appearance in the film.^[6]

Goseiger vs. Shinkenger

The film Tensou Sentai Goseiger vs. Shinkenger: Epic on Ginmaku (天装戦隊ゴセイジャーVSシンケンジャー エピック on 銀幕, Tensō Sentai Goseijā Bui Esu Shinkenjā Epikku on Ginmaku) was released in theaters on January 22, 2011, featuring a crossover between the Goseiger and Shinkenger casts and characters. The heroes of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger make a cameo appearance in the film.

Special DVD

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger: The Light Samurai's Surprise Transformation (侍戦隊シンケンジャー光侍驚変身, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā Hikari no Samurai Odoroki Henshin) is a special DVD that is used to show some of the items in the series.

Genta finds a starved member of the Nanashi Company who tells Genta that he has run away from the Rokumon Junk after being sick of his Company being abused by the stronger Gedoushu. Feeling sorry for him, Genta takes him back to the Shiba House and tries to get him a job. After Takeru refuses to help due to the fact that he is a member of the Gedoushu, Genta attempts to prove Takeru wrong about the Nanashi with the help of the kuroko. However, after nearly burning to death, the Nanashi feels that he is a lost cause, believing he is doomed to fail. Genta encourages him not to give up. The next day, Takeru discovers that the Inromaru and the Super Disk are gone along with the Nanashi. Remembering the Nanashi's love for chirashizushi, Genta lures him out with it and is shocked that the Nanashi has stolen the Inromaru.

While telling Genta another sob story, the Nanashi sucker punches him before using the Inromaru to turn into Super Nanashi. Super Nanashi reveals that he has used Genta to steal the Inromaru, and he adds on that he never liked Genta's sushi. Enraged, Genta transforms into Shinken Gold and with Shinken Red fights the Super Nanashi. The two are no match for Super Nanashi until Shinken Gold uses the Kyoryu Disk to become Hyper Shinken Gold. With his newfound power, he and Shinken Red are able to slay Super Nanashi and retrieve the Inromaru. After the fight, Genta is still disappointed that he believed Super Nanashi along with the Company member insulting sushi. Takeru cheers him up by requesting a piece of sushi and enjoying it, raising Genta's spirits.

V-Cinema

In June 2010, the V-Cinema release Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Returns: Special Act (帰ってきた侍戦隊シンケンジャー 特別幕, Kaettekita Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā: Tokubetsu Maku) was released. The Shinkengers are attacked by a remnant Gedoushu Ayakashi who traps them in various film genres.^[7]

Cast

• Takeru Shiba (志葉 丈瑠, Shiba Takeru): Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri)
• Ryunosuke Ikenami (池波 流ノ介, Ikenami Ryūnosuke): Hiroki Aiba (相葉 弘樹, Aiba Hiroki)
• Mako Shiraishi (白石 茉子, Shiraishi Mako): Rin Takanashi (高梨 臨, Takanashi Rin)
• Chiaki Tani (谷 千明, Tani Chiaki): Shogo Suzuki (鈴木 勝吾, Suzuki Shōgo)
• Kotoha Hanaori (花織 ことは, Hanaori Kotoha): Suzuka Morita (森田 涼花, Morita Suzuka)
• Genta Umemori (梅盛 源太, Umemori Genta): Keisuke Sohma (相馬 圭祐, Sōma Keisuke)
• Hikoma Kusakabe (日下部 彦馬, Kusakabe Hikoma): Goro Ibuki (伊吹 吾郎, Ibuki Gorō)
• Kaoru Shiba (志葉 薫, Shiba Kaoru): Runa Natsui (夏居 瑠奈, Natsui Runa)
• Toshizo Tanba (丹波 歳三, Tanba Toshizō): Kazuyuki Matsuzawa (松澤 一之, Matsuzawa Kazuyuki)
• Juzo Fuwa (腑破 十臓, Fuwa Jūzō): Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru)
• Doukoku Chimatsuri (血祭 ドウコク, Chimatsuri Dōkoku): Rintarō Nishi (西 凛太朗, Nishi Rintarō, Voice)
• Tayu Usukawa (薄皮 太夫, Usukawa Dayū): Romi Park (朴 璐美, Paku Romi, Voice)
  • In episodes 25 and 40, Romi Park appeared on screen as Usuyuki, Dayu's original human form.
• Shitari of the Bones (骨のシタリ, Hone no Shitari): Chō (チョー, Voice)
• Akumaro Sujigarano (筋殻 アクマロ, Sujigarano Akumaro): Ryō Horikawa (堀川 りょう, Horikawa Ryō, Voice)
• Secret Lantern DaiGoyou (秘伝提灯ダイゴヨウ, Hiden Chōchin Daigoyō): Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi, Voice)
• Narrator, Sushi Changer, Inroumaru: Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori)

Songs

Opening theme

• "Samurai Sentai Shinkenger" (侍戦隊シンケンジャー, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā)
  • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • Composition: YOFFY
  • Arrangement: Project.R (Kenichiro Ōishi & Psychic Lover)
  • Artist: Psychic Lover (Project.R)^[8]

Ending theme

• "Shirokujimuchū Shinkenger" (四六時夢中　シンケンジャー, Shirokujimuchū Shinkenjā, "Dreaming 24/7, Shinkenger")
  • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • Composition: Hideaki Takatori
  • Arrangement: Project.R (Hiroaki Kagoshima)
  • Artist: Hideaki Takatori (Project.R)^[8]
  • Instruments: Zetki (Z旗, Zettoki)
  • Episodes: 1-20, 29-48
• "Shirokujimuchū Shinkenger ~Ginmakuban~" (四六時夢中 シンケンジャー～銀幕版～, Shirokujimuchū Shinkenjā ~Ginmakuban~, "Dreaming 24/7, Shinkenger (Movie Version)")
  • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • Composition: Hideaki Takatori
  • Arrangement: Project.R (Hiroaki Kagoshima)
  • Artist: Shinkengers (Tori Matsuzaka, Hiroki Aiba, Rin Takanashi, Shogo Suzuki, Suzuka Morita, Keisuke Sohma) & Hideaki Takatori
  • Episodes: 21-28

The opening and ending themes of Shinkenger are performed by Psychic Lover and Hideaki Takatori as part of Project.R, respectively.^[9][10] The opening is also featured as a playable song in Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Do Don to 2 Daime.

Its opening theme song single ranked highly on the Oricon charts, reaching #4 on the Daily Ranking Charts on its day of release.^[11] and peaked at #6 on the weekly charts selling 20,130 copies within its first week of release^[12] and stayed in the top 30 ranks for 4 weeks straight.

Notes

References

External links

• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger at Toei Company (Japanese)
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger at TV Asahi (Japanese)
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger at Columbia Music Entertainment (Japanese)
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger at super-sentai.net (Japanese)
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger at Bandai (Japanese)