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Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー, Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā, Ninja Squadron Kakuranger)[Note 1] is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was Toei Company Limited's eighteenth production of the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired from February 18, 1994 to February 24, 1995, following its predecessor Gosei Sentai Dairanger and was replaced by Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. The name given to this series by Toei for international distribution is Ninja Rangers.[1]
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| Ninja Sentai Kakuranger | |
|---|---|
The title card for Ninja Sentai Kakuranger. | |
| Genre |
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| Created by | Toei |
| Developed by | Noboru Sugimura |
| Directed by | Yoshiaki Kobayashi |
| Starring |
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| Narrated by | Sanyūtei Enjō |
| Opening theme | "Secret Kakuranger" by Tu Chee Chen |
| Ending theme | "Ninja! Matenrō Kids" by Tu Chee Chen |
| Composer | Eiji Kawamura |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 53 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production location | Tokyo, Japan (Greater Tokyo Area) |
| Running time | approx. 25 minutes |
| Production company | Toei |
| Original release | |
| Network | TV Asahi |
| Release | February 18, 1994 – February 24, 1995 |
| Related | |
Action footage from the series was used in the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. The core Zyuranger costumes from Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and the Kiba Ranger costume from Gosei Sentai Dairanger were mainly used in the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers while the core Kakuranger costumes were used in Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. In January 2016, Shout! Factory announced that they would release "Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Complete Series" on DVD in North America. Kakuranger was released on DVD in North America on May 17, 2016. This is the third Super Sentai Series to be released in North America.[2][3] In addition on May 22, 2017, Shout! streamed the series on their website.[4] As of 2024, the series is available in North America on Tubi.[5]
Four hundred years ago, the ninja and the Youkai had a great war. The legendary Sarutobi Sasuke and four other ninjas sealed the Youkai Commander Nurarihyon and all his Youkai's energies away in a cave protected by the "Seal Door". In the present, one of the few remaining Youkai, Kappa, tricks Sarutobi Sasuke and Kirigakure Saizo's descendants, Saizou and Sasuke, into releasing the Youkai by opening the Seal Door. Now these two, joined by three other descendants of great ninjas, become the Kakurangers to fight the reinvigorated Youkai with the aid of the Three God Generals. However, the Kakurangers have their work cut out for them as the Youkai are slowly being united under one banner.
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The eponymous Kakurangers are each named after a legendary ninja and master of the Kakure Style (隠流, Kakure-ryū) ninpō. Before entering battle, they say "Hiding among the people and punishing the evil! Ninja Sentai Kakuranger has arrived!!" (人に隠れて悪を斬る! 忍者戦隊カクレンジャー見参!, Hito ni kakurete aku o kiru! Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā, kenzan!) before giving a thumb's down, saying "Justice will prevail!" (成敗, Seibai!).
The Kakurangers can transform into the five Giant Beast Generals (巨大獣将, Kyodai Jūshō) by the command "Kakure Style: Giant Beast General Technique!" (隠流巨大獣将之術, Kakure-ryū Kyodai Jūshō no Jutsu). The Beast Generals' group attacks include the Ninja Art: Vacuum Hurricane (忍法真空ハリケーン, Shinkū Harikēn) and Kakure Style Secret Technique: Big Bang (隠流奥義ビッグバン, Kakure-ryū Ōgi Biggu Ban).
Beast General Fighters (獣将ファイター, Jūshō Faitā) are lightly armored battle versions of the Giant Beast Generals, summoned from each Kakuranger's Doron Changer medal when the Kakure Style: Beast General Fighter Technique (隠流獣将ファイター之術, Kakure-ryū Jūshō Faitā no Jutsu) is performed. While able to act on their own, the Kakurangers can fuse into their respective Beast General Fighter to increase their power by performing the "Beast General Fighter Gattai". Their team attacks include the Fighter Crush (ファイタークラッシュ, Faitā Kurasshu) and the Super Kakure Shoot (スーパーカクレシュート, Sūpā Kakure Shūto).
After finding the Shinobi Scrolls, which hold many of the Kakurangers' techniques and powers, the Kakurangers were able to call forth and pilot the mighty Super Ninja Beasts (超忍獣, Chōninjū). These mighty creatures are called from the Shinobi Scrolls with the command "Kakure Style: Super Ninja Beast Technique!" (隠流超忍獣之術, Kakure-ryū Chōninjū no Jutsu). Although very powerful as separate fighting units, the Beasts can combine to become the last of the God Generals.
The Three God Generals (三神将, Sanshinshō), despite the Kakurangers' earlier notions, are sentient mecha who were originally three divine sages that developed a shinobi spell that defeated Daimaou and the Youkai two millennia ago. Having transcended their humanity, the Three God Generals aided the Kakurangers' ancestors in their fight with the Youkai. Though the Kakurangers' ninpō allowed them to revive Muteki Shogun by combining their Beast Generals forms, they obtain the Shinobi Scrolls needed to freely summon him, Tsubasamaru, and Kakure Daishogun. The Three God Generals represents the Shin-Gi-Tai (心技体, Heart-Technique-Body) essence of Kakure Style ninpō, and love, hope, and courage which are the opposite of Daimaou who represents hatred.
Muteki Shogun (無敵将軍, Muteki Shōgun, "Invincible General") is the first of the Three God Generals to be awakened, representing the "body" of Kakure Style ninpō and hibernating as the Wind Illusion Castle (風雲幻城, Fūun Maboroshijō) before the Kakurangers' ancestors give the Kakurangers their Doron Changers and give them the means to revive Muteki Shogun by combining their Giant Beast General forms via the command Ninja Combination (忍者合体, Ninja Gattai). The castle also contains a stone altar of the Three God Generals that the three beings can speak through. Muteki Shogun is armed with the mighty Flaming Shogun Sword (火炎将軍剣, Kaen Shōgun Ken), which can defeat nearly any Youkai with its flaming blade and has a hilt which resembles a shachihoko. The sword can be shrunk to human size for the Kakurangers to use in desperate situations. The "Shinobi" kanji medal on his chest can deflect certain youkai attacks. Some of Muteki Shogun's attacks are the Shogun Flower Spray (将軍花吹雪, Shōgun Hanafubuki) and the Flaming Shogun Wave (炎将軍波, Kaen Shogunha). Whenever Muteki Shogun defeats a Youkai, he gives a salute and a nod while saying "Rest in peace" (南無三, Namusan, lit. "Hail to Thee, Three Treasures).
Muteki Shogun is voiced by Tomoyuki Horita (堀田 智之, Horita Tomoyuki).
Sacred Ninja Beast Tsubasamaru (聖忍獣ツバサマル, Seininjū Tsubasamaru) is giant mythical white falcon with a 85.6 metres (281 ft) wingspan that represents the "heart" of Kakure Style ninpō and can combine with either Muteki Shogun or Kakure Daishogun to increase their power. Tsubasamaru first appeared to help the Kakurangers against Umibouzu on his own whim before they obtain the Shinobi Scrolls needed to freely summon him. In episode 31, he spoke to Sasuke and gave him the Thunder Sword Hikarimaru.
Tsubasamaru is voiced by Dai Matsumoto (松本 大, Matsumoto Dai).
Kakure Daishogun (隠大将軍, Kakure Daishōgun, "Hidden Grand General") is the last of the Three God Generals to be revealed, representing the "technique" of Kakure Style ninpō and composed of the five Super Ninja Beasts via the command Five-God Combination (五神合体, Goshin Gattai). His fists are weapons, performing the God Hammer Punch (ゴッドハンマーパンチ, Goddo Hanmā Panchi) with the right arm and using the left arm for the God Burst Chop (ゴッドバーストチョップ, Goddo Bāsuto Choppu). The Iron Fist God Finish (鉄拳ゴッドフィニッシュ, Tekken Goddo Finisshu) is performed when the two attacks are used together.
Kakure Daishogun is voiced by Dai Matsumoto.
Ninjaman (ニンジャマン, 36-50, 52 & 53), despite being a bit of a high-strong klutz, is the pupil of the Three God Generals who battles the Youkai a millennium ago. However, tricked by Daimaou into hurting humans on the notion that they were Youkai in disguise, Ninjaman gets sent into space within a Jar of Seals that only those of the Tsuruhime line can shatter. Once returning to Earth, Ninjaman is found by Junichi and his sister Mitsuko before the three find themselves attacked by the Youkai Bakuki under orders from Daimaou to capture Ninjaman to become the Youkai leader's retainer. Luckily, once freed by Tsuruhime, Ninjaman becomes an ally to the Kakurangers. After Daimaou's defeat, Ninjaman departs with his masters and says goodbye to the Kakurangers. However, this time resulting from not holding back, Ninjaman is sealed again for a few decades before being freed by the Gokaigers and helping them receive the Greater power of his Kakuranger friends.
As a ninja master, Ninjaman wields a katana, the Ninja Sword (ニンジャソード, Ninja Sōdo), and had a wide array of Ninja Arts at his command, including the Art of Fire Escape (火とんの術, Katon no Jutsu), and size manipulation to aid his mentors and the Kakurangers in their fights. He can ride on a cloud called the Kintoun (きんと雲). Whenever a Youkai calls him a "novice" (青二才, Aonisai), Ninjaman gets angry enough to change into his true form, Samuraiman (サムライマン), by the command "Anger Explosion!" (怒り爆発, Ikari Bakuhatsu). In this form, connecting his katana with its sheath to form the powerful Samurai Javelin (サムライジャベリン, Samurai Jaberin), Samuraiman creates explosive energy spheres formed from his rage in his ultimate attack, Samurai Rage Bomber (サムライ激怒ボンバー, Samurai Gekido Bonbā), or the Samurai Rage Slash (サムライ激怒斬り, Samurai Gekido Giri) with the Samurai Javelin.
During the events of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, Ninjaman was freed from a pot by the Gokaigers. Once freed, he decided to observe the Gokaigers to see if the team was worthy of the Greater Power of the Kakurangers. Eventually they impressed him enough to grant them the Greater Power, which turned out to be himself.
Before entering battle, he says "Ally of Justice, Ninjaman!".
Ninjaman is voiced by Kazuki Yao (矢尾 一樹, Yao Kazuki).
The Kōshakushi (講釈師, 1-24 & 39) is a kimono-wearing anchorman who served as the series narrator. During episode 39, the Kōshakushi and his news crew wanted to know more about the Kakurangers, getting into their personal lives. But they followed a pair of Dorodoro to Junior's mansion, learning of Nopperabou's revival ability until Daimou sensed them and sicced the Dorodoro on them. While the others escaped, the Kōshakushi was caught and thrown off a bridge, though he managed to survive.
The Kōshakushi is portrayed by Sanyūtei Enjō (三遊亭 圓丈) in the series and Kanda Hakuzan (神田 伯山) in the web-exclusive anniversary special Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles.
Sandayu Momochi (百地 三太夫, Momochi Sandayū, 1-3, 5, 9, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 & 31) is a ninja master who instructs the Kakurangers on their abilities and is considered dangerous by the Youkai. Being a former student of Hakumenro, Sandayu aided the Kakurangers when Gasha Dokuro set up the beginning phase of Daimaou's resurrection, warning the Kakurangers they are not ready to face him. But the Kakurangers refused to accept that and are quickly defeated before Sandayuu had Tsubasamaru bring them the Wind Illusion Castle to see the Three God Generals, revealing their origins and that obtaining the Shinobi Scrolls are needed to stop Daimaou. While Tsuruhime was looking for her Shinobi Scroll, she is found by Sandayuu and taken to her family's mansion. There, Sandayuu uses her quest as a test to prove her worth as the Kakurangers' leader and heir to her family legacy, providing her with karakuri replicas of her teammates. He briefly meets with Hakumenro, whom he was working with, to rescue Tsuruhime when Hakumenro fought her. However, Junior learned of this and impaled Sandayuu with his own katana. Sandayuu lived long enough from the wound to tell the team to form Kakure Daishogun during their final fight with Gashadokuro and give them his final words.
Sandayu Momochi is portrayed by Akira Sakamoto (坂本 あきら, Sakamoto Akira).
Zashiki-warashi (ザシキワラシ, 18) is a Youkai mushroom child who uses mushrooms to perform spells and wants to make children happy, pursued by Junior who planned to turn him evil. Though Ninja Black attempts to protect him from Gashadokuro, Zashiki-warashi turns him in and undergoes a ritual to turn him into an evil version of his true form. Attacking the city in his enlarged form, Zashiki-warashi overpowers the Beast General Fighters until hearing the cries of the children he befriended manages to restore him to normal. However, horrified at what he done to the city, Zashiki-warashi attempts to fight Gashadokuro and is mortally wounded. Found by Jiraiya, Zashiki-warashi turns back into a mushroom.
Zashiki-warashi's human form is portrayed by Kazuyuki Makino (牧野 一進, Makino Kazuyuki) while his Youkai form is voiced by Sumiyo Sawada (沢田 澄代, Sawada Sumiyo).
Reika (玲花, 25) was a butterfly given human form by Sasuke's Shinobi Scroll to find him as he arrives to Nasukogen, tending to his wounds after he was attacked by Junior. However, wanting to experience being human, Reika ends up going on a detour to Rindo Lake Family Farm while trying to get Sasuke to lighten up. But when mortally wounded by Ittanmomen while trying to get a bunny to safety, Reika directs Sasuke to the scroll's location before dying and reverting to her true form as she dissolves.
Reika is portrayed by Reiko Chiba (千葉 麗子, Chiba Reiko), who previously portrayed Mei in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger.
Bun (ブン, 26, 30, 31, 42-44 & 51-53) is a Youkai who despises the Youkai way due to being teased by other Youkai. Said to be Sandayuu's apprentice, Bun has been helping Hakumenro in secret, rescuing Sasuke and company when they are blasted into the raging river. In the end of series, he remains with Hakumenro after he is finally freed of Daimaou's control.
During of the events of the web-exclusive anniversary special Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles, Bun works at a children's home run by Tsuruhime.
Bun is portrayed by Yasuyuki Fukuda (福田 康之, Fukuda Yasuyuki), who is credited under Yasuyuki Takamine (貴峰 康之, Takamine Yasuyuki) in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles.
Taro (太郎, Tarō) and Jiro (次郎, Jirō) (26, 30, 31, 42-44 & 52) are the twin sons of vassals to Tsuruhime's family, becoming her adopted brothers when their parents, who were once vassals of the Tsuruhime house, had died. When Tsuruhime's father Yoshiteru learned of Daimaou, the brothers accompanied him into the Youkai World to kill the demon before he could be fully revived. However, Taro and Jiro were captured and turned into German Shepherds after Yoshiteru agreed to serve Daimaou in return for their lives spared. However, though the brothers can temporarily regain human form, they can only do it once with a second time killing them. As a result, after escaping back to their world with Bun, Taro and Jiro looked after Tsuruhime in their master's place before revealing their true nature to Sasuke in order to give him Hakumenro's findings on Daradara while asking him to tell Tsuruhime that they will protect her from the shadows. The two eventually return and sacrifice themselves to free Hakumenro from the Youkai.
Taro and Jiro are portrayed by Daisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 大輔, Tsuchiya Daisuke) and Keisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 圭輔, Tsuchiya Keisuke) respectively, the latter previously portraying Kazu of Gosei Sentai Dairanger and the former playing Kazu's clone in one episode of Dairanger.
Gali (ガリ, Gari, 28 & 29) was a Japanese American karate teacher who is an old friend of Jiraiya's father, but also an indentured servant of Nue who is infused with Youkai energy and armed with a claw weapon. Gali's servitude started in 1986 when his daughter is mortally wounded after a car crash, accepting Nue's offer to save his child in return to murder Jiraiya's father. Though he committed the deed, Gali realized the consequences of orphaning Jiraiya. As penance, black mailed into continuing Nue's dirty work, Gali becomes Jiraiya's guardian and taught him martial arts with the hope that his student might kill him. Gali's intent was achieved when Nue sends him after Jiraiya when he was looking for his Shinobi Scroll, revealing truth of his father's murder to have Jiraiya fight him without restraint. Though Jiraiya could not kill him at the last minute, a mortally wounded Gali reveals the truth behind the murder and, in his final words, asks his student to defeat those who use others from the shadows. Soon after, Gali later buried by Jiraiya out of respect.
Gali is portrayed by Sho Kosugi (ショー・コスギ, Shō Kosugi).
Hakumenro (白面郎, Hakumenrō, "White Masked Man") is an armored samurai who is revealed to be Tsuruhime's father Yoshiteru (義輝). Ten years prior, Yoshiteru researched the Youkai and learned of Daimaou's existence. Fearing the danger that would occur if Daimaou is revived, Yoshiteru is forced to leave his young daughter behind as he attempted to destroy Daimaou before he could return. However, with Taro and Jiro captured, Yoshiteru was forced to aid Daimaou as his tactician Hakumenro. However, Hakumenro uses his servitude as a ruse to uncover Daimaou's weakness. Upon arriving to oversee the final steps of Daimaou's arrival, with the Youkai's son Gashadokuro distrustful of him, Hakumenro is forced to fight his own daughter to keep face while arranging for her safety by his former student, Sandayuu, with orders to make the Kakurangers believe that he is beyond redemption. However, due to Daradara's creation as he attempts to find out the clone's weakness, Hakumenro learns that Daimaou knew of his true intentions yet allowed his presence until he served his purpose. Before being captured by Daimaou, he left a clue for Sasuke that showed him how to defeat Daradara, as well as a map Daimaou's hideout. Though turned into stone by a furious Daimaou over his role in the Youkai's defeat, Daimaou gave Hakumenro to Yamauba as her trump card against the Kakurangers. However, after Taro and Jiro sacrificed themselves to save him, Yoshiteru is reunited with his daughter.
Hakumenro is portrayed by Takayuki Godai (五代 高之, Godai Takayuki), who previously portrayed Takayuki Hiba/Vul Eagle II from Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan.
Yukiyo Yamazaki (山咲 雪代, Yamazaki Yukiyo) and Tsukiyo Yamazaki (山咲 月代, Yamazaki Tsukiyo) (35) are a pair of sisters who are Tsuruhime's childhood friends and are of a ninja family. As a result, treating Tsuruhime as family, the three of them formed a Sukeban Deka-like group called the Punishment Sailor Sisters (おしおきセーラー三姉妹, Oshioki Sērā Shisutāzu) who put bullies in their place. When their little sister Hanayo told them of strange events going on at her school, Yukiyo and Tsukiyo are reunited with Tsuruhime as they reformed the Punishment Sailor Sisters to go after Kamaitachi. Soon after, the Yamazaki Sisters thank Tsuruhime for helping them while asking her to call if she ever gets in trouble.
The Punishment Sailor Sisters is a parody of tokusatsu show Keeping-Words Sisters Chouchoutrian, the last entry in the Toei Fushigi Comedy Series with references to Sailor Moon and Crayon Shin-Chan which Yamazaki Sister actresses Noriko Tanaka (田中 規子, Tanaka Noriko) and Kei Ishibashi (石橋 けい, Ishibashi Kei) as well as Tsuruhime's actress, Satomi Hirose, were all a part of.
The Youkai Army Corps (妖怪軍団, Yōkai Gundan, "Strange Apparition Army Corps") were sealed away 400 years ago by the Kakurangers' ancestors and have now changed their forms to keep up with the times. Most Youkai have a human form and use the Ninja Arts themselves. When defeated, they summon lightning made of human despair and misery to strike them, causing them to grow into giants.
Daimaou (大魔王, Daimaō, "Great Demon King", 23, 24, & 30-53) is a 1,199-year-old Youkai born from the amassed hatred of humans who originally led the Youkai Army Corps before being sealed in the Demon Seal Gate long ago by the Three God Generals in their original human forms. He also played a role in Ninjaman's sealing and exile a thousand years prior by tricking the hero into attacking humans. In present day, Daimaou has his son Gashadokuro set up preparations for his coming into the human world by gathering children's souls to begin a ritual to resurrect him within a month's time. Though Super Kakure Daishogun destroyed it, the Seal Door reformed itself and Daimaou emerges, turning the altar into his base of operations. When Ninjaman returns, Daimaou employs Bakuki to capture the ninja to make him into his retainer for his own agenda. But as Kakurangers got to free Ninjaman, Daimaou decides to let his target be at the moment though he briefly battles the Kakurangers when they ruined his 1,200th birthday party prior to falling back after being overwhelmed by Super Muteki Shogun.
After his 1,200th birthday, Daimaou gained the power to spawn clones of himself as he created Daradara to aid him in wiping out the Three God Generals by putting them in a predicament through Daradara siphoning the powers of Ninjaman and four of the Kakurangers. However, due to Hakumenro giving Ninja Red the means to ruin his scheme with Junior's manor destroyed in the process and managing to escape after being wounded by a combination of Super Muteki Shogun's Muteki Cannon Full Discharge and Super Kakure Daishogun's Iron Fist Flying Finish, Daimaou turns the human into stone before establishing himself in a new base of operations: The flying skull fortress Skull Castle (ガイコツ城, Gaikotsujō) with plans to build the Youkai Kingdom on Earth and destroy the Kakurangers. After the death of younger brother Daidarabotchi, having severed his ties to him and their sister long ago so he can focus on establishing the Youkai Kingdom, Daimaou decides to employ his sister in a scheme to have Tsuruhime fall into despair. But when the plan failed, crashing the Skull Castle on them, Daimaou provokes the Kakurangers into killing him so the evil comprising his body would consume humanity to renew the Youkai. But when the Three God Generals instructs the Kakurangers to capture him without transforming, Daimaou ups the ante before the ninja realize the Seal Door is the collective heart of humanity. Though he attempted to escape capture, Daimaou is gravely weakened by the Three God Generals and Ninjaman before being entombed behind the Seal Door where the Youkai are reconstituted.
Daimaou is voiced by Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝, Shibata Hidekatsu).
Nurarihyon (ヌラリヒョン, 1) is a Youkai who attempted to unite the Youkai army years ago after Daimaou's sealing. However, Nurarihyon ended up being defeated by the ancestors of the Kakurangers and sealed away.
Nurarihyon is voiced by Yoshimasa Chida (千田 義正, Chida Yoshimasa).
Gashadokuro (ガシャドクロ, 14-31) is an infamous Youkai who is one of their race's leading figures, a brute who happily slaughters any human he comes across and loves to rock but plays the piano when he is in a bad mood. He normally appears to the Kakurangers in the guise of Young Noble Junior (貴公子ジュニア, Kikōshi Junia), a bleached blonde leather punk, but can revert to his true militant skeleton form when pumped. Uniting the Youkai under him, Junior is bent on killing off most of the humans to create a Youkai paradise. He made his first direct attack on the Kakurangers with the Shuten Douji brothers. He then made it personal for the Kakurangers by murdering Zashiki-warashi after failing to turn him evil. Though they almost got him during the trap he set up with Tsuchigumo, Junior escapes via a hot-air balloon. Junior eventually begins to carry out the ritual to summon his father Daimaou back into the world, sending Umibouzu to capture five children to begin the ritual and using his music to petrify the remaining ten to complete the ritual. As a result, Gashadokuro is infused with Daimaou's power and is beyond the Kakurangers' ability to fight as he takes the skull-like altar he created on a building and the surrounding district into the sky beyond the Kakurangers' reach so Daimaou's resurrection can be uninterrupted as he turn the humans trapped in the barrier to stone. While Gashadokuro appears to be completely heartless to even his lackeys and more relentless in combat, he does have some respect for the Kakuranger, as seen when he allowed his Dorodoro to give water to the Kappa-ized Seikai and Saizou to fight Nue.
Once all the Kakurangers had obtained the Shinobi Scrolls, Junior assumes his true form to battle the Super Ninja Beasts and stop them from destroying the Sealed Door. However, he is overpowered by them until Hakumenro intervened. The fact that he had to be saved by the very human whom Daimaou prizes above him drove Junior to have Hakumenro prove himself to him by killing the Kakurangers. But after mortally wounding Sandayuu when he aided Hakumenro in saving the Kakurangers, Junior assumes his true form and overpowered the Kakurangers at first until Sasuke receives Hikarimaru to defeat Gashadokuro. But Gashadokuro refuse to accept defeat and enlarges, fighting the Super Ninja Beasts once again with the laser cannon he had Yugami commission for him. With this new gear, he gained an attack called Crush Beam (クラッシュビーム, Kurasshu Bīmu). But the tables turned when the team form Kakure Daishogun, and then Super Kakure Daishogun, stripping off his gear before killing him. Soon after, Daimaou states that Gashadokuro was no more than a fool to think he would be his heir though vowed to avenge him nonetheless. The mansion Gashadokuro had occupied served as his father's base of operations before it was eventually destroyed.
During of the events of the web-exclusive anniversary special Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles, Junior is revealed to be resurrected with his secret reincarnation technique he used just before his death. Losing his memories of being Gashadokuro and living as a human, he had a son, Goro, with his human wife before a car accident orchestrated by Gerbera killed his wife and left him in a coma. Upon a grown-up Goro's awakening as Sanmoto Gorozaemon, Junior regained consciousness and all of his memories and sacrificed himself to turn his son back into a human.
Young Noble Junior/Gashadokuro is portrayed and voiced by Kenichi Endō (遠藤 憲一, Endō Ken'ichi).
Dr. Yugami (ユガミ博士, Yugami-hakase, 12-14, 16, 20, 30 & 31) is a Youkai scientist who enjoys the suffering of children and develop various weapons to aid his kind. Originally under the employ of Tengu, Yugami used the boys that Tengu kidnapped to create the Youkai Replicas. But after Tengu's defeat, Yugami flees from the town and eventually enters the service of Junior, providing the Youkai prince with mechanical weapons and armor for the other Youkai serving him. He appeared to cheer Gasha Dokuro on during the final stages of their plan until he was horrified to see his master destroyed. He was killed by a slim piece of the Seal Door which was shattered by Super Kakure Daishogun
Dr. Yugami is portrayed by Noboru Akima (秋間 登, Akima Noboru).
Nue (ヌエ, 27-29) is a legend among the Youkai who abandoned his "undignified" archaic appearance for a new form that combines elements of an eagle, a lion, and a snake with the power of tigers undiminished through the ages. The source of his power came from the tattoo on his left shoulder. Around the year 1986, Nue founded an organization of assassins in Los Angeles and enlisted the services of Gali to eliminate Jiraiya's father when he stumbled upon his activities.
Seeing Gashadokuro unfit to lead the Youkai, Nue appears as an emissary of Daimaou to deal with Saizou and Seikai during their Shinobi Scroll search by turning them into the lowest hierarchy of Kappa. From there, Nue planned to have the two kill each other so the survivor can become human again. But they two overcame their plight and fight Nue, with the aid of the Dorodoro, to change them back. After killing the Dorodoro and defeating Muteki Shogun, an enlarged Nue battles Ninja Blue and Ninja Yellow as their obtain their Shinobi Scrolls and left the Youkai buried in the confrontation with their Super Ninja Beasts. However, Nue survived and sent his assassin Gali, to handle Jiraiya for him. Once Gali died, Nue resurfaced with intend to kill Jiraiya personally. However, with Ninja Black gaining God Gammer, Nue is destroyed by the assembled Super Ninja Beasts attacked with Tsubasamaru supporting them.
Nue is voiced by Tesshō Genda (玄田 哲章, Genda Tesshō).
Yamanba (ヤマンバ, 50-52) is the younger sister of Daimaou, Yamanba lived in the mountains with their brother Daidarabotchi where she feeds on lost travelers she while in the guise of an innkeeper named Grandma. When the Kakurangers arrive to their domain after abducting five children that she disguised as chickens, Yamanba attempts to ask Daimaou to join her and Daidarabotchi in killing the ninjas. But when Daimaou refuses, Yamanba decides to handle the trap personally. But Ninja Red manages to save the children, with Yamanba forced to retreat to Daimaou after Daidarabotchi's death. Her hatred towards the Kakurangers allows Daimaou to gives her a power boost that transforms her into a more combat-oriented form. In her new form, Yamanba is sent by Daimaou in a scheme to harvest the rage of sadness of people using the soulless Hakumenro in a scheme to put Tsuruhime on the brink of despair. Yamanba and the Flower Kunoichi-Gumi hold the male Kakurangers off, but Jiro and Taro intervene as they take Hakumenro after she enlarged. While Yamanba uses the Youkai energy lightning from the storm to make herself invincible against Ninjaman and the Three God Generals, the Kakurangers' positive emotions dissolve the cloud with Yamanba destroyed by Samuraiman, Super Muteki Shogun, and Kakure Daishogun.
Yamanba is voiced by Haruko Kitahama (北浜 晴子, Kitahama Haruko) while her human form is portrayed by Toshie Kokabu (小甲 登枝恵, Kokabu Toshie).
Daidarabotchi (ダイダラボッチ, 50) is a giant armored globe-themed Youkai who is the younger brother of Daimaou, upset by his brother disowning him and his sister, who disguised himself as the mountain Yamanba established her inn by. He also poses as the manager of his sister's inn when not needed to be her eyes and ears in the countryside. Daidarabotchi and Yamanba planned to get rid of the Kakurangers one by one by replacing a member with fakes, but Ninja Red managed to use his shadow clones to destroy the fakes before Daidarabotchi surfaced to fight him in God Saruder. Luckily Ninjaman took over before becoming Samuraiman as he, Muteki Shogun, and Super Kakure Daishogun destroy Daidarabotchi.
Daidarabotchi is voiced by Hisao Egawa (江川 央生, Egawa Hisao) while his human form is portrayed by Teruo Shimizu (清水 照夫, Shimizu Teruo).
The Flowery Kunoichi Team (花のくノ一組, Hana no Kunoichi-gumi, 15, 16 & 20-53) are Gashadokuro's personal ninja team he created from cats. They are cruel, skilled kunoichis armed with Ninja Magic, and are capable of disguise. They each transform by the command "Battle Change!" (バトル変化, Batoru Henge) and use various ninpō like Flower Storm (花嵐, Hana Arashi), Flower Illusion (花夢幻, Hana Mugen), Flower Bomb (花爆弾, Hana Bakudan), and Kunoichi Missile (くノ一ミサイルKunoichi Misairu). Before entering battle, they say, "The Flowery Kunoichi Team are here!".
Outside of fighting, the kunoichi reside within their personal indoor swimming pool deck for leisure. The Flowery Kunoichi Team first make themselves known to the Kakurangers when Junior sends them to support the Shuten Doji brothers. They later enact a scheme by Junior to take out the Kakurangers one-by-one starting with Sasuke. With Dr. Yugami providing radio silence to render the Kakuranger unable to contact his team, the Flowery Kunoichi Team trick Sasuke to discard his Doron Changer to easily kill him. However, Muteki Shogun intervened by giving Sasuke his Blazing Shogun Sword to force the kunoichi to retreat. After Junior's death, the Flower Kunoichi Team serve under Daimaou. The Three God Generals turned them back into cats during the finale.
Ayame, Sakura, Suiren, Yuri, and Ran are portrayed by Maho Suzuki (鈴木 真帆, Suzuki Maho, 15-20)/Miki Ikuma (生間 美紀, Ikuma Miki, 35-53), Megumi Sakita (咲田 めぐみ, Sakita Megumi), Junko Honda (本田 順子, Honda Junko), Ritsuko Noguchi (野口 律子, Noguchi Ritsuko), and Chie Tanabe (田辺 智恵, Tanabe Chie) respectively.
The Dorodoro (ドロドロ, Dorodoro) are lowest form of Youkai who serve mainly as grunts. Though they have warped, kodama-like faces and are clad in light-blue tights, Dorodoro can "mold" themselves into human form. The Dorodoro have a fear of Nue, as he would not hesitate to kill them if they get out of line with him yet a group of them sacrificed themselves to aid Saizou and Seikai while the two Kakurangers were turned into lesser Youkai like themselves.
| No. | Title | Director | Writer | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "We Are Ninja" "Ninja de Gozaru" (忍者でござる) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Noboru Sugimura | February 18, 1994 |
| 2 | "A Dangerous Lady" "Abunai Obasan" (危ないオバサン) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Noboru Sugimura | February 25, 1994 |
| 3 | "American Ninja" "Amerikan Ninja" (アメリカン忍者) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | March 4, 1994 |
| 4 | "The Youkai Policeman" "Yōkai Porisuman" (妖怪ポリスマン) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | March 11, 1994 |
| 5 | "The Uneven Strange Games" "Dekoboko Chin Gēmā" (凸凹珍ゲーマー) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | March 18, 1994 |
| 6 | "The Eyeball Prince!" "Medama no Ōjisama!" (目玉の王子様!) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | March 25, 1994 |
| 7 | "The Huge One" "Koitsa Dekai" (こいつぁデカい) | Katsuya Watanabe | Naruhisa Arakawa | April 1, 1994 |
| 8 | "The Bakeneko's Shop!!" "Bakeneko Shoppu!!" (化猫ショップ!!) | Katsuya Watanabe | Susumu Takaku | April 8, 1994 |
| 9 | "Hidden Camera Live" "Dokkiri Namachūkei" (ドッキリ生中継) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | April 15, 1994 |
| 10 | "Konakijiji: A Cry-Baby Goblin" "Konakijiji ja" (子泣き爺いぢゃ) | Taro Sakamoto | Susumu Takaku | April 22, 1994 |
| 11 | "Rags are the Best!!" "Boro Koso Saikō!" (ボロこそ最高!!) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Susumu Takaku | April 29, 1994 |
| 12 | "They Came Forth!! New Beast Generals" "Detaa!! Shin Jūshō" (出たァ!! 新獣将) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | May 6, 1994 |
| 13 | "Fight Off The Bad Luck" "Buttobase Fukō" (ブッとばせ不幸) | Shohei Tojo | Hirohisa Soda | May 13, 1994 |
| 14 | "I'm the Young Noble!!" "Ore wa Kikōshi da!!" (俺は貴公子だ!!) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | May 20, 1994 |
| 15 | "Argh!! Awesome Guys" "Gē!! Sugoi Yatsu" (げえッ!! 凄い奴) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | May 27, 1994 |
| 16 | "The Red Monkey's Oni Extermination" "Aka-zaru no Oni Taiji" (赤猿の鬼退治) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | June 3, 1994 |
| 17 | "The Demon Sword and Underwear" "Maken to Pantsu!!" (魔剣とパンツ!!) | Katsuya Watanabe | Hirohisa Soda | June 10, 1994 |
| 18 | "Hello, Mushroom-kun" "Harō Kinoko-kun" (ハローきのこ君) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | June 17, 1994 |
| 19 | "The Hellish Trap in Darkness!!" "Kurayami no Jigoku Wana!!" (暗闇の地獄罠!!) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | June 24, 1994 |
| 20 | "The Flowery Kunoichi-Gumi!!" "Hana no Kunoichi Gumi" (花のくノ一組!!) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | July 1, 1994 |
| 21 | "Monkey See, Monkey Does Finishing Move" "Saru Mane Hissatsu-waza" (サルマネ必殺技) | Shohei Tojo | Hirohisa Soda | July 8, 1994 |
| 22 | "I'll Make You Laugh" "Waratte Itadakimasu" (笑って頂きます) | Shohei Tojo | Hirohisa Soda | July 15, 1994 |
| 23 | "Blitzkrieg!! The Strange White Bird" "Dengeki!! Shiroi Kaichō" (電撃!! 白い怪鳥) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | July 22, 1994 |
| 24 | "Ah, It's All Over" "Aa Ikkan no Owari" (あァ一巻の終り) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | July 29, 1994 |
| 25 | "A New Departure" "Aratanaru Tabidachi!!" (新たなる出発!!) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | August 5, 1994 |
| 26 | "The Tsuruhime Family's Super Secret" "Tsuruhime-ke no Chō Himitsu" (鶴姫家の超秘密) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | August 12, 1994 |
| 27 | "The End of the Mighty Shogun" "Muteki Shōgun no Saigo" (無敵将軍の最期) | Shohei Tojo | Hirohisa Soda | August 19, 1994 |
| 28 | "A Super Big Figure Coming to Japan!!" "Chō Ōmono – Rainichi!!" (超大物・来日!!) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | August 26, 1994 |
| 29 | "History's First Super Battle" "Shijō Hatsu no Sūpā Batoru" (史上初の超対決) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | September 2, 1994 |
| 30 | "Reunion With a Traitorous Father" "Saikai Uragiri no Chichi" (再会 裏切りの父) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | September 9, 1994 |
| 31 | "Behold!! A New Shogun" "Mita ka!! Shin Shōgun" (見たか!! 新将軍) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | September 16, 1994 |
| 32 | "Don't Lick Me, Face Thief" "Namen na Kao Dorobō" (ナメんな顔泥棒) | Katsuya Watanabe | Susumu Takaku | September 23, 1994 |
| 33 | "The Village Of Amanojaku" "Amanojaku Mura" (あまのじゃく村) | Hiroshi Butsuda | Kunio Fujii | September 30, 1994 |
| 34 | "The Bride's Sandy Hell!!" "Hanayome Suna Jigoku!!" (花嫁砂地獄!!) | Hiroshi Butsuda | Hirohisa Soda | October 7, 1994 |
| 35 | "The Three Punishment Sisters" "Oshioki San Shisutāzu" (おしおき三姉妹) | Katsuya Watanabe | Naruhisa Arakawa | October 14, 1994 |
| 36 | "The Hooligan Ninja!!" "Abarenbō Ninja!!" (暴れん坊忍者!!) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | October 21, 1994 |
| 37 | "Karakasa Dance Queen" "Karakasa Dansu Kuīn" (唐傘ダンス女王) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | October 28, 1994 |
| 38 | "Mooo... A Repulsive Cow" "Moo~- Iya na Ushi" (モオ～ッ嫌な牛) | Taro Sakamoto | Hirohisa Soda | November 4, 1994 |
| 39 | "It's a Special Compilation!!" "Tokubetsu Hen Dayo!!" (特別編だよっ!!) | Shohei Tojo | Noboru Sugimura | November 11, 1994 |
| 40 | "The Heisei Fox Battle" "Heisei Kitsune-gassen" (平成キツネ合戦) | Shohei Tojo | Susumu Takaku | November 18, 1994 |
| 41 | "The Stray Ghost" "Hagure Gōsuto" (はぐれゴースト) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Hirohisa Soda | November 25, 1994 |
| 42 | "The Plundered Ninja Power" "Gōdatsu Ninja Pawā" (強奪忍者パワー) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Noboru Sugimura | December 2, 1994 |
| 43 | "The Last Day of the Three God Generals" "Sanshinshō Saigo no Hi" (三神将最期の日) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | December 9, 1994 |
| 44 | "The Wound-Filled Great Reversal" "Kizu Darake Dai Gyakuten" (傷だらけ大逆転) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | December 16, 1994 |
| 45 | "The Hasty Santa" "Awatenbō Santa" (慌てん坊サンタ) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Hirohisa Soda | December 23, 1994 |
| 46 | "The New Year's Manga Hell" "Shinshun Manga Jigoku" (新春まんが地獄) | Yoshiaki Kobayashi | Hirohisa Soda | January 6, 1995 |
| 47 | "The 100-Burst Human Fireworks" "Ningen Hanabi Hyaku Renpatsu" (人間花火百連発) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Susumu Takaku | January 13, 1995 |
| 48 | "The Great Snow Woman's Snowball Fight" "Ō Yukionna no Yukigassen" (大雪女の雪合戦) | Takeshi Ogasawara | Hirohisa Soda | January 20, 1995 |
| 49 | "Suddenly!! Poor" "Totsuzen!! Binbō" (突然!! ビンボー) | Katsuya Watanabe | Hirohisa Soda | January 27, 1995 |
| 50 | "Special Selection!! The Youkai Inn" "Tokusen!! Yōkai no Yado" (特選!! 妖怪の宿) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | February 3, 1995 |
| 51 | "Hero Elimination" "Hīrō Shikkaku" (英・雄・失・格) | Katsuya Watanabe | Noboru Sugimura | February 10, 1995 |
| 52 | "Finale!! Father and Daughter" "Daidan'en!! Chichi to Ko" (大団円!! 父と娘) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | February 17, 1995 |
| 53 (Final) | "Sealing!!" "Fūin!!" (封印!!) | Taro Sakamoto | Noboru Sugimura | February 24, 1995 |
The movie version of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, directed by Shōhei Tōjō and written by Noboru Sugimura, premiered in Japan on April 16, 1994, at Toei Super Hero Fair '94. It was originally shown as a triple feature alongside Kamen Rider J and the feature film version of Blue SWAT. The villains in the movie consisted of the Hitotsume-kozō Brothers and Oonyuudou. The movie was filmed between episodes 7 and 8, but is actually set between episodes 8 and 9.
The Kakuranger team was the main focus in the 1994 3D featurette Super Sentai World, which features them teaming up with the four previous Super Sentai teams (Fiveman, Jetman, Zyuranger, and Dairanger).
A second crossover film was released in the form of Chouriki Sentai Ohranger: Olé vs. Kakuranger (超力戦隊オーレンジャー オーレVSカクレンジャー, Chōriki Sentai Ōrenjā Ōre Tai Kakurenjā), a 1996 direct-to-video movie which features the Kakurangers working together with the Ohrangers to defeat a common adversary.
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー 第三部・中年奮闘編, Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā Dai-san-bu Chūnen Funtō-hen) is a web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on August 4, 2024 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the series.[6] Mrs. Green Apple frontman Motoki Ohmori appeared as a special guest.[7][8] In the ending sequence, Nao Nagasawa, Kōhei Yamamoto, and Hideya Tawada reprised their respective roles as Nanami Nono and Kota Bito from Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger and Kinji Takigawa from Shuriken Sentai Ninninger.
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