15. aug, 2014

Secret Task Force GORANGER 1975-77

Japan seems to be an odd place and I can understand that it's culture can often be misunderstood by outsiders. It's feudal samurai ideals clash with cutting edge computers; aged survivors of the only country which endured the full wrath of the atomic bomb, mix with teenagers in weird outfits. Japanese popular culture not only reflects the attitudes and concerns of the present but also provides a link to the past. Many of their themes and styles of presentation can be traced to traditional art forms. Over the years Japanese pop culture has gained a lot of popularity, and increased it's awereness of Japanese culture in general. Television broadcasting in Japan started in 1950, making the country one of the first in the world with an experimental television service. And because we can't come up with original ideas ourselves we often steal ideas from the Japanese. Remember the tv-serie The Power Rangers? They took much of it's footage from the Japanese version Goranger. Here's a little history lesson:

Himitsu Sentai Goranger, created by Shotaro Ishinomori,  is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero tv-series. It was the first in the long running Super Sentai Series. Tokusatsu (translates as ''special filming'') is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that features considerable use of special effects.Tokusatsu is one of the most popular forms of Japanese entertainment, but is not widely known outside of Asia. Tokusatsu has origins in early Japanese theatre, specifically kabuki (action - and fight scenes) and bunraku (puppetry). So there's that link with the past again. The Super Sentai Series is the name given to the long-running super hero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co.,Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asashi. ''Super'' refers to their use of mecha (robots and machines controlled by people), and ''sentai'' is the Japanese word for ''task force'', or literally ''fighting squadron'' and was also a term used for Japanese squadrons in World War II.  

Story

The Black Cross Army sends five Masked Monsters to destroy EAGLE (Earth Guard League) Japanese bases. The survivors (Akarenger, Aorenger, Kirenger I & II, Midorenger, Momorenger) reorganize under Commander Edogawa in Tokyo to form The Secret Task Force Goranger, armed with Goranger Suits that gives them superhuman abilities. The Gorangers avenge their fallen comrades by defeating The Black Cross' first five monsters and the others that follow. The Gorangers transform into their costumes by shouting the word ''Go!''. Prior to battle, the team shouts ''Five people assembled, Goranger!'' 

Goranger Soccer-Ball Kicking Technique 

My personal favorite of The Gorangers' finishing attacks is the soccer-ball kicking technique (Goranger Storm) A silver ball was produced by Akarenger,  and was passed among the various Gorangers' like a soccer ball, until Akarenger would kick it at the episode's monster, at which point it would cause the monster to explode. In a later variant, The Goranger Hurricane, Momorenger would produce a finned, multicolored grenade the size and shape of an American-style football. It was passed again among each Goranger until Aorenger set it up for punting by Akarenger. One launched towards the monster, it would transform into an object that was usually either anathema to the monster's personality, such as a magnet to disrupt a mechanical clock monster, or a gift, such as a bowl of ramen to a skeleton-themed, starving monster. They should have used this technique in The World Cup, that would have made me watch soccer.

Momorenger

Peggy Matsuyama alias Momorenger (Pink Ranger) is my favorite character. She is a chemical analyst and special weapons engineer specializing in explosives. My kind of woman. She is also very fashion conscious, often wearing go-go boots and hot pants. Momorenger is armed with heart-shaped earrings that double as high impact bombs. She also carries a heart-shaped ''Momo Card'' throwing shurikens (literally ''sword hidden in user's hand), and a ''Momo Mirror'' jamming device which confuses and confounds her opponents. Although Japanese women tend to be viewed as submissive, in movies and television that's often not the case. They may look fragile, but they can kick your goddamn ass! 

With it's campy feel I think it might still appeal to an audience today, and yes internet babies, you can probably find this on Youtube. So ''GO!'' check it out and transform into a Goranger.