REVIEW: Samurai Sentai Shinkenger [TV] (2009)

For nearly two decades, fans in the West have enjoyed the fantastic world of the Power Rangers, based on the annual Super Sentai Series in Japan. While fans were snubbed for an adaptation of the 33rd Super Sentai Series for a return of the original MIGHTY MORPHIN’ POWER RANGERS, this Super Sentai series is quite a delight due to its combined theme of the samurai and the “five elements” of the Earth.

300 years ago, the evil Doukoku Chimatsuri and his Gedoshu army were sealed by five mysterious warriors known as the Shinkengers. In the present day, the Gedoshu have found a way out of the seal and slowly begins their path of destruction on Earth. However, the latest descendant of the Shinkengers’ leader, Takeru Shiba (Tori Matsuzaka), has been ready to take on the Gedoshu. However, he soon learns he cannot do it alone.

The descendants of the other Shinkengers, Ryunosuke Ikenami (Hiroki Aiba), a Kabuki actor; Mako Shiraishi (Rin Takanashi), a kindergarten teacher; Chiaki Tani (Shogo Suzuki), a carefree video game player; and Kotoha Hanaori (Suzuka Morita), an avid musician are summoned to follow in their ancestors’ footsteps and become the remaining members of the Shinkengers and together, they begin their quest to stop Doukoku and his army once and for all.

While many of the original Super Sentai series have had the themes of automobiles, dinosaurs, mythological figures, and even wild animals, this series focuses on the Samurai theme as well as the five elements. Takeru, known as ShinkenRed, is sometimes referred to as “Lord” as he is the 18th head of his family. Tori Matsuzaka plays Takeru first as someone who feels like he doesn’t need anyone and tends to be stubborn. However, as the series progressed, he learns hard lessons about not only becoming a leader, but learns to be a good friend to his fellow team members as well.

The other Shinkengers tend to be the same throughout the series in a way. Hiroki Aiba plays ShinkenBlue Ryunosuke as a total follower loyal to Lord Takeru and does anything to follow the Samurai path, sometimes overdoing it as comic relief at times. Rin Takahashi plays ShinkenPink Mako as perhaps the only mild-mannered of the entire team, yet she does have quite a flaw when it comes to cooking. Shogo Suzuki plays ShinkenGreen Chiaki as someone who at first doesn’t care too much about being a Shinkenger, but goes as far as wanting to surpass even Takeru. As the youngest and most inexperienced member, Suzuka Morita plays ShinkenYellow Kotoha as someone who progresses as she continues battle.

Goro Ibuki, a veteran of classuic 70′s Yakuza classics, such as BATTLE WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY (1973) and FINAL EPISODE (1974), gives a great performance in the role of Hikoma Kusakabe. Hikoma acts as a mentor of sorts to Takeru and the Shinkengers as well as act as a father figure for Takeru after the death of his real father. Hikoma acts as a drill sergeant at times, but has a heart for the team and stays loyal to his lord and the retainers.

While the series lasted 49 episodes, episode 17 introduces the comic relief of the entire series, a sushi seller named Genta Umemori. Not much is known at first about Genta only he runs a small sushi stall. However, to the surprise of everyone, Genta is revealed to be the sixth Shinkenger, ShinkenGold as well as his past, in which his childhood friend is none other than Takeru. Keisuke Souma plays Genta very well in terms of the comic relief, a healthy breakaway from the more seriousness of the series.

The five elements schematic come in the forms of what the series call “Mojikara”. Similar to perhaps “chi” or inner energy, the mojikara is the inner energy of the Shinkengers, which is contained in disks that can be used on the Shinkengers’ swords to call on their elements. ShinkenRed uses fire, ShinkenBlue uses water, ShinkenYellow uses earth, ShinkenPink uses Heaven, and ShinkenGreen uses wood. As for ShinkenGold, he has mastered his own mojikara and uses electricity. The characters for the elements for each member is emblazed on his or her helmet.

Aside from the series’ main plot, an intricate subplot involving Takeru and a mysterious warrior named Fuwa Juuzou plays off nicely. Juuzou, played by Mitsuru Karahashi, is a half-human, half-Gedou swordsman who was the black sheep of his family. His mission in life is to find a true worthy opponent and finds one in Takeru. Their rivalry was spread out nicely throughout the series.

As with many Super Sentai series, the series has some pretty nifty action in terms of swordplay combined with the fantastic special effects that make Super Sentai what it is today. Using their Hiden disks, the Shinkengers can change from sword to various weapons from Ryunosuke’s Water Arrow to Mako’s Heaven Fan to Chiaki’s Wood Spear to Kotoha’s Land Slicer. As for Takeru, his weapon is an oversized sword. Genta’s weapon is that of a daggerin the shape of a fish that may look funny, but with Genta’s power, can wield it as if he was a clone of the DC Comics superhero The Flash.

The series was one of the most successful Sentai series as a special episode entitled THE DECISIVE WAR arrived in theaters in the summer of 2009 with another special episode to arrive in June of 2010 as well as the annual team-up, SAMURAI SENTAI SHINKENGER VS. GO-ONGER arriving in theaters rather than straight to video like their predecessors. The series emerging to the big screen only shows the popularity and growth not only of this series, but perhaps future Super Sentai series.

SAMURAI SENTAI SHINKENGER is an amazing Super Sentai Series for fans of all ages. While it may be quite a shame there will be no Power Rangers adaptation of the series, this original series is quite fun to watch with its themes of Bushido and the Five elements mixed in with some frenetic action and some comic relief.

REVIEW: Samurai Sentai Shinkenger [TV] (2009), 10.0 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

by Albert Valentin

Related Topics:
Japan  •  Power Rangers  •  samurai  •  Samurai Sentai Shinkenger  •  sentai  •  tokukatsu