Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (侍戦隊シンケンジャー, Samurai Sentai Shinkenjā; Samurai Squadron Shinkenger) is the title of Toei Company's 33rd entry in its long-running Super Sentai metaseries of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It aired from February 15, 2009, to February 7, 2010, replacing Engine Sentai Go-onger and was replaced by Tensou Sentai Goseiger. 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 incorporates elements from the Jidaigeki drama genre and Japanese themes and aesthetics. This is the first Super Sentai series to be filmed in HD with an HD camera having its resolution done at 720p.
Its footage and storyline was used for the American series Power Rangers Samurai and its follow up season, Super Samurai.
Contents
Story
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 House 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 Umemori, the vassals slowly learn that there's a reason for Takeru's behavior that sets him apart from his predecessors.
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.
Production
The trademark for the series was filed by Toei Company on August 12, 2008.
Films and Specials
Theatrical
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 Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker. 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. The events of the movie take place between Acts 24 and 25.
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. The heroes of Tensou Sentai Goseiger make a cameo appearance in the film. The events of the movie take place between Acts 35 and 36.
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.
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. The events of the movie take place between Acts 43 and 44.
Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad (宇宙戦隊キュウレンジャーVSスペース・スクワッド, Uchū Sentai Kyūrenjā Bāsasu Supēsu Sukuwaddo) is a V-Cinema release that features a crossover between Uchu Sentai Kyuranger and Space Squad. Aside from the main cast of Kyuranger, Yuma Ishigaki and Hiroaki Iwanaga (Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie), Yuka Hirata (Juken Sentai Gekiranger), Mitsuru Karahashi (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger), Kei Hosogai (Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger) and Ayame Misaki (Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters) return to reprise their respective roles. The V-Cinema was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 8, 2019.
Cast
Takeru Shiba (志葉 丈瑠, Shiba Takeru): Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri) main leader
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)
Voice cast
Doukoku Chimatsuri (血祭 ドウコク, Chimatsuri Dōkoku): Rintarō Nishi (西 凛太朗, Nishi Rintarō)
Tayu Usukawa (薄皮 太夫, Usukawa Dayū): Romi Park (朴 璐美, Paku Romi)
In episodes 25 and 40, Romi Park appeared on screen as Usuyuki (薄雪), Tayu's original human form.
Shitari of the Bones (骨のシタリ, Hone no Shitari): Chō (チョー)
Akumaro Sujigarano (筋殻 アクマロ, Sujigarano Akumaro): Ryō Horikawa (堀川 りょう, Horikawa Ryō)
DaiGoyou (ダイゴヨウ, Daigoyō): Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi)
Sushi Changer (スシチェンジャー, Sushi Chenjā), Inromaru (インロウマル, Inrōmaru), Narrator: Hironori Miyata (宮田 浩徳, Miyata Hironori)
Guest cast
Takeru's father (1, 12, 33, 46): Kanji Tsuda (津田 寛治, Tsuda Kanji)
Yanasudare (ヤナスダレ, Yanasudare; Voice; 5): Hiroshi Tsuchida (土田 大, Tsuchida Hiroshi)
Kana (香奈; 12): Kayoko Shibata (柴田 かよこ, Shibata Kayoko)
Daiki Kaito (海東 大樹, Kaitō Daiki; 20): Kimito Totani (戸谷 公人, Totani Kimito)
Tsukasa Kadoya (門矢 士, Kadoya Tsukasa; 21): Masahiro Inoue (井上 正大, Inoue Masahiro)
Natsumi Hikari (光 夏海, Hikari Natsumi; 21): Kanna Mori (森 カンナ, Mori Kanna)
Narutaki (鳴滝, Narutaki; 21): Tatsuhito Okuda (奥田 達士, Okuda Tatsuhito)
Eijiro Hikari (光 栄次郎, Hikari Eijirō; 21): Renji Ishibashi (石橋 蓮司, Ishibashi Renji)
Toji Sakakibara (榊原 藤次, Sakakibara Tōji; 32–33): Tetsuo Morishita (森下 哲夫, Morishita Tetsuo)
Kyoko Shiraishi (白石 響子, Shiraishi Kyōko; 34): Kazue Itoh (伊藤 かずえ, Itō Kazue)
Masataka Shiba (志葉 雅貴, Shiba Masataka; 45): Masaya Matsukaze (松風 雅也, Matsukaze Masaya)
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)
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)
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