Inazuman

Inazuman (イナズマン) was a television series starring a mutant fictional character of the same name created by Shotaro Ishinomori. The first television series ran from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974 with a total of 25 episodes. A sequel series named Inazuman Flash (イナズマンF (フラッシュ)) aired in 1974 from April 9 to September 24 with a total of 23 episodes.

Inazuman Specs

Inazuman is, in reality, young college student Goro Watari (渡 五郎 Watari Gorō), a mutant. He lost his mother as a child and had other dark moments in his childhood (he had a childhood girlfriend named Teresa (テレサ) who was taken away by an American soldier during the US occupation of Japan). However, when the Neo-Human Empire Phantom Army (新人類帝国ファントム軍団 Shinjinrui Teikoku Fantomu Gundan) begins its attacks on mankind with its Phantom Soldiers (ファントム兵士 Fantomu Heishi) and Mutant Robots (ミュータンロボット Myūtan Robotto), he puts his psionic powers to the test.

First, he performs a henshin (transforming) pose (crossing his arms in front of his chest) and uttering the phrase, "Gōriki Shōrai" (剛力招来, literally "Summon Mighty Power"), he is wrapped in a blue cocoon, which bursts, revealing the creature Sanagiman (サナギマン). He resembles an armored brown larva mutant with a white belt which has a biomechanical power meter on it.

Sanagiman is able to absorb the kinetic energy of any attack used against him, and when he gathers enough energy into his belt, he crosses his fists in front of his chest, uttering the phrase, "Chōriki Shōrai" (超力招来, literally "Summon Super Power"), and spreads them aside, with his chest emitting a swirl of colorful energy. Sanagiman's exterior then explodes to pieces, and in his place is Inazuman. He is a moth-like mutant wearing the same power belt as Sanagiman and resembles a blue humanoid with huge colorful oval eyes, prominent lightning-shaped antennas, black gloves and boots, yellow lightning-shaped marks that stream down his body, and a yellow scarf he can transform into various weapons, including a whip-like chain.

As both Sanagiman and Inazuman, his kiai fighting cry is "Chest!" (チェスト! Chesuto!), which originates from the Japanese island of Kyūshū where the main character, Goro Watari, hails.

Goro is a member of the Youth League (少年同盟 Shōnen Dōmei), a Science Patrol-style group of similarly psychic-powered young people, and has a telepathic link with the sentient flying car Raijingo (ライジンゴー Raijingō) which can fire missiles and bite bad guys with the teeth built into its mouth-like grill ("Raijin" is the Japanese god of thunder).

Media

Manga

In the manga adaptation by creator Shotaro Ishinomori, Goro Watari is a junior high school student named Saburo Kazeta (風田 サブロウ Kazeta Saburō), and is nicknamed "Sabu" (サブ). The character first appeared in Ishinomori's manga "Mutant Sabu".

Inazuman appeared somewhat different than in the live action tokusatsu version, and was created when the series was in development as an animated series, provisionally titled "Mutant Z". In these versions, the character appeared to be naked, with a curled proboscis stemming from his forehead, and was even able to sprout moth wings from his back. The manga version of Sanagiman was also slightly different from the tokusatsu version. In the manga, Saburo has also a childhood girlfriend nicknamed "Miyoppe" (ミヨッペ) who is usually the victim of Saburo's jokes with his psychic powers.

Tokusatsu Series

Inazuman (イナズマン) was produced by Toei Company Ltd. and broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974, with a total of 25 episodes. The series starred Daisuke Ban (as Naoya Ban) of Kikaider fame in the title role as he fights Emperor Banba (帝王バンバ Teiō Banba) and his mutant minions. The entire 48-episode series was broadcast (with English subtitles) on KIKU-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii in the mid-1970s, during the height of the popularity of tokusatsu programs ignited by the success of Kikaider in 1974.

  1. Horror of the Neo-Human Race: The Challenge of Banba!! (恐怖の新人類 バンバの挑戦!! Kyōfu no Shinjinrui Banba no Chōsen!!)
  2. Youth League, Beware! The Cursed Water!! (危うし少年同盟! 呪いの水!! Ayaushi Shōnen Dōmei! Noroi no Mizu!!)
  3. Phantom Hell Beckons the Black Death! (黒い死を呼ぶファントム地獄! Kuroi Shi o Yobu Fantomu Jigoku!)
  4. The Japanese Archipelago Explodes!! (日本列島大爆発!! Nihon Rettō Daibakuhatsu!!)
  5. Epic Dogfight! Raijingo Bites!! (大空中戦! かみつくライジンゴー!! Daikūchūsen! Kamitsuku Raijingō!!)
  6. Bizarre Snow Banbara's Neo-Human Surgery!! (怪奇ユキバンバラ! 新人類手術!! Kaiki Yuki Banbara! Shinjinrui Shujutsu!!)
  7. Weird! A Flying Eye!? (奇怪! 空飛ぶ一ツ目!? Kikai! Sora Tobu Hitotsume!?)
  8. Terrifying Sandstorm! Major Airport Engulfed!! (恐怖砂あらし! 大空港沈没!! Kyōfu Sunaarashi! Daikūkō Chinbotsu!!)
  9. The Glowing Mold Stalks the Night!! (光るカビは夜歩く!! Hikaru Kabi wa Yoru Aruku!!)
  10. Terror of the Carnivorous Gas!! (人喰いガスの恐怖!! Hitokui Gasu no Kyōfu!!)
  11. Rose Banbara is Inazuman's Mother (バラバンバラはイナズマンの母 Bara Banbara wa Inazuman no Haha)
  12. Mother's Enemy: Banba vs. Inazuman (母の仇バンバ対イナズマン Haha no Kataki Banba Tai Inazuman)
  13. Inazuman Wounded (傷ついたイナズマン Kizutsuita Inazuman)
  14. The Fury of Raijingo: Great Dogfight!! (怒りのライジンゴー 大空中戦!! Ikari no Raijingō Daikūchūsen!!)
  15. A Mother's Shadow Devoured (影をくわれたお母さん Kage o Kuwareta Okāsan)
  16. Race to Fulfill a Promise! (約束に向って走れ! Yakusoku ni Mukatte Hashire!)
  17. Puzzling Confrontation! Two Goro Wataris!! (謎の対決! ふたりの渡五郎!! Nazo no Taiketsu! Futari no Watari Gorō!!)
  18. A Lightning Strike for Friendship!! (友情のイナズマ落し!! Yūjō no Inazuma Otoshi!!)
  19. The Mysterious Deadly Boxer: Mirror X? (謎の殺人ボクサー ミラーX? Nazo no Satsujin Bokusā Mirā Ekkusu?)
  20. Chase the Star Saucer! Raijingo!! (星円盤を追え! ライジンゴー!! Hoshi Enban o Oe! Raijngō!!)
  21. Watari Goro: Inazuman Dies!? (渡五郎 イナズマン死す!? Watari Gorō Inazuman Shisu!?)
  22. The Walking Clay Doll: Terror of the Cracking Earth!! (歩く土人形 恐怖の大地割れ!! Aruku Tsuchi Ningyō Kyōfu no Daijiware!!)
  23. The Cursed Paint That Melts Humans (呪いのえのぐが人を溶かす Noroi no Enogu ga Hito o Tokasu)
  24. The Mysterious Robot Warrior? (謎のロボット戦士? Nazo no Robotto Senshi?)
  25. Majestic! The End of Emperor Banba!! (壮烈! 帝王バンバの最期!! Sōretsu! Teiō Banba no Saigo!!)

Inazuman Flash

Inazuman Flash (イナズマンF(フラッシュ) Inazuman Furasshu) was produced by Toei Company Ltd. and broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 9, 1974 to September 24, 1974, with a total of 23 episodes. A direct and darker continuation of the first series, a new enemy emerges in the evil robots of the Despar Army (デスパー軍団 Desupā Gundan) led by Führer Geisel (ガイゼル総統 Gaizeru Sōtō), named after Ernesto Geisel. Inazuman, gaining the ability to hurl lightning bolts, is joined by a cynical cyborg Interpol agent named Makoto Arai (荒井 誠 Arai Makoto).

  1. Terror of Führer Geisel and the Mysterious Despar Army! (恐怖のガイゼル総統と謎のデスパー軍団! Kyōfu no Gaizeru Sōtō to Nazo no Gundan!)
  2. Terrifying Safari!! Great Operation at Sea!! (戦慄のサファリ! 海中大作戦!! Senritsu no Safari! Kaichū Daisakusen!!)
  3. 500 Hydrogen Bombs!! Great Underground Battle! (水爆500発!! 地底大戦争! Subaku Gohyappatsu!! Chitei Daisensō!)
  4. The Mysterious Airship? To Space!! (謎の飛行船? 宇宙へ!! Nazo no Hikōsen? Uchū e!!)
  5. DES Missiles: Great Aerial Battle!! (DES(デス)ミサイル大空中戦!! Desu Misairu Daikūchūsen!!)
  6. Geisel's Great Fort (ガイゼルの大要塞 Gaizeru no Daiyōsai)
  7. Great Decisive Battle! Udespar vs. Inazuman!! (大決戦! ウデスパー対イナズマン!! Daikessen! Udesupā Tai Inazuman!!)
  8. Udespar Siblings! Cross Hurricane!! (ウデスパー兄弟! クロスハリケーン!! Udesupā Kyōdai! Kurosu Harikēn)
  9. Boys Circus and Great Multi-Operation (少年サーカスとマルチ大作戦 Shōnen Sākasu to Maruchi Daisakusen)
  10. Udespar Siblings' Defiant Shape (ウデスパー兄弟の挑戦状!! Udesupā Kyōdai no Chōsenjō!!)
  11. Beautiful Cyborg! The Alter-ego at Dawn!! (美しいサイボーグ! 暁に分身す!! Utsukushii Saibōgu! Akatsuki ni Bunshin su!!)
  12. Phantom City: Despar City (幻影都市デスパー・シティ Genei Toshi Desupā Shiti)
  13. White Darkness!! Witch Sings the Babysitter Song (白い闇!! 鬼女がうたう子守歌 Shiroi Yami!! Kijo ga Utau Komoriuta)
  14. Great Aerial Battle!! Combine Udespar Tactical Squad (大空中戦!! 合体ウデスパー戦略部隊 Daikūchūsen!! Gattai Udesupā Senryaku Butai)
  15. Big Flood Operation!! (大洪水作戦!! Daikōzui Sakusen!!)
  16. The Mysterious Woman: Whose Name is the Despar Secret Agent (謎の女 その名はデスパー秘密捜査官 Nazo no Onna Sono Na wa Desupā Himitsu Sōsakan)
  17. Blue Pupils of the Invader (青い瞳のインベーダー Aoi Hitomi no Inbēdā)
  18. Red Queen: Ballad of Assassination (レッドクイン 暗殺のバラード Red Kuin Ansatsu no Barādo)
  19. Inazuman: Joins the Despar Army!! (イナズマン デスパー軍団に入隊す!! Inazuman Desupā Gundan ni Nyūtai su!!)
  20. Butterfly and Guillotine: Flower Hell Operation (蝶とギロチン 花地獄作戦 Chō to Girochin Hana Jigoku Sakusen)
  21. The Deceased Squad - Route 047 (死者部隊ルート047 Shisha Butai Rūto)
  22. Kill the Burdensome Ones: Geisel's Supereme Command (邪魔者は殺(け)せ ガイゼルの至上命令 Jamamono wa Kese Gaizeru no Shijō Meirei)
  23. Farewell Inazuman: Geisel's Last Day (さらばイナズマン ガイゼル最期の日 Saraba Inazuman Gaizeru Saigo no Hi)

Kamen Rider series

Mutant Robots

Mutant robots were psionics converted into neo-humans, sometimes involuntarily, by the Neo-Human Empire led by Emperor Banba and the commanders of the Phantom Soldiers.

Robot Fighters

Serving as the successors of the Mutant Robots for Flash, Robot Fighters are robots created by the Despa Army and the leaders the Despa soldiers. These robots were designed to be stronger than the Mutant Robots of the Banba Empire and were under the direct control of Udespa's various incarnations. Due to budget cuts in production some Robot Fighters had a second appearance with minimal modification in the second half of the series.

Udespas

Cast

Other Appearances

See also


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