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Logo-heroThis article is about a show in the Tokusatsu Super Hero subgenre.

Masked Ninja Red Shadow (仮面の忍者 赤影 Kamen no Ninja Akakage), was produced by Toei Company Ltd., and aired on KTV and Fuji TV from April 5, 1967, to March 27, 1968, with a total of 52 episodes (divided into four segments).

Development[]

This was Toei's first color tokusatsu superhero show and Japan's first color live-action ninja TV series. Aokage's footage from the series was used to create several Watari films with the titles like The Magic Sword of Watari (not to be confused with the unrelated 1966 film Watari, Ninja Boy).

Story[]

The story is set in the late sixteenth century, when Japan was in the midst of a long period of civil wars. While some seek to unite Japan in order to bring peace, there are others who encourage conflict in order to bring more power to themselves. Akakage, Aokage and Shirokage are all good ninjas working for those who seek peace and unity and battling against evil ninjas and their daikaiju (giant monsters).

Plot[]

Akakage, is a ninja who wears a red-and-black costume and a stylized red mask. His adventures take place in Feudal Japan, where he and his ninja sidekicks Aokage and Shirokage fight evil warlords, wizards and daikaiju using high-tech gadgets (a blatant oddity in a period setting).

Characters[]

Team Kage

From left to right Shirokage, Akakage and Aokage

Akakage Akakage
Aokage Aokage
Shirokage Shirokage


Villains[]

Ninja[]

Chapter 1[]

  • Gama Houshi
  • Kinenbu
  • Kugutsu Jinnai
  • Akuduji
  • Yami Hime
  • Kugutsu Jinnai
  • Oboro Ikkan
  • Mu Dou Hitotsume
  • Kuro Koumori

Chapter 2[]

  • Shiranui Tenma
  • Gyorin Ryu Haku
  • Haku Kuki
  • Syuujuu Sakon
  • Maruujyo
  • Musasabi Douken
  • Kuro Duushi

Chapter 3[]

  • Mizumasi Ryuma
  • Uzumaki Ikkansei
  • Yamabiko Ta Mon Maru
  • Arinomi Ganbei
  • Hyaku Menki
  • Yaka
  • Tsumuji
  • Mushiyase Kazaha
  • Hitomukade no Yajiri
  • Nagareboshi Sajyuu
  • Mafuu Gyuubu
  • Izayoi Genshin

Chapter 4[]

  • Yome Cyusai
  • Komou Jijhyuu
  • Kuroma Saruhiko
  • Kuroma Inuhiko
  • Chishio Syuugen
  • Yami no Kurozo
  • Kuchyashi Mizuno
  • Ashikiri Mondo
  • Induubuu Onimaru
  • Hananoko Douhaku
  • Fuduu Kongumaru
  • Dekka Dekka Touma

Monster & Daikaiju[]

Chapter 1[]

Chapter 2[]

Chapter 3[]

Chapter 4[]

Episodes[]

Kamen no Ninja Akakage was divided into four chapters, of 13 episodes each. At the end of each chapter the head evil ninja would be killed, then the next chapter would introduce new evil ninja.

Chapter 1[]

  1. Toad Priest Apparition
  2. The Kouga's Evil Child
  3. Gama Houshi's Counterattack
  4. The Mysterious Spy's Mansion
  5. Riddle of the Ninja Top
  6. Frightning Big Evil Figure
  7. One-eyed Witch Goblin
  8. Secret of Southern Barbarian Tube
  9. Immortal Evil Figure
  10. Mysterious Ninja Kuro Koumori
  11. Kinenbu's Iron Vehicle
  12. Yami Hime's Hair Storm
  13. Destruction Strategy of Big Evil Figure

Chapter 2[]

  1. Riddle of the Manji Clan
  2. Little Priest Haku Kûki
  3. The Needlecrest Demon Monster
  4. Immortal Marûjyo
  5. Monster Crow
  6. The Twirling Umbrella Ninja Technique
  7. Monster Great Manji
  8. Skeletons Swallowed By Whirling Tides
  9. The Form-Changing Monster
  10. Marûjyo From Hell
  11. The Grosbeak Siblings
  12. Demon Bells
  13. Big Explosion

Chapter 3[]

  1. 13 Kon Ninjas Arrival
  2. Big Monster Fish Niinja Skill
  3. Yamabiko Transform Niinja Skill
  4. Ant Monster Gabari
  5. Strange Ninja Hyaku Menki
  6. Agon Iron Armor
  7. Big Centipede Doguma
  8. Monster Big Counterattack
  9. Owl Monster Gappo
  10. Stone Buddha Ninja Skill
  11. Ninja Monster Jyako
  12. Monsters Ninjas Full Forces
  13. 6 Big Monsters Counterattack

Chapter 4[]

  1. Fûma Clan Ninjas Invasion
  2. Armored Monster Guron
  3. The Steel Whip Ninja Technique
  4. Vampire Monster Gizorun
  5. The Ninja Without a Face
  6. Rock Monster Gagara
  7. Monster Gagara Versus Zabami
  8. Monster From Fûma Temple
  9. Children's Ninja Technique Contest
  10. Cannibal Flower Babiran
  11. Lizard Ninja-Beast Jijigora
  12. Fûma Ninja Forces Decisive Battle
  13. Six Big Monsters Encirclement

Cast[]

  • Akakage: Sakaguchi Yuzaburou
  • Aokage: Yoshinobu Kaneko
  • Shirokage Maki Fuyukichi
  • Kagerou: Toki Misa
  • Oda Nobunaga: Kuraoka Shintarou, Shimada Keiitirou (other chapter)
  • Takenaka Hanbee: Satomi Koutarou
  • Kinoshita Toukichirou: Ohtuji Shirou
  • Kouga Genyousai: Amatsu Bin
  • Kurayami Kidou: Hara Kensaku
  • Mahuu Ikduchimaru: Shioji Akira
  • Narrator: Yamaguchi Sachio

Movies[]

DVD Akakage the movie

DVD box for the four movies.

  • Ninja Scope: The Magic World of Ninjas! (1967): A compalication movie expecially made for the international market. Using the footage of Chapter 1.
  • Watari The Conqueror (1967): A compalication movie expecially made for the international market. Using the footage of Chapter 2.
  • Watari And The Fantasticks (1967): A compalication movie expecially made for the international market. Using the footage of Chapter 3.
  • 3-D Adventure Movie: Akakage (1969): An original 3-D movie.


Legacy[]

Anime Remake[]

Akakage Anime

Kamen no Ninja Akakage (仮面の忍者赤影 Masked Ninja Akakage) is the anime remake produced by Toei that aired on Nippon Television from October 13, 1987, to March 22, 1988, with a total of 23 episodes. The complete series was released on DVD by Toei Video on June 10, 2015.

Reboot Film[]

Red Shadow movie

Red Shadow (RED SHADOW 赤影 Reddo Shadō Akakage) is a loose remake of the 1969 film for the original Akakage series. It was released in 2001, and was directed by Hiroyuki Nakano. It stars Masanobu Ando in the title role. The story, characters and their costumes were, however, re-designed from scratch.

Notes[]

  • This was the one of the first toku superhero shows to be featured in color.
  • Sennengama, the frog monster that appears in one episode, is actually a reworked toad from Magic Serpent.
  • Sennengama further connects to the Magic Serpent in a later episode where he fights the dragon from the same film in a dream sequence.
  • Akakage is influential in Japanese pop culture as even today he can be sometimes referenced on television, usually with the famous scene of a cutaway to his shadow approaching used in parodies or played straight in anime and tokusatsu.

External Links[]

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