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Logo-heroThis article is about a TV block featuring shows in the Tokusatsu Super Hero subgenre.
Super Hero Time

The title card for Super Hero Time since 2005.

Super Hero Time (スーパーヒーロータイム, Sūpā Hīrō Taimu) is a programming block on the Japanese television network, TV Asahi, featuring new episodes of tokusatsu television series from the Super SentaiIcon-crosswiki and Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki series. Both series have decades of history and have been intertwined in the public imagination for some time, not least of all because the driving creative force behind both was manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and they were both produced by the same production company, Toei Company; however, they did not air together until 2000 with Kamen Rider KuugaIcon-crosswiki and Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFiveIcon-crosswiki, though at the time they were not acknowledged together. Super Hero Time airs every Sunday morning, from 9:00 to 10:00 JST.

History

Starting in the late 1960s, the hour was originally meant for educational children's programs. Over the years the hour began including henshin hero programs, one of the first being Warrior of Love: Rainbowman (愛の戦士レインボーマン, Ai no Senshi Reinbōman).

In 1987, Toei's Choujinki MetalderIcon-crosswiki was moved from a Monday evening 19:00 JST time slot to a Sunday morning 9:00 JST time slot, followed by a move of Kidou Keiji JibanIcon-crosswiki to 8:00 JST Sunday morning in 1989. Similarly, in 1997, Denji Sentai MegarangerIcon-crosswiki was moved from a Wednesday evening 17:00 JST time slot to the Sunday morning 7:30 JST time slot, pairing it up with B-Robo KabutackIcon-crosswiki. The Super Sentai Series programs would continue to air at 7:30 JST after the Metal Hero Series ended and Moero!! Robocon aired in its slot in 1999 and was followed by the premiere of Kamen Rider KuugaIcon-crosswiki in 2000.

Although a Super Sentai Series and a Kamen Rider Series aired side-by-side, the Super Hero Time branding of the shows did not begin until the 2003 broadcast season (known as SUPER Hero Time (SUPERヒーロータイム) until 2005). As a part of the Super Hero Time block, actors from the programs often interact with each other to promote each other's shows, films, and perform skits. Satoru AkashiIcon-crosswiki (Mitsuomi TakahashiIcon-crosswiki) and Souji TendouIcon-crosswiki (Hiro MizushimaIcon-crosswiki) talked about each other's franchises, and Master Sha-FuIcon-crosswiki (voiced by Ichirō NagaiIcon-crosswiki) often showed up on the Den-LinerIcon-crosswiki to talk with the ImaginIcon-crosswiki and Ryotaro NogamiIcon-crosswiki (Takeru SatohIcon-crosswiki) in cartoonish caricatures.

For the 2009 television season, Kamen Rider DecadeIcon-crosswiki only aired for 31 episodes, allowing for the broadcast of Kamen Rider WIcon-crosswiki for a full 49 episode run. This has introduced an offset of 5 months between the series premieres of the yearly Super Sentai Series (which premieres in mid February) and Kamen Rider Series (now premiering in late September or early October), instead of an approximate month long offset that had existed before (Kamen Rider Series premiered in mid-January).

The Super Hero Time block is part of the larger Nichi Asa Kids Time (ニチアサキッズタイム, Nichi Asa Kizzu Taimu, "Sunday Morning Kids Time") block, which begins at 7:00 JST and concluded with the airing of a shōjo anime (beginning with Ojamajo Doremi, then Ashita no Nadja, and since 2004 the Pretty Cure franchise (Currently airing Soaring Sky Precure), all of which are produced by ABC Osaka) at 9:00 JST. All shows are properties of Bandai.

On October 1, 2017, the Super Hero Time lineup moved to 9:00 to 10:00 JST, and the two shows swapped blocks, begin with shōjo anime at 8:30, then Kamen Rider at 9:00, and Super Sentai at 9:30. The former broadcast slot was replaced by a news program titled Sunday Live, featuring Noriyuki Higashiyama of the Johnny’s Entertainment idol group, Shonentai.[1]

Line-ups

Pre-Super Hero Time Line-ups

Showa Era

Premiere date 19:30 JST
Kamen RiderIcon-crosswikiSuper SentaiIcon-crosswiki ► Other series
Year Month
1971 April Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki
1973 February Kamen Rider V3Icon-crosswiki
1974 February Kamen Rider XIcon-crosswiki
1974 October Kamen Rider AmazonIcon-crosswiki
1975 April Himitsu Sentai GorengerIcon-crosswiki
1977 April J.A.K.Q. DengekitaiIcon-crosswiki
1978 January Tomei Dori-chan
1978 July Message from Space: Galactic Wars

Heisei Era

Premiere date 7:30 JST
Super SentaiIcon-crosswiki
8:00 JST
Other series ► Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki
Year Month
1997 February Denji Sentai MegarangerIcon-crosswiki B-Robo KabutackIcon-crosswiki
1998 March Tetsuwan Tantei RobotackIcon-crosswiki
February Seijuu Sentai GingamanIcon-crosswiki
1999 January Moero!! Robocon
February Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFiveIcon-crosswiki
2000 January Kamen Rider KuugaIcon-crosswiki
February Mirai Sentai TimerangerIcon-crosswiki
2001 January Kamen Rider AgitoIcon-crosswiki
February Hyakujuu Sentai GaorangerIcon-crosswiki
2002 January Kamen Rider RyukiIcon-crosswiki
February Ninpu Sentai HurricanegerIcon-crosswiki

Super Hero Time Line-ups

Heisei Era

September 2003 - September 2010
Premiere date 7:30 JST
Super SentaiIcon-crosswiki
8:00 JST
Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki
Year Month
2003 January Ninpu Sentai HurricanegerIcon-crosswiki Kamen Rider 555Icon-crosswiki
February Bakuryuu Sentai AbarangerIcon-crosswiki
2004 January Kamen Rider BladeIcon-crosswiki
February Tokusou Sentai DekarangerIcon-crosswiki
2005 January Kamen Rider HibikiIcon-crosswiki
February Mahou Sentai MagirangerIcon-crosswiki
2006 January Kamen Rider KabutoIcon-crosswiki
February GoGo Sentai BoukengerIcon-crosswiki
2007 January Kamen Rider Den-OIcon-crosswiki
February Juken Sentai GekirangerIcon-crosswiki
2008 January Kamen Rider KivaIcon-crosswiki
February Engine Sentai Go-OngerIcon-crosswiki
2009 January Kamen Rider DecadeIcon-crosswiki
February Samurai Sentai ShinkengerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider WIcon-crosswiki
2010 February Tensou Sentai GoseigerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider OOO
September 2011 - September 2017
2011 February Kamen Rider OOO Kaizoku Sentai GokaigerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider FourzeIcon-crosswiki
2012 February Tokumei Sentai Go-BustersIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider WizardIcon-crosswiki
2013 February Zyuden Sentai KyoryugerIcon-crosswiki
October Kamen Rider GaimIcon-crosswiki
2014 February Ressha Sentai ToQgerIcon-crosswiki
October Kamen Rider DriveIcon-crosswiki
2015 February Shuriken Sentai NinningerIcon-crosswiki
October Kamen Rider GhostIcon-crosswiki
2016 February Doubutsu Sentai ZyuohgerIcon-crosswiki
October Kamen Rider Ex-AidIcon-crosswiki
2017 February Uchu Sentai KyurangerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider BuildIcon-crosswiki
October 2017 - April 2019
Premiere date 9:00 JST
Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki
9:30 JST
Super SentaiIcon-crosswiki
Year Month
2017 October Kamen Rider BuildIcon-crosswiki Uchu Sentai KyurangerIcon-crosswiki
2018 February Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai PatrangerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider Zi-OIcon-crosswiki
2019 February 4 Week Continuous Special Super Sentai Strongest Battle!!Icon-crosswiki
March Kishiryu Sentai RyusoulgerIcon-crosswiki

Reiwa Era

May 2019 - Ongoing
Premiere date 9:00 JST
Kamen RiderIcon-crosswiki
9:30 JST
Super SentaiIcon-crosswiki
Year Month
2019 March Kamen Rider Zi-OIcon-crosswiki Kishiryu Sentai RyusoulgerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider Zero-OneIcon-crosswiki
2020 March Mashin Sentai KiramagerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider SaberIcon-crosswiki
2021 March Kikai Sentai ZenkaigerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider ReviceIcon-crosswiki
2022 March Avataro Sentai DonbrothersIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider GeatsIcon-crosswiki
2023 March Ohsama Sentai King-OhgerIcon-crosswiki
September Kamen Rider GotchardIcon-crosswiki
2024 March Bakuage Sentai BoonboomgerIcon-crosswiki

Breaks

On certain weeks, the block would go on break for TV Asahi to air certain events happening that particular week (or, in the case of new year's, is simply just a generic one-week break). Notable examples include:

  • The third weekend of June - U.S. Open
    • However, due to the time difference between the U.S. and Japan, Super Hero Time may still be broadcast as usual depending on the year. In 2021, there was no global broadcast, so the block was aired as usual.
  • The first weekend of November - Japan Collegiate Ekiden Championships
  • The last weekend of December / first weekend of January - New Year's break

Before the change in broadcast time, it was sometimes suspended due to the United States Women's Open Golf (early July) (however, due to the time difference between the U.S. and Japan, it was aired as usual in some years). In addition to these, sports broadcasts such as the Olympic Games and FINA World Championships, variety specials, and special news programs for emergencies may cause one or both of the programs in the block to be pushed back a week.

In certain cases, only one of the two shows is aired while the other half of the block is replaced with an event or (in the case of Drive and ToQger) emergency news coverage. Notable examples include:

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan’s state of emergency order in mid 2020 put production of new episodes of Kamen Rider Zero-One on hold for five weeks. Kiramager was also delayed for a brief period as one of its cast members became infected with the highly contagious virus. While the block still aired as scheduled, no new episodes were shown. This semi-hiatus was done to keep the production staff and crew of Toei studios out of harm’s way until new health and safety protocols for filming could be devised and the state of emergency was lifted by June of 2020.

From May 17 through June 14, in place of new episodes, five specials were aired for both Zero-One and Kiramager (the latter of which instead had four specials plus a televised broadcast of one of its movies) recapping events and/or certain elements of episodes made and aired prior to the production pause.

Date 9:00 JST
Kamen Rider Zero-OneIcon-crosswiki
9:30 JST
Mashin Sentai KiramagerIcon-crosswiki
May 17 Kamen Rider Zero-One: President Special PART.01Icon-crosswiki Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Episode ZEROIcon-crosswiki televised cut
May 24 Kamen Rider Zero-One: President Special PART.02Icon-crosswiki Ep. 1.2 Unreleased Cut, Warehouse Release, Start Dash Once Again SPIcon-crosswiki
May 31 Kamen Rider Zero-One: Shooting SpecialIcon-crosswiki Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Kira Talk! The Partner-Loving MashinIcon-crosswiki
June 7 Kamen Rider Zero-One: Super Work War Battle 1Icon-crosswiki Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Kira Talk! This Battle is Amazing!!Icon-crosswiki
June 14 Kamen Rider Zero-One: Super Work War Battle 2Icon-crosswiki Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Galza and Carantula Jamental InstituteIcon-crosswiki

Gallery

External links

References

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