* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
侍戦隊シンケンジャー
The 33rd entry in the Super Sentai series, broadcast from 15 February 2009 to 7 February 2010. A Shiba clan lord and his retainers, samurai who transform through the written-character power Mojikara, fight the Gedoshu of the Sanzu River.
Description
Overview
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is a tokusatsu television drama that aired 49 episodes on TV Asahi's Sunday morning slot from 15 February 2009 to 7 February 2010. It is the 33rd entry in the Super Sentai series, following Engine Sentai Go-onger and preceding Tensou Sentai Goseiger. It is notable for placing the samurai theme at the center of the series.
Story
The Gedoshu, yokai who live in the Sanzu River, have attacked humans since ancient times. Fighting them since 300 years ago (1709) are the Shinkengers, samurai made up of the head of the Shiba clan and his retainers. In the previous lord's generation, they are said to have succeeded in sealing Dokou Chimatsuri, the Gedoshu's commander. When the guardian Hiko Kusakabe senses that the Gedoshu are about to launch a full offensive, he summons four young people, descendants of the retainers, and the story begins.
Mojikara and Weapons
The samurai draw their power from Mojikara: life energy poured into a written character, which manifests the power the kanji signifies. In the story it was discovered more than 300 years ago. The original five members wear a multipurpose blade called the Shinkenmaru at their left hip. Its blade is made of a special alloy, and the guard contains a mechanism that displays footage from Secret Disks. It has no scabbard; while carried, its power is suppressed by the Mojikara for "erase." Among individual weapons, the blade of the Rekka Daizantou is known for depicting Mount Fuji, clouds and a tsunami, in the manner of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. The iai element originated in a Bandai proposal inspired by Zatoichi.
Relation to History
The 300-year setting points to 1709 in the mid-Edo period, but the Shiba clan and the Gedoshu are fictional, and the series does not depict any specific real sword or historical incident. However, the former Hotta residence, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, was used for filming the heroes' home, expressing the samurai world through real historical architecture.
Cultural Influence
The actor who played Shinken-Oh has said he modeled his performance on Hideo Takahashi of the period drama Momotaro Samurai, showing that the series was made with the grammar of jidaigeki in mind. As a tokusatsu with a sword as its heroes' signature weapon, it carried the image of samurai and Japanese swords to young viewers.
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This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.