I at first was going to comment mostly on Umeko in this blog, however upon reviewing episode 46 again for this post I had to do a double-take at the villain of the week. I kept stopping, rewinding, playing, pausing, squinting saying to myself "no, it's not him. it can't be!" so I found the cast list for sailor moon. This still didn't quite answer my question as i looked at the picture of the character in question and the frozen frame of the dekeranger episode. I went to the wikipedia site in Japanese and typed in the actors name.
I was right! Episode 46's bad guy of the week and crusher of Umeko's heart was portrayed by none other than the same actor who played Nephrite in the live action version of Sailor Moon! Why are all these hot guys in a show like Sailor Moon? It's a really bad show with horrible acting even for a live action sentai-esque show.
OK now on to the actual plot of the show, this is actually one of the episodes I like. Umeko gets to kick butt and be pissed off, which are rare occurrences in and of themselves. The episode opens up with Sen-chan and Umeko on patrol. Umeko sings the melody of "Girls in Trouble" to lyrics revolving around her upcoming date. She tells Sen-chan about a guy she's been seeing for the past three months and their one hour dates. Also her date with this mystery man who seems perfect in every way is immediately following their shift... that is if nothing happens. And so, a giant mech shows up to ruin Umeko's plans and she doesn't take very kindly to this at all.
After trouncing the giant mech around with Umeko at the controls, she releases her Zord essentially turning it into a missile that propels her into the enemy cock pit where she forcefully evicts the mechenoid controlling it, after which she jumps down and runs off asking the others to take care of the clean-up. Sen-chan let's slip that her forceful behavior was due to the fact that she was in love and Ban-chan upon return to DekaBase grips him in a headlock angry with him for not telling them about Umeko's love life and the possibility of her retiring her position to get married.
Alas Umeko's love was not to be, Sen-chan quickly discovers that his co-worker's love is a criminal using psychotropic mushrooms (clears throat) to become everything his victims want in a man and once they agree to marry him he steels their pure hearts and turns them to dust. When Sen-chan catches up to the guy he's extremely pissed off in such a way that leads us to think that his anger extends a little past protecting a friend. For the second time in the entire series he does a voiceless transformation and just before he takes the guy on in SWAT mode Umeko shows up and and gives her would-be fiance a piece of her mind... and her fist, and her boots.
It ends with Umeko finally getting back her cheerful personality and the group looking at the possibility that there may be something between Sen-chan and Umeko. . .
Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Final 5!
To set my naming of kamen rider a side for a moment. I just checked TV-Nihon, like I do every 20 minutes I'm at my computer because I'm slightly compulsive that way, and lo and behold! The last 5 episodes of Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger was posted! This makes me jump up and down for joy as there was a brief scare that they were going to cancel it 5 short of completing the sub!
::spins around the room:: YEAH! ::looks down at Azureus:: You know you want to move faster! That's why I have a cable connection damn you@!!! ::looks back at screen and smiles:: Hee ^_^ ja ne!
::spins around the room:: YEAH! ::looks down at Azureus:: You know you want to move faster! That's why I have a cable connection damn you@!!! ::looks back at screen and smiles:: Hee ^_^ ja ne!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Naming in Kamen Rider #2
Whereas most Kamen Riders in this series take up the name of their predecessor, Todayama Tomizo felt it wouldn't be right to take up the name of his master. In his eyes his master will always be Zanki. With the approval of Zanki, Todayama becomes Todoroki (轟鬼) "Roaring Demon." The real irony here is that of all the Oni seen on the show, he's beyond tone deaf despite his exceptional guitar strumming capabilities. His henshin device (transformation device) is a wrist band with with three small strings on it. Once they are strummed he raises it to his forehead revealing his Oni mark. 
His energy revolves around electricity and his weapon is a guitar (though it resembles a tapered shamisen more) narrowed to a point and bladed to form an axe or mace-like weapon. The first few missions he completed were completed fairly easily and he performed a post victory rift. After being called on this he stopped shortly thereafter as the battles were becoming increasingly difficult, simply not having the energy to show off. 
His energy revolves around electricity and his weapon is a guitar (though it resembles a tapered shamisen more) narrowed to a point and bladed to form an axe or mace-like weapon. The first few missions he completed were completed fairly easily and he performed a post victory rift. After being called on this he stopped shortly thereafter as the battles were becoming increasingly difficult, simply not having the energy to show off.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Naming in Kamen Rider #1
(Hibiki & Asumu waving to Hitomi)
This kid in orange is Asumu. He's a thirteen year old just entering his first year in high school. As I've mentioned before, everyone in this series has a name appropriate to their concept.
Asumu looks to find his way in life and is in need of guidance on his way to becoming a man. Fortunately for him he meets Hibiki on a fated trip to visit relatives, which in turn pushes his thoughts about where his future will be to the fore. The kanji for his name (明日夢) can be read as Tomorrow's Dream. It's not uncommon to see him staring off into space contemplating where he is in his life and the possibility of becoming an Oni when he's older.
After their fated meeting, Asumu discovers that he lives near Hibiki. Awed by Hibiki's casual presense and fighting capabilities, Asumu decides he must learn more and sees Hibiki as not only a life mentor but also a father figure as well. Since at this time Hibiki has no apprentice, he takes Asumu under his wing and shows him the ways of life. His kanji reads (響鬼) "Echoing/Reverberating Demon" it's no wonder his weapons are bachi (taiko drumsticks)! As the title character he gets the most power ups and cool toys ^_^ I just love his salute.
This kid in orange is Asumu. He's a thirteen year old just entering his first year in high school. As I've mentioned before, everyone in this series has a name appropriate to their concept.
Asumu looks to find his way in life and is in need of guidance on his way to becoming a man. Fortunately for him he meets Hibiki on a fated trip to visit relatives, which in turn pushes his thoughts about where his future will be to the fore. The kanji for his name (明日夢) can be read as Tomorrow's Dream. It's not uncommon to see him staring off into space contemplating where he is in his life and the possibility of becoming an Oni when he's older.
After their fated meeting, Asumu discovers that he lives near Hibiki. Awed by Hibiki's casual presense and fighting capabilities, Asumu decides he must learn more and sees Hibiki as not only a life mentor but also a father figure as well. Since at this time Hibiki has no apprentice, he takes Asumu under his wing and shows him the ways of life. His kanji reads (響鬼) "Echoing/Reverberating Demon" it's no wonder his weapons are bachi (taiko drumsticks)! As the title character he gets the most power ups and cool toys ^_^ I just love his salute.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Names in Kamen Rider Hibiki
After looking over some of the names in Kamen Rider Hibiki after Kalinara mentioned how funny they were, I thought about it... She's right. They are incredibly funny... Especially Ibuki's name.
I took the opportunity to look at the kanji they used to spell his name and I laughed even harder.
The characters of his name can be read as a "Mighty Blowing Demon" I giggle. Later I'll do a similar line up of their names with references from the show... They do comment on how everyone's name is a pun on their personalities and attributes. For the Oni especially, it's their title ability.
Which makes my gut hurt from laughing at Ibuki's name.
I took the opportunity to look at the kanji they used to spell his name and I laughed even harder.
The characters of his name can be read as a "Mighty Blowing Demon" I giggle. Later I'll do a similar line up of their names with references from the show... They do comment on how everyone's name is a pun on their personalities and attributes. For the Oni especially, it's their title ability.
Which makes my gut hurt from laughing at Ibuki's name.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Kamen Rider Hibiki
As Kamen Rider Hibiki draws to a close on Japanese television, I'm just a little past half way through the series downloading from TV Nihon. When I first began watching the show a few months ago I wasn't sure what to expect. I can't help compare it to Super Sentai, yet in many aspects this show is much more mature. It should also be noted that Kamen Rider Hibiki is the first series I've seen of this set of shows.
Let's get started with the basics...
The show is told mostly through the eyes of 13-year-old Adachi Asumu. His likes are: playing the drums, hanging out with friends (especially Hitomi) and spending time with Hibiki-san who's become a father figure slash mentor to him.
In this series music is the main theme of the hero's regime. Three types of "oni" (read here as transforming superhero) fight the demons according to creature type and season of the year. The taiko style oni (hibiki) is best suited for summer. While the "string" style oni (todoroki) is suited for taking down large creatures, and the "wind" style oni (ibuki) takes care of the winged creatures. And most importantly; the Oni don't have to shout out a pose in order to transform. In many cases, they are running into action as they transform. They do perform a post transformation pose. In that armor? How can you not!
The transformation devices fit with the instrument they fight with (yes, the instrument they fight with). Hibiki uses a tuning fork to strike an object to produce the resonance required to transform then places the fork to his forhead where an oni mark appears. He fights with two taiko sticks and a mystical taiko (it's a lot cooler than the description) his instrument and fighting style would be about as traditional japanese as you get. His element is fire. He has two further transfermations as he's the most powerful Oni in their group.
Ibuki's transformation device is a whistle. He simply blows a note and raises the whistle to his forehead and an oni mark appears. He fights with a trumpet that produces blaring sound waves in addition to a semi-automatic gun that shoots mystical air bullets (it's just as silly as it sounds, yet he makes it look cool). His element is naturally air/wind. Ibuki also has an apprentice that is the same age as Asumu, she also uses a transformation device but she doesn't use it to transform. She uses the device for it's secondary functions discussed later.
Todoroki is essentially the new kid on the block. He's just been elevated to Oni status when Zanki, his mentor/master, became too injured to continue fighting full time. He makes many mistakes and is sometimes very stiff when around Hibiki and the others especially when interacting with Zanki. His transformation device is a wrist band that has three strings on it. When strummed, it produces the sound of a biwa or shamisen. Raising it to his forehead the Oni mark appears. He fights with a bladed guitar (looks closer to a shamisen in my opinion but the sound effects speak for themselves ^_^). His element is Thunder (Lightning).
As the series progresses we get glimpses of other Oni that fight with Hibiki. These other Oni are usually assigned to other areas of Japan, though sometimes their areas overlap.
As the series continues you learn that the Oni are not limited to their main instrument. Todoroki must learn to use the taiko to fight summer demons in one arc. All in all, I love this show and I can't wait to see the end of the series and Kamen Rider Kabuto begins.
Let's get started with the basics...
The show is told mostly through the eyes of 13-year-old Adachi Asumu. His likes are: playing the drums, hanging out with friends (especially Hitomi) and spending time with Hibiki-san who's become a father figure slash mentor to him.
In this series music is the main theme of the hero's regime. Three types of "oni" (read here as transforming superhero) fight the demons according to creature type and season of the year. The taiko style oni (hibiki) is best suited for summer. While the "string" style oni (todoroki) is suited for taking down large creatures, and the "wind" style oni (ibuki) takes care of the winged creatures. And most importantly; the Oni don't have to shout out a pose in order to transform. In many cases, they are running into action as they transform. They do perform a post transformation pose. In that armor? How can you not!
The transformation devices fit with the instrument they fight with (yes, the instrument they fight with). Hibiki uses a tuning fork to strike an object to produce the resonance required to transform then places the fork to his forhead where an oni mark appears. He fights with two taiko sticks and a mystical taiko (it's a lot cooler than the description) his instrument and fighting style would be about as traditional japanese as you get. His element is fire. He has two further transfermations as he's the most powerful Oni in their group.
Ibuki's transformation device is a whistle. He simply blows a note and raises the whistle to his forehead and an oni mark appears. He fights with a trumpet that produces blaring sound waves in addition to a semi-automatic gun that shoots mystical air bullets (it's just as silly as it sounds, yet he makes it look cool). His element is naturally air/wind. Ibuki also has an apprentice that is the same age as Asumu, she also uses a transformation device but she doesn't use it to transform. She uses the device for it's secondary functions discussed later.
Todoroki is essentially the new kid on the block. He's just been elevated to Oni status when Zanki, his mentor/master, became too injured to continue fighting full time. He makes many mistakes and is sometimes very stiff when around Hibiki and the others especially when interacting with Zanki. His transformation device is a wrist band that has three strings on it. When strummed, it produces the sound of a biwa or shamisen. Raising it to his forehead the Oni mark appears. He fights with a bladed guitar (looks closer to a shamisen in my opinion but the sound effects speak for themselves ^_^). His element is Thunder (Lightning).
As the series progresses we get glimpses of other Oni that fight with Hibiki. These other Oni are usually assigned to other areas of Japan, though sometimes their areas overlap.
As the series continues you learn that the Oni are not limited to their main instrument. Todoroki must learn to use the taiko to fight summer demons in one arc. All in all, I love this show and I can't wait to see the end of the series and Kamen Rider Kabuto begins.
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