Kakurangers

Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (and Ninjaman)

The Kakurangers (カクレンジャー, Kakurenjā) are the protagonists of the Super Sentai series, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger.

Kakurangers

Each member is named after a legendary ninja and master of the Hidden Style Ninjutsu (Kakureryū Ninjutsu). Before entering battle, they say "Hiding from the people and slashing evil! Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, revealed!".

Sasuke

Sasuke/Ninja Red (サスケ/ニンジャレッド, Sasuke/Ninja Reddo) is 26 years old and a descendant of Sarutobi Sasuke. Sasuke is the most agile member of the team and is second-in-command. He is a dirty-minded, reckless young man who is hot to go out and drag the others into battle, but he screws up. He doesn't reflect on his errors. But, he is good-hearted and loyal. No matter how great the enemy is, he won't budge. He likes fireworks. He corresponds to Sun Wukong of Saiyuki.

• Ninja Arts (忍法, Ninpō) technique: Cloning.
• Hidden Style (隠流, Kakure Ryū) attacks: Full Moon Slash (満月斬り, Mangetsu Kiri), Thunder Cut (雷鳴斬, Raimei Kiri).

Tsuruhime

Tsuruhime/Ninja White (鶴姫/ニンジャホワイト, Tsuruhime/Ninja Howaito) is 15 years old and the first female leader of a Sentai. The twenty-fourth protector of the Seal Door, Tsuruhime is a strong girl who is looking for her missing father, Hakumenrou. She has greater leadership skills than Sasuke. She seems to have feelings for Sasuke later on. She once fought alongside two other girls, Yukiyo & Tsukiyo, as one of the 'Punishment Sisters'. She corresponds to Xuanzang.

• Ninja Arts (忍法, Ninpō) technique: Transformation.
• Hidden Style (隠流, Kakure Ryū) attacks: Ku Character Slash (くの字斬り, Ku no Ji Kiri), Dance of the Paper Crane (折り鶴の舞, Oridzuru no Mai), Falling Cherry Blossoms (花吹雪, Hanafubuki).

Saizou

Saizou/Ninja Blue (サイゾウ/ニンジャブルー, Saizō/Ninja Burū) is a descendant of Kirigakure Saizo. 22 years old, he is constantly chattering and an easily flattered man who thinks he's a lot smarter than he really is. He likes to help other people, making him popular among children. He is unlucky in most things. His way of talking is a little feminine. He corresponds to Sha Wujing. The last two letters in his surname are the kanji for his color.

• Ninja Arts (忍法, Ninpō) technique: Water Running.
• Hidden Style (隠流, Kakure Ryū) attack: Square Formation (正方の陣, Seihō no Jin), Big Wave.

Seikai

Seikai/Ninja Yellow (セイカイ/ニンジャイエロー, Seikai/Ninja Ierō) is 24 years old and a descendant of Miyoshi Seikai. He likes video games. He refuses to battle at the beginning but when he saw Rokurokubi steal children, he changes. He is driven by his desire for food, sleep and women. He is indecisive, but inherits an unusual strength from his ancestor. He corresponds to Zhu Bajie.

• Ninja Arts (忍法, Ninpō) technique: Enlargement.
• Hidden Style (隠流, Kakure Ryū) attack: Triple Slash (三段斬り, Sandan Kiri), Whirlwind (旋風, Tsumujikaze).

Jiraiya

Jiraiya/Ninja Black (ジライヤ/ニンジャブラック, Jiraiya/Ninja Burakku) is a descendant of Jiraiya. 20 years old, he is a Japanese-American ninja from Los Angeles trained by his guardian Gali after his father was killed. Jiraiya stands out among the characters because he speaks English frequently (which at first caused both teasing and confusion with the other team members) He learns Japanese as the show progresses. He is a big fan of Japanese ninja movies. During his first appearance, he was helping the Youkai. In reality, he did so to steal four scrolls, previously stolen by Azukiarai, to allow him and the other three Kakurangers (besides Sasuke, who already had his) to become Juushou. He expresses combination of a cowboy/surfer persona. He is the pure fighter of the group. Although he knows Earth-based Ninja Arts, he prefers to fight with his martial art skills. While finding his Shinobi Scroll, Jiraiya was forced to battle Gali, who revealed himself as the man who killed his father and served the Youkai. After the bloody battle between them, Jiraiya learned why Gali did it, as well as hoping Jiraiya would kill him. Both the deaths of Zashiki-warashi and the two men he had known since childhood gave Jiraiya a reason to fight the Youkai. He is the only member with no "Journey to the West" corresponding character, but Yulong the horse also has no "Kakuranger" corresponding character.

• Ninja Arts (忍法, Ninpō) technique: Ground Merging/Earth Swimming.
• Hidden Style (隠流, Kakure Ryū) attacks: Shooting Star (流れ星, Nagareboshi), Three Kick (スリーキック, Surī Kikku), Lightning Drop.

Ninjaman

Ninjaman (ニンジャマン, Ninjaman, 36-50, 52 & 53) is the pupil of the Three God Generals. He was imprisoned within a blue pot as punishment a millennium ago for allowing himself to be fooled by Daimaou into attacking the humans. Once released by Tsuruhime, Ninjaman becomes an ally to the Kakurangers and comes to their aid. As a ninja master, Ninjaman wields a katana, the Ninja Sword (ニンジャソード, Ninja Sōdo), and had a wide array of Ninja Arts at his command, including enlargement to aid his mentors in their fights. He can be a bit of a high-strong klutz but he loves children.

He can ride on a cloud called the Kintou Cloud. Whenever a Youkai calls him "Blue-Boy" (青二才, Ao Nisai) or just "Blue Squirt", Ninjaman gets angry enough to change into Samuraiman (サムライマン, Samuraiman) by the command "Rage Explosion!!" (悪女爆烈, Ikari Bakuretsu). In this form, connecting his katana with its sheath to form the powerful Samurai Javelin (サムライジャベリン, Samurai Jaberin), Samuraiman creates explosive energy spheres formed from his rage in his ultimate attack, Samurai Rage Bomber (サムライ激怒ボンバー, Samurai Gekido Bonbā). In the finale, after the Youkai are sealed away, Ninjaman is now with his masters and says goodbye to the Kakurangers.

Before entering battle, he says "Partner of Justice, Ninjaman!". He was portrayed by Hideaki Kusaka.

Friends and allies

• Kōshakushi (講釈師, [1-24, 39] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 8) (help)): A kimono-wearing anchorman who served as the series narrator. During episode 39, Kōshakushi and his news crew wanted to know more about the Kakurangers, getting into their personal lives. But they followed a pair of Dorodoros to Junior's mansion, learning of Nopperabo's revival ability until Daimou sensed them and sicced the Dorodoros on them. While the others escaped, Kōshakushi was caught and thrown off a bridge, though he managed to survive.
• Sandayuu Momochi (百地三太夫, Momochi Sandayū, 1-3, 5, 9, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 & 31): A ninja master who instructs the Kakurangers on their abilities and is considered dangerous by the Youkai. He aided the Rangers when Gasha Dokuro set up the beginning phase of Daimaou's resurrection, warning the Kakurangers they are not ready to face him. But the Kakurangers refused to accept that and are quickly defeated before Sandayuu had Tsubasamaru bring them the Wind Illusion Castle to see the Three God Generals, revealing Daimaou's origins and that all three Three God Generals are needed to stop him. While Tsuruhime was looking for her Shinobi Scroll, she is found by Sandayuu and taken to her family's mansion. There, Sandayuu uses her quest as a test to prove her worth as the Kakurangers' leader and heir to her family legacy, providing her with karakuri replicas of her teammates. He briefly meets with Hakamenrou, whom he was working with, to rescue Tsuruhime when Hakamenrou fought her. However, Junior learned of this and impaled Sandayuu with his own katana. Sandayuu lived long enough from the wound to tell the team to form Kakure Dai Shougun during their final fight with GashaDokuro and give them his final words.
• Zashiki-warashi (ザシキワラシ, Zashikiwarashi, 18): A Youkai child who refused to harm humans and was pursued by Junior as a result. While posing as a young boy with enchanted mushrooms, he befriended several children and eventually Jiraiya. When Gasha Dokuro overpowered Ninja Black, Zashikiwarashi turned himself in to save Jiraiya. Using the storm, Junior turned Zashikiwarashi into a giant demonic parody of himself and sent him to destroy the city. After a brief battle with the Juushou Fighters, it took the children he befriended to give Zashikiwarashi the power to come back to his senses and thus return to normal. But Junior soon mortally wounds Zashikiwarashi for betraying the Youkai Gundan, with the young Youkai surrounded by his new friends before he dies and turned into a toadstool. His death was the catalysis for the rivalry between Jiraiya and Junior.
• Super Sentai Teams: These four teams came along when the Emperor Daidas came to Earth.
  • Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman: Super Sentai from 1990.
  • Choujin Sentai Jetman: Super Sentai from 1991, reunited and came to help the Kakurangers.
  • Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger: Super Sentai from 1992, returned from Heaven to help the Kakuranger to defeat Emperor Daidas.
  • Gosei Sentai Dairanger: Super Sentai of the year before.
• Reika (25): A young girl who tends to Sasuke's injuries while he searches for his Shinobi Scroll. She is eventually revealed as a butterfly that assumed human form from being inside the very scroll Sasuke is looking for, revealing its location to him before she died from her injuries while she protects a bunny from the attacks of Ittanmomen.
• Tarou & Jirou (太郎と次郎, Tarō to Jirō, 26, 30, 31, 42-44, 52): Twin ninjas who served Tsuruhime's father and play with Tsuruhime as a young girl. They accompanied Tsuruhime's father to stop Daimaou years before, but they were captured. Tsuruhime's father had to agree to serve Daimaou to spare their lives. In response, the two are turned into dogs, posing as pets to Bun at their master's mansion. The two eventually return the favor by sacrificing themselves to free Hakamenrou.
• Bun (ブン, Bun, 26, 30, 31, 42-44, 51-53): A Youkai who despises the Youkai way and has been helping Hakamenrou in secret, rescuing Sasuke and company when they are blasted into the raging river. In the end of series, he remains with Hakamenrou after he is finally freed of Daimaou's control.
• : A indentured servant of Nue, Gali sold his soul to the Youkai in 1986 to save his daughter's life after a car crash in America. To keep his end of the bargain, Nue makes Gali his personal assassin, bestowing some of his power on him along with the use of an arm-mounted claw. As one of his first missions, Gali murders Jiraiya's father. As penance, Gali raises Jiraiya in secret attempting to train the boy to kill him once Jiraiya is old enough to overpower Gali in combat, giving his student a pendant. Gali's intent was achieved when Nue sent him after Jiraiya when he was looking for his Shinobi Scroll. Though Jiraiya was reluctant at first, he agreed to fight when Gali was about to kill Sasuke, learning the truth of his father's murder. Though he managed to mortally wound Gali, Jiraiya lacks the nerve to kill him. Gali dies from the wounds after revealing the truth behind the murder, later buried by Jiraiya out of respect.
• Hakamenrou (白面郎, Hakamenrō, White Masked Man, 30-53): An armored mystery man who turns out to be Tsuruhime's father. He resurfaces with Daimaou during Daimou's eventual coming in the human world, leaving his daughter at a young age in an attempt to stop it from happening. However, he fails and offers his services to Daimaou in return for the lives of his companions. Hakamenrou uses his servitude as a ruse to side with the Youkai seeking Daimaou's weakness. Upon arriving to oversee the final steps of Daimaou's arrival, Hakamenrou is forced to fight his own daughter to keep face. It was by the Daradara incident that Daimaou learned Hakamenrou's true intent and turns him to stone. Yama-uba tries to use Hakamenrou as her trump card. He is restored by the series' end and reunites with his daughter.
• Punishment Sailor Sisters (35): Sukeban Deka-like team (consisting of Yukiyo and Tsukiyo), old friends of Tsuruhime. This is a parody of Tokusatsu Show "Yūgenjikkō Shisutāzu Shushutorian" 有言実行三姉妹シュシュトリアン, Three Sisters of Action, the last Toei Fushigi Comedy Series show on which they were appearing that aired the year before Kakuranger. Their name and catchphrase are references to the Sailor Moon anime series which at the time was in production by Toei's animation unit. Before entering battle, they say, "In the name of Heaven, we will punish you!".
• Chōriki Sentai Ohranger: The Kakuranger appeared to help the Ohranger when Onbu-Obake appeared and caused trouble for them.

Arsenal

• Doron Changer (ドロンチェンジャー, Doron Chenjā): The scroll-like transformation devices of the Kakurangers given to them by their ancestors; the Changers hold each Ranger's individual coins and generate their suits. Can also be used to detect Youkai. By using the henshin call "Super Change, Doron Changer!" (スーパー変化ドロンチェンジャー!, Sūpā Henge Doron Chenjā!), the user transforms into a Kakuranger. In the final episode, they were used to reseal the Youkai behind the Seal Door.
• Secret Sword Kakuremaru (秘剣カクレマル, Hiken Kakuremaru, Hidden Round): The main weapons of the Kakurangers. They are the swords passed down from their ancestors that change form whenever the Kakurangers transform. Each Kakuranger is able to perform their own special attack with their sword. The Rangers' primary team attack, Super Lightning Wave (雷光波, Supa Raikō Nami), involves all five Rangers crossing their swords in mid-air, which sends a powerful blast that destroys the Youkai.
• Kakulaser (カクレイザー, Kakureizā): The pistol sidearms for the Kakurangers. Can be converted into a Laser Knife (レイザーナイフ, Reizā Naifu) mode.
• Shinobi Knuckle (シノビナックル, Shinobi Nakkuru): A gauntlet that each Kakuranger possesses. It increases punching power and the Kakurangers' individual weapons can be attached to it, as well as a grappling device.
• Red Slicer (レッドスライサー, Reddo Suraisā): Ninja Red's personal weapon. Used as a boomerang or a shield.
• White Beak (ホワイトビーク, Howaito Bīku): Ninja White's personal weapon. A dagger.
• Blue Shot (ブルーショット, Burū Shotto): Ninja Blue's personal weapon. A squirt gun.
• Yellow Claw (イエロークロー, Ierō Kurō): Ninja Yellow's personal weapon. A retractable claw.
• Black Bow (ブラックボウ, Burakku Bō): Ninja Black's personal weapon. A bow and arrow.
• Shark Machines: The team's motorcycles. One of the team's finishing moves is Shark Driver (シャークドライバー, Shāku Doraibā), where the Kakurangers combine their Shark Machines, and Ninja Red's Shark Bleeder is launched towards the enemy.
  • Shark Bleeder (シャークブリッダー, Shaāku Buriddā): Ninja Red's motorcycle.
  • Shark Launcher (シャークランチャー, Shāku Ranchā): Ninja Blue's motorcycle with a sidecar for Ninja White.
  • Shark Slider (シャークスライダー, Shāku Suraidā): Ninja Yellow's motorcycle with a sidecar for Ninja Black.
• Kakuranger Ball (カクレンジャーボール, Kakurenjā Bōru): Color-changing football used for the Kakure Shoot (カクレシュート, Kakure Shūto), the team's second finishing move. It is a football that is passed from member to member and finally kicked into the Youkai.
• Thunder Sword Hikarimaru (雷鳴剣ヒカリマル, Raimeiken Hikarimaru, Light Round): A short sword given to Sasuke by Tsubasamaru during the final battle with Junior, used with the Kakuremaru sword to perform the finishing attack Hidden Style Thunder Cut (隠流・雷鳴斬, Kakure Ryū Raimei Kiri). The sword can be used to summon Tsubasamaru.
• Nekomaru (ネコマル, Nekomaru): A sentient cat-spirit that assumed the form of a bus that functions as the Kakurangers' base. It also serves as a crepe shop when the Kakurangers are not on a mission. Can also fly.

Three God Generals

The Three God Generals (三神将, Sanshinshō) are sentient mecha/mentors of the Kakurangers.

Muteki Shogun

Ninja Combination Muteki Shogun (忍者合体無敵将軍, Ninja Gattai Muteki Shōgun, Invincible General): The first of the Three God Generals to be awakened, Invincible Shogun consists of the five Giant Juushou (巨大獣将, Kyodai Jūshō, Giant Beast Generals). Invincible Shogun hibernates as the Wind Illusion Castle (風雲幻城, Fūun Maboroshijō). The Kakuranger's ancestors appeared from the castle in the beginning of the series to give the Kakurangers their Doron Changers. Inside the castle is a stone altar of the Three God Generals, the source of the Generals voices.

The Kakurangers transform into the Giant Beast Generals by the command "Hidden Style: Giant Juushou Jutsu!" (隠流巨大獣将の術, Kakureryū Kyodai Jūshō no Jutsu). They later combine into Muteki Shogun. The Juushou's group attacks include the Vacuum Hurricane (真空ハリケーン, Shinkū Harikēn) and Hidden Style: Secret, Big Bang (隠流奥義ビッグバン, Kakureryū Ōgi Biggu Ban). He is armed with the mighty Flaming Shogun Sword (火炎将軍剣, Kaen Shōgun Ken), which can defeat nearly any Youkai with its flaming blade and has a hilt which resembles a shachihoko. The sword can be shrunk to human size for the Kakurangers to use in desperate situations. The "Shinobi" kanji medal on his chest can deflect certain youkai attacks. One of the Muteki Shogun's attacks is the Shogun Flower Spray (将軍花吹雪, Shōgun Hanafubuki).

As Super Ninja Combination Super Muteki Shogun (超忍者合体ス－パ－無敵将軍, Chō Ninja Gattai Sūpā Muteki Shōgun, Super Invincible General), it uses its cannons to finish off Youkai. Unlike most Sentai, where the Rangers pilot their mecha, the Kakurangers actually become the Beast Generals. Muteki Shogun's head resembles an origami crane. Invincible Shogun's power helped to power up GaoKing in Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai.

• Red Saruder (レッドサルダー, Reddo Sarudā): Ninja Red's Juushou form, armed with the Saruder Slicer. Forms the body of Muteki Shogun and stores the helmet. Its name is a pun on the Japanese word for monkey (猿, saru).
• White Kark (ホワイトカーク, Howaito Kāku): Ninja White's Juushou form, armed with the Kark Beaks. Forms Muteki Shogun's left arm. Its name is a pun on the Japanese word for crane (鶴, kāku, this is an alternate reading, used only in compounds).
• Blue Logan (ブルーロウガン, Burū Rōgan): Ninja Blue's Juushou form, armed with the Logan Shaft. Forms Muteki Shogun's right arm. Its name is a pun on the Japanese word for wolf (狼, rō, this is an alternate reading, used only in compounds).
• Yellow Kumard (イエロークマード, Ierō Kumādo): Ninja Yellow's Juushou form, armed with the Kumard Claw. Forms Muteki Shogun's right leg. Its name is a pun on the Japanese word for bear (熊, kuma).
• Black Gammer (ブラックガンマー, Burakku Ganmā): Ninja Black's Juushou form, armed with the Gammer Bow. Forms Muteki Shogun's left leg. Its name is a pun on the Japanese word for toad (蝦蟇, gama).

Juushou Fighters

Juushou Fighters (獣将ファイター, Jūshō Faitā, Beast General Fighters): Lightly armored battle versions of the Juushou, summoned from each Kakuranger's Doron Changer medal, able to act on their own. By performing the "Hidden Style: Juushou Fighter Jutsu!" (Kakureryū Jūshō Faitā no Jutsu), Kakurangers can fuse into their respective Juushou Fighter to increase their power. Team attacks include the Fighter Crash (ファイタークラッシュ, Faitā Kurasshu) and the Super Kakure Shoot (スーパーカクレシュート, Sūpā Kakure Shūto).

• Battle Saruder (バトルサルダー, Batoru Sarudā): Ninja Red's Juushou Fighter form, armed with the Saruder Claw (サルダークロー, Sarudā Kurō).
• Battle Kark (バトルカーク, Batoru Kāku): Ninja White's Juushou Fighter form, armed with the Kark Cut (カークカット, Kāku Katto).
• Battle Logan (バトルロウガン, Batoru Rogan): Ninja Blue's Juushou Fighter form, armed with the Logan Kick (ロウガンキック, Rōgan Kikku).
• Battle Kumard (バトルクマード, Batoru Kumādo): Ninja Yellow's Juushou Fighter form, armed with the Kumard Head (クマードヘッド, Kumādo Heddo).
• Battle Gammer (バトルガンマー, Batoru Ganmā): Ninja Black's Juushou Fighter form, armed with the Gammer Three Attack (ガンマースリーアタック, Ganmā Surī Atakku).

Tsubasamaru

Seinin Beast Tsubasamaru (聖忍獣ツバサマル, Seininjū Tsubasamaru, Sacred Ninja Beast Wing Round): A giant mythical white falcon that combines with either the Invincible Shogun (as cannons) or the Kakure Daishogun (as a set of wings) for more power. This bird first appeared to help the Rangers against Umibouzu. It was the only member of the Three God Generals who did not talk vocally, most likely because it's an animal. It has a wingspan of 85.6 metres (281 ft).

Kakure Daishogun

Five-God Combination Kakure Daishogun (五神合体隠大将軍, Goshin Gattai Kakure Daishōgun, Hidden Grand General): The last of the Three God Generals to be discovered, Kakure Daishogun is composed of the five Chounin Beasts (超忍獣, Chōninjū, Super Stealth Beasts). After finding the Shinobi Scrolls (忍之巻, Shinobi no Maki), which hold many of the Kakurangers' techniques and powers, the Kakurangers were able to call forth and pilot the mighty Chounin Beasts. These mighty creatures are called forth using the Scrolls of Shinobi and the command "Hidden Style: Chounin Beast Jutsu!" (隠流超忍獣の術, Kakureryū Chōninjū no Jutsu). Although very powerful as separate fighting units, the Beasts can combine to become the last of the God Generals. Its weapons are its two arms. The right fist has the power of the monkey and the left has the power of the wolf. With the right arm it can perform the God Hammer Punch (ゴッドハンマーパンチ, Goddo Hanmā Panchi), and with the left arm it can perform the God Burst Chop (ゴッドバーストチョップ, Goddo Bāsuto Choppu). The Iron Fist God Finish (鉄拳ゴッドフィニッシュ, Tekken Goddo Finisshu) is performed when the two attacks are done after the other. As Winged Combination Super Kakure Daishogun (翼合体スーパー隠大将軍, Tsubasa Gattai Sūpā Kakure Daishōgun, Super Hidden Grand General), it performs the Flying Kick (Furaingu Kikku) and its finisher Iron Fist Flying Finish (鉄拳フライングフィニッシュ, Tekken Furaingu Finisshu).

• God Saruder (ゴッドサルダー, Goddo Sarudā): Piloted by Ninja Red, armed with the connecting Saruder Double Swords (サルダーダブルソード, Sarudā Daburu Sōdo). Forms Kakure Daishogun's right arm. Helped out in Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai.
• God Kark (ゴッドカーク, Goddo Kāku): Piloted by Ninja White, armed with the Flying Beam (フライングビーム, Furaingu Bīmu). Forms Kakure Daishogun's head.
• God Logan (ゴッドロウガン, Goddo Rogan): Piloted by Ninja Blue, armed with the Logan Attack (ロウガンアタック, Rōgan Atakku) and Eye Beams. Forms Kakure Daishogun's left arm.
• God Kumard (ゴッドクマード, Goddo Kumādo): Piloted by Ninja Yellow, armed with Eye Beams and Stomp Attack. Forms Kakure Daishogun's upper torso, and the toy version carries the right hand in its underbelly and sports the left hand as its tail.
• God Gammer (ゴッドガンマー, Goddo Ganmā): Piloted by Ninja Black, armed with Gammer Fire (ガンマーファイヤー, Ganmā Faiyā) and Gammer Dynamite (ガンマーダイナマイト, Ganmā Dainamaito) (release several smaller versions of itself, which would latch on a Youkai and explode). Forms Kakure Daishogun's lower torso and legs.