Gedoushu
The Gedoushu (外道衆, Gedōshū) whose name roughly translates as "Heretic Party" are fictional characters, who are the antagonists from the 33rd Super Sentai Series Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. They are malevolent spirits living in the Rokumon Junk (六門船, Rokumonsen) that sails along the Sanzu River (三途の川, Sanzu-no-kawa) in the land of the dead, dependant on its waters for surival and cursed to be in state between life and death. Able to enter our world through cracks and narrow gaps, they set up a plan to terrorize humans in anyway possible so that the river overflows to point of flooding into the mortal realm in order for them to invade in full fury. Though defeated and sealed by the previous generation's Shinkengers, the Gedoushu reawaken in present time to resume their havoc, only to face the Shinkengers. In the world of Shinkenger, the Gedoushu are the basis of all the yōkai in Japanese mythology.[1]
Doukoku
Doukoku Chimatsuri (血祭 ドウコク, Chimatsuri Dōkoku) is the leader of the Gedoushu and is armed with a broadsword. He battled the Shiba Clan's previous Shinkengers, sealed by Takeru's father before he died. But because the seal was incomplete, Doukoku eventually revives and begins leading his forces in conquering the mortal realm by terrorizing humans in anyway possible so that the river overflows to point of flooding into the mortal realm in order for them to invade in full fury. He is in a constant state of rage that only sake and Dayu's music can control. Learning of the seal placed on him, Doukoku changes his plans to target Takeru as the death of the Shiba Clan would ensure that he would never be sealed again. His surname is translated as blood feast (血祭, chimatsuri).[2]
Dayu
Dayu Usukawa (薄皮 太夫, Usukawa Dayū) is Doukoku's right hand and the only one he is kind to as long as she knows her place as his servant and obeys without question. She loves to collect beautiful things, and plays the shamisen, creating eerie and unsettling songs that usually soothe her master's rage. However, she has trouble getting along with the Ayakashi which in turn annoy Doukoku as the reason for these confrontations relate to her past. Furthermore, she makes attempt to relive it such as kidnapping brides and use their depair to create a uchikake. In battle, she wields a shortsword hidden in her shamisen, with the Headstock as its hilt. Her name is translated as thin-skinned courtesan (薄皮太夫, usukawa tayū) and she is the basis for the futakuchi-onna (二口女) of Japanese myth.[3]
Shitari
Bony Shitari (骨のシタリ, Honeno Shitari) is the Gedoushu's strategist, a squid-headed demon who awaited for Doukoku's revival. Shitari sees humans as mere specimens for his research, uncovering means to overflow the Sanzu River. He also possessed texts from the Shiba Clan which he used to learn about the seal placed on Doukoku. [4]
Juzo
Juzo Fuwa (腑破 十臓, Fuwa Jūzō, 7-) is a mysterious Gedoushu, regarded by the others as a stray, yet he seems to know more than Doukoku's group about the Sanzu River's true potential. Armed with the katana Uramasa (裏正, Uramasa, "Injustice"), Juzo was a master swordsman in life long ago before he entered the Sanzu River still alive, which transformed him into a Gedoushu but that also allowed him to exist in both realms and assume his original human form. After witnessing Yamiororo's defeat, Juzo develops an interest in Shinken Red's abilities as a swordsman. His surname is translated as disemboweling (腑破, fuwa).
Nanashi
The Nanashi Company (ナナシ連中, Nanashi Renjū) are the Gedoushu's foot soldiers, armed with various weapons, they can freely enter the mortal realm at whim. There is a group of Nanashi known as the Ōnanashi Company (大ナナシ連中, Ōnanashi Renjū), who are naturally born giant.[5]There is a group of a winged Ōnanashi known as the Ōzora Nanashi Company (大空ナナシ連中, Ōzora Nanashi Renjū).
Susukodama
The Susukodama (ススコダマ, Susukodama, "Soot Kodama") are a furred ball-like soot settling in roof of the Rokumon Junk's interior, appearing whenver Doukoku's infuriated enough for them to decend, annoyingly repeating people's words while giggling.
Ayakashi
The Ayakashi (アヤカシ, Ayakashi) are ancient spirits with nightmarish forms that serve the Gedoushu, dwelling within the depths of the Sanzu River until being summoned to go through the gap. However, they can only remain in the mortal world until they begin to dry up, returning to the Sanzu River to regain their moisture. Each Ayakashi has two lives, the second life allowing them to grow giant once they are slain in human-size battle.[6]
- Kagekamuro (カゲカムロ, Kagekamuro, 1): Kagekamuro is the first of the Ayakashi, armed with the Hikisōgantō (悲喜双顔刀, Joy and Sorrow Paired Face Swords), two blades that double as guns. Killed by Shinken Red in battle, Kagekamuro resurrects into a giant that is destroyed by the Origami. The giant face in his lower body made him the base of the Ōkamuro (大かむろ).[7]
- Ootsumuji (オオツムジ, Ōtsumuji, 2): Ootsumuji is armed with the Senpū Ōgamatō (旋風大鎌刀, Whirlwind Scythe Sword) and uses his hair to create gust of wind to hit his opponents in his Shinkūtsumuji Muchi (真空つむじ鞭, Vacuum-Whirl Whip) attack. Send to terrorize humans by causing massive damage and gathering all humans in the area, Ootsumuji is the first Ayakashi to be slain by Shinken-Oh. His appearance and abilities made him the origin of the legendary creatures called the Kamaitachi (窮奇).[8]
- Rokuroneri (ロクロネリ, Rokuroneri, 3): Arrogant in personality, Rokuroneri's talent is his Kaina Nobashi (かいなのばし, Stretching Arms), extending his arms to attack from long distances in the underground. Shinken Green manages to outwit Rokoruneri and kill him, with Shinken-Oh destroying the Ayakashi when revived. His Kaina Nobashi technique made him the base of the youkai Tsuchikorobi (土転び).[9]
- Namiayashi (ナミアヤシ, Namiayashi, 4): Namiayashi is a two-toned Ayakashi who is armed with the Aodake Dankatsusō (青竹断割槍, Green Bamboo Split Spear). Laidback and disturbing in personality, Namiayashi is sent by Shitari to increase the River by doing what he loves best, making others cry. Appearing in the mortal realm before a boy named Ryota, he accomplish his goal by tricking the boy with a false promise of seeing his grandfather again. His attack is the Tora Tsunami (虎津波, Tiger Tsunami), creating a tiger from the right half of his body and a Sanzu River wave from his left to take out two opponents. He is killed by Shinken Blue and Shinken Pink, and then destroyed by Shinken-Oh. Due to his physical appearance and special attack, he is the base for the Suiko (水虎) myth.[10]
- Yanasudare (ヤナスダレ, Yanasudare, 5): Yanasudare is an Ayakashi armed with the Ryūshi Rendanjū (柳糸連弾銃, Slim-thread Two-handed Gun), immune to any physical attack. He attacks whatever he considers pointless to exist in order to send humans into a state of utter despair. But as he can be hurt with Mojikara, Yanasudare is killed by Shinken Red using the Kabuto Disc's power and then destroyed by Kabuto Shinken-Oh. His appearance and his imperviousness to physical attacks made him the basis of the Fusuma (衾) of Japanese myth.[11]
- Zuboshimeshi (ズボシメシ, Zuboshimeshi, 6): Zuboshimeshi is an Ayakashi armed with the Shitasaki Sanjakutō (舌先三尺刀, Tip of the Tongue Three-Foot Sword) sent to raise the Sanzu River by tapping in the mind of his victims and finding the one word that best desribes them negatively to turn their emotional pain into a physical one. Due to Shinken Yellow's upbringing, she is unaffected consciously and drives Zuboshimeshi off. Resurfacing later, he goes after Shinken Yellow until Shinken Green's meddling allows the Ayakashi's mouth to gagged, then immediately slain with the Kabuto Five Rings Bullet before destroyed again by Kabuto Shinken-Oh. His ability to see into the minds of others is the basis of the Satori (覚) of Japanese myth.[12]
- Yamiororo (ヤミオロロ, Yamiororo, 7): Yamiororo is a barnacle-like Ayakashi that is born in the depths of the Sanzu River, able to breathe out a poison that kills the victim in a few days and is armed with the Edamata Sensenken (枝又尖扇剣, Branching Sharp Fan Sword). Clinging to the Rokumon Junk and annoying Doukoku, Yamiororo is send to the mortal realm to do as much damage as his predecessor had done in the past. However the power of the Kajiki Origami neutralizes his poison as he is killed by the Kajiki Five Rings Bullet and then destroyed by Kajiki Shinken-Oh. His plant like appearance is the basis of the Kodama (木霊) of Japanese myth.[13]
- Hitomidama (ヒトミダマ, Hitomidama, 9): Hitomidama is an arrogant showy Ayakashi armed with the Ōkainonari Tetate (大貝形手盾, Great Hand-Shaped Shield) and a whip who is able to take control over his opponents, making them puppets to his will. He used this ability on both Tora Orgami and Ryunosuke, having them fight for him. But after freeing Ryunosuke from Hitomidama's control, he frees the Tora Origami as the Ayakashi is killed by the Vassals and then destroyed by Tora Shinken-Oh. His eye-like head is the basis of the Hitotsume-kozō (一つ目小僧) of Japanese myth.[14]
- Okakurage (オカクラゲ, Okakurage, 10): Okakurage is an Ayakashi armed with the Sakasarokkotsu Tansō (逆六骨短槍, Inversed Six-Boned Short-Spear), using it to conjure rain storms whose rain drops induce despair on those it rains on, calling it a blessing. Okakurage can also unfold the umbrella on his head to fly and thus have an advantage over his land-based opponents. Okakurage was killed by Shinken Green, overwhelming Shinken-Oh as a giant until DaiTenku is formed to counter the Ayakashi in the air before finishing him off. Due to his umbrella like head, Okakurage is the basis of the Kasabake (傘化け) of Japanese myth.[15]
- Ushirobushi (ウシロブシ, Ushirobushi, 11-12): Ushirobushi is the most feared among the Ayakashi, armed with the Onikōbe Sekkeitō (鬼首楔形刀, Oni's Head Wedge Sword) that he uses in his Onigatana Nidangiri (鬼刀二段斬り, Onigatana Two-Step Slash) attack. He is sent by Shitari to kill Shinken Red, but Juzo's interence forces him to fall back when he starts to dry up. Ushirobushi later resumes, only to be killed by the Tora Five Rings Bullet and destroyed by Tenku Shinken-Oh. His general appearance, resembling the head of a beast is the basis of the Otoroshi (おとろし) of Japanese myth.[16]
- Nakinakite (ナキナキテ, Nakinakite, 13): Nakinakite is an Ayakashi armed with the Niekane Jigokukon (沸鉄地獄棍, Seething Iron Hellish Cane), he is sent to deploy his Shiro-Oniko (白鬼子, Shirooniko, "White Oni Child") to take over a child's place, placing the child in a state of sadness. Nakinakite can also create the infantile Aka-Oniko (赤鬼子, Akaoniko, "Akaoni Child") that latch onto his opponents and suck the life out of them if unhappy. Nakinakite is killed by Shinken Yellow and Shinken Pink, and then destroyed by Shinken-Oh after he was being weighed down by DaiTenku. The characteristics of his Akaoniko are the basis of the Konaki-jijī (子泣き爺) of Japanese myth.[17]
- Hachochin (ハチョウチン, Hachōchin, 14): Hachochin is an elephantine Ayakashi who is the basis of the Chōchinobake of Japanese myth.
References
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- ^ "テレビ朝日|侍戦隊シンケンジャー". Retrieved 2009-05-10.