Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger Explained

Runtime:	24–25 minutes (per episode)
Company:	Toei Company
Creator:	Toei Company
Developer:	Junichi Miyashita
Director:	Katsuya Watanabe
Voices:	Taiki Matsuno
Opentheme:	"Hurricaneger Sanjō!" by Hideaki Takatori
Endtheme:	"Ima Kaze no Naka de" by Hironobu Kageyama
Narrated:	Hironori Miyata
Country:	Japan
Location:	Tokyo, Japan (Greater Tokyo Area)
Composer:	Kazunori Miyake
Num Episodes:	51

^[1] is a Japanese Tokusatsu television show and Toei's twenty-sixth production of the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired from February 17, 2002, to February 9, 2003, replacing Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, and was replaced by Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger. The catchphrase for the series is . Its footage was used in the American series Power Rangers Ninja Storm (the end credits listed the show as titled Hurricane Rangers). On April 1, 2013, Shun Shioya, Nao Nagasawa, Kohei Yamamoto, Yujiro Shirakawa, and Nobuo Kyo, who played Hurricane Red, Hurricane Blue, Hurricane Yellow, Kabuto Raijer, and Kuwaga Raijer, respectively, announced that a tenth-anniversary V-Cinema release called Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After would be produced. This is the first time a movie has been made commemorating the anniversary of a single Sentai series.^[2] The movie is a direct to DVD and Blu-ray release. Shout! Factory released Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: The Complete Series in North America on March 26, 2019.^[3] This is the twelfth Super Sentai series to be released in North America. It aired alongside Kamen Rider Ryuki.

Hurricaneger is the first Super Sentai series to officially celebrate its own 20th anniversary, with a V-cinext release for this occasion which debuted in 2022.

Plot

Three misfit pupils of the Hayate-Style Ninja School, who are given a rigorous training regiment by their sensei Mugensai Hinata, are the only survivors when most of their peers are slaughtered during the graduation ceremony by a group of evil space ninjas known as the Jakanja that serve a mysterious power hidden on Earth. Mugensai, who has turned himself into a hamster to evade his pursuers, and his daughter Oboro Hinata recruit the trio to become the legendary Hurricanegers to fight Jakanja. The Hurricanegers are joined by the Gouraigers of the Ikazuchi-Style Ninja School, who were initially their enemies, and later the mysterious Shurikenger who unites the two ninja groups to stop Jakanja from acquiring the mysterious power.

Characters

Hurricanegers

The eponymous Hurricanegers are three ninja students in the 507th class who are the survivors of the ninja school,, are mastering their school's ninjutsu. They represent the Hayate Heart embodying the "Presistence of the Future". Their arsenal revolving around the discs, the Hurricanegers transform by using the brace and use the hang gliders for transportation. They are armed with the ninjatō, which has an alternate rifle mode that can be accessed by combining with its sheath. Their signature attack is the . The Hurricanegers combine their personal weapons to form the, which has three configurations that can perform a different finisher depending on which weapon is used as the front piece: the shoots a ball of flaming energy, the fires a bubble of sound waves, and the materializes a 100-ton weight.

When facing enlarged Jakanja members, the Hurricanegers summon their and form a known as via where it has the ability to assume the more agile form of for a duration of one minute. Senpuujin can combine with Gouraijin and a combination known as into via . Alternatively, it can combine with Gouraijin, Tenkuujin, and the combination to form via . The Hurricanegers and Gouraigers also acquire the use of Shurikenger's instrument, allowing them to either command, which can be ridden by Tenrai Senpuujin in the formation, or combine the Ninjamisen with the Victory Gadget to form the .

The leader of the team, his courageous determination making up for his slow-thinking. Long after the Jakanja's defeat, while aiding the Abarangers and then the Gokaigers, Yosuke became a handyman who travels around the world. During his travels, six months prior to the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, Yosuke befriends Tenkai and is forced by Bat Ze Runba to attack Space Union Ninja School branches while stealing his teammates' Shinobi Medals. But with his friends' help, Yosuke frees Tenkai and becomes a mentor to the boy. As the,, he uses the and his personal Shinobi Machine is . A kunoichi who dreams of becoming a popstar, working under the stage name Nana. After the final battle, aiding the Abarangers, the Boukengers by having her "Friendship Spirit" empower DaiVoyager, and the Gokaigers, Nanami became a successful singer of international fame and hopes to be an actress. As the,, she uses the and her personal Shinobi Machine is . A firm believer in planning whose friendly nature allows him to at a daycare center. Long after the Jakanja's defeat, aiding the Abarangers and then the Gokaigers, Kota married and had a daughter named as well as a son named . Though he attempted to conceal his activities as ninja from his family, Kota considers telling them the truth after the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After. As the,, he uses the and his personal Shinobi Machine is .

Gouraigers

The are two brothers who are the surviving students of the ninja academy,, originally the enemies of the Hurricaneger who join the Jakanja despite having wiped out the Ikazuchi Way's Ninja Academy which left the Kasumi brothers as the only survivors. The brothers obtained the forbidden Gouraiger system from their father,, a rogue ninja who abused them. Ikki went against the Ikazuchi Way's wishes to obtain the Evil Will after learning of it during his mission in Egypt and learned of the "Final Secret" at the time of a meteor shower. He went against his school's wishes by creating the Gouraiger system and making his sons kill each other to evoke it while making them believe that rage and hatred would only promote strength. Though they eventually allied themselves with the Hurricanegers the Kasumi brothers were unable to completely forsake their father's cruel teachings and have a jaded view on life. The two work as construction workers before parting ways after the final battle with the Jakanja. They represent the Ikazuchi Heart embodying the Bonds of the Past.

Their arsenal revolving around the Shinobi Medals, the Gouraigers transform by using the brace and use the motorcycles for transportation. They are armed with the staff, which can switch between, the shuriken-like, and the shield-like . The Gouraigers combine their personal weapons to form the, which can then combine with the Hurricanegers' Triple Gadget's Quake Gadget configuration to form the . When facing enlarged Jakanja members, the Gouraigers summon their Shinobi Machines and form via .

The older brother of Isshu, originally intending to make Ikazuchi as the greatest ninja school using the Evil Will. But Ikkou abandoned it and decides to support the Hurricanegers, becoming Yosuke's rival while making a mortal enemy out of Manmaruba when the alien sought revenge the Kasumi brothers for making a fool out of him. Long after the Jakanja's defeat, aiding the Abarangers prior to becoming estranged from his brother, Ikkou becomes a member of the JunRetsu singing group. During the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, Ikkou helps Yosuke remember the good they did together before helping him save Tenkai. As the crimson-colored,, he uses the raygun and his personal Shinobi Machine is . The younger brother of Ikkou who originally resented his school for staying in the shadows, idolizing his brother and respecting most of his decisions. But Isshu took the fact they were not rebuilding their ninja school personally until he found the resting place of his father's blade, the double-bladed naginata. Desiring to rebuild the Ikazuchi School, Isshu used the blade with disastrous results. After learning to use the Kiraimaru in a way where his friends would not be harmed, Isshu decides to rebuild the school after Jakanja is defeated. By the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, having left Ikkou's shadow, Isshu became a lady's man and eventually made peace with his brother. As the navy blue-colored,, he uses the claw, which can combine with his Ikazuchimaru to form the naginata, and his personal Shinobi Machine is .

Shurikenger

is the green-colored who is able to transform via the device. He is armed with the katana, which has an alternate baseball bat mode that can be accessed by combining with its sheath. He can also assume, rotating the top of his helmet while removing the weight inhibitor serving as chest armor to increase his physical abilities. When facing enlarged Jakanja members, Shurikenger summons and changes it from a bird-themed helicopter mode to robot mode via .

Shurikenger

The original Shurikenger, known as the and representative of the, was an ex-student of the Hayate-Style's Ninja Academy who became Kagura's personal fighter while renouncing name and face as he is permanently transformed in his costumed form. A somewhat comical figure, Shurikenger often used broken English phrases including the famous "I am Ninja of Ninja!" and also often poorly mixes both Japanese and English into his sentences. He usually disguises himself as a 'regular' person until he reverts to his true form with the Shuriken Ball device when confronted by Jakanja. Though Shurikenger seemed to have died after being mortally wounded by Sandaru and using Tenkuujin to take out Satorakura, he mysteriously reappears to aid his allies and the Abarangers and is last seen overseeing the Ninningers' progress under request of Toha Yamaji.

A mysterious 10-year-old boy who appears during the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, taken under Yosuke's wing as traveling companion six months prior as Tenkai lacked any memory of his life before. But kidnapped by Bat Ze Runba, Tenkai is revealed to be the embodiment of the Great Force that manifested after the Hurricaneger/Gouraiger teams defeated Tau Zanto. Though Runba succeeded in awakening the Great Force, Tenkai manages to suppress it and gains the ability to become the new Shurikenger with the resolve to use his powers for good as he becomes Yosuke's apprentice. Unlike his predecessor, though he possesses the same capabilities, Tenkai does not use broken English phrases in his sentences.

Allies

The ninja master of the Ninpuukan ninja school and a master of the animal-change Ninja Art, having turned into a hamster to evade Jakanja's attack on his school yet panicked and mixed up the words in his spell and has been referenced as . Despite his form, he can fight and communicated with Kagura before she revealed herself. While Mugensai temporary restored during the events of the movie by Laiina until she left Earth, he regains his humanity in the finale and graduates the Hurricanegers and the Gouraigers two months after their battle with Tau Zant. Mugensai's scholarly daughter and the director of the who provides the Hurricanegers' arsenal, being their senpai due to her being a member of the 487th graduating class. She also invented the robot kuroko that mind-wipe out the ninjas' existence from civilians those who left Hayate-Style to ensure their school's secrecy. A 500-year-old seemingly young woman who is the daughter of a feudal lord who died protecting her before she went into hiding as with Shurikenger as her protector while some of her descendants become members of the Space Unified Ninja School she established. Kagura's prolonged life is due to embedded on her forehead, the item revealed to be the which the Earth ninjas' technology is derived from. But Kagura refrains from any form of sadness to maintain the seal placed on the Grieving Bow. After moving in with the Hurricanegers after her location is compromised, Kagura learned of how much the world changed during her solitude while seeing the ninja are true heroes despite her earlier impressions. But Sandaaru learned of the seal, killing her once it is undone. During the events of Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After, the Hurricanegers meet a leading figure of the Space Unified Ninja School who is a blood relative of Kagura's and was entrusted with Shurikenger's Shinobi Medal before it was stolen. Yosuke's ancestor who appears in Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger de Gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary, using the with a Gyro Changer to become the kabuki-themed .

Space Ninja Clan Jakanja

The are a ruthless band of alien ninja based in their fortress, the group known as the with three commanding the that consist Jankanja's . Each one leads their own Ninja Corps. Their goal is to bring Earth to ruins to invoke, the that would form in the depths of the ocean before destroying the universe. But when Tau Zanto assumes his ultimate form the Centipede is destroyed in the transformation, Furabiijo and Wendinu are among the survivors that also include the Reverse Seven Spears.

Jankanja's leader, an Ōmukade-like demon with various faces on his segments who desires the Evil Force's power to wipe out the universe and create a new one he intends to rule. He made numerous attempts to bring about the Evil Force's coming with Gouraigers kill each other and later Fangerus before ingesting the and the Grieving Bow to transform himself into the mobile giant and absorb the Evil Force. But Tau Zant is shrunk down to human size and is finally destroyed by the ninjas using the Victory Gadget. A kunoichi dropout in a bee headdress and a user of the bee ninja art who Tau Zant recruited, carrying a notepad she uses to grade Space Ninja members sent to attack Earth. She once acted on her own by creating the android Furabijenu, who briefly forced her out of Jakanja before manipulating Nanami into creating a remote control for her creation. Following the series finale, assumed to have been killed, Furabiijo and Wendinu ended up on Dino Earth where they attempted to ally themselves with the Evoliens during the events of Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger. Furabiijo later resurfaces briefly in GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai as a key ingredient in Chronos's plans, making a return appearance in Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After as a supporter of Bat Ze Runba before taking her leave. The Ōnyūdō/frog-like leader of the, Chuunin that are enlarged by a magical scroll fired from Wendinu's bazooka, armed with an extendable rod as a weapon. Chuuzubo bore a grudge against the Gouraigers when they allowed his friend Octonyuudo to get killed, his actions against them resulting in them joining the Hurricanegers. Chuuzubo later uses the forbidden Dark Soul Summoning Ninja Art to enlarge himself with an increase in his power by sacrificing his life, overpowering the two ninja teams before being destroyed by Gourai Senpuujin. Tau Zant's most valuable servant due to his ability to see the fixed future, Manmaruba developed a grudge against Ikkou after seeing his future death. Following Chuuzubo's death, Manmaruba undergoes a pupa state to become the scorpion-like to exact his revenge by infecting Ikkou with both a deadly Space Scorpion and its egg while foreseeing his own death by Ikkou's hand. While Hurricane Red averted Ikkou's death, Manmaruba creates a stronger clone of himself to continue in his place. The new Manmaruba's psychic power allows him to see a meteor shower allowing him to fully reveal the means to acquire the Evil Force, but the exposure mutates him into the mindless scorpion monster that is destroyed by Tenrai Senpuujin. A snake ninja art mistress of disguise who appears on Earth with Furabiijo as the one who enlarges the Space Ninjas, occasionally called by her partner as "Wendy". Wendinu was made a Dark Spear due to her unique ability to grow into a giant super-strong berserker after amassing enough stress and rage in her. In that crazed state of mind, Wendinu destroys an entire planet single-handedly. After Manmaruba's death, Wendinu follows her own plan in setting up her own Wendinu Cram School scheme using brainwashed children to kill the ninja for her. In the process, she falls head over heels in love with a young man named Hashimoto. Once her plan failed Wendinu's rage reaches its zenith and she grows, overpowering the Karakuri Giants until the presence of Hashimoto causes her to shrink back to normal size. Following the series finale, assumed to have been killed, Wendinu and Furabiijo ended up on Dino Earth where they attempted to ally themselves with the Evolians during the events of Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger. Wendinu later resurfaces in Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 Years After as a supporter of Bat Ze Runba before taking her leave. A master swordsman and leader of the, robots built by Sargain who are scanned by a Wendinu summons upon their destruction. Despite appearances, Sargain is actually a cyborg ant piloting a puppet body equipped with the Dark Twin Swords Ganryuken from his shoulders. He also builds his own personal robots to fight the ninjas. Receiving the Raging Arrow from Sandaaru to unlock its power Sargain learns that it functions like the Shinobi Medals. Though he unlocked the Raging Arrow he lost it when Gaingain was destroyed. Though he survives the destruction of Gaingain, he is cut down with his own blade by Sadaaru as he had no more need of him. A peacock/evil clown-like trickster with an Owarai-type personality who replaces Chuuzubo, commanding the who Wendinu revives into giants with a boomerang. When the Evil Force's coming approaches, Satarakura makes his moves during the final meteor shower by using the Jaykumu Gun created from Sargain's data to suck the energy out of people and extracting the rage and sadness for Tau Zant. Satarakura was stopped by the Earth ninjas but Tau Zant saves him to preserve the Jaykumu Gun as it fused to his arm and drained him of his own energy. Taking advantage Satarakura uses the energy of the Jakyumu Gun to overpower the ninjas and take their energy. Sandaaru arrives once the Jakyumu Gun's energy pack is full and takes it before attempting to kill Satarakura. Though Satarakura survives, his mask is broken and his mind shattered turning him into a hateful psychopath intent on killing both sides. It takes Tenkuujin's self-destruct to finally kill him. A powerful shark-like ninja who destroyed many worlds before coming to Earth, master of the alien beasts that constitute the and are stored in Sandaaru's fan until summoned. After he obtained the Raging Arrow from Astrom, he became the most powerful of all the Seven Dark Spears with aspirations of taking over Jakanja. With the exception of Sargain and Tau Zant, who played along, Sandaaru wins the other Jakanja members over while convincing them to all attack together rather than individually. After using the Earth Ninjas to power the Raging Arrow, Sandaaru uses Sargain to devise a method for its use before secretly killing him once making a copy of Sargain's Karakuri Ball system. It was only after acquiring the Grieving Bow from Kagura that Sandaaru learns Tau Zant was using him the entire time and reveals his true colors after the destruction of the Centipede. Surviving the Victory Gadget, Sandaaru enlarges himself and overpowers Revolver Gourai Senpuujin. At the last second, the Gouraigers are forced to sacrifice Gouraijin to kill Sandaaru. Low-ranked ninjas that serve as the Jankanja's foot soldiers.

Shadow Seven Spears

The are a group of ninja that are independent of the Jankanja and serve as antagonists in the movies.

: The arrogant younger brother of Chuzubo possesses as many ninja arts as his brother and more. He arrives on Earth to avenge his brother, meeting the Duke Orgs Yaibaba and Tsuetsue who reveal the Gaorangers' existence to him. Setting up a partnership with the Orgs, Chubouzu managed to capture the Gaorangers and Tetomu obtaining the G-Phones which he gave to Jakanja on the condition that if the plan was a success he would take his brother's place in the Seven Dark Spears. Though the eight villains had them on the run Gao Silver's interference gave the gang a chance to return the G-Phones to their true owners. Chubouzu was hit by the Victory Gadget/Haja Hyakujuuken combo attack he uses the dark soul summoning ninja art to evade death and his regeneration ninja art to revive Girigirigaishi, Kangaroulette and Jingiron to aid him. He also uses his big-bro spirit summoning ninja art to revive Chuzubo himself. In the end Chubouzu is killed using the Power Animal-powered Tenkuu Gourai Senpuujin.

Other members

A bee-themed robot that Furabiijo created in her image and 300 times more powerful, ultimately proving to be far superior enough to Furabiijo that she was kicked out while Furabijenu plotted to raise up the ranks until she takes over Jakanja. But Furabiijo tricked Nanami in building a remote control to regain control over Furabijenu, who is destroyed by Hurricane Blue with her Copy Giant version destroyed by Senpuujin using Pitashito Hitode. Three wolf-like demons that survived Jakanja's attack on the B-Strike Hell Nebula, able to turn their victims into werewolves by eating their shadows. The three Fangule, Brown Destruction, Black Beginning and Silver Emergency, were made into pets by Satarakura that he set loose on the day of the second meteor shower via Tau Zant's plan to evoke the Evil Force. Though the Earth Ninja manage to obliterate the Fangule, they reform at Satokura's call while merging into the three-faced to complete the ideal setting for the Evil Force's coming. Despite being momentarily split back into the Fangule while Satokura's whistle was broken, Fangerus overpowers the Karakuri Giants until Revolver Mammoth arrives with the monster destroyed by Revolver Gourai Senpuujin.

Episodes

At the end of each episode, there is a short Ninja File segment on a Jakanja the Hurricanegers dealt with. All of the episodes in the show are called "Scrolls".

Production

The trademark for the series was filed by Toei Company on November 22, 2001.^[4]

Film

is a 2002 film, which takes place between episodes 25 and 26.

V-Cinema releases

A 2003 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 30 and 31.

A 2004 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 40 and 41 of Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger.

A 2007 V-Cinema release, which takes place between episodes 42 and 43 of GoGo Sentai Boukenger.

A 2013 V-Cinema release, which takes place after the final episode of the series.

A 2023 V-Cinema release, which takes place after the final episode of the series.

Specials

A 2002 Kodansha Super Video special.

A 2022 Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club-exclusive special that is a prequel to Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger de Gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary.^[5]

Cast

Yosuke Shiina, Yonosuke (Shushutto 20th Anniversary):
Nanami Nono, :
Kota Bito, :
Ikkou Kasumi, :
Isshu Kasumi, :
Furabiijo:
Wendinu:

Kagura, Inquirer (10 Years After):
Mugensai Hinata:
Oboro Hinata:

Voice actors

Shurikenger:
Tau Zanto:
Chuuzubo:
Manmaruba:
Sargain:
Satarakura:
Sandaaru:
Narrator, Fuuraimaru, Bat Zhe Rumba (10 Years After):

Guest cast

Ikki Kasumi (15-18, 31):

Film and direct-to-video guest cast

Chubouzu (Voice, Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger): Yūji Kishi
Tenkai (10 Years After):

Oiranda (Shushutto 20th Anniversary):
Aunja (Voice, Shushutto 20th Anniversary):

Songs

Opening theme

(1-50)
- Lyrics:
- Composition & Arrangement:
- Artist:
  - The second part of this song is used as ending theme of episode 51

Ending theme

(1-50)
- Lyrics & Composition: Hideaki Takatori
- Arrangement:
- Artist:

International broadcast and home video

In its home country of Japan, the series was released in full on Rental and Sale VHS by Toei Video from January to December 2003. It was released in a total span of 12 volumes, with the first nine volumes containing four episodes, while the final three volumes contain five. It was also released on Rental DVDs starting October 11, 2002 and then on Sale DVDs from December 7, 2002 to November 21, 2003, with the same volumes. On July 12, 2013, a 10th anniversary project linked as a "10 YEARS LATER" description titled: "Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger Memorial" was released on DVD that collects scenes from all 51 episodes of the series.
International releases were very limited to a few regions, because most of them around the world would receive foreign language dubs of the Power Rangers adaptation, which is Power Rangers Ninja Storm. Although some Asian regions have aired the Power Rangers adaptation in addition.
- The series was limited to only airing in Asian regions outside of Japan, as most international regions have aired the Power Rangers adaptation, Power Rangers Ninja Storm instead.
  - In Thailand, the series was given a Thai subtitled and aired on Channel 5 in 2004. But only 48 out of 51 episodes were broadcast. The series with all episodes released, subtitled in Thai.
  - In the Philippines, this series aired on ABS-CBN as Power Rangers Ninja Storm, an American adaptation of this Sentai series. it was aired in 2005 until 2006 with Tagalog dub. At the same year, it was also aired on ABC 5 (now TV5) as Hurricaneger with Tagalog dub.
  - In the Chinese-speaking world, both Mandarin (Taiwan dialect) and Cantonese subtitles were produced and aired in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively.
    - In Taiwan, the series aired with a Taiwanese Mandarin subtitled on October 3, 2004, until September 25, 2005 with all episodes, airing on GTV.
    - In Hong Kong, the series aired with a Cantonese Chinese subtitled on March 6, 2005 (a few months after Taiwan aired the original English audio and Taiwanese Mandarin subtitles) on TVB Jade until March 12, 2006 with all episodes.
- In North America, the series would receive a DVD release by Shout! Factory on March 26, 2019 in the original Japanese audio with English subtitles. It is the twelfth Super Sentai series to be officially released in the region.

External links

- - at Super-Sentai.net
for Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger de Gozaru! Shushutto 20th Anniversary

Notes and References

Web site: 忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー】20周年記念パーカー . Bandai . 16 June 2023 . ja .
Web site: Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: 10 YEARS AFTER Announced! – Henshin Justice Unlimited . Henshinjustice.com . March 31, 2013 . June 26, 2013.
Web site: Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: The Complete Series – DVD :: Shout! Factory.
Web site: スーパー戦隊、仮面ライダー、プリキュアの各シリーズにおける新作タイトルの商標登録出願についてまとめてみた. May 8, 2013 .
Web site: 『忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー』と『暴太郎戦隊ドンブラザーズ』が奇跡のコラボ！ＴＴＦＣオリジナル『忍風戦隊ハリケンジャーwithドンブラザーズ』ＴＴＦＣにて12／25(日)配信決定! . Toei Company . 4 December 2022 . ja . 4 December 2022.