This Month In Tokusatsu History
April 1
1928 Shiozawa, Toki is born, played the evil sorceress Iquana in "Rainbowman: Warrior Of Love" (1972)
1972 First episode of Kaiketsu Lion Maru [Swift Hero Lion Maru], "Oroti, The Envoy Of Satan"
1972 Kamen Rider episode 53, "Demon Jaguar-Man! The Autobike War Of Death's Decision" (Fujioka, Hiroshi takes
the lead role back, introduces Hell Ambassador)
April 2
1972 First episode of Choujin Barom-1 [Superhuman Barom-1]
1973 First episode of Ryusei Ningen Zoon [Meteor Man Zone], "Destroy The Terror-Beast Missile!"
1977 First episode of J.A.K.Q. Dengeki Tai [J.A.K.Q. Lightning Strike Team], "4 Cards!! The Trump Card Is J.A.K.Q."
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX episode 22, "Shadowmoon!"
1993 Five Star Task Force Dairanger episode 6, "Wind, Tear Them Apart"
2000 Kamen Rider Kuuga episode 10, "Violence"
April 3
1971 First episode of Kamen Rider, "Mysterious Spider-Man", Ishimori Shotaro's first Tokusatsu series
1976 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 45, "Sword Shark of Darkness! Invasion of the Marine Hitmen"
1988 Kamen Rider Black episode 25, "The Armed Vehicle Explodes" (skipped a week)
April 4
1973 First episode of Shiro Jishi Kamen (White Lion Mask)
1980 New Kamen Rider (Skyrider) episode 27
1981 Solar Task Force Sun Vulcan episode 9, "The Father Who Becomes the Monster"
April 5
1967 First episode of Kamen no Ninja Akakage (Red Shadow: The Masked Ninja), "Toad Priest Apparition"
1973 First episode of Robotto Keiji [Robot Detective], "BAD's Killer Salesman"
1975 First episode of Himitsu Sentai Gorenjâ [Secret Task Force Goranger] the first Sentai series, "Deep-Red Sun!
Invincible Five Rangers"
1975 First episode of Kamen Rider Stronger, "I am Electric Human Stronger"
1981 Hisashi, Sakai is born, played Koushinsei Kou (Fang Ranger) in Five Star Task Force Dairanger (1994)
April 6
1973 Rainbowman: Warrior Of Love episode 27, "The Resurrected Shine Shine Dan"
1974 First episode of Electroid Zabougâ, "Fight! Electroid Zabougâ"
1974 Kamen Rider X episode 8, "Mystery!? Lower Earth - Middle Earth - Upper Earth"
1975 Electroid Zabougâ: Electroid Zabougâ vs. The Dinosaur Army, episode 40, "Ressurected 3-Headed Demon-God!!"
(starting with this episode the series now has a subtitle) [skipped 3 months!]
1976 Akumaizer 3 episode 27, "Why!? Zabitan Has Been Blown Away"
1977 Swift Hero Zubat episode 10, "Throw The Baseball Enemy Out"
1987 Super Manchine Metalder episode 3, "The Machine Man" (skipped a week)
1986 Yamaguchi, Akira (Yuki, Joji/Riderman; Daimon, Yutaka in "Electroid Zabougâ") died of lung cancer
April 7
1972 First episode of Henshin Ninja Arashi [Transforming Ninja Arashi]
1973 Kamen Rider V3 episode 8, "Danger V3! Terror of the Electric Saw"
1973 Jinzo Ningen Kikaida episode 39, "Father's Enemy, Jiro Nations Most Wanted"
1973 Last episode (54) of Swift Hero Lion Maru, "The Last Battle of Swift Hero Lion Maru"
1975 Condorman - Symbol of Justice episode 2, "Challenge Of Blood Sucking Monster"
1979 Battle Fever J episode 10, "The Sighting Of The Elephant"
1995 Super-Power Task Force Ohranger episode 6, "The Powerful Enemy Brain Machine"
April 8
1972 Kamen Rider episode 54, "Yuurei vs. Eel-Man"
1972 Swift Hero Lion Maru episode 2
April 9
1967 Last episode (39) of Ultraman, "Farewell Ultraman"
1972 Superhuman Barom-1 episode 2
1973 Meteor Man Zone episode 2, "Beat Destro-King!"
1974 First episode of Inazuman Flash, "Terror of Führer Geisel and Riddle of the Despar Army"
1977 J.A.K.Q. Lightning Strike Team episode 2, "Two-Ten-Jack!! The Secret Factory is Shocking"
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX episode 23, "RX Became a Pig"
1993 Five Star Task Force Dairanger episode 7, "Traitor!"
2000 Kamen Rider Kuuga episode 11, "Promise"
April 10
1971 Kamen Rider episode 2, "Terrifying Bat-Man"
1976 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 46, "Black Super Express! Locomotive Mask Great Reckless Driving"
1988 Kamen Rider Black episode 26, "Saving ESP Girl"
April 11
1980 New Kamen Rider (Skyrider) episode 28
1981 Solar Task Force Sun Vulcan episode 10, "The Ambushing Poison Spider Mansion"
April 12
1967 Red Shadow: The Masked Ninja episode 2, "The Kouga's Evil Child"
1973 Robot Detective episode 2, "Witnesses are Zero"
1974 First episode of Ultraman Leo
1975 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 2, "Blue earth! Drought Plan of Death"
1975 Kamen Rider Stronger episode 2, "Stronger and Tackle's Secret"
2002 The Kikaida Mania Fest '02, Japanese Cultural Center, Honolulu, Hawaii featuring Ban, Daisuke (Jiro) and Ikeda,
Shunsuke (Ichiro)
April 13
1973 Rainbowman: Warrior Of Love episode 28, "Hold Back the Underground Tank Mogurard!"
1974 Electroid Zabougâ episode 2, This Is The Secret Murder Burglary Engine Sigma
1974 Kamen Rider X episode 9, "X Rider - Special Mortal Training"
1975 Electroid Zabougâ: Electroid Zabougâ vs. The Dinosaur Army episode 41, Completed!! Strong Zabougâ"
1976 Akumaizer 3 episode 28, "Why!? The Deadly Tengu Manipulation"
1977 Swift Hero Zubat episode 11, "Don't Die On Me Now! The One Second Crisis"
1987 Super Manchine Metalder episode 4, "Metalder Versus Torpedo"
2002 The Kikaida Mania Fest '02, Japanese Cultural Center, Honolulu, Hawaii featuring Ban, Daisuke (Jiro) and Ikeda,
Shunsuke (Ichiro)
April 14
1972 Transforming Ninja Arashi episode 2
1973 First episode of Fuun Lion Maru (Storm Cloud Lion Maru), "The Rocket Man"
1973 Kamen Rider V3 episode 9, "What is the Destron Hell Corps?!"
1973 Jinzo Ningen Kikaida episode 40, "Crisis Jiro! The Operations Full Shutdown!!"
1975 Condorman - Symbol of Justice episode 3, Ikeda, Shunsuke (Minami Takeshi in Return of Ultraman, Ichiro in
Kikaida 01) joins the cast as older brother of Mitsuya Ishin (Condorman)
1979 Battle Fever J episode 11, "The Petnapping Affair"
1995 Super-Power Task Force Ohranger episode 7, "Completed!! The Super-Power Robo"
2002 The Kikaida Mania Fest '02, Shirokiya in the Ala Moana Center, Ban, Daisuke (Jiro) and Ikeda, Shunsuke (Ichiro)
signed autographs
April 15
1933 Kouji, Yada is born, provided the voice for Evil in "Akumaizer 3" (1975)
1972 Kamen Rider episode 55, "Cockroach-Man And The Blimp's Small Flaw of Terror"
1972 Swift Hero Lion Maru episode 3
1995 Super-Power Task Force Ohranger movie opens in theaters in Japan, along with Heavy Armor B-Fighter movie
April 16
1972 Superhuman Barom-1 episode 3
1973 Meteor Man Zone episode 3, "Defeat Garoga's Subterranean Base!"
1974 Inazuman Flash episode 2, "Terrifying Safari!! Epic Battle at Sea"
1977 J.A.K.Q. Lightning Strike Team episode 3, "Five Flashes!! Bark, Panther"
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX episode 24, "Papa Is Dracula"
1993 Five Star Task Force Dairanger episode 8, "Father!!"
1994 Kamen Rider J opens in theaters in Japan, along with Blue Swat movie and Ninja Sentai Kakuranger movie
2000 Kamen Rider Kuuga episode 12, "Mentor"
April 17
1966 Gamera vs. Barugon [aka War of the Monsters] opens in movie theaters in Japan
1971 Kamen Rider episode 3, "Demon Scorpion-Man"
1976 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 47, "Big Red Counterattack! Angry Five Rangers"
1988 Kamen Rider Black episode 27, "The Fire Engulfed Road"
1993 Kamen Rider ZO opens in theaters in Japan, along with Special Investigator Robo Janperson movie and Five Star
Task Force Dairanger movie
April 18
1980 New Kamen Rider (Skyrider) episode 29
1981 Solar Task Force Sun Vulcan episode 11, "The Mecha Girl of Sadness"
1981 Kamen Rider Super-1 episode 24 (skipped 2 weeks), introduced the Junior Rider Team (like the Boys' Kamen
Rider Squad)
April 19
1967 Red Shadow: The Masked Ninja episode 3, "Gama Houshi's Counterattack"
1973 Robot Detective episode 3, "The Case of the Crazy Clocks"
1975 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 3, "Large Counterattack! Yellow Whirlwind"
1975 Kamen Rider Stronger episode 3, "Thriller House Childern Cry Out!!"
April 20
1973 Rainbowman: Warrior Of Love episode 29, "The Demonic Corps DAC"
1974 Electroid Zabougâ episode 3, "Wild Rampage Hydrogen Bomb Gorikong(u)"
1974 Kamen Rider X episode 10, "Goverment of Darkness - Secret Police! Apollo Geist"
1975 Electroid Zabougâ: Electroid Zabougâ vs. The Dinosaur Army, episode 42, "Expose the Mystery of the Demon Lord
3-Headed Dragon!"
1976 Akumaizer 3 episode 29 "Why!? Zabitan's Judgement"
1977 Swift Hero Zubat episode 12, "Time Till Execution – 10 Seconds"
1987 Super Manchine Metalder episode 5, "The Professional Killer"
April 21
1972 Transforming Ninja Arashi episode 3
1973 Jinzo Ningen Kikaida episode 41, "Magnificence The Jiro Mid Air Break Up!"
1973 Kamen Rider V3 episode 10, "Double Typhoon's Secret"
1973 Storm Cloud Lion Maru episode 2
1975 Condorman - Symbol of Justice episode 4, "Shining! Golden Condor"
1979 Battle Fever J episode 12, "The Plans Of A Cursed Rose"
1995 Super-Power Task Force Ohranger episode 8, "Crash!! A Super Giant Battle"
April 22
1967 Great Giant Monster Gappa [aka Gappa the Triphibian Monster] is shown in Japanese movie theaters
1972 Kamen Rider episode 56, "Amazon's Poison Butterfly Kirira"
1972 Swift Hero Lion Maru episode 4
April 23
1972 Superhuman Barom-1 episode 4
1973 Meteor Man Zone episode 4, "Onslaught! The Garoga Army: Enter Godzilla!"
1974 Inazuman Flash episode 3, "500 Hydron Bomb!! Ground Base Great Battle"
1977 J.A.K.Q. Lightning Strike Team episode 4, "One Joker!! The Perfect Crime's Assassin"
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX episode 25, "The Bride of the Scorpion Seat"
1993 Five Star Task Force Dairanger episode 9, "Don't Be Vain"
2000 Kamen Rider Kuuga episode 13, "Suspicion"
April 24
1955 Godzilla's Counter Attack [aka Godzilla Raids Again] opens in theaters in Japan
1971 Kamen Rider episode 4, "Man-Eating Sarasenian"
1976 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 48, "Black Supply Depot! Recreational Area Crisis"
1988 Kamen Rider Black episode 28, "The Firefly of Hell"
April 25
1980 New Kamen Rider (Skyrider) episode 30
1981 Solar Task Force Sun Vulcan episode 12, "The Queen Who Eats the Diamond"
1981 Kamen Rider Super-1 episode 25
April 26
1967 Red Shadow: The Masked Ninja episode 4, "The Mysterious Spy's Mansion"
1973 Robot Detective episode 4, "The Assassin Vanished in the Wall"
1975 Secret Task Force Goranger episode 4, "Kick of Crimson! Breaking Micro Large Manoeuvres"
1975 Kamen Rider Stronger episode 4, "Devil of Ootobai's Reckless Drive Strategy!!"
April 27
1973 Rainbowman: Warrior Of Love episode 30, "Operation Mogurard Wreak Havoc"
1974 Electroid Zabougâ episode 4, "Attack the Sigma Murder Base"
1974 Kamen Rider X episode 11, "The Invulnerable Water Snake: Hydra"
1975 Electroid Zabougâ: Electroid Zabougâ vs. The Dinosaur Army episode 43, "The Fearsome Dinosaur Army's Ambition!"
1976 Akumaizer 3 episode 30, "Why!? The Mystery of the Sleeping Beauty"
1977 Swift Hero Zubat episode 13, "Ballad of the Young Assassin"
1987 Super Manchine Metalder episode 6, "Boxer in Action"
April 28
1972 Transforming Ninja Arashi episode 4
1973 Jinzo Ningen Kikaida episode 42 "Henshin Disabled!? The Hakaida Great Revolt!"
1973 Kamen Rider V3 episode 11, "Devil's Claw Aims At V3!"
1973 Storm Cloud Lion Maru episode 3
1975 Condorman - Symbol of Justice episode 5
1979 Battle Fever J episode 13, "Gold Egg And Fried Egg"
1995 Super-Power Task Force Ohranger episode 9, "Suddenly!! Traitor"
2002 Jinzo Ningen Kikaida ends its run on KIKU-TV
April 29
1972 Kamen Rider episode 57, "Earth-Spider Dogumondo"
1972 Swift Hero Lion Maru episode 5
April 30
1972 Superhuman Barom-1 episode 5
1973 Meteor Man Zone episode 5, "Blast King Ghidora At Point Blank!"
1974 Inazuman Flash episode 4, "Riddle of the Airship to Space"
1977 J.A.K.Q. Lightning Strike Team episode 5, "Three Snaps!! The Ballad of Betrayal" (guest stars Ushio, Kenji
[Ambassador Hell in Kamen Rider])
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX episode 26, "Bosgan's Counterattack"
1993 Five Star Task Force Dairanger episode 10, "Ah, The Goddess of Revenge"
2000 Kamen Rider Kuuga episode 14, "Omen"