April 05, 1967 - March 27, 1968 (52 episodes, 1 movie)
Created by Yokoyama, Mitsuteru
Produced by Hirayama,
Toru
Music by Hiroki, Ogawa
| Character |
|
Actor |
| Akakage |
|
Sakaguchi, Yuzaburo |
| Aokage |
|
Yoshinobu, Kaneko |
| Shirokage |
|
Maki, Fuyukichi |
| Kagerou |
|
Toki, Misa |
| Oda, Nobunaga |
|
Kuraoka Shintarou |
| Oda, Nobunaga |
|
Shimada Keiitirou |
| Takenaka, Hanbee |
|
Satomi, Koutarou |
| Kinoshita, Toukichirou |
|
Ohtuji, Shirou |
| Kouga, Genyousai |
|
Amatsu Bin |
| Kurayami, Kidou |
|
Hara, Kensaku |
| Mahuu, Ikduchimaru |
|
Shioji, Akira |
| Narrator |
|
Yamaguchi, Sachio |
Opening Theme - Ninja March
It's the late 1500s. Japan is in the midst of a long period of civil
wars. As some seek to unite Japan in order to bring peace there are
others who forment conflict in order to empower themselves. Three
ninja, Akakage (Red Shadow), Aokage (Blue Shadow) and Shirokage (White
Shadow), working for those who seek peace and unity, do battle against
evil ninja and their daikaiju (giant monsters).
Akakage is a the best swordsman of the three and a master of disguise.
The crystal in his mask fires an energy beam. Akakage appears on the
scene proclaiming "Akakage Sanj�!" (Sakaguchi, Yuzaburo died July 13, 2003.)
Aokage is a young boy who likes to play with explosives and uses a
chain weapon. (Here is
Yoshinobu, Kaneko's official web
page.)
Shirokage is armed with a pole weapon and flies using a large kite. Maki, Fuyukichi costared in Henshin
Ninja Arashi (1972) as Arashi's sidekick Tatsumaki.
(Fuyukichi, Maki died June 26, 1998.)
Kamen no Ninja Akakage was Toei's third super hero
series (first in color) and it clearly had a major influence on the
series that would follow. Kamen no Ninja Akakage
was one of the few series produced by Hirayama, Toru which featured
characters that were not created by Ishinomori, Shotaro. The music for Kamen
no Ninja Akakage was composed by Hiroki, Ogawa, who also did
Gekko Kamen (the first Japanese super hero TV
series).
The Episodes, Ninja and Monsters
Kamen
no Ninja Akakage the series was followed by a 3D movie Kamen
no Ninja Akakage (1969).
In 1966 Yoshinobu,
Kaneko starred in the movie Daininjutsu eiga Watari
(Watari Ninja Boy in US). Kamen no Ninja Akakage's
three chapters where editted into three English dubbed films. And even
though Even Yoshinobu, Kaneko character in the TV series is not the
same character as in Daininjutsu eiga Watari, and he's not the lead
character of the TV series, two of the three films were named after
Watari. Chapters 1-13 became Ninjascope: The Magic World of
Ninjas. Chapters 14-26 became Watari the Conquerer.
Chapters 15-39 became Watari and the Fantastiks.
In 2010 these 3 films were released together on a single DVD entitled
"Red Ninja: The Movie: 3 Film Collection".
In 1987 Toei ran an
animated version of Kamen no Ninja Akakage which
lasted for just 23 episodes. In 2001 a 1 hour and 48 minute movie
titled Akakage was produced. Akakage in this
movie was not masked. Aokage was the same age as Akakage. Shiroakage
was replaced by a woman, Asuka. Akakage and Aokage were both in love
with her.
Ending Theme - Song of the Red Shadow
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To
Henshin Hall Of Fame
Last modified Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Kamen no
Ninja Akakage © 1967 Toei
Co., Ltd.
Thanks to Minami for additional cast member names