October 6, 1972 through September 28, 1973, 52 episodes
Stuck In
Somebody's Frame
Go Rainbowman (opening theme)
Created by Kawauchi,
Kohan
Music by Kitahara, Jun
Cast List
| Character |
|
Actor/Actress |
| Yamato, Takeshi/Dash 7 |
|
Mizutani, Kunihisa |
| Yamato, Tami |
|
Motoyama, Kakuko |
| Yamato, Miyuki |
|
Ishikawa, Eriko |
| Mizuno, Toshie |
|
Ito, Megumi |
| Daibadatta |
|
Inoe, Akifumi |
| Mr. K |
|
Hirata, Akihiko |
| Diana |
|
Yamabuki, Mayumi |
| Mitchy |
|
Saegusa, Mieko |
| Cathy |
|
Takahashi, Y�ko |
| Iquana |
|
Shiozawa,
Toki |
| Yamato, Ichiro |
|
Koizumi, Hiroshi |
| Olga |
|
Fujiyama,
Ritsuko |
| Lolita |
|
Minagawa, Myoko |
| God Iquana |
|
Soga,
Machiko |
| Dr. Borg |
|
Dai, Nasasawa |
| Narrator (episodes 1 & 2) |
|
Nakae,
Shinji |
| Narrator (episodes 3-52) |
|
Naya, Gora |
Yamato, Takeshi was an
undisciplined wrestler who didn't care how he won a match. After being
kicked off the team, for being too violent, he goes to India looking
for Daibadatta, a former wrestling champion who had become a hermit.
He finds Daibadatta
who not only teaches him discipline but gives him the magical power to
transform into Rainbowman: Warrior of Love, (episodes 1 and 2). The
first thing Takeshi does with his new powers is fly back to Japan.
Daibadatta will show up in Japan when Rainbowman needs help (episodes
3, 18, 21, 44, 52).
Rainbowman
has seven forms, based on the Japanese days of the weeks [Monday
through Sunday], each with different abilities:
Dash 1 - Moonman can
deflate himself in order to squeese through small spaces. In episode 21
he's given the ability to cause a thunderstorm.
Dash 2 - Fireman can
spray fire out of his fingers.
Dash 3- Waterman can
spray water or cold air out of his fingers and he can breath
underwater.
Dash 4 - Leafman (or
Treeman) can generate mindnumbing wind noise, shoot pine needles from
his fingers or cause a windstorm to blow leaves and twigs to blind his
enemies, he can also merge into a tree to hide.
Dash 5- Goldman fires lightning bolts out of his fingers and can fly (short distances).
Dash 6 - Earthman (as
in soil) can drill himself into the ground, to hide from the Shine
Shine Dan or to travel underground. Dash 6 can also cause the earth to
crack open under his enemies to swallow them.
Dash 7 - Sunmanhas
several powers. The most commonly used is "kanashibari" (binding hand
& foot), the ability to temporarily paralyze his enemies.
Others include "Rainbow Barrier" (a protective shield), and "Rainbow
Flash" (bolts of energy from his fingers).
The sun on his
forehead can fire a devistating light ray, "Solar] [Taiyo] Flash". Two
sunbeams can be removed, tranforming into swords. When the Shine Shine
Dan becomes resistant to "Solar Flash", Rainbowman discovers that he
can increase its power by using his twin swords with it.
Dash 7 can
also fly, and was the form used for long distance travel. When flying
long distances Dash 7 would transform into a white ball, often followed
by a rainbow. Dash 7 is the form Yamato, Takeshi uses the most.
Normally he transforms into Dash 7 before switching to one of the other
forms. From any of the other forms he will transform back into Dash 7
before becoming Yamato, Takeshi again
To transform
into Rainbowman, Takeshi says the magic words "Anokutara
Sanmyakusanbodai" (Supreme Correct Wisdom) Rainbow Dash 7" then to
switch forms Rainbowman says "Rainbow Dash #" # being the number of the
form he wishes to switch to. Dash 7 appears in 50 episodes, Dash 1
appears in 8 episodes, Dash 2 in 11, Dash 3 in 12, Dash 4 in 7, Dash 5
in 21 and Dash 6 in 22.
In episode 44
Rainbowman gains the ability to split himself into three forms, dash 7
and any two others then combine the three together. Called "Rainbow
Cross" this ability gives him different powers with each combination.
Combining dash 2, 5, 7 allows Rainbowman to use lighting bolts or fire.
Combining dash 4, 6 and 7 allows Rainbowman to merge with trees and
rocks. Combining dash 3, 5 and 7 allows him to cause a windstorm inside
a building and fire lightning bolts. When this power is used the sun on
Rainbowman's forehead changes to reflect the combination. Example,
combining 2, 6 and 7 would make one third of the sun red, one third
gold and one third brown striped. The combination of forms lasts until
Rainbowman transforms directly into any single form. The combinations
he uses are 2, 5, 7; 4, 6, 7 (three times); 3, 5, 7; 3,6,7; 2,6,7 and
1,5,7. He uses this ability last in episode 51. The final episode
featuring dash 7 and dash 6 only.
[Mizutani,
Kunihisa played Yamato, Takeshi and Rainbowman Dash 7, the other forms
were played by actor/stuntmen with Mizutani, Kunihisa's voice dubbed
in.]
When Rainbowman is
wounded or drained of energy from over use of his powers, he becomes
Yamato, Takeshi and goes into a trance to heal himself. In this trance
his body freezes. In this state he is not aware of what is happening
around him and is vunerable to his enemies, if they can find a way to
penetrate his frozen skin. When he thaws out he will be totally healed
and rested. In later episodes he has the ability to quickly heal
himself of minor injuries by just chanting, without freezing.
Rainbowman battles the
evil Mr. K's Shine Shine Dan
(Die Die Army), a group of wealthy foreigners (mostly Chinese) seeking
revenge against Japan for the second world war.
Mr. K knows that
Yamato, Takeshi's is Rainbowman and is not above attacking his mother
Tami, younger sister Miyuki or his "koibito" (sweetheart) Mizuno,
Toshie. Miyuki was hit by a car, resulting in having to wear a leg
brace. Takeshi blames himself for the accident. At first none of
Takeshi's family know he's Rainbowman, but later in the series they
seem to have figured it out.
Takeshi's father
Yamato, Ichiro disappeared years ago (apparently on a trip to Africa).
When the Shine Shine Dan discovers were he is (an African prison), Mr K
has him brought to Japan, holding him hostage in an attempt to force
Rainbowman to surrender (episodes 22-24, 26).
Starting with episode
40 Rainbowman has to battle both the Shine Shine Dan and Iquana's
mother God Iquana who needs his blood to bring Iquana back to life.
This sorceress is not working for the Shine Shine Dan, and she doesn't
care if her attacks on Rainbowman interfere with Mr. K's plans. God
Iquana is weakened by bright light or seeing her own reflection. She
creates two monsters from her own blood, Bat Sister [episodes 46 and
47] (height: 170cm weight: 41kg) and Mummy Sister [episode 48] (height:
178 cm weight: 70kg). When the monsters are killed she is weakened. [It
was originally planned that the first Iquana would return but when it
came time to film the last 13 episodes Shiozawa, Toki was no longer
available, so Soga, Machiko (voice of Dr Kate in Kamen Rider
Stronger episodes 27, 29, 30) was hired to play her mother
instead. In my opinion Shiozawa, Toki was better.]
Episode Titles and Villain Names
Ai
no Senshi Rainbowman starts slow. It isn't until the end of
the second episode that Yamato, Takeshi becomes Rainbowman and he
doesn't meet Mr. K until the fourth episode. The magical monsters don't
appear until episode fourteen. Many episodes end in a cliffhanger.
Starting with episode 27 the Shine Shine Dan becomes more powerful,
harder for Rainbowman to defeat.
Ai no Senshi
Rainbowman was created by Kawauchi, K�han, who started
tokusatu television with Gekko Kamen [Moon Light
Mask] in 1958. His other series include Nana Iro Kamen
[Seven Color Mask] (1959), Hikari
no Shenshi Daiyamondo Ai [Diamond Eye: Warrior of
Light] (1973-1974), and Seigi
no Shinboru Kondoruman [Condorman: Symbol of
Justice] (1974-1975).
From November 10, 1982
through March 27, 1983 there was a 22 episode animated "Rainbowman"s,
in which the 7 forms of Rainbowman were giant robots.
Yamato Takeshi's Song (original
ending theme)
His Name Is Rainbowman (second
ending theme)
Back To
Henshin Hall of Fame
Last modified Monday, January 27. 2020
Photo of 7 forms of Rainbowman standing together
was emailed to me by Benikiba Jonin. Color photos of Mr. K, Diana and
Jenobaado provided by Ikadevil. Title screen provided by "Shin Hayata."
Ai no Senshi
Reinbooman © 1972 Toho
Co., Ltd.