Kidou Keiji Jiban

***Kidou Keiji Jiban*** (機動刑事ジバン, *Kidō Keiji Jiban*?, *Robot Police Jiban*) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series; part of the Metal Hero Series produced by Toei, aired by TV Asahi in Japan from January 30, 1989 to January 29, 1990 with 52 episodes and a feature movie aired on July 17, 1989. It is considered the first Metal Hero Series of the Heisei Period due to the death of Emperor Hirohito occuring during its run.

According to Toei's International Sales & Promotion Department, the series' English title can be referred to as "Jiban".

According to creator Keita Amemiya, the premise for the series was partly based on American character Robocop, as Jiban is often considered as RoboCop's Japanese counterpart. In addition, several action scenes resemble or are almost completely identical to the ones from RoboCop's first film.

The opening catchphrase of the series is: "This is the drama of a girl's and a young man's hearts which love people and protect justice." (これは人を愛し、正義を守る若者と少女の心のドラマである。, *Kore wa Hito o Aishi, Seigi o Mamoru Wakamono to Shōjo no Kokoro no Dorama de aru.*?)

## Plot

Naoto Tamura, a new detective in Central City was killed by a Biolon agent in the line of duty. Doctor Kenzou Igarashi, a man whose experiments had been responsible for the Biolon syndicate's existence, brought the man back to life as a robot detective, Jiban. Eventually Madogarbo and Rhinonoid killed Jiban, who returned to life again as **Perfect** **Jiban** (basically the same design as the original, but with a blue-colored metal body and three new weapons). In the finale, Biolon destroyed Jiban's base and transformed Madogarbo into false Jiban. Jiban defeated his duplicate and ultimately Gibanoid, the true form of Biolon's leader Doctor Giba. The victorious Jiban then learned that Mayumi Igarashi, the one civilian that knew his secret, had been his missing younger sister all along.

## Characters

### Allies

* Mayumi Igarashi
* Shun'ichi and Shizue Igarashi
* Doctor Kenzou Igarashi
* Youko Katagiri
* Kiyoshirou Muramatsu
* Seiichi Yanagida
* Section Chief Takeko Bandou
* Michiyo Matsumoto
* Boy/Harry Boy
* Ryou Hayakawa
* Manabu Yamaji

### Criminal Syndicate Bioron

* Doctor Giba
* Marsha and Karsha
* Bubi and Maku
* Madogarbo
* Queen Cosmos
* Golem Cosmos
* Masques

#### Bionoids

* Chamelenoid (1)
* Catnoid (2)
* Mudnoid (3)
* Rosenoid (4)
* Octopusnoid (5)
* Vulturenoid (6)
* Influenzanoid (7)
* Molenoid (8)
* Hyenanoid (9)
* Nightmarenoid (10)
* Hedgehognoid (11)
* Skunknoid (13)
* Killernoid (14)
* Wolfnoid (15)
* Jellyfishnoid (16)
* Agehanoid (17)
* Starfishnoid (18)
* Injectnoid (19)
* Moneynoid (20)
* Bugnoid (21)
* Hunternoid (22)
* Goatnoid (23)
* Suicidenoid (24)
* Explodenoid (25)
* Dragonnoid (26)
* Centipedenoid (27)
* Elephanoid (28)
* Doublenoid (29)
* Kabukinoid (30)
* Shinobinoid (31)
* Distnoid (32)
* Electric Fishnoid (33)
* Rhinonoid (34)
* Chambaranoid (36)
* Tortoinoid (37)
* Mushroonoid (38)
* HermitCrabnoid (39)
* Panthernoid (40)
* Anacondanoid (41)
* Tyrannosaurusnoid (42)
* Catfishnoid (42)
* Cobranoid (43)
* Suitorunoid (44)
* Squidnoid (45)
* Unicornnoid (47)
* TempleBellnoid (48)
* Fakemomnoid (49)
* Great Gibanoid (Movie)
* Batblock (Movie)
* Ammoblock (Movie)
* Spiderblock (Movie)

## Episodes

1. My Lovely Girl Boss (僕のかわゆい少女ボス, *Boku no Kawayui Shōjo Bosu*?)
2. I Love! Big Brother Naoto (大好き! ナオトお兄ちゃん, *Dai Suki! Naoto Oni-chan*?)
3. The Strange Man and the Haunted Vegetables (へんな男とおばけ野菜, *Hen na Otoko to Obake Yasai*?)
4. The Present of a Beautiful Rose (すてきなバラのプレゼント, *Suteki na Bara no Purezento*?)
5. Three Great Mecha Mobilize! Rescue the Idol Robo! (三大メカ出動! アイドルロボを救出せよ!, *Sandaimeka Shutsudō! Aidoru Robo o Kyūshutsu seyo!*?)
6. The Secret of the Broken Dinossaur Egg (割れた恐竜の卵のひみつ, *Wareta Kyōryū no Tamago no Himitsu*?)
7. Dreadful Sneezing Man! (恐怖のハクションおじさん!, *Kyōfu no Hakushon Oji-san!*?)
8. Rugged Terrain! Tokyo Mole Map (デコボコ! 東京モグラ地図, *Dekoboko! Tōkyō Mogura Chizu*?)
9. The Puppy Became a Cat (猫になった子犬, *Neko ni Natta Koinu*?)
10. Papa Isn't Papa!? (パパはパパじゃない!?, *Papa wa Papa Janai!?*?)
11. The Girl's and the Warrior's Pledge of the Heart (少女と戦士の心の誓い, *Shōjo to Senshi no Kokoro no Chikai*?)
12. Danger! Yoko Senpai (危うし! 洋子先輩, *Ayaushi! Yōko Senpai*?)
13. Help the Sorrowful Boy (哀しみの少年を救え, *Kanashimi no Shōnen o Sukue*?)
14. The Great Reversal Game of Love! (愛の大逆転ゲーム!, *Ai no Daigyakuten Gemu!*?)
15. The Werewolf Likes Piano (オオカミ男はピアノ好き, *Ōkamiotoko wa Piano Suki*?)
16. I Am the Invisible Man!! (おれは透明人間だぞ!!, *Ore wa Tōmei Ningen Da zo!!*?)
17. Birth! VS Jiban Deadly Weapons (誕生! 対ジバン必殺兵器, *Tanjō! Tai Jiban Hissatsu Heiki*?)
18. Mother and Daughter ・The Limits of Sadness (母と娘・悲しみの果てに, *Haha to Musume・Kanashimi no Hate ni*?)
19. Give Up the Electronic Badge! (電子手帳返上!, *Denshiteichō Henjō!*?)
20. Money is Raining on the City! (町にお金が降って来た!, *Machi no Okane ga Kudattekita!*?)
21. Cricket・Poison Insects・Guerilla Insects (スズ虫・毒虫・ゲリラ虫, *Suzumushi・Dokumushi・Geriramushi*?)
22. It Was Mayumi!! (マユミがいた!!, *Mayumi ga Ita!!*?)
23. The Monster Who Overate Manga (マンガを喰いすぎた怪物, *Manga o Kuisugita Kaibutsu*?)
24. Welcome!! To the Great Spiritual World (ようこそ!! 大霊界へ, *Yōkoso!! Daireikai e*?)
25. Strike the Goddess! (女神サマをぶッとばせ!, *Megami-sama o Buttobase!*?)
26. Gourmet Beauties Fished In By a Dragon (竜に釣られたグルメ美女, *Ryū ni Tsurareta Gurume Bijo*?)
27. My Beloved Child is a Demon Child (愛するわが子は悪魔の子, *Aisuru Wagako wa Akumako*?)
28. Papa is Doctor Giba?! (パパはドクターギバ?!, *Papa wa Dokutā Giba?!*?)
29. A Twist at the Group Marriage Interview! (集団見合いで大ドンデン!, *Shūdan Miai de Daidonden!*?)
30. The Monster of Handsome Boy Kotaro's Troupe (美少年小太郎一座の怪人, *Bishōnen Kotarō Ichiza no Kaijin*?)
31. The Midsummer's Night Ninja Battle (真夏の夜のニンジャ合戦, *Manatsu no Yoru no Ninja Gassen*?)
32. Pearl's Tears are in the Golden Ocean (パールの涙は金色の海に, *Pāru no Namida wa Kiniro no Umi ni*?)
33. The Millennium Lotus Blossomed on Garbo (ガルボに咲いた千年ハス, *Garubo ni Waraita Sennen Hasu*?)
34. Heroic! Jiban Dies (壮絶! ジバン死す, *Sōzetsu! Jiban Shisu*?)
35. It's Perfect Jiban! (パーフェクトジバンだ!, *Pāfekuto Jiban da!*?)
36. Dreaming Sword Fighting Monster! (夢見るチャンバラ怪物!, *Yumemiru Chanbara Kaibutsu!*?)
37. I Am the Most Beautiful Woman in the World!? (私は世界一の美女!?, *Watashi wa Sekaiichi no Bijo!?*?)
38. It's Birthplace, Mother! (故郷だよ、おっ母さん!, *Furusato da yo, Okka-san!*?)
39. Mayumi's Bomb Ring!! (マユミの指輪爆弾!!, *Mayumi no Yubiwa Bakudan!!*?)
40. Utter Confusion!! Haunted Clock (大反乱!! お化け時計, *Daihanran!! Obake Tokei*?)
41. Digression! Unmanageable Policewoman (脱線! じゃじゃ馬婦警, *Dassen! Jajauma Fukei*?)
42. Monster Rock'n Roll! (怪物ロックンロール!, *Kaibutsu Rokkun Rōru!*?)
43. Yoko Pierced Jiban...! (ジバンを刺した洋子…!, *Jiban o Sashita Yōko...!*?)
44. The Genius Scientist Who Turned into a Kid (子供になった天才科学者, *Kodomo ni Natta Tensai Kagakusha*?)
45. Dreadful Human-Surume Operation! (恐怖の人間スルメ作戦!, *Kyōfu no Ningen Surume Sakusen!*?)
46. I Love! My Two Brothers (好き! 二人のお兄ちゃん, *Suki! Futari no Oni-chan*?)
47. Clash! Christmas Final Battle!! (激突! クリスマス決戦!!, *Gekitotsu! Kurisumasu Kessen!!*?)
48. Year-Ending Biolon Extermination Party! (年忘れバイオロン退治!, *Toshiwasure Baioron Taiji!*?)
49. Devasted Jiban Base (あばかれたジバン基地, *Abakareta Jiban Kichi*?)
50. Tie Both Lines and Points (二人を結ぶ点と線, *Futari o Musubu Ten to Sen*?)
51. Slash the Illusion Mayumi! (幻のマユミを斬れ!, *Maboroshi no Mayumi o Kire!*?)
52. The Final Battle of Love (愛の最終決戦!!, *Ai no Saishū Kessen!!*?)

### Movie

A movie for the series, entitled *Kidou Keiji Jiban: Great Explosion at the Monster Factory of Fear*, was released on July 15, 1989 as part of the 1989 "Manga Matsuri" Special Festival.

## Cast

* Naoto Tamura: Shouhei Kusaka
* Doctor Kenzo Igarashi: Hajime Izu
* Doctor Giba: Leo Meneghetti
	+ Doctor Giba: Shōzō Iizuka (voice)
* Mayumi Igarashi/Midori Hayakawa: Konomi Mashita
* Youko Katagiri: Michiko Enokida
* Ryuu Hayakawa: Ryohei Kobayashi
* Seiichi Yanagida: Akira Ishihama
* Marsha: Ami Kawai
* Karsha: Akemi Kogawa
* Narrator: Toru Ohira
* Kiyoshiro Muramatsu: Kunio Konishi
* Mad Garbo: Kazuko Yanaga
* Queen Cosmos: Yoko Asakura

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Kidou Keiji Jiban" (機動刑事ジバン, *"Kidou Keiji Jiban"*?)
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
	+ Composition: Kisaburō Suzuki
	+ Arrangement: Kazuya Izumi (和泉 一弥, *Izumi Kazuya*?)
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida

Ending theme
* "Ashita Yohō wa Itsumo Hare" (未来（あした）予報はいつも晴れ, *"Ashita Yohō wa Itsumo Hare"*? "Tomorrow's Forecast is Always Sunny")
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
	+ Composition: Kisaburō Suzuki
	+ Arrangement: Kazuya Izumi
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida

## Media

Jiban's episodes and movie has been released in Japan in several VHS tapes. Though it had been obscure for a long time with the rest of the other metal hero TV shows, there has been sightings of a DVD release. It is most likely subtitled in other languages such as Portuguese in bootlegged form as there has been no word from Toei officials if Jiban would receive an official release in Japanese or licensed release in foreign subtitled languages such as English.

In 2009 Jiban was released on R2 DVD in 5 Volumes.

## External links

* *Kidou Keiji Jiban* at Wikipedia
* *Kidou Keiji Jiban* at Japanese Wikipedia
* Mobile Sheriff Jiban at IMDB
* The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.2, Part 1: The Space Sheriff Series

                                                                                                           Hiroh