Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

***Ninja Sentai Kakuranger*** (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー, *Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā*?), translated in English as ***Ninja Squadron Hidden Ranger***, was Toei Company Limited's eighteenth production of the Super Sentai television series.

The average ratings of the series was 5.7%.

## Plot

400 years ago, the ninja and the Yokai had a great war. The legendary Sarutobi Sasuke and four other ninja sealed the Yokai Commander Nurarihyon and all his Yokai energies away in a cave protected by the "Seal Door". In the present, the only surviving Yokai, Kappa, tricks Sarutobi Sasuke and Kirigakure Saizo's descendants, Sasuke and Saizou, into releasing the Yokai by opening the "Seal Door". Now these two, joined by three other descendants of the great ninja, become the Kakurangers to fight the Yokai, with the aid of the Three God Generals.

## Characters

### Rangers

#### Kakurangers

 File:Kakuren.jpg
 File:Kakurangers with Ninjaman shot.jpg
*Main article: Kakurangers*

#### Punishment Sailor Sisters

*Main article: Punishment Sailor Sisters* (35)

#### Flowery Kunoichi Team

*Main article: Flowery Kunoichi Team*

 Pink Cherry Blossom

### Allies

* Announcer (1-39)
* Sandayuu Momochi (1-31)
* Hakamenrou (31-53)
* Reika (25)
* Kakuranger Dolls (26)
* Tarou & Jirou (26-52)
* Bun (26-53)
* Zashiki-warashi (18)
* Gali (28 & 29)
* All Super Sentai
	+ *Super Sentai World*
		- Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman
		- Choujin Sentai Jetman
		- Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger
		- Gosei Sentai Dairanger
	+ Chouriki Sentai Ohranger

### Villains

* Yokai Army Corps
	+ Leader
		- Daimaou (23-24, 31-53)
	+ Generals
		- Nurarihyon (1)
		- Professor Yugami (12-14, 16, 20, 30-31)
		- Young Noble Junior (14-25, 27, 30-31) / Gashadokuro (14, 17-19, 23-25, 30-31)
		- Flowery Kunoichi Team (15-16, 20, 24, 31, 35, 39, 42-44, 48, 51-53)
			* Flower Ninja Ayame
			* Flower Ninja Sakura
			* Flower Ninja Suiren
			* Flower Ninja Yuri
			* Flower Ninja Ran
		- Nue (27-29)
		- Hakumenrou (30-31, 36-37, 39, 42-44, 51-53)
		- Daidarabotchi (50)
		- Yama-uba (50-52)
	+ Minor Yokai
		- **Independent**
			* Kappa (1-2, 53)
			* Rokurokubi (1-2, 53)
			* Oboroguruma (3 & 53)
			* Azukiarai (1, 3-4, 34, 53)
			* Nurikabe (1, 5-6, 12)
			* Mokumokuren (1, 5-6, 12, 53)
			* Gakitsuki (6-7, 53)
			* Bakeneko (8)
			* Oonyuudou (Movie)
			* Hitotsume Kozou Brothers (Movie & 53)
				+ Hitotsume Kozou (Older Brother)
				+ Hitotsume Kozou (Younger Brother)
			* Dorotabou (3-4, Movie, 9)
			* Konakijiji (10 & 34)
			* Shirouneri (3-4, Movie, 11, 53)
			* Tengu (12)
			* Kappa Replica (12)
			* Oboroguruma Replica (12)
			* Azukiarai Replica (12)
			* Nurikabe Replica (12)
			* Mokumokuren Replica (12)
			* Kanedama (13 & 53)
			* Enraenra (22)
			* Onbu-Obake (*Ohranger vs. Kakuranger*)
		- **Under Gashadokuro**
			* Keukegen (3-6, Movie, 14, 34, 53) / **Keukegen Upgraded Form** (14)
			* Shuten Douji Brothers (15-16, 53)
				+ Shuten Douji (Older Brother)
				+ Shouten Douji (Younger Brother)
			* Amikiri (3-6, Movie, 17, 53)
			* Zashiki-warashi (18)
			* Tsuchigumo (19 & 53)
			* Sarugami (21)
			* Umibozu (23 & 53)
			* Ittan-momen (25)
			* Kasabake (26)
		- **Under Daimaou**
			* Nuppefuhofu (32 & 53)
			* Amanojaku (33)
			* Sunakake Babaa (34 & 53)
			* Kamaitachi (35)
			* Bakuki (36 & 53)
			* Karakasa (37 & 53)
			* Ushioni (38 & 53)
			* Noppera-bo (39 & 53)
			* 9-Tailed Kitsune (40)
			* Chōchin Novice (41 & 53)
			* Daradara (42-44)
			* Oumukade (45 & 53)
			* Mujina (46 & 53)
			* Kasha (47 & 53)
			* Yuki-Onna (48)
			* Binbogami (49 & 53)
	+ Grunts
		- Dorodoros (1-2, 4-6, 8, Movie, 10-11, 14-21, 23, 25-28, 30-33, 36-37, 39-44, 46-50, *The Flying Ghost Ship*, *Red Battle! All Sentai Rally!!*, *Superhero Senki*)

* Super Sentai World
	+ Emperor Daidas
	+ Daidas' Generals
		- Zaigan
		- Bango
		- Damaru
	+ Monsters
		- Soger
		- Irubaru
	+ Foot Soldiers
		- Batzler Soldiers (Fiveman)
		- Grinam Soldiers (Jetman)
		- Golem Soldiers (Zyuranger)
		- Cotpotros (Dairanger)

## Mecha

*Main article: Mecha (Kakuranger)*
Category:Mecha (Kakuranger)

## Episodes

*Main article: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Episodes*
The episodes of this season have instances of katakana/English wording in their titles.

1. Ep. 1: We're Ninja (忍者でござる, *Ninja-de gozaru*?)
2. Ep. 2: A Dangerous Lady (危ないオバサン, *Abunai Obasan*?)
3. Ep. 3: American Ninja (アメリカン忍者, *Amerikan Ninja*?)
4. Ep. 4: The Apparition Policeman (妖怪ポリスマン, *Yōkai Porisuman*?)
5. Ep. 5: The Uneven Strange Gamers (凸凹珍ゲーマー, *Dekoboko Chin Gēmā*?)
6. Ep. 6: The Eyeball Prince! (目玉の王子様！, *Medama no Ōji-sama!*?)
7. Ep. 7: This Guy is Huge (こいつぁデカい, *Koitsa Dekai*?)
8. Ep. 8: The Bakeneko's Shop!! (化猫ショップ！！, *Bakeneko Shoppu!!*?)
9. Ep. 9: The Shocking Live Broadcast (ドッキリ生中継, *Dokkiri Namachūkei*?)
10. Ep. 10: The Old Man's Baby-Cry (子泣き爺いぢゃ, *Ko-naki Jijī ja*?)
11. Ep. 11: Rags are the Best! (ボロこそ最高！！, *Boro Koso Saikō!*?)
12. Ep. 12: They Came Forth!! The New Beast Generals (出たァ！！ 新獣将, *Detā!! Shin Jūshō*?)
13. Ep. 13: Drive Away the Sadness (ブッとばせ不幸, *Buttobase Funō*?)
14. Ep. 14: I'm the Young Noble!! (俺は貴公子だ！！, *Ore wa Kikōshi da!!*?)
15. Ep. 15: Argh! Awesome Guys (げえッ！！ 凄い奴, *Geē!! Sugoi Yatsu*?)
16. Ep. 16: The Red Monkey's Oni Extermination (赤猿の鬼退治, *Aka Saru no Oni Taiji*?)
17. Ep. 17: The Demon Sword and Underwear!! (魔剣とパンツ！！, *Maken to Pantsu!!*?)
18. Ep. 18: Hello, Mushroom-kun (ハローきのこ君, *Harō Kinoko-kun*?)
19. Ep. 19: The Hellish Trap in Darkness!! (暗闇の地獄罠！！, *Kurayami no Jigoku Wana!!*?)
20. Ep. 20: The Flowery Kunoichi Team (花のくノ一組！！, *Hana no Kunoichi Gumi*?)
21. Ep. 21: The Monkey Mimic's Finishing Move (サルマネ必殺技, *Saru Mane Hissatsu-waza*?)
22. Ep. 22: I'll Make You Laugh (笑って頂きます, *Waratte Itadakimasu*?)
23. Ep. 23: Blitzkrieg!! The Strange White Bird (電撃！！ 白い怪鳥, *Dengeki!! Shiroi Kai Tori*?)
24. Ep. 24: Ah, The End of Volume 1 (あァ一巻の終り, *Ā Ikkan no Owari*?)
25. Ep. 25: A New Departure! (新たなる出発！！, *Aratanaru Shuppatsu!!*?)
26. Ep. 26: The Tsuruhime Family's Super Secret (鶴姫家の超秘密, *Tsuruhime-ka no Chō Himitsu*?)
27. Ep. 27: The End of Muteki Shogun (無敵将軍の最期, *Muteki Shōgun no Saigo*?)
28. Ep. 28: A Super Big Figure Coming to Japan!! (超大物・来日!!, *Chō Dai Mono - Rainichi!!*?)
29. Ep. 29: History's First Super Battle (史上初の超対決 (スーパーバトル), *Shijō Hatsu no Sūpā Batoru*?)
30. Ep. 30: Reunion With a Traitorous Father (再会 裏切りの父, *Saikai Uragiri no Chichi*?)
31. Ep. 31: Behold!! A New Shogun (見たか！！ 新将軍, *Mita ka!! Shin Shōgun*?)
32. Ep. 32: Don't Lick Me, Face Thief (ナメんな顔泥棒, *Namen na Kao Dorobō*?)
33. Ep. 33: The Perverse Village (あまのじゃく村, *Amanojaku Mura*?)
34. Ep. 34: The Bride's Sandy Hell!! (花嫁砂地獄！！, *Hanayome Suna Jigoku!!*?)
35. Ep. 35: The Three Punishment Sisters (おしおき三姉妹 (シスターズ), *Oshioki San Shisutāzu*?)
36. Ep. 36: The Hooligan Ninja!! (暴れん坊忍者！！, *Abarenbō Ninja!!*?)
37. Ep. 37: The Paper Umbrella Dance Queen (唐傘ダンス女王, *Karakasa Dansu Joō*?)
38. Ep. 38: Mooo~! A Repulsive Cow (モオ～ッ嫌な牛, *Mō~ Iya na Ushi*?)
39. Ep. 39: Iit's a Special Compilation!! (特別編だよっ！！, *Tokubetsu-hen dayō!!*?)
40. Ep. 40: The Heisei Fox Battle (平成キツネ合戦, *Heisei Kitsune Kassen*?)
41. Ep. 41: The Stray Ghost (はぐれゴースト, *Hagure Gōsuto*?)
42. Ep. 42: The Plundered Ninja Power (強奪忍者パワー, *Gōdatsu Ninja Pawā*?)
43. Ep. 43: The Last Day of the Three God Generals (三神将最期の日, *Sanshinshō Saigo no Hi*?)
44. Ep. 44: The Wound-Filled Great Reversal (傷だらけ大逆転, *Kizudarake Dai Gyakuten*?)
45. Ep. 45: The Confused Santa (慌てん坊サンタ, *Awatenbō Santa*?)
46. Ep. 46: The New Year's Manga Hell (新春まんが地獄, *Shinshun Manga Jigoku*?)
47. Ep. 47: The 100-Burst Human Fireworks (人間花火百連発, *Ningen Hanabi Hyaku Renpatsu*?)
48. Ep. 48: The Great Snow Woman's Snowball Fight (大雪女の雪合戦, *Ōyuki-Onna no Yukigassen*?)
49. Ep. 49: Suddenly!! Poor (突然！！ ビンボー Totsuzen!! Binbō, *Ep. 49: Suddenly!! Poor*?)
50. Ep. 50: Special Selection!! The Youkai Inn (特選!! 妖怪の宿, Tokusen!! Yōkai no Yado, *Ep. 50: Special Selection!! The Youkai Inn*?)
51. Ep. 51: Hero Elimination (英・雄 (ヒーロー)・失・格, *Hīrō Shikkaku*?)
52. Ep. 52: Finale!! Father and Daughter (大団円！！ 父と娘, *Daidan'en!! Chichi to Musume*?)
53. Final Ep.: Sealing!! (封印！！, *Fūin!!*?)

**Movies**

1. *Ninja Sentai Kakuranger the Movie* (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー, *Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā*?)

**Specials**

1. *Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Super Video: The Hidden Scroll* (忍者戦隊カクレンジャースーパービデオ：隠しスクロール, *Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā Sūpā Bideo: Kakushi Sukurōru*?)
2. *Super Sentai World* (スーパー戦隊 ワールド, *Sūpā Sentai Wārudo*?)

## **Releases**

* Shout! Factory (DVD)
* Shout! Factory (Streaming)
* Tubi (Streaming)
* Pluto TV (Streaming)

## Songs

*Main article: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Soundtracks*
Opening theme
* "Secret Kakuranger" (シークレット カクレンジャー, *Shīkuretto Kakurenjā*?)
	+ Artist: Tu Chi Chen (トゥー・チー・チェン, *Tū Chī Chen*?)

Ending theme
* "Ninja! Matenrou Kids" (ニンジャ!摩天楼キッズ, *Ninja! Matenrō Kizzu*?, "Ninja Skyscraper Kids")
	+ Artist: Tu Chi Chen (トゥー・チー・チェン, *Tū Chī Chen*?)

Mecha themes
* "Muteki Shogun, Tadaima Sanjou!" (無敵将軍，只今参上!, *Muteki Shōgun, Tadaima Sanjō!*?, "Muteki Shogun Has Finally Arrived!")
	+ Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, *Miyauchi Takayuki*?)

* "Hissatsu Fighter Crash!!" (必殺ファイタークラッシュ!!, *"Hissatsu Fighter Crash!!"*? "Finishing Attack, Fighter Crash!!")
	+ Artist: Nobuhiko Kashiwara (樫原 伸彦, *Kashiwara Nobuhiko*?)

* "Deta Zo! Kakure Daishougun!!" (出たぞ!隠大将軍!!, *"Here Comes Kakure Daishōgun!!"*?)
	+ Artist: Hironobu Kageyama (影山 ヒロノブ, *Kageyama Hironobu*?)

Insert themes
* "Kiai Hyappatsu! Kakuranger!" (気合百発!カクレンジャー!!, *Kiai Hyappatsu! Kakurenjā!!*?, "A Hundred Battle Cries! Kakuranger!!")
	+ Artist: Nobuhiko Kashiwara (樫原 伸彦, *Kashiwara Nobuhiko*?)

* "Into Danger Kakuranger" (イントゥデンジャー カクレンジャー, *Intu Denjā Kakurenjā*?)
	+ Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, *Miyauchi Takayuki*?)

* "Tsuruhime! Tsuyosa Wa Me Ni Mo Utsukushii" (鶴姫!強さは目にも美しい, *"Tsuruhime! Tsuyosa Wa Me Ni Mo Utsukushii"*? "Tsuruhime! Your Strength is a Beautiful Sight")
	+ Artist: Mari Sasaki (佐々木 真里, *Sasaki Mari*?)

* "Hashire! Nekomaru" (走れ!猫丸, *"Hashire! Nekomaru"*? "Hurry! Nekomaru")
	+ Artist: Pythagoras (ピタゴラス, *Pitagorasu*?)

* "Hoshi Yo, Nijimu Na!" (星よ，にじむな!, *"Hoshi Yo, Nijimu Na!"*? "Stars, Do Not Fade!")
	+ Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, *Miyauchi Takayuki*?)

* "Kuro No Kikoushi" (黒の貴公子, *Kuro no Kikōshi*?, "The Black Prince")
	+ Artist: ×10

* "Ninja de Ikou! Deden no Den" (忍者でいこう!デデンのデン, *Ninja de Ikō! Deden no Den*?, "Let's Go With Ninja! Deden no Den")
	+ Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi (宮内 タカユキ, *Miyauchi Takayuki*?)

## Cast

* Sasuke (サスケ, *Sasuke*?): Teruaki Ogawa (小川 輝晃, *Ogawa Teruaki*?)
* Tsuruhime (鶴姫, *Tsuruhime*?): Satomi Hirose (広瀬 仁美, *Hirose Satomi*?), Mao Inoue (, *Mao Inoue*? young)
* Saizou (サイゾウ, *Saizō*?): Hiroshi Tsuchida (土田 大, *Tsuchida Hiroshi*?)
* Seikai (セイカイ, *Seikai*?): Shu Kawai (河合 秀, *Kawai Shū*?)
* Jiraiya (ジライヤ, *Jiraiya*?): Kane Kosugi (ケイン・コスギ, *Kein Kosugi*?)
* Ninjaman (ニンジャマン, *Ninjaman*?, Voice): Kazuki Yao (矢尾 一樹 , *Yao Kazuki*?)
* Sandayuu Momochi (百地三太夫, *Momochi Sandayu*?): Akira Sakamoto (坂本あきら, *Sakamoto Akira*?)
* Tarou (太郎, *Tarō*?): Daisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 大輔, *Tsuchiya Daisuke*?)
* Jirou (次郎, *Jirō*?): Keisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 圭輔, *Tsuchiya Keisuke*?)
* Young Noble Junior (貴公子ジュニア,, *Kikoshi Junia*?) / Gashadokuro (ガシャドクロ, *Gashadokuro*?): Kenichi Endo (遠藤 憲一, *Endō Ken'ichi*?)
* Daimaou (大魔王, *Daimaō*?, Voice): Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝, *Shibata Hidekatsu*?)
* Ninja Gattai Muteki Shogun (無敵将軍, *Muteki Shōgun*?, Voice): Tomoyuki Horita (堀田 智之, *Horita Tomoyuki*?)
* Goshin Gattai Kakure Daishogun (隠大将軍, *Kakure Daishōgun*?, Voice), Holy Stealth Beast Tsubasamaru (聖忍獣 翼丸, *Seininjū Tsubasamaru*?, Voice): Dai Matsumoto (松本 大, *Matsumoto Dai*?)
* Flower Ninja Sakura (花忍者サクラ, *Hana Ninja Sakura*?): Keiko Hayase (早瀬 恵子, *Hayase Keiko*?)
* Announcer: Enjou Sanyuutei (三遊亭 圓丈, *San'yūtei Enjō*?)

### Guest Cast

* Kappa (カッパ, *1, 2, 12 & 53*?): Shoichiro Akaboshi (赤星昇一郎, *Akaboshi Shoichiro*?)
* Kanedama (カネダマ, *Kanedama*? Voice; 13 & 53): Kaoru Shinoda (篠田薫, *Shinoda Kaoru*?)
* Amikiri (アミキリ, *Amikiri*?, 3-6, Movie, 17 & 53): Ami Kawai (河合 亞美（亜美）, *Kawai Ami*?)
* Reika (玲花, *Reika*? 25): Reiko Chiba (千葉 麗子, *Chiba Reiko*?)
* Gali (ガリ, *Gari*?, 28 & 29): Sho Kosugi (ショー・コスギ, *Shō Kosugi*?)
* Nue (ヌエ, *Nue*?, Voice; 27-29): Tesshō Genda (玄田 哲章, *Genda Tesshō*?)
* Noppera-bo (ノッペラボウ, *Nopperabō*?, Voice; 39 & 53): Ryūzaburō Ōtomo (大友 龍三郎, *Ōtomo Ryūzaburō*?)

### Suit Actors

* NinjaRed, Red Saruder, Battle Saruder, Ninjaman, Goshin Gattai Kakure Daishogun: Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二, *Takaiwa Seiji*?)
* NinjaWhite, Battle Kark: Rie Murakami (村上利恵, *Murakami Rie*?)
* NinjaBlue, Battle Logan: Takeshi Miyazaki (宮崎 剛, *Miyazaki Takeshi*?)
* NinjaBlue (sub), White Kark, Flowery Kunoichi Team (sub): Motokuni Nakagawa (中川素州, *Nakagawa Motokuni*?)
* NinjaYellow, Battle Kumard: Hirofumi Ishigaki (石垣 広文, *Ishigaki Hirofumi*?)
* NinjaBlack, Battle Gammer: Tsutomu Kitagawa (喜多 川務, *Kitagawa Tsutomu*?)
* Black Gammer: Takashi Sakamoto (坂本隆, *Sakamoto Takashi*?)
* Ninja Gattai Muteki Shogun, Ninjaman, Daimaou: Hideaki Kusaka (日下秀昭, *Kusaka Hideaki*?)
* Dorodoros, Minor Yokai: Yasuhiko Imai (今井靖彦, *Imai Yasuhiko*?)
* Blue Iris: Kiyohito Nakagawa (中川 清人, *Nakagawa Kiyohito*?)
* Pink Cherry Blossom: Naoko Kamio (神尾 直子, *Kamio Naoko*?)
* Green Water Lotus: Yumiko Kuratsune (, *Yumiko Kuratsune*?)
* Orange Lily: Ritsuko Noguti (, *Ritsuko Noguti*?)
* Purple Orchid: Chie Tanabe (田邊 智恵, *Tanabe Chie*?)

## Stage Show

* Kakuranger Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi
* Kakuranger Stage Show at Double Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

## Notes

 File:Kakurangershoutfactory.jpg.jpg
* The name Kakuranger is derived from "kakure" (隠れ, *"kakure"*?) which translates as "to hide."
* The series draws inspiration from *Journey to the West*, one of the most influential books in Chinese literature. The characters consisted of a group of very different personalities traveling on a quest and working together to face various obstacles, whose traits are implemented to the main cast.
* One of the concepts of Kakuranger was to modernize the ancient Japanese Yokai into a more modern model. For example, Oboroguruma was originally an oxen cart themed Yokai but was changed to be themed around an American-style taxi and Azukiarai was originally a river themed Yokai whereas Kakuranger has him as a policeman and designed around a bin.
* This is the only post-*Bioman* series where the full name of the team is not announced with the title. Instead, the opening title is contained in the opening lyrics of the theme, where they are only called the "Kakuranger" (more akin to pre-Bioman series *Goggle V* and *Dynaman*). This would not be done again until *Go-Busters*.
* The decision to make Kakuranger a Japanese/ninja themed season was intentional, acting as a counter point for the Chinese themes of the previous series *Dairanger*.
* Kakuranger is the only Sentai to stagger the introduction of the main team. Unlike other seasons, which introduce all of the main members of a team in the very first episode even if they do not gain or use powers for the first time (such as *Jetman* and *Go-Onger*), only three of the five Kakuranger physically appear in the very first episode, with the fourth appearing in the second and the fifth in the third. Thus the entire team only comes together in the third episode.
* This series was originally called *Ninja Sentai GoNinja*.
* In the Indonesian dub, Kakuranger was renamed to "Ninja Ranger".
* The initial airing of this series marked the last time that Battle Fever J was recognized as the first Super Sentai series, as Gorenger and JAKQ would retroactively be included in the franchise the following year.

## External Links

* Super-Sentai website (Archived)
* *Ninja Sentai Kakuranger* at Wikipedia
* *Ninja Sentai Kakuranger* at Japanese Wikipedia

## References

1. ↑ https://www10.atwiki.jp/shichouseiko/pages/64.html

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