Uchuu Keiji Gavan

***Uchuu Keiji Gavan*** (宇宙刑事ギャバン, *Uchū Keiji Gyaban*?), or ***Uchyu Keiji Gaban***, translated in English as **Space Sheriff Gavan**, is the first of the Metal Hero Series. It aired on TV Asahi from Friday March 5th, 1982 through February 25th,1983 at 7:30 pm.

For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as *Space Cop Gabin*.

## Production History

By September of 1981, the end of Tsuburaya Production's latest installment to the Ultra Series (Ultraman 80) and Kamen Rider Super-1 were finished. Toei Company were in the works of the next Super Sentai project (Dai Sentai Goggle-V), but they also wanted to have a solo superhero show for 1982, but not another Kamen Rider season. They wanted to have a brand new show that children could instantly jump into without having to know anything about the concept.

Producer Susumu Yoshikawa was in charge of the new series, and Katsushi Murakami was the head designer, which he came up with a drawing of a warrior who was wielding a sword with the universe behind him.

The 1st initial title for the project was "Space Detective Z", which would be scrapped. Other titles pitched around were Gingjiro and Ginbird. But the decision was finally settled on "Space Sheriff Gavan" based on the famous french actor Jean Gabin who was immensely popular in Japan. It was also easy to trademark the name since of its non-Japanese background.

As for actors, it was decided to cast Keiji Oba from already acclaimed shows Battle Fever J (1979) & Denzi Sentai Denziman (1980) to play the main role of Retsu Ichijouji/Space Sheriff Gavan. Producer Susumu Yoshikawa informed Keiji Oba that "If the show drops to single digits in ratings, its getting the cut." So Oba made sure his portrayal was likeable for audience members so they could come back to watch more. The average ratings for Space Sheriff Gavan was 18.6%, making it a very successful show.

## Plot

 File:Gavan Blu Ray 01.png
Earth is invaded by the Makuu Empire (literally "demon space"), led by Don Horror, who had first destroyed a space colony near Earth. Don Horror wants to dominate the whole universe, and the Earth represents an obstacle that he has to overcome, but not necessarily destroying it. To do this, Don Horror sends spaceships to create panic on Earth. While the Makuu is trying to impose its domination, Space Sheriff Gavan from the Galactic Union Patrol, arrives in his spaceship, the *Dolgiran*. He comes from the Bird Planet, the planet where Space Sheriffs are trained and where they are stationed while on call. Gavan is asked to defend the Earth, which is his mother's planet of origin.

Gavan is helped by Mimi, the daughter of Commander Qom, and is given information by Qom, assisted by Marin on his home planet. Gavan goes to Earth to defend it against Don Horror and his devilish schemes. He settles on Earth *incognito*, using his actual human name, Retsu Ichijouji; he takes a job at the Avalon Youth Club in Japan.

## Characters

### Dolgiran Crew

 File:Gavan-Movie-Team-Up.png

* Mimi ►◄ Marin ► Shelly

### Allies

#### Planet Bird

* Sophie
* Eleena
* Commander Qom
* Space Sheriffs
	+ Space Sheriff Voicer
	+ Space Sheriff Alan
* Tsukiko Hoshino

#### Earth

* Kojiro Oyama
* Gosuke Fuji
* Wakaba Fuji
* Yoichi Fuji
* Shigeru Touyama
* Itsuki Kawai
* Space Sheriffs

* Energy Management CenterFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ Takeshi KurokiFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ Miho NakamuraFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ Toru MorishitaFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
* Buddy RoidsFile:Icon-crosswiki.png

#### Super Sentai

* Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

* Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger

* Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters

* Battle Fever J

* Denshi Sentai Denziman

* Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger

* Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

* Uchu Sentai Kyuranger

### Villains

#### The Space Crime Organization Makuu

* Don Horror
* Hunter Killer
* San Dorva
	+ Zan Vardo
* Kiba
	+ Witch Kill
* Beast-Alien Doubleman
* Crushers
* Horror Girl

#### BEM Monsters

* Shako Monster (1)
* Gamara Monster (2)
* Condor Monster (3)
* Sasori Monster (4)
* Dokuja Monster (5)
* Oomadako Monster (6)
* Samurai Ari Monster (7)
* Kaenzaru Monster (8)
* Nijichou Monster (10)
* Armadillo Monster (11)
* Goat Monster (12)
* Sai Monster (13)

#### Double Monsters / Doublers

* Sai Doubler (13 and 14)
* Shamo Doubler (15)
* Kama Doubler (16)
* Hyou Doubler (17)
* Aokame Doubler (18)
* Kyouryuu Doubler (19)
* Kera Doubler (20)
* Mitsubachi Doubler (21)
* Kurage Doubler (22)
* Kumo Doubler (23)
* Sabre Doubler (24)
* Goshiki Doubler (25)
* Gas Doubler (26)
* Jaaku Doubler (27)
* Hakkotsu Doubler (28)
* Magic Doubler (29)
* Keibi Doubler (30)
* Saimin Doubler (31)
* Totsugeki Doubler (32)
* Kaibutsu Doubler (33)
* Doctor Doubler (34)
* Guts Doubler (35)
* Urami Doubler (36)
* Anahori Doubler (37)
* Gang Doubler (38)
* Nottori Doubler (39)
* Youkai Doubler (40)
* Jigoku Doubler (41)
* Buffalo Doubler (42)
* Lizard Doubler (Movie)
* Rhino DoublerFile:Icon-crosswiki.png (*Go-Busters* 31 & 32)

#### VaglassFile:Icon-crosswiki.png

* BuglarsFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
* MetaloidsFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ Danganloid 2File:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ JunkloidFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
* MegazordsFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ Danganzord 2File:Icon-crosswiki.png

#### Jark MatterFile:Icon-crosswiki.png

* MardakkoFile:Icon-crosswiki.png
	+ DeathwormFile:Icon-crosswiki.png

## Episodes

Main article: Gavan Episodes
1. *The Strange Fortress Beneath Tokyo* (東京地底の怪要塞, *Tōkyō Chitei no Kai Yōsai*?)
2. *The Stolen Japanese Islands* (盗まれた日本列島, *Nusumareta Nihon Rettō*?)
3. *It's Major! Stop Dr. Kuroboshi's BEM Project* (大変だ！黒星博士のベム計画を阻止せよ, *Taihen da! Kuroboshi-Hakase no Bemu Keikaku o Soshi Seyo*?)
4. *The Majin Helmet That Calls Big Time* (死を呼ぶ魔人兜, *Shi o Yobu Majin Kabuto*?)
5. *Mimi Cries; The Deadly Poison Cobra Bullet Hits Retsu* (ミミーは泣く 猛毒コブラ弾が烈に命中, *Mimī wa Naku Mōdoku Kobura Dan ga Retsu ni Meichū*?)
6. *The Geniuses of the Makuu School* (魔空塾の天才たち, *Makū juku no Tensai-tachi*?)
7. *A Monster Hides, a Girl Kissed a Petal* (怪物がひそむ花びらに少女は口づけした, *Kaibutsu ga Hisomu Hanabira ni Shōjo wa Kuchidzuke Shita*?)
8. *Justice or Demon? The Silver-Masked Great Hero* (正義か悪魔か？銀マスク大ヒーロー, *Seigi ka Akuma ka? Gin Masuku Dai Hīrō*?)
9. *The Beautiful Puppet Spy* (美しい人形スパイ, *Utsukushii Ningyō Supai*?)
10. *Crush the Human Crusher Corps!* (人間クラッシャー部隊を撃破せよ！, *Ningen Kurasshā Butai o Gekiha Seyo!*?)
11. *Is Father Alive? The Mysterious SOS Signal* (父は生きているのか？謎のSOS信号, *Chichi wa Ikite Iru no ka? Nazo no Esu Ō Esu Shingō*?)
12. *Express to the Theme Park! UFO Boys' Big Pinch* (遊園地へ急行せよ！UFO少年大ピンチ, *Yūenchi e Kyūkō Seyo! Yūfō Shōnen Dai Pinchi*?)
13. *Danger, Retsu! The Great Reversal* (危うし烈！大逆転, *Ayaushi Retsu! Dai Gyakuten*?)
14. *A Parting of Love And Sadness, The Final Blow* (愛と悲しみの別れ とどめの一撃！！, *Ai to Kanashimi no Wakare Todome no Ichigeki!!*?)
15. *Illusion? Shadow? Makuu City* (幻？影？魔空都市, *Maboroshi? Kage? Makū Toshi*?)
16. *My First Love is a Jewel's Radiance; Goodbye, Galaxy Express* (初恋は宝石の輝き さようなら銀河特急, *Hatsukoi wa Hōseki no Kagayaki Sayōnara Ginga Tokkyū*?)
17. *The Running Time Bomb! The Bad Guy Who Rode a Police Bike* (走る時限爆弾！白バイに乗った暗殺者, *Hashiru Jigen Bakudan! Shirobai ni Notta Ansatsusha*?)
18. *Princess Contest, Nonsense Ryuuguu Castle* (乙姫様コンテスト ハチャメチャ竜宮城, *Otohimesama Kontesuto Hachamecha Ryūgūjō*?)
19. *Jouchaku at 6:00 AM! Z Beam Charge Complete* (午前6時蒸着！Zビームチャージ完了, *Gozen Rokuji Jōchaku! Zetto Bīmu Chāji Kanryō*?)
20. *The Mysterious? Emergency Hospital! Humanity's Great Collapse Approaches* (なぞ？の救急病院！人類の大滅亡が迫る, *Nazo? No Kyūkyū Byōin! Jinrui no Dai Metsubō ga Semaru*?)
21. *The Dancing, Prickly Great Pinch: Operation Honey!* (踊ってチクリ大ピンチ ハニー作戦よ！, *Odotte Chikuri Dai Pinchi Hanī Sakusen yo!*?)
22. *Golden Mask and Younger Sister: The Yacht Running Toward the Sun* (黄金仮面と妹 太陽に向って走るヨット, *Ōgon Kamen to Imōto Taiyō ni Mukatte Hashiru Yotto*?)
23. *The Beauty's Cries That Cut Through the Night! The Phantom Coach in the Fog* (闇を裂く美女の悲鳴！霧の中の幽霊馬車, *Yami o Saku Bijo no Himei! Kiri no Naka no Yūrei Basha*?)
24. *Mimi's Nightmare!? The Howling, Cut-Up Demonbeast* (ミミーの悪夢か！？吠える切り裂き魔獣, *Mimī no Akumu ka!? Hoeru Kirisaki Majū*?)
25. *The Suspiciously Flickering Underwater Flower; Wakaba in Danger* (怪しくゆらめく水中花 わかばが危ない, *Ayashiku Yurameku Suichūka Wakaba ga Abunai*?)
26. *I Saw The Doll! The True Identity of the Poison Gas Killer Corps* (人形は見た！！毒ガス殺人部隊の正体, *Ningyō wa Mita!! Dokugasu Satsujin Butai no Shōtai*?)
27. *The Teachers are Weird! A School Full of Weirdness* (先生たちが変だ！学校は怪奇がいっぱい, *Sensei-tachi ga Hen da! Gakkō wa Kaiki ga Ippai*?)
28. *The Dark Sea of Space, Wandering Witch Monica* (暗黒の宇宙の海 さまよえる魔女モニカ, *Ankoku no Uchū no Umi Samayoeru Majo Monika*?)
29. *Blitzkrieg Magic Battle! A Program of Assassination* (電撃マジック合戦！暗殺のプログラム, *Dengeki Majikku Kassen! Ansatsu no Puroguramu*?)
30. *Don Horror's Son Has Returned to Makuu Castle* (ドンホラーの息子が魔空城に帰って来た, *Don Horā no Musuko ga Makūjō ni Kaettekita*?)
31. *Listening to the Angel's Song, the Princess Who Became a Doll* (天使の歌が聞こえる 人形にされた王女, *Tenshi no Uta ga Kikoeru Ningyō ni Sareta Ōjo*?)
32. *The Mysterious Underground Maze Target is WX1* (謎の地底迷路 ターゲットはWX-1, *Nazo no Chitei Meiro Tāgetto wa Daburu Ekkusu Wan*?)
33. *A New Monster is Born: The Boy Who Picked up an Alien* (新怪物誕生 エイリアンを拾った少年, *Shin Kaubutsu Tanjō Eirian o Hirotta Shōnen*?)
34. *Memories are Tears of Stars: a Fatherless Child, a Motherless Child* (思い出は星の涙 父のない子 母のない子, *Omoide wa Hoshi no Namida Chichi no Nai Ko Haha no Nai Ko*?)
35. *The Young Lion of Makuu; San Dorva's Opposition* (マクーの若獅子 サンドルバの反抗, *Makū no Waka Shishi San Doruba no Hankō*?)
36. *The Roadshow of Resentment; The Film Studio is Makuu Space* (恨みのロードショー 撮影所は魔空空間, *Urami no Rōdoshō Satsueijo wa Makū Kūkan*?)
37. *The Funny Tomboy Princess' Earth Adventure Trip* (おてんばひょうきん姫の地球冒険旅行, *Otenba Hyōkin Hime no Chikyū Bōken Ryokō*?)
38. *The Surrounded Transport Corps; the Righteous Sun Sword* (包囲された輸送部隊 正義の太陽剣, *Hōi Sareta Yusō Butai Seigi no Taiyō Tsurugi*?)
39. *When I Returned From School, My House was a Makuu Base* (学校から帰ったらぼくの家はマクー基地, *Gakkō Kara Kaettara Boku no Uchi wa Makū Kichi*?)
40. *The Decisive Battle of the Valley of Doom; You're a Space Sheriff Too!* (死の谷の大決戦 君も宇宙刑事だ！, *Shi no Tani no Dai Kessen Kimi mo Uchū Keiji da!*?)
41. *Makuu City is a Battlefield of Men; The Red Hourglass of Life* (魔空都市は男の戦場 赤い生命の砂時計, *Makū Toshi wa Otoko no Senjō Akai Seimei no Sunadokei*?)
42. *Retsu! Hurry! Dad* (烈よ急げ！父よ, *Retsu yo Isoge! Chichi yo*?)
43. *Reunion* (再会, *Saikai*?)
44. *The Neck of Don Horror* (ドンホラーの首, *Don Horā no Kubi*?)

**Movies**

1. *Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Uchuu Keiji Gavan: The MovieFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (海賊戦隊ゴーカイジャーVS宇宙刑事ギャバンTHE MOVIE, *Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā Tai Uchū Keiji Gyaban Za Mūbī*?)
2. *Uchuu Keiji Gavan: The Movie* (宇宙刑事ギャバンTHE MOVIE, *Uchū Keiji Gyaban Za Mūbī*?)
3. *Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen ZFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (仮面ﾗｲﾀﾞｰ×ｽｰﾊﾟｰ戦隊×宇宙刑事　スーパーヒーロー大戦Ｚ, *Kamen Raidā × Supā Sentai × Uchū Keiji: Sūpā Hīrō Taisen Z*?)
4. *Uchuu Keiji NEXT GENERATION* (宇宙刑事 NEXT GENERATION, *Uchū Keiji NEXT GENERATION*?)
	1. *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan NEXT GENERATION* (宇宙刑事シャリバン NEXT GENERATION, *Uchū Keiji Shariban NEXT GENERATION*?)
	2. *Uchuu Keiji Shaider NEXT GENERATION* (宇宙刑事シャイダー NEXT GENERATION, *Uchū Keiji Shaidā NEXT GENERATION*?)
5. *Space SquadFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (スペース・スクワッド, *Supēsu Sukuwaddo*?)
	1. *Girls in Trouble: Space Squad Episode ZeroFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (ガールズ・イン・トラブル スペース・スクワッド エピソードゼロ, *Gāruzu In Toraburu Supēsu Sukuwaddo Episōdo Zero*?)
	2. *Uchuu Keiji Gavan vs. Tokusou Sentai DekarangerFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (宇宙刑事ギャバン VS 特捜戦隊デカレンジャー, *Uchū Keiji Gyaban VS Tokusō Sentai Dekarenjā*?)
6. *Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space SquadFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (宇宙戦隊キュウレンジャー VS スペース・スクワッド, *Uchū Sentai Kyuurenjā tai Supēsu Sukuwaddo*?)

**Specials**

1. *Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Beet Buster vs. JFile:Icon-crosswiki.png* (特命戦隊ゴーオンジャーバスターズ対ビートバスター対J, *Tokumei Sentai Gōbasutāzu tai Bīto Basutā tai J*?)
2. *Uchuu Keiji Gavan Legend* (宇宙刑事ギャバン伝説, *Uchū Keiji Gyaban Densetsu*?)

## Cast

* Retsu Ichijouji (一条寺 烈, *Ichijōji Retsu*?): Kenji Ohba (大葉 健二, *Ōba Kenji*?)
* Mimi (ミミー, *Mimī*?): Wakiko Kano (叶和貴子, *Kanō Wakiko*?)
* Qom (コム, *Komu*?): Toshiaki Nishizawa (西沢 利明, *Nishizawa Toshiaki*?)
* Marin (マリーン, *Marīn*?): Kyoko Nashiro (名代杏子, *Nashiro Kyōko*?)
* Voicer (ボイサー, *Boizā*?): Sonny Chiba (サニー ちば, *Sanī Chiba*?)
* Kojiro Oyama (大山小次郎, *Ōyama Kojirō*?): Masayuki Suzuki (鈴木正幸, *Suzuki Masayuki*?)
* Tsukiko Hoshino (星野月子, *Hoshino Tsukiko*?): Aiko Tachibana (立花愛子, *Tachibana Aiko*?)
* Gosuke Fuji (藤 豪介, *Fuji Gōsuke*?): Jun Tatara (多々良 純, *Tatara Jun*?)
* Yoichi Fuji (藤 陽一, *Fuji Yōichi*?): Susumu Fujiwara (藤原進, *Fujiwara Susumu*?)
* Wakaba Fuji (藤 わかば, *Fuji Wakaba*?): Sanae Nakajima (中島早苗, *Nakajima Sanae*?)
* Shigeru Touyama (当山 茂, *Tōyama Shigeru*?): Shin'ichi Kaze (加瀬慎一, *Kaze Shin'ichi*?)
* Don Horror (ドン・ホラー, *Don Horā*?, Voice): Takeshi Watabe (渡部 猛, *Watabe Takeshi*?), Shōzō Iizuka (飯塚 昭三, *Iizuka Shōzō*?) (some episodes)
* Hunter Killer (ハンターキラー, *Hantā Kirā*?): Michiro Iida (飯田道郎, *Iida Michirō*?)
* San Dorva (サン・ドルバ, *San Doruba*?): Ken Nishida (西田健, *Nishida Ken*?)
* Witch Kiba (魔女キバ, *Majo Kiba*?): Noboru Mitani (三谷昇, *Mitani Noboru*?)
* Horror Girl (ホラーガール, *Horā Gāru*?): Miyuki Nagato (長門美由樹, *Nagato Miyuki*?)
	+ Horror Girl (Voice): Kotoe Taichi (太地琴恵, *Taichi Kotoe*?)
* Narrator: Issei Masamune

### Guest stars

* Double Man: Satoshi Kurihara (episode 2)
* Double Man: Masashi Ishibashi (episode 3)
* Double Man: Shun Ueda (episode 6)
* Samurai Ari Monster (human form): Susumu Kurobe (ep 7)
* Tamiko Ichijouji (一条寺民子, *Ichijōji Tamiko*?): Tamie Kubota (久保田民絵, *Kubota Tamie*?)
* Goh Daijoji/Hyou Doubler: Shinji Todo (ep 17)
* Honey: Machiko Soga (episode 21)
* Monica (younger): Hitomi Yoshioka (episode 28)
* Paul: Hirohisa Nakata (episode 29)
* Alan: Hiroshi Miyauchi (episode 30 & 31)
* Anahori Doubler: Hideyo Amamoto (episode 37)
* Policeman: Touta Tarumi (episode 38)
* Den Iga: Hiroshi Watari (episode 42 and 44)

### Directed by

* Takafumi Hattori
* Hideo Tanaka
* Takeshi Ogasawara
* Yoshiaki Kobayashi

### Story and Screenplay by

* Kazue Abe
* Mikio Matsushita
* Nagai Tatsuro
* Shozo Uehara
* Susumu Takahisa
* Tomomi Tsutsui
* Tsuyoo Hayashi

### Produced by

* Itaru Hotta
* Susumu Yoshikawa

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Space Sheriff Gavan (宇宙刑事ギャバン, *Uchū Keiji Gyaban*?)
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa (山川 啓介, *Yamakawa Keisuke*?)
	+ Composition: Michiaki Watanabe (渡辺 宙明, *Watanabe Michiaki*?)
	+ Arrangement: Kōji Makaino (馬飼野 康二, *Makaino Kōji*?)
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida

Ending theme
* "The Starry Sky's Message" (星空のメッセージ, *Hoshizora no Messēji*?)
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
	+ Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
	+ Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida

## Insert Themes

* "Our Super Hero Gavan" (, *Suupaa hiiroo boku-ra no Gyaban*?)
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
	+ Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
	+ Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida, Koorogi '73

* "Chase! Gavan" (チェイス! ギャバン, *"Chase! Gavan"*?)
	+ Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
	+ Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
	+ Arrangement: Kōji Makaino
	+ Artist: Akira Kushida

## In other countries

* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan* was released in the Philippines as *Sky Ranger Gavin* (although the eyecatch and the theme song still says *Uchuu Keiji Gavan*) in the early 1990s - years after its sequel *Uchuu Keiji Shaider* aired in that country. Oddly enough, the series was not as popular as *Shaider*.
* The series was aired in France under the title *X-OR*. Its popularity led to airings of subsequent Metal Hero shows such as *Uchuu Keiji Sharivan*, *Uchuu Keiji Shaider, and* Jikuu Senshi Spielban
* Malaysia's screening of Gavan (translated as Space Cop Gaban) on local TV has gained itself a cult following, and the word 'Gaban' itself has become a meme. It's used after adjectives to give an image of bravery e.g "besar gaban" (epically big) or "gaban betul" (really brave).

## Notes

* The eyecatch for Uchuu Keiji Gavan features an illustration of Gavan with a Shotari Ishinimori-inspired look.
* Although the show was called Space Sheriff Gavan, Gavan's design still had some leftover initial plans for the original title *Space Detective Z*. You can clearly see the reminiscence of a Z shape design on his chest.

## External links

* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan* at Wikipedia
* *Uchuu Keiji Gavan* at Japanese Wikipedia
* Uchuu Keiji Gavan at IMDB

1. ↑ https://www.toei.co.jp/en/tv/spacecopgabin.html