tokusatsu
is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, ''tokusatsu'' mainly refers to science fiction film, science fiction, War fi ...
television
Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
series broadcast on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.its affiliates from October 7, 2005, to March 31, 2006, lasting 25 episodes (with one additional "Overview" special, summarizing the events of episodes 1 through 13, aired before episode 14). The series was created and directed by Keita Amemiya ''( Kamen Rider ZO'', '' Zeiram'') with supporting direction from Makoto Yokoyama (''
Power Rangers
''Power Rangers'' is an American media franchise created by Haim Saban, Shuki Levy and Shotaro Ishinomori built around a live-action superhero television series, based on the Japanese tokusatsu franchise ''Super Sentai''. It is currently ow ...
'') and Kengo Kaji ( ''Uzumaki''). The creature designer was Yasushi Nirasawa, known for his later work as the designer of the Worms and the Imagin for respectively ''
Kamen Rider Kabuto
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Asatsu-DK and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asahi. The ...
'' and '' Den-O'', as well as for his work designing the Undeads from ''
Kamen Rider Blade
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the fourteenth installment in the Kamen Rider Series. It aired on TV Asahi from January 25, 2004 to January 23, 2005. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toe ...
''.
Since 2007, the show has also been aired in other countries such as Italy (on
MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
), Malaysia (on 8TV), and Spain (on Canal Buzz). The show's HD remastered version was broadcast on TV Tokyo starting July 8, 2016. The television series is the first installment of the "GARO"
metaseries
A media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, o ...
, which is composed of several installments, including a live action television series, films, TV & film specials, and anime series. The television series has been licensed for a
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
n release by Kraken Releasing.
Plot
''Garo'' focuses on the life of Kouga Saejima, who has assumed the title of Makai Knight to protect humanity against dark demonic manifestations called " Horrors". In his quest to destroy them, he encounters a young girl named Kaoru, whom he saves from a Horror, though he learns that she is stained with its demonic blood. As a rule, those that have been stained by the blood of a Horror must be killed, or else they will die painfully in approximately 100 days. Kouga spares Kaoru and tries to find a way to purify her before her remaining time expires. Thus, the series focuses on Kouga's developing relationship with Kaoru, and his responsibilities protecting humanity in accordance with the wishes of his father, the previous Garo. In the process, he encounters another Makai Knight named Rei Suzumura, who eventually becomes his ally. Later Kouga confronts his father's former disciple who is revealed to be the cause of a recent series of Horror attacks in preparation of a more sinister advent of the Horrors' originator, Messiah.
Horrors
The main antagonistic form in the series, Horrors are demons that reside in a realm known as the netherworld, and thrive on the darkness of humanity. The Horrors enter the human world through everyday objects known as Inga Gates, which are created through a mass of darkness. When the Horrors first come through, they also known as Inga Horrors, and must possess the body of the first human with inner darkness they come across. Because the Horrors feed on humans it is a Makai Knight's duty to hunt and slay the demons. Later entries in the series reveal more types of Horrors.
;Opening themes
* "Theme of GARO"
**Music by TRYFORCE and
JAM Project
JAM Project ("JAM" standing for "Japan Animationsong Makers") are a Japanese Music in Japanese animation, anison band founded on July 19, 2000, by anison singer Ichirou Mizuki. The band is composed of many vocal artists well known in the anime mu ...
JAM Project
JAM Project ("JAM" standing for "Japan Animationsong Makers") are a Japanese Music in Japanese animation, anison band founded on July 19, 2000, by anison singer Ichirou Mizuki. The band is composed of many vocal artists well known in the anime mu ...
In all the sequels and spinoffs in the Garo series, Hironobu Kageyama continues to reprise his role as the voice of Zaruba in each entry.
Video games
A video game based on the series was produced by
Bandai
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered ...
for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
, under the name '' Golden Knight Garo''. Two versions were released: a 'normal' version with the game disk, instructions, and standard pamphlets, and a more expensive 'Limited Edition' version which came with a green 'Fire' recolor of the metal Zaruba ring from the "Equip and Prop Vol. 1" Garo toy.
A mobile game titled was released on May 27, 2016, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the ''Garo'' franchise. The game includes all characters from the live action series and the anime series.
Novels
was released on March 31, 2007.
was released on October 26, 2006. The novel's new edition including one new episode was released on October 30, 2010.
was released on November 27, 2010.
''Beast of the Demon Night''
is a two-part mini-series that premiered on Family Gekijo in December 2006.
''Red Requiem''
In July 2009, Tohokushinsha Film announced that a ''GARO'' feature film will be released in the fall of 2010. was theatrically released in Japanese theaters on October 30, 2010. The story is a sequel to the original TV series, with Keita Amemiya reprising his role as head director. Ryosei Konishi and Hironobu Kageyama reprise their roles as Kouga/Garo and voice of Zaruba, with Makoto Yokoyama returning to choreograph the action sequences as well. ''Red Requiem'' uses 3D image technology developed by the Tohokushinsha group company Omnibus Japan for its visual effects.
''Kiba''
, released on September 7, 2011, is a spin-off
V-Cinema
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strate ...
featuring the story of Barago and Kiba the Dark Knight.
''Makai Senki''
is a second season of the ''Garo'' television series that premiered in select Japanese theaters on September 24, 2011, before beginning broadcast on TV Tokyo on October 6, 2011.
''Soukoku no Maryu''
was released in Japanese theaters on February 23, 2013, serving as an epilogue to ''Makai Senki'', depicting Kouga Saejima's journey to the Promised Ground to retrieve Gajari's body. Ryosei Konishi was initially the only confirmed member of the cast, but Ray Fujita, Shouma Yamamoto, Ozuno Nakamura,
Yukijirō Hotaru
is a Japanese actor. He is best known for the role of Gonza Kurahashi in the ''Garo (TV series), Garo'' television franchise.
He has played Tsutomu Osako, a recurring role in the Heisei Gamera trilogy, along with the 2003 independent film ''GAME ...
Keiko Matsuzaka
(born July 20, 1952) is a Japanese actress.
Early life
Born in Ōta, Tokyo, her father was a naturalized South Korean while her mother was Japanese.
Career
In the 1960s, Matsuzaka became a child actress. Matsuzaka grew into adulthood in fil ...
as Judam.
''Yami o Terasu Mono''
A third TV series titled was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 5 to September 20, 2013. The series is set in the near future, and features an entirely new story with a new Garo named Ryuga Dougai venturing into the Horror-plagued Vol City. The series also presents a brand new main cast that includes Wataru Kuriyama, Tsunenori Aoki, Junya Ikeda and fashion model Miki Nanri.
''Tougen no Fue''
In March 2013, the ''Garo'' team announced a new film titled , which was released in Japanese theaters on July 20 of that year. Set during the time of ''Soukoku no Maryu'', ''Tougen no Fue'' follows Makai Priestesses Jabi and Rekka as they travel to the northern forests to protect the mystical and titular flute. Yasue Sato, Mary Matsuyama, Masahiro Kuranuki, and
Kanji Tsuda
is a Japanese actor.
Career
Tsuda appeared in Kamen Rider Ryuki as Daisuke Okubo and Ju-On: The Grudge as Katsuya Tokunaga.
Filmography
Film
* '' Sonatine'' (1993)
* ''119'' (1994)
* '' Kids Return'' (1996)
* '' Hana-bi'' (1997)
* '' Bays ...
reprise their roles from the franchise as Makai Priestess Jabi, Makai Priestess Rekka, Makai Priest Shiguto, and Makai Knight Kengi, respectively, also appearing in the film are Kumi Takiuchi and Miku Oono.
''Zero: Black Blood''
is a spin-off six-episode miniseries starring Ray Fujita as his character Rei Suzumura from the original TV series. Rounding out the cast are
Riria Kojima
, known professionally as and currently , is a Japanese actress. She is known for her role as Mio (ToQ 3gou) in the 2014 Super Sentai series '' Ressha Sentai ToQger''.
Career
She was affiliated with Kirin Pro and started her career in 2001. In ...
as Yuna,
Naoki Takeshi
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series based on the ''Sailor Moon'' manga created by Naoko Takeuchi & Kodansha. It was produced by Toei Company.
''Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon'' (commonly referred to as ''PGSM'') was first broadca ...
as Kain, and Thane Camus as Ring. Keita Amemiya serves as executive director, with Ryu Kaneda directing and
Yasuko Kobayashi
is a Japanese anime and ''tokusatsu'' drama screenwriter who has been involved in various television shows throughout her career, beginning in 1993 with '' Tokusou Robo Janperson''.
In September 2022, Kobayashi launched a new manga series with ...
writing. It was broadcast on Family Gekijo in March 2014 and shown in Japanese theaters in a limited release.
JAM Project
JAM Project ("JAM" standing for "Japan Animationsong Makers") are a Japanese Music in Japanese animation, anison band founded on July 19, 2000, by anison singer Ichirou Mizuki. The band is composed of many vocal artists well known in the anime mu ...
performed the opening theme "ZERO-BLACK BLOOD-" and Fujita's band
Dustz
Dustz (currently stylized as DUSTZ) is a Japanese rock band fronted by French-Japanese actor Ray Fujita. Formed by Fujita and two of his classmates from the ''Lycée franco-japonais de Tokyo'', the group has gained national renown by performing t ...
performs the ending .
''Makai no Hana''
A fourth ''Garo'' television series titled was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 4 to September 26, 2014, and takes place between ''Makai Senki'' and ''Yami o Terasu Mono''. With the exception of Yukijiro Hotaru reprising his portrayal of Gonza, it features a new cast consisting of Masei Nakayama as Raiga Saejima, the son of Kouga and Kaoru who inherited his father's title as the Golden Knight Garo, Atomu Mizuishi as Crow the Phantom Knight, and Natsumi Ishibashi as Mayuri, a mysterious tool with mystical powers that takes the form of a young woman.
Anime series
An anime adaptation of ''Garo'' was released in October 2014, titled in Japan as . It is produced by Studio MAPPA and directed by Yuichiro Hayashi. Taking place in the fictional country of Valiante in the Middle Ages, head writer Yasuko Kobayashi explained that, with the exception of Zaruba, it is unrelated to any characters or stories in the rest of the ''Garo'' continuity, though still exists as part of the larger universe's timeline. The series has been licensed by
Funimation
Funimation was an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming service. Launched in 2016, the service was one of the leading distributors of anime ...
as ''Garo: The Animation'', making it the first ''Garo'' installment to see a North American release.
A second series titled , taking place in Japan's
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
, was announced for a 2015 release, alongside a film sequel of the first series titled ''Garo: Divine Flame'', to coincide with the ''Garo'' tenth anniversary.
A film sequel of the first series titled was released in Japanese theaters on May 21, 2016.
A third series titled was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2017, to March 30, 2018.
A film sequel of the second series titled premiered in Japanese theaters on October 6, 2018.
''Gold Storm Sho''
is both a film and a television series that serve as sequels to ''Yami o Terasu Mono''. Wataru Kuriyama and Miki Nanri reprise their roles and are joined by new cast members, among them Masahiro Inoue as the series antagonist Jinga. The film adaptation was released in Japanese theatres on March 28, 2015, while the television series was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 3 to September 18, 2015.
''Bikuu''
is a film starring
Sayaka Akimoto
is a Japanese actress and singer. She was a member of Japanese idol
An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese popular culture, Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training ...
reprising her role as Bikuu from ''Makai no Hana''. It was released in Japanese theaters on November 14, 2015. Akimoto performs the ending theme .
''Makai Retsuden''
is an omnibus television series which features the cast of the previous live action series. It celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ''Garo'' franchise and was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 8 to June 24, 2016.
''Ashura''
is a special episode, with the ''Garo'' production team collaborating with
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ''Garo'' franchise. It features
Hiroshi Tanahashi
is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and Podcast, podcaster. He is signed to
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion, and is also an active wrestler.
Widel ...
as Gouki and
Togi Makabe
, better known by his ring name is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, trained by and performing for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Heavyweight Champion, L ...
and was broadcast on TV Tokyo on July 1, 2016. Taking place between ''Makai Senki'' and ''Makai no Hana'', Kaoru tells a young Raiga the story of one of the first Makai Knights to bear the Garo title: Gouki.
''Zero: Dragon Blood''
A brand new television series about Ray Fujita's character Rei Suzumura was originally announced as one of many new projects the ''Garo'' Project team were working on in 2015 and it was originally just known as ''Zero''. In June 2016, it was announced that the series would be titled to be broadcast in 2017. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from January 6 to March 31, 2017.
Live stage shows
features Masahiro Inoue's character Jinga and is connected to ''Garo: Kami no Kiba''. It was held between November 29 to December 3, 2017, at Space Zero in
Yoyogi
is a neighbourhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
Geography
The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:
* Only the five Yoyogi .
* The former , corresponding roughly to the area south of Japan National Route ...
.
features Masahiro Inoue's character Jinga and is connected to ''Kami no Kiba: Jinga''. It was held between January 5 to January 14, 2019, at The Galaxy Theatre in Higashishinagawa.
''Kami no Kiba''
is a film of the series featuring Wataru Kuriyama's character Ryuga Dougai, along the main cast of ''Yami o Terasu Mono'' and ''Gold Storm Sho''. It was released in Japanese theaters on January 6, 2018.
''Kami no Kiba: Jinga''
In November 2017, series creator Keita Amemiya announced plans for a spin-off television series, titled , featuring Masahiro Inoue's character Jinga was in the works. In July 2018, it was announced that the series is scheduled to be broadcast in October of that year. It was broadcast on
Tokyo MX
JOMX-DTV (channel 9), branded as Tokyo MX (officially stylized as TOKYO MX), is an independent station, independent television station in Tokyo, Japan, owned by the . It is the only television station that exclusively serves the city and parts ...
from October 4 to December 27, 2018.
''Gekkou no Tabibito''
is a film that stars Masei Nakayama as Raiga Saejima serving as a sequel to the ''Makai no Hana'' television series, also including Hiroki Konishi who reprise his role as the original protagonist Kouga Saejima. After the production announcement in November 2014, it was announced in November 2018 that the film is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2019. It was released in Japanese theaters on October 4, 2019.
A three part mini series, ''P Garo: Saejima Kouga'' was streamed on YouTube prior to the release of the film.
''Versus Road''
''Garo: Versus Road'' is a television series, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of the ''Garo'' franchise that premiered on Tokyo MX on April 2, 2020. It features a brand new cast that includes Koya Matsudai, Yuhi, Tokito, Toman, Naoya Shimizu, and Shutaro Kadoshita. This series is set in a different continuity from those of previous entries in the franchise.
''Hagane o Tsugu Mono''
is a television series that premiered on Tokyo MX and BS Nittele on January 11, 2024, featuring Wataru Kuriyama's character Ryuga Dougai.
''Taiga''
is an upcoming film that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the ''Garo'' franchise and features a younger version of Hiroyuki Watanabe's character Taiga Saejima. It is scheduled to be released in Japanese theaters on October 17, 2025.