is a
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 ...
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
TV series. Created by
Shotaro Ishinomori
, né , was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, writer and director. Known as the "King of Manga" (漫画の帝王 (''Manga no Teiou)'' or 漫画の王様 (''Manga no Ousama)''), he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential mang ...
, the series was produced by
Toei Company Ltd., and broadcast on
Fuji TV
JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as or , is a Japanese television station that serves the Kantō region as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and the Fuji Network System (FNS). The station is owned-and- ...
from April 5 to September 27, 1973, with a total of 26 episodes. It stars
Jirō Chiba.
The hero of this series is a robot named "Robot Detective K" (or just "K"), who has no human form, but when not in battle, dresses up in human clothes and has a human-like personality. The main antagonist is .
Along with ''
Android Kikaider
is a ''tokusatsu'' television series based on the superhero manga '' Kikaider'' by Shotaro Ishinomori. The show was produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions, and was broadcast in Japan on NET (now TV Asahi) from July 8, 1972, to May ...
'' ''Robot Detective'' was one of the early predecessors to what would become the ''
Metal Hero Series
The is a metaseries of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television.
The protagonists of the ''Metal Hero Series'' are mainly space, military and police-based characters who are typically either androids, cyborgs, ...
'' of programs featuring human-sized cyborg heroes.
Episode List
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Cast
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**Suit Actor: ,
**Suit Actor (battle scenes): ,
*: (played as )
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Sonny Chiba
, known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later to an international audience.
Born in Fukuo ...
(played as )
*: ,
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Songs
Opening Theme:
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Ending Theme:
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Insert Song:
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Other appearances
*A character resembling K appears in
''Shin Kamen Rider'' and its manga spin-off ''There is no true peace in this world -Shin Kamen Rider SHOCKER SIDE-'', voiced by
Tori Matsuzaka
is a Japanese actor and model. He debuted as Takeru Shiba/Shinken Red in '' Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.'' Since then, he has appeared in several television shows and films.
Personal life
On December 10, 2020, Matsuzaka married actress Erika Tod ...
. This version of the character is depicted as an AI working for SHOCKER.
References
External links
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{{Shotaro Ishinomori
1973 Japanese television series debuts
1973 Japanese television series endings
Shotaro Ishinomori
Toei tokusatsu
Tokusatsu television series
Fictional robots
Fictional police officers
Shunsuke Kikuchi
Fuji Television original programming
Robot superheroes