Seijuu Sentai Gingaman

is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is Toei's 22nd entry of the ''Super Sentai'' metaseries. The series aired from February 22, 1998, to February 14, 1999, replacing ''Denji Sentai Megaranger'', and was replaced by '' Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive''. Its footage was used in '' Power Rangers Lost Galaxy''. The lead screenwriter for the series is Yasuko Kobayashi. Toei given the name for international distribution is ''Gingaman''.

At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Shout! Factory announced that they would be releasing ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman'' in Japanese with English subtitles on DVD. It was released on January 30, 2018. This is the seventh Super Sentai series released on Region 1 DVD in North America. In July 2018, Shout! made the series available on-demand on their website.

Plot

Three thousand years ago, the Space Pirates Balban invaded Earth. The Starbeasts and the first Gingamen, warriors of the Ginga Forest, fought them with a mystical power known as Earth and eventually imprisoned them. The Ginga people later cloaked their forest within marked boundaries and passed on the duty of the Ginga warriors through generations.

In the present day, Hyuuga, Hayate, Gouki, Hikaru and Saya are chosen as the 133rd warriors of the Starbeast Swords. Ryouma is very happy that his elder brother Hyuuga succeeds to the title. When Orghi holds the succession ceremony of the Starbeast Swords, an earthquake breaks the seal on the Balban.

Orghi orders the 133rd warriors to get the Ginga Braces hidden in Roaring Mountain. However, the Balban attacks them to prevent the birth of the new Gingamen. During the battle, Hyuuga is swallowed into a crack in the ground created by the Balban's leader Captain Zahab. Enraged, Ryouma activates his hidden Earth power and awakens the Ginga Braces. The Gingamen fight together with the Starbeasts against the Balban, who desire to revive the Demon Beast Daitanix, on whose corpse they built their castle.

Characters

Gingamen

The eponymous Gingamen are descendants of the original Gingamen from the Ginga Forest who use a fighting style originating 3,000 years ago and are chosen at a ceremony to become the current Gingamen. Before battle, the team announces their arrival by saying, .

Ryouma

: A 22-year-old who becomes with the lion-themed as his partner to fulfill his older brother Hyuuga's last wish. He is bright, optimistic, and hardworking.

With his Earth power being fire, he can perform the elemental technique and the (with the Starbeast Sword) and Two Swords Flash (used with Kiba Cutter). In his civilian form, Ryouma wields a boomerang. With the Lights of Ginga, Ryouma can become . While as Super Armor Shine Ginga Red, he can perform Power Seal and Beast Fire Flash.

Ryouma is portrayed by .

Hayate

: A 22-year-old who fights as with the falcon-themed as his partner. He is cool and quick-witted. He is an expert flute player and is the second-in-command. He has a weakness for tomatoes (although this is resolved) and honey. He is engaged to Miharu and always carries the flute and amulet she gave him before leaving the Ginga Forest.

With his Earth power being wind, he can perform the elemental technique and (with the Starbeast Sword) and Two Swords Gust (with the Kiba Cutter). As he is a Wind Warrior, he has the power to eliminate evil sounds whenever he plays his flute. He is rivals with Shelinda after she destroys his flute and has a sword fight with her on the day Hayate and Miharu would have been married. He makes a new flute with similar materials on Moon Mountain. He can also use his flute as a pea-shooter. Later, with the Lights of Ginga, Hayate can become . After the final battle, Hayate is reunited with Miharu.

Hayate is portrayed by .

Gouki

: A 22-year-old who fights as with the gorilla-themed as his partner. Gouki is strong, shy and slightly nervous, as well as a lover of forests and wildlife. He is good at cooking. In the show, he believes this aspect of his personality would not let him be a good Gingaman, but at the end, he manages to win the love of Suzuko Miyasawa.

With his Earth power being water, he can perform the elemental technique and the (used with the Starbeast Sword). He wields a whip in civilian form. Later, with the Lights of Ginga, Gouki can become . In ''Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai'', he lectures Soutarou Ushigome (GaoBlack) on the many strong warriors of the Super Sentai franchise. He later offers his assistance in the fight against Rakushassa alongside the other Dream Sentai warriors.

Gouki is portrayed by .

Hikaru

: A 17-year-old who fights as with the wolf-themed as his partner. Although he is portrayed as being childish at times, he dislikes for others to treat like a kid. Hikaru is a gluttonous prankster and his favorite food is Mister Donut's donut. It is revealed he has been orphaned since childhood following his parents' death. After the appearance of Biznella, they often fight each other.

With his Earth power being thunder, he can perform the elemental technique, Ancestor Burst and the (with the Starbeast Sword), Severe Burn Lava (with the Kiba Cutter). In civilian form, he wields a shotgun. Later, with the Lights of Ginga, Hikaru can become .

Hikaru is portrayed by .

Saya

: A 17-year-old who fights as with the wildcat-themed as her partner. Her admiration for Hyuuga gives her the courage to fight. She is always playing and competing with Hikaru, and loves climbing trees. Saya is strong but also introverted and she is very popular with shopping districts residents.

With her Earth power being flowers, she can perform the and the (with the Starbeast Sword). In civilian form, Saya can wield a slingshot. Later, with the Lights of Ginga, Saya can become .

Saya is portrayed by .

Hyuuga

: Ryouma's 27-year-old brother. He was chosen to become the 133rd Ginga Red but fell into a crack in the ground caused by Zahab. He is saved by Bull Black, who possesses Hyuuga's body for a while before discarding him. Soon after, Hyuuga is given the power to become the new and his partner becomes . When GoTaurus is wounded during the battle against Evil Empress Iliess, he is captured by Bucrates who blackmails Hyuuga to work for him so he could sever his connection to the Earth to wield the cursed Knight Axe, the only thing that can shatter Zahab's Star Soul Jewel. Hyuuga agrees to give up his Earth power in hopes of using the Knight Axe to kill Zahab. Hyuuga regains his Earth power in the finale after the Knight Axe is destroyed and fights as the Black Knight alongside the Gingaman to finally kill Zahab.

With his Earth power also being fire, he can perform the and the (with the Bull Riot).

Hyuuga is portrayed by , who previously portrayed Sasuke/Ninja Red in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger.

Starbeasts

The Starbeasts (星獣 ''Seijū'') are sentient beings, originally from different planets (Galeon, Galcon, Garilla, Gaverick, Gat, Taurus, Rhinos, Phoenix and Bitus). They help the Gingaman. The Gingaman's Earth power increases when man and beast combine. When the Gingaman channel the energy of the Star Beasts' home planet through their Kiba Swords the first five Star Beasts are able to transform into Silver Star Beasts (銀星獣 ''Ginseijū'') by the command "Great Rebirth, Silver Star Beasts!" (大転生銀星獣 ''Daitensei Ginseijū'').

Allies

Elder Orghi

: The leader of the Ginga people. When the Ginga Forest is attacked by Shelinda to use its energy to revive Daitanix, Orghi casts a petrification spell on himself and everything in the forest to prevent her from absorbing its energy, submerging it into the lake. Before becoming fully petrified, Orghi leaves a pendant with a seed to the Gingamen. In the finale after Zahab's death, the Ginga Forest resurfaces and Orghi as well as the rest of the Ginga people are restored, much to the Gingamen's surprise.

Orghi is portrayed by .

Moak

: Orghi's final gift to the Gingamen before he is turned to stone and is located outside the Silver Star Equestrian Club. Moak senses all the events that happen near any forest or wood such as Barban's presence. He gives new weapons to the Gingamen. He has knowledge of all Ginga legends. Near the finale, he sacrifices himself to prevent the birth of the Earth Beast and remove the traces of the Extreme Growth Extract which is affecting the Earth and the Gingamen's Earth powers, but he leaves behind a seed. After the Ginga Forest is restored in the finale, Moak is revived when Orghi plants his seed in the Ginga Forest.

Moak is voiced by Rokurō Naya (納谷 六朗 Naya Rokurō).

Bokku

: A distracted fairy with an acorn-shaped helmet. He is always with Moak and ends every phrase saying "bokku!".

Bokku is voiced by Sanae Miyuki (深雪 さなえ Miyuki Sanae).

Haruhiko Aoyama

: A writer of children's stories who believes in the existence of the legendary Ginga Forest. He offers the Gingaman his ranch for them to live in after their forest home is petrified and records their adventures.

Haruhiko Aoyama is portrayed by .

Yuuta Aoyama

: Haruhiko's 9-year-old son. He does not believe the legend until he witnesses the birth of the 133rd Gingamen. In episode 6, he is given GingaLeon's planet stone, which he used in the next episode to stop the Balban from trying to collect the energy the Gingamen was using to revive the Star Beasts.

Yuuta Aoyama is portrayed by .

Suzuko Mizusawa

: Yuuta's teacher at Wakatake Elementary School. Mizusawa is Gouki's secret love. Gouki had a rivalry with Shunsuke Kishimoto, a teacher from another school, for Suzuko's affections. In the end, Suzuko chooses Gouki and proves it by showing him the bracelet Gouki had made for her.

Suzuko is portrayed by .

Misaki Hoshino

: An acting idol who looks like Saya, except that she has a mole. She is selfish until she talks with Saya. She helps Saya against the Balban.

Misaki Hoshino is also portrayed by Juri Miyazawa.

Space Pirates Balban

The are a group of space pirates who have destroyed many planets along the Milky Way. Their headquarters, the , is mounted on the back of Daitanix. They once tried to invade Earth 3,000 years ago, but the first generation of Gingamen and the Starbeasts sealed them at the bottom of the sea. In the present day, an earthquake breaks the seal and releases the Balban, who plan to reawaken Daitanix. Its four great armies plot various strategies to achieve it.

* : The ship-themed leader of the Space Pirates Balban. Cruel and violent but at the same time a great strategist and expert warrior who became immortal thanks to a Star Soul Jewel created by Daitanix, using the monster to gather a crew by offering them long life. Zahab's left hand is missing, as a result of the battle sustained with the first generation Gingaman three thousand years earlier. He has replaced it with a cannon integrated hook. In the final battle he uses the castle to take control of the Earth Demon Beast, but Zahab is forced to flee from his castle when it is destroyed by BullTaurus. After losing the Earth Beast, Zahab fights and beats the tar out of the Gingamen, until Ginga Red and Black Knight use their fire ability to destroy his Star Soul Jewel. He is then killed by the Black Knight's Black Chop, the Gingamens' Galaxy War Radiance, and finally by Super Armor Shine Ginga Red's Beast Fire Flash attack as the final blow. He is later resurrected by Gregory, only to be killed once again by the Gingamen in the Galaxy Lights armor in ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger''. Zahab is voiced by Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝 Shibata Hidekatsu), who previously voiced Daimaoh in ''Ninja Sentai Kakuranger''.
* : An old friend of Zahab's who came to Earth to revive the Space Pirates Balban, with the aid of Hizumina, Dr. Hinelar's second "daughter". He had his own personal Majin Ghelmadix which was originally a second Daitanix. According to Moku, Gregory was sealed by the Starbeasts long before the Balban, feared as much as they were, all on his own. He could make himself grow without the aid of an enchanted liquid. Eventually revived every Barban member along with almost every Majin. He was killed by Galaxy Mega & Super Armor Shine GingaiOh. Gregory is voiced by Seizō Katō (加藤 精三 Katō Seizō), who previously voiced Dai Satan in '' Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger''.
* : The cruel and selfish second-in-command and the navigator of the Balban. A warrior with a sword and shell-themed armor, Shelinda had romantic feelings for Budoh though never forgave him for saving her life sometime in the past. During the Sutoiji incident, Shelinda destroys Hayate's flute before later attempting to stop him from making a new one. After finding him as Sutoiji is defeated, Shelinda duels Ginga Green with it ending with her forearm scarred as she vows a vendetta on him to the point of not allowing her own comrades to deny her killing Hayate. The most anxious to see Daitanix revived as her position of Steerwoman was pointless without Daitanix to steer often going to the aid of a Majin to speed along the revival. Shelinda is eventually killed in a final duel with Hayate in episode 49, where only her sword remained, to which the Yartots deliver it to Zahab to inform him of Shelinda's death. The sword itself was later destroyed along with Zahab's castle. Shelinda is later revived by Gregory, and is killed once again by the Gingaman in the Galaxy Lights armor in Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger. Shelinda is portrayed by .
* : A stout little scholar with a barrel-armored body, Bucrates lacks battle skills, though he makes up for it with his extensive knowledge. He is called by Zahab and is the one who gave Zahab an immortal body. Prior to Sambash named acting general, Bucrates supported his niece Illiess in taking on the position from the start. While Budoh was acting general, Bucrates felt humiliated by the general after his numerous attempts to upstage Budoh. He proceeds to conspire with Iliess to frame Budou so she can become acting general. Though it seemed they got away with it, it turned out Zahab knew of the plot yet allowed Bucrates to remain until Illiess's death. Attempting to resurrect Illiess in secret, Bucrates is mortally wounded by Zahab and wrapped in chains as he is sent to a watery grave. However, his newfound hatred for Zahab allowed Bucrates to survive the ocean pressure while changing into a new form called . Escaping his binds, Bucrates vows revenge on the Balban, capturing the wounded GoTaurus in a small barrel to get Hyuuga's assistance. Bucrates later let GoTaurus out temporarily to have Hyuuga aid the Gingamen against Daitanix in episode 42, before drawing them both back when the battle was over. However, Bucrates is mortally wounded in episode 48, by Shelinda for his betrayal, before he can see his revenge fulfilled and subsequently commits suicide in episode 49 with a bomb to give Hyuuga a chance to escape with GoTaurus after giving the barrel back to Hyuuga. Bucrates is portrayed by .

The Balban Army Generals

Four of the strongest Majins, they each lead one of Zahab's four armies. Due to quarrels in the past that caused them to be sealed away, Zahab has only one General-in-command form a plan at a time.

* : A hot-headed biker/gunman who carries a pistol and rides a motorcycle with cannons. His Majin are based on invertebrae. 3,000 years ago, Bull Black had come to Earth to hide the Galaxy Lights and Sambash cornered him to learn where they were hidden. Bull Black gave him the key of an empty chest and a fake location in Cape Kagerou, with Sambash keeping this information from Zahab. Being the first general chosen to revive it, Sambash attempts to find ways of providing energy for Daitanix to revive. After continuous failures to revive Daitanix and defeat the Gingamen, Sambash decided to go after the Galaxy Lights by first having Neikaa open up the cave at Cape Kagerou where the box containing the lights was hidden. Unable to open the entrance without an Earth user, Sambash has Gurinjii assume Hyuga's form to trick Ryouma into fetching it for him. As Gurinjii is destroyed by GingaiOh, heavily wounded from his fight with Ginga Red, Sambash opens the box to use the Lights of Ginga on himself to even the odds. However, finding it empty and with nothing to lose, a crazed Sambash climbs onto his bike to run over Ginga Red. In the process, after being hit by Ginga Red's attack, Sambash drives off a cliff as his motorcycle explodes, destroying both itself and him. He is later resurrected by Gregory, only to be killed once again by the Gingamen in the Galaxy Lights armor in ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger''. Sambash is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之 Hiyama Nobuyuki), who previously voiced Boss Kamikaze in '' Gosei Sentai Dairanger'' and Bomber the Great in '' Chouriki Sentai Ohranger''.
* : A calm manta ray-themed samurai who became the second Barban General-in-command chosen. Budoh has a mostly white and blue outfit with manta ray-like wings as a partial cape bearing his army's emblem. He possesses the Girasame sword, with which he can perform his "Girasame Cruel Sword" attack. Budoh has a strong sense of honor and loyalty that even Zahab recognized despite being unpredictable. His Majin are traditional Japanese Samurai culture and sea creature based. Budoh was always well-mannered and thanked his fallen Majin, who called him "My Grand General". He takes over the search for the Galaxy Light to revive Daitanix after Sambash dies, using a scroll of potential hosts that might contain the Light. With only one entry left, with his life endanged, Budoh sends his most powerful servant, Dotoumusha, to retrieve the Galaxy Light with success. However, Budoh is set up by Bucrates and Iliess to be made as a treasonous cur wanting the Light for himself. Placed in the brig, unable to perform Seppuku for an act he never even did, Budoh escapes to clear his name and kill the Gingamen to reclaim the Galaxy Light. But once learning the truth of Iliess framing him, seeing that nothing would ever clear his name, Budoh kills Medoumedou before arriving to his ninjas' aid to fight Juusoukou Ginga Red to the death. After being mortally wounded by Juusoukou Ginga Red's Juukasen, attempting to resist his injuries, Budoh meets his end and dies in a blaze of glory with Girasame landing near the riverbed. In ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger'', he is revived and killed once again by the Gingaman in the Galaxy Lights armor. Budoh is voiced by Kazuo Hayashi (林 一夫 Hayashi Kazuo), who previously voiced Bio Hunter Silva in '' Choudenshi Bioman''.
* : An Egyptian-themed sorceress and the niece of Bucrates who is spiteful, ambitious, and motivated by her greed and demanding monetary compensation upon a successful plan. Her majin are based around entities from different cultural mythologies. Illiess is also immortal as she can resurrect herself no matter the number of times she is killed as long as her Soul Gem is unharmed. Having become impatient with waiting, Illiess conspired with her uncle Bucrates to depose Budoh so she can become the new active general. Having succeeded, Illiess intended to revive Daitanix through various forms of sorcery and mass sacrifices so she can obtain the riches Zahab offered for the monster's resurrection. However, after losing the Koseijuu, Illiess is given additional incentive to revive Daitanix when Zaihab decides to reduce her earnings for each day she fails her objective. After the death of her younger brother Desphias, Illiess is forced to take matters into her own hands. Erecting a tower in the city's plaza, Illiess conjures lizards to suck the blood of 9,999 people to revive Daitanix. When the Gingamen arrive, Illiess absorbs the souls of her fallen Majin to assume a powerful Chimera-like fighting form called who sports the faces of the different Majin on her body and lizard-like limbs. As the other Gingamen and Hyuga fight copies of Morgumorgu, Hielahiela, Garagara, Wangawanga, and Burakiburaki, Ryouma battles Illiess and destroys the tower. Defeated by the Supershine Gingamen and Black Knight, Iliess refuses to stand down and uses her magic to enlarge herself. Illiess then overpowers Super Armor Shine GingaiOh and BullTaurus before the Kouseiju's interference leads to her death by the Seijuu. Though Bucrates attempts to revive her, Iliess's soul gem is shattered by Batobas and used to preserve Daitanix from rotting. Illiess is voiced by Gara Takashima (高島 雅羅 Takashima Gara).
* : A Viking-themed Roboton who is the strongest among the four generals and a weapons specialist as well. He is considered by Zahab to be "his right arm" which suggests a longer relationship between them than the rest of the generals. His Majin are based on weapons and machines. Revealing Daitanix's condition and using Iliess's soul to delay the rotting, Battobas is last general chosen to fight the Gingaman with the mission to gain enough energy to fully revive Daitanix, sometimes having Biznella plot the plan while he would provide the Majin and Yartots. Battobas succeeded, but upon Daitanix's destruction, he is later sent to find the Earth Beast to mature and/or empower it fully with an Extreme Growth Extract. He succeeds, but ends up being eaten alive by the monster in episode 49. He is revived and killed once again by the Gingaman in the Galaxy Lights armor in ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger''. Battobas is voiced by Takeshi Watabe (渡部 猛 Watabe Takeshi), who previously voiced Emperor Aton in ''Kagaku Sentai Dynaman'' and Bookback in '' Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger''.
* : An evil pierrot-themed Black Marketeer. He captured three Starbeasts and turned them into cyborgs, before selling them to the Balban for a payment of five boys of gold coins. After his merchandise fails, Biznella is recruited into Balban, as a consultant of sorts under the service of Battobas, who he had been acquainted with previously. During one of their attempts to find the Demon Earth Beast, Biznella is thrown into the Extreme Growth Extract by accident and mutates into who overpowers the Gingamen until they defeated him with their upgraded Beast Attack Rods. He is then betrayed and enlarged by Battobas, and is killed by GigaRhinos, GigaPhoenix, and Super Armor Shine GingaiOh in episode 47. Biznella is voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa (塩沢 兼人 Shiozawa Kaneto).
* : Balban's seamen-themed foot soldiers, orange with striped shorts and wielding sabers. When fighting, they would only say "Yartot!" but can speak when talking to their superiors.

Majin

The Majin (魔人 ''Majin'', Demon Men) are criminals and mercenaries who, drawn by the evil energy of Daitanix, are recruited by Balban. They are divided in four armies depending on their home galaxy and the strongest member of each is appointed General. These four armies tend to fight with each other, being this one of the reasons of their defeat against Gingaman 3,000 years earlier. Knowing this, Zahab decides that this time the plans would be executed by one army at the time, avoiding inner conflicts. When defeated, the Majin will draw a bottle (its design depends on the army the Majin belongs to) containing Balba-X (バルバエキス ''Baruba Ekisu''), a potion that enlarges them, but that also shortens their life, making Balba-X a last resort in battle. Many of them are revived and killed by the Megarangers & the Gingaman in ''Seijuu Sentai Gingaman vs. Megaranger''.

Episodes

Cast

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*: Koji (Played as )
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*, Misaki Hoshino (Episode 14):
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Songs

Opening theme

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**Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
**Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
**Artist:

Ending theme

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**Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
**Composition:
**Arrangement:
**Artist: Ryū Kisami

Notes

References

External links

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Gingaman at the Official Toei Website


Official Shout! Factory page

Official Shout Factory TV page

{{Super Sentai

Super Sentai
1990s Japanese television series
1998 Japanese television series debuts
1999 Japanese television series endings
Japanese action television series
Japanese fantasy television series
Japanese science fiction television series
Television series about alien visitations
Television shows written by Yasuko Kobayashi
TV Asahi original programming