Himitsu Sentai Gorenger

Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. Gorenger, created by Shotaro Ishinomori, was the first in the long-running Super Sentai metaseries of tokusatsu programming. The series aired on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 5, 1975, to March 26, 1977, and was itself replaced by J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai after 84 episodes. Toei distributes the series internationally under the title Five Rangers. The series was released in the Philippines under the title Star Rangers.

Plot
When world peace is threatened by the emergence of a terrorist group called the Black Cross Army, EAGLE (The Earth Guard League ) is formed to combat the threat. The Black Cross Army sends five operatives to destroy each EAGLE branch in Japan, killing all but five members. These surviving members are summoned to a secret base located underneath the snack shop "Gon", where they are recruited by EAGLE Japan's commander, Gonpachi Edogawa. They become the Himitsu Sentai Gorengers and are given electronic battlesuits that endow them with superhuman strength and speed. The five dedicate themselves to stopping the Black Cross Army and its leader, the Black Cross Führer.

Gorengers

 * Tsuyoshi Kaijo (海城 剛): The 24-year-old younger brother of the Kantō EAGLE base captain, Tsuyoshi and his teammates were playing soccer when the Black Cross Army launched the attack that killed his brother. Tsuyoshi is trained in combat planning and strategy. As the red-colored Akarenger (アカレンジャー), he is the team leader and coordinates group attacks such as the Gorenger Storm (ゴレンジャーストーム) or Gorenger Hurricane (ゴレンジャーハリケーン). He is armed with the Red Vute (レッドビュート), a multipurpose whip that can transform into other weapons such as the Spear Vute (ヤリビュート) or the Drill Vute (ドリルビュート). He also carries the Silver Shot (シルバーショット) tranquilizer gun. Tsuyoshi appeared in the final episode of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, receiving his powers back in the form of the Akarenger Key as the Gokaigers left Earth.
 * Akira Shinmei (新命 明): 25-years-old and the oldest member of the Gorenger team. Akira was training in the snowy region of Tōhoku when the Black Cross Army attacked. He is a marksmanship instructor, skilled in archery and piloting. He wants to become a racing driver. As the blue-colored Aorenger (アオレンジャー), he is the second-in-command. He pilots the Variblune, and later the Varidorin. He is armed with the Bluechery (ブルーチェリー) and later Ultra Bluechery (ウルトラブルーチェリー), a bow that can fire specially designed arrows known as Blue Arrows and Blue Arrow Rockets.
 * Kirenger (キレンジャー): The yellow-colored member of the Gorengers who is armed with the Ki Sticker (キーステッカー), a polearm whose head can be outfitted with various attachments such as a punching fist, and the YTC (YTC), a radio that can jam electronic circuitry. The moniker of Kirenger was used by its original user and his temporary successor.
 * Daita Oiwa (大岩 大太) (1–54 & 67–84): 23-years-old. Called Dai-chan by Akira, Peggy, and Yoko, Daita is a jovial engineering recruit at EAGLE's Kyushu branch who was training with his comrades when the Black Cross Army attacked. Adept in mechanics and mathematics, he has difficulty solving simple word puzzles and riddles. As a judo champion, Daita is physically strong. Daita was later promoted to Chief of EAGLE's Kyushu branch but soon returned to active duty with the Gorengers after his replacement is killed by the Black Cross Army.
 * Daigoro Kumano (熊野 大五郎) (55–67): After Daita became the commander of the Kyushu branch for a time, Daigoro replaced him. Daigoro was killed by a flying blade from Can Opener Mask.
 * Peggy Matsuyama (ペギー松山): 18-years-old. Peggy worked at EAGLE's Hokkaido branch as a chemical analyst and weapons engineer specializing in explosives. Fashion-conscious, Peggy often wears go-go boots and short hip-hugging hot pants. As the pink-colored Momorenger (モモレンジャー), she is armed with the Momo Mirror (モモミラー), a jamming device that can confuse and confound her opponents. She also carries the Momo Card (モモカード) throwing shuriken and the high impact Earring Bombs (ピアス爆弾).
 * Kenji Asuka (明日香 健二): 17-years-old, Kenji is the youngest member of the team. Kenji was tending to pigeons on a rooftop at EAGLE's Kansai branch when the Black Cross Army attacked, thus saving him from the poison gas used in the attack. He has a happy-go-lucky temperament. As the green-colored Midorenger (ミドレンジャー), he is armed with the Midomerang (ミドメラン), a razor-sharp boomerang that can be either flung at his opponents or used as a handheld weapon for cutting and slashing. He also carries the Mido Puncher (ミドパンチャー), an updated slingshot that can be used to fire pachinko pellets and sometimes explosives.

Other EAGLE characters

 * Gonpachi Edogawa (江戸川 権八): Commander of EAGLE's Japan branch. When operating in public, Gonpachi disguises himself as the cook at the snack shop Gon (ゴン), which is the secret entrance to the Gorengers' headquarters. The shop later becomes the fruit parlor Gon.
 * EAGLE Agents (イーグル連絡員): A trio of secretaries and secret soldiers who assists Commander Edogawa: Yoko Kato (加藤 陽子) (a.k.a. Agent 007), Tomoko Hayashi (林 友子) (a.k.a. Agent 008), and Haruko Nakamura (中村 春子) (a.k.a. Agent 009). They act behind the scenes but occasionally help the Gorengers in the field.

Black Cross Army
The Black Cross Army (黒十字軍) is a cyborg terrorist group led by the Black Cross Führer whose goal is the eradication of the human race and the absolute domination of the world. They use advanced technology and magic to create an army of superhuman operatives to attack EAGLE and the Gorengers. Most of the Black Cross operatives are humans who have been technologically enhanced through surgery. They had various secret bases across the globe. The main headquarters was the flying Black Cross Castle (黒十字城), which orbited high above the ground.
 * Black Cross Führer (黒十字総統): The leader of the Black Cross Army, often referred to as the "Machine Monster", and a highly intelligent being with supernatural powers who hides his identity even from his generals, occasionally disguising himself as a human. He is eventually revealed as the Black Cross Castle itself, controlled by a sentient alien AI, and defeated by the Gorengers' Five-Star Cassiopea Attack.
 * Sun Mask (日輪仮面): The so-called "Star of Africa" (アフリカの星). A ruthless tyrant renowned for his successive victories in Africa, he is called to Japan to eliminate the Gorengers, but his plans are frequently hampered by his own cowardice.
 * Iron Man Mask General Temujin (鉄人仮面テムジン将軍): The so-called "Mongol Demon" (モンゴルの鬼). A cold and sadistic, yet overly prideful recruit from the Black Cross Army's Gobi Desert operations, he is a master tactician who leads his own army in the Steel Brigade (鋼鉄軍団).
 * Volcano Mask General Magman (火の山仮面マグマン将軍): Hailing from the Eldgjá region in Iceland, he is the leader of the ruthless Eruption Battalion (噴火軍団) and commander of his own mobile battle station, the Moving Fortress Navarone (移動要塞ナバローン). He is able to fire napalm missiles from the top of his mask, and is impervious to the Gorengers' weapons.
 * Commander-in-Chief Golden Mask (ゴールデン仮面大将軍): Black Cross Army's top general, a supernatural entity awoken through black magic and the Black Cross Führer's powers. A well-versed sorcerer with an interest in astrology, Golden Mask takes command of Black Cross Army's elite Africa Troopers (アフリカ軍団). He can repel most of the Gorengers' attacks.
 * Steel Sword Dragon (鋼鉄剣竜): A rogue Black Cross Army operative who was imprisoned for reckless and rebellious behavior, but later freed by Black Cross Führer in exchange for his help in destroying the Gorengers. He is a strong and highly-resistant fighter wielding a dao that can break almost any object.
 * Masked Monsters (仮面怪人): The Black Cross Army's field agents, who cause chaos and disorder wherever they go. They are mainly humanoid machines with strange masks that represent their ability and skills in the field, with the ability to continuously upgrade themselves through the continued research and developments of the Black Cross Army. These humanoids can have abilities to change into other objects to help with infiltration or investigations or to assist in their chaos-causing objectives.
 * Zolders (ゾルダー): The Black Cross Army's faceless leather-suited foot soldiers, altered with enhanced strength and speed and brainwashed to be absolutely loyal. They carry a variety of weapons including machine guns, bazookas, and iron swords. Specialized divisions include the Black Cross Camouflaged Ninja (黒十字忍団) and a squad of mystics who served Black Cross Führer. The Zolders pilot air fighters called Condolers (コンドラー) (small) and Battlers (バットラー) (large). They shout "Hoi" when attacking their victims.

Episodes
Episodes aired on Saturdays at 7:30 pm JST.

Films

 * Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Movie (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー): Released on July 26, 1975. The movie version of episode 6.
 * Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Blue Fortress (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー　青い大要塞): Released on December 20, 1975. The movie version of episode 15.
 * Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Red Death Match (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー 真赤な猛進撃！): Released on March 20, 1976. The movie version of episode 36.
 * Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: Fire Mountain's Final Explosion (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー 火の山最後の大噴火): Released on December 19, 1976. The movie version of episode 54.
 * Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Bomb Hurricane (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー　爆弾ハリケーン): Released on July 18, 1976.
 * J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger (ジャッカー電撃隊VSゴレンジャー): Released on March 18, 1978.

Manga
The series was adapted into a manga written and drawn by Ishinomori and published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from May 4, 1975, to August 17, 1975. In this series, the Gorengers are all teenagers and Tsuyoshi's father is the head of EAGLE's Kanto branch. Tsuyoshi Kaijo is given the powers of the Akarenger by his father before he is murdered by the Black Cross Army. Tsuyoshi becomes Akarenger and recruits the others to form the Gorengers and avenge his father's death. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga outside Japan for North American territories.

Cast

 * Tsuyoshi Kaijo: Naoya Makoto (誠 直也)
 * Akira Shinmei: Hiroshi Miyauchi (宮内 洋)
 * Daita Oiwa: Baku Hatakeyama (畠山 麦)
 * Daigoro Kumano: Jirō Daruma (だるま 二郎)
 * Peggy Matsuyama: Lisa Komaki (小牧 りさ)
 * Kenji Asuka: Yukio Itō (伊藤 幸雄)
 * Yoko Kato: Eri Kanuma (鹿沼 えり)
 * Tomoko Hayashi: Emi Shirakawa (白川 恵美)
 * Haruko Nakamura: Miki Honda (本田 みき)
 * Taro Kato (加藤 太郎): Hiroyuki Konuma (小沼 宏之)
 * Black Cross Führer: Mitsuo Andō (安藤 三男), Nobuo Yana (八名 信夫) (Voicing the role in episodes 54 & 55)
 * Gonpachi Edogawa: Toshio Takahara (高原 駿雄)

Voice actors

 * Gon (ゴン): Hisako Kyōda (京田 尚子)
 * Sun Mask (日輪仮面): Hiroshi Masuoka (増岡 弘)
 * General Iron Mask Temujin (鉄人仮面テムジン将軍): Shōzō Iizuka (飯塚 昭三)
 * General Fire Mountain Mask Magman (火の山仮面マグマン将軍): Eisuke Yoda (依田英助), Shōzō Iizuka (45–54)
 * Great General Golden Mask (ゴールデン仮面大将軍): Shōzō Iizuka
 * Narrator: Nobuo Tanaka (田中 信夫): Tōru Ōhira (大平 透)

Songs

 * Opening theme
 * "Susume! Gorenger" (進め！ゴレンジャー)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition & arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
 * Artists: Isao Sasaki, Mitsuko Horie, & Columbia Yurikago Kai


 * Ending themes
 * "Himitsu Sentai Gorenger" (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー)
 * Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
 * Composition & Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
 * Artist: Isao Sasaki & Koorogi '73
 * Episodes: 1–63
 * "Mi yo!! Gorenger" (見よ!!ゴレンジャー)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Chumei Watanabe
 * Artists: Isao Sasaki, Koorogi '73, & Wilbees
 * Episodes: 64–84

International broadcast and home video

 * In its home country of Japan, Toei Video released the series on VHS and was spread throughout 20 volumes for both sale and rental releases from May 25, 1986 to May 24, 1991. Each tape contains three episodes and there was also a release of one of the movies. Only 59 out of 84 episodes were released on this format. The jacket for Volume 19 of the series used an image of Red Falcon from Choujyu Sentai Liveman by mistake. Then from November 21, 1998 to May 21, 1999, the series was released on a Laserdisc boxset and this was the first time that the series had all 84 episodes released on home video. From April 21, 2003 to August 8, 2003, the series was released on DVD throughout a span of 14 volumes. Each volume contains six episodes reach and volumes 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13 and 14 were simultaneously released. The first episode is also included in the "Shotaro Ishinomori 70th Anniversary DVD-BOX" released on July 21, 2008. The first episode is also included in the "Super Sentai 1st Episode Collection I" DVD released in April 2011, and the movie version "Bakudan Hurricane!" was also viewed on pay-per-view. The series was then released on Blu-Ray for the first time from February 8, 2017 to October 4, 2017 in five boxset volumes. Each volume holds three discs with 17 episodes included. In addition, 8 select episodes are also included in the "Super Sentai Ichimi Blu-ray 1975-1981" release which came out on April 14, 2021.
 * In the United States, the original Japanese version was broadcast in Hawaii on Honolulu's KIKU-TV with English subtitles from 1975 through 1976, and the actors made personal appearances to promote the series. An unsubtitled version was also broadcast in California, on Sacramento's KMUV-TV in 1976, San Francisco's KEMO-TV in 1977.
 * In the Philippines, Gorenger was dubbed into English and aired as Star Rangers in 1978 and shown on Saturday afternoon on RPN-9. In this version, aside from their color designations, the Gorengers also had numeric designations, in order of their introduction to the enemy prior to battle:
 * Akarenger = Star 1
 * Aorenger = Star 2
 * Kirenger = Star 3
 * Momorenger = Star 4
 * Midorenger = Star 5
 * In Hong Kong, the series aired on the now-defunct Commercial Television station with a Cantonese Chinese dub from July 1, 1978, until August 19, 1978. But the channel ceased operations, causing the series to be cut short.
 * In Thailand, the series aired on Channel 7 originally with a Thai dub and is currently licensed by Rose Media Entertainment. It later aired on Channel 5 and also the Gang Cartoon Channel around 2009 with its license currently owned by TIGA Company.