GoGo Sentai Boukenger


GoGo Sentai Boukenger is the 30th series in Toei's Super Sentai series, a metaseries of Japanese tokusatsu programming. It is the first installment to be broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio. It premiered on February 19, 2006 at 7:30 JST on TV Asahi. Its footage was used in the American series, Power Rangers Operation Overdrive, while the original footage was dubbed into Korean for the South Korean series, Power Rangers Treasure Force.

Plot summary

Powerful relics known as [|Precious] have started to appear throughout the world. However, the various Negative Syndicates wish to take the Precious for themselves and utilize them for evil means. To make sure that the Precious do not fall into the hands of the Negative Syndicates, the Search Guard Successor Foundation has developed its own special operations team, the Boukengers, to do battle and collect some of the more dangerous Precious.

Characters

SGS

The Search Guard Successor Foundation collects the Precious with help from the Boukengers.
The Boukengers are
;, and is the most childish of the group. Her main reason to adventure was to discover more about her own past. It is later revealed that she is the last survivor of the Lemurian civilization.
;, and is the most serious member of the team when it comes to work. She often appears to be cold and emotionless, but cares for her teammates.
;Search Guard Successor Foundation#Eiji Takaoka: The Dazzling Adventurer, as Bouken Silver he drives GoGo Fire and serves as the spiritually strongest of the team because his father, the Ashu Watcher Karato wed with the Ashu Kei, making Eiji half-Ashu. He mostly battles against Gai due to their bitter history. In Boukenger vs. Super Sentai, he embodies Hope.
They are led by Mister Voice, who serves as a liaison to the main S.G.S. headquarters, and they are assisted by Makino Morino, who is the technical specialist of S.G.S. and creator of the GoGo Vehicles, the mecha of the Boukengers.

Non-SGS Allies

;Kyoko: One of Satoru's ex-partners who went on an expedition with him years ago. While searching for a Precious, Satoru accidentally set off a trap which created a ring of fire that neither she nor Masaki could escape and Satoru could not reach them. Satoru swore to get help and rescue them, but the trap triggered an explosion, killing Kyoko and Masaki before Satoru could even leave to find help. Portrayed by Miki Handa.
;Shiro Masaki: One of Satoru's ex-partners who went on an expedition with him years ago. While searching for a Precious, Satoru accidentally set off a trap which created a ring of fire that neither he nor Kyoko could escape and Satoru could not reach them. Satoru swore to get help and rescue them, but the trap triggered an explosion, killing Kyoko and Masaki before Satoru could even leave to find help. Later on, Ley tricked Satoru into believing that Gai was Masaki, still alive, so he could shoot him with the Soldier's Crossbow. Eventually Satoru saw through the illusion and went on. Portrayed by , crossing the Jyaryu Tribe while getting her fourth treasure, the Dragon's Neck Orb. She had all but one when she ran into Souta, who later returned to protect her against Wicked Dragon Lindom when she attempted to get the Potion of Immortality. It was shown in the end that Selene could have been Princess Kaguya herself. Portrayed by Nana Yanagisawa, who later portrayed Megumi Aso in Kamen Rider Kiva.
;Magi: An elder from the Water Metropolis who didn't want to see any more of his people perish in the search for the Aqua Crystal. Turned Ragi's section of the Crystal Document into water, but Satoru remembered it from earlier and helped Ragi find the Crystal. Magi soon realized the error of his ways and give Ragi his blessing. Ragi and Magi were reunited as the ocean returned. Portrayed by Mike Maki, who previously portrayed Mondo Tatsumi in Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive.
;Ragi: Magi's apprentice. Once a "Water human", he was intend to finish what his father started to restore the Water Metropolis. He sacrificed his humanity in order to survive without water by discarding the "Proof of Water" crystal on his tiara and was transformed into a Wicked Dragon by Ryuoon, who used him to find the Aqua Crystal. He could not regain his composure until Satoru took him under his protection. Eventually, Ragi was able to free the Aqua Cystal from a volcano and his transformation paid off. After Naga was terminated by Ultimate DaiBouken, Ragi put the Aqua Crystal in its rightful place and returned to the City of Water, but, couldn't step into the sea waters until Satoru gave him the new crystal forged from the shattered remains of his father's Proof of Water as a thanks for the "greatest adventure". Ragi's Wicked Dragon form's design is based on Bakuryū Sentai Abarangers Bachycelonagurus. Portrayed by Takeru Shibaki, who previously portrayed Kai Samezu/Gao Blue in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger.
;Karato Takaoka: Eiji's father. While he was fighting Gai, Gai told a young Eiji that he was part Ashu and his mother was one of them. When Eiji's Ashu side came loose, Karato tried to calm Eiji down by embracing him, however Gai used this moment to slash him in the back. With his last breath he bestowed upon Eiji his shakujo so he could fight the Ashu. Portrayed by Hiroshi Watari, who previously portrayed Den Iga/Sharivan in Uchuu Keiji Sharivan and Yousuke Jou/Spielban in Jikuu Senshi Spielban.
;Kei: First appearing in Task 19, she is the only female Ashu and is Eiji's mother, as a result of her and Karato's sharing of a forbidden love. After conversing with Natsuki, Souta, and Satoru by means of her spirit, a tear-shaped jewel was left behind. Kei came to her son's aid during his fight with Ouga in Task 42, and helped him return to his world. She made a cameo in Task 48. Portrayed by Mami Higashiyama, who previously portrayed Miku Imamura/Mega Pink in Denji Sentai Megaranger.
;Yuji Toba: Souta's ex-partner from his times as a spy, kidnaping him in order to know the place where SGS kept the Imperial Pearl and steal it for the country. It's later revealed that he recruited the Questers to help him. Ley would forcefully extract from Souta's memory the location of the building so they could steal the Precious and Toba would receive the Imperial Pearl as payment. However, Toba soon got a change of heart after hearing's Souta intend to make up for his crime. When the Questers finally locate the building and try to break into it with Quester Robo Turbo, Toba detonated a bomb he installed in the cockpit previously, giving SirenBuilder and Ultimate DaiBouken the chance to destroy the robot. He the called act a "parting gift" to Souta. Portrayed by Akira Kubodera, who previously portrayed Kunzite in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and Kanai/Giraffa Undead in Kamen Rider Blade.
;Kouichi Akashi: Satoru's father and a legendary UMA hunter. He responds to Muse's call to obtain a strange prehistoric insect said not to exist. He and Satoru had been distanced because of their thoughts about what's an adventure. After confronting Hyde Gene, Kouichi acknowledges Satoru as an adventurer and a son to be proud of. Portrayed by Yasuaki Kurata.
;Hanzou Igarashi: Archeologist, well known for being the only known researcher of the most ancient civilization known, Lemuria, as well as one of the only two men who can read Lemurian, the other one being Ryuoon. Despises SGS for its "ambition", and treasure hunters because of the destruction of many ruins at their hands in search of Precious. Has been searching for the last known Precious of the Lemurian civilization: the Lemurian Egg and the Golden Sword. Acknowledges Satoru when the Sword lets him wield it as only the right-hearted can touch the Golden Sword. Portrayed by Mansaku Fuwa.
;Kousuke Shimada: A last-in-everything that was accepted in the Adventurer School after being mistaken for Satoru. In class, he was always target of Shirubegami's Chalk Attack as he was always screwing up. After Shirubegami's plans are revealed, the unapproved alumni were thrown to the sea along with the Accelulars of Natsuki and Souta and just when the others were about to be sacrificed, Shimada appears with the recovered Accellulars and gives the Boukengers the chance to destroy the Tsukumogami and rescue the alumni. Touched by the adventurer spirit that Shimada showed when recovering the Accellulars, the Boukengers learn that adventure is not something to learn in a school. Portrayed by Makoto Sakamoto.
;Taro: A mysterious boy who was born from a giant peach Satoru and Eiji found in a river. The boy develops at an incredible speed growing in one day what a normal human would grow in 10 years. It's later revealed that he was sent by the mountain in which the Mountain-Crushing Kanabō was hidden in order to recover it. He was a complete coward despite being his only goal to take back the Precious. Eventually could gather courage from Satoru and Eiji and stood against the Questers. Taro took away the Precious from Quester Robo Radial barehanded and returned to his mountain. He is based upon the Japanese legend of Momotarō.
;Miyu: A mysterious girl who claims to have been kissed and hugged by Souta and wants him to be with her, Souta doesn't remember even knowing her but she insists that he was very kind to her. It's later revealed that she is actually a cat which by means of a piece of the Rainbow Cloth, transformed into a human in order to thank Souta for helping her fix her leg. When Shizuka used that same Precious to transform in Super Shizuka, Miyu, as a cat, sniffed the part of the cloth she had ripped off, consequently finding Super Shizuka's weak spot and allowing the Boukengers to defeat her. She was adopted by Souta after returning to her true form. Portrayed by Mizuho Hata.
;Eve: A young girl Satoru met and who claims to be Santa Claus. She is attacked by Gajya in order to obtain the Golem, a Precious capable of destroying a large city. However, it turns out that Eve irresponsively gave the Golem in its doll form to a boy named Kiyoshi much to Satoru's annoyance while they were on a "date" to find Golem. but Gajya found it first, reviving Golem to attack the Boukengers with then enlarged itself. When the battle against the Golem seemed lost, Eve remembered the way to defeat it and revealed it to the Boukengers. She later thanks the Boukenger for helping her, promising another date with Satoru, and she flies away on her reindeer-drawn sleigh. Portrayed by Rina Akiyama, who previously portrayed Mana Kazama in Kamen Rider Agito and later portrayed Naomi in Kamen Rider Den-O.
;Aka Red: The embodiment of all of the past Red Sentai Warriors who gives Eiji the Super Sentai Address Book to find older Sentai members to fight Chronos. After the Legend War where all Super Sentai lost their powers, Aka Red led the Red Pirates who were said to be the greatest rebel force ever to face the Zangyack. But when the Red Pirates were wiped out in a Zangyack attack due to Basco ta Jolokia's treachery, he saved the life of his crewmate Marvelous, making him promise to find the Greatest Treasure in the Universe before sacrificing himself to ensure Marvelous' escape. Voiced by Tōru Furuya.
;Past Sentai Warriors: Like the Dream Sentai in Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai. They appeared in Boukenger vs. Super Sentai. Along with Eiji, they embodied the "6 Sentai Spirits." These 5 warriors represented Passion, Courage, Friendship, Justice, and Love respectively.
;Juken Sentai Gekiranger: A group of martial artists the Boukengers team up with in Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger''.

Negative Syndicates

Not much is known about the Negative Syndicates other than they are individual organizations whose respective leaders, foot soldiers, and monsters try to steal the Precious and use them for evil deeds. This is the first series to have separate factions of villains since Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. Although there is some animosity between the member groups, they occasionally work together to serve their own ambitions.
; clan under Gekkou of Illusion who uses both old and new items to create monsters called Tsukumogami to help them gather Precious for profit. After the betrayal and death of its member, Yaiba of Darkness, Dark Shadow dropped out of the Precious hunt and left the country during the finale until Gaja was defeated. Dark Shadow resumed its wicked ways in the epilogue.
;Negative Syndicate#Ashu Tribe/Questers: Formerly of the demonic Ashu Tribe, Gai & Rei were revived by Gaja's Goodomu Engine quickly after being destroyed by the Boukengers and Eiji. They pursue Precious with intent on using them to achieve their goal of the complete genocide of the human race. They were eventually destroyed for good by the Boukengers.

Precious

Precious are the dangerous treasures that the Boukengers and Negative are fighting over. For a relic to be considered a Precious, it must be physically or technologically superior to any current human technology. The hand-held Accellular henshin devices use their half-open Scan Mode to determine the "Hazard Level" of each relic; the higher the number, the more important or dangerous the Precious is. Each relic that ends up in the Boukengers' hands is placed into a box that materializes from a card-like device.

Tasks (Episodes)

  1. The Heart of the Demon God
  2. The Dragon Thieves
  3. The Champion's Blades
  4. The Lost Vehicles
  5. The Imperial Pearl
  6. The Cursed Fog
  7. The Salamander's Scale
  8. The Treasure of Atlantis
  9. The Paper Crane Ninja
  10. Bouken Red Disappears
  11. The Showdown on the Isolated Island
  12. The Pipes of Hamelin
  13. The Treasures of Princess Kaguya
  14. The Revived Past
  15. The Water Metropolis
  16. The Water Crystal
  17. The Ashu Mirror
  18. The Man that Lived
  19. The Dazzling Adventurer
  20. A Brand-New Giant
  21. The Mallet of Uchide
  22. The Ring of Solomon
  23. The Dangerous Partner
  24. The Hatsune Drum
  25. The Forbidden Fruit
  26. The Glass Slipper
  27. The Feng-Shui Trap
  28. The Legendary Armor
  29. The Golden Sword
  30. The Rage of the Golden Majin
  31. The Flame of the Ruined Country
  32. The Secret of the Adventure School
  33. The Sun of Lemuria
  34. The Distant Memories
  35. The Head of God
  36. The Oni's Kanabou
  37. The Yearned-For Showbiz World
  38. The Rainbow Cloth
  39. The Prometheus Stone
  40. The Western Ashu
  41. The Mercurius Vessel
  42. The Age of the Questers
  43. The Dangerous Christmas Present
  44. The Hermit's Onsen
  45. The Evilest Wicked Dragon
  46. The Awakened Darkness
  47. The Box of Despair
  48. The Fearsome High Priest
  49. The Endless Adventure Spirits

    The 30 Sentai Encyclopedia

The 30 Sentai Encyclopedia is a series of featurettes that air at the end of each episode of Boukenger that honors each of its predecessors in the Super Sentai franchise, starting with Task 4. They looked back at each of the 29 previous teams, referencing various items within the older shows, and later on, wearing the costumes and using other props from the series, such as the "civilian" clothing. After covering themselves, they start a new series of segments called the Special Files that cover milestones from the "First Gattai Robo" to the "First Sixth Hero" and then from the "First Multi Gattai" to the "Extra Heroes", playing an insert song from the respective series. The show's final segment covered its successor Juken Sentai Gekiranger.

''The Greatest Precious''

Episode 18 of Kamen Rider Kabuto showed a short preview for the Boukenger movie, and starting with Task 19, Boukenger showed its own previews. The movie is titled GoGo Sentai Boukenger the Movie: The Greatest Precious, which occurs between Tasks 28 and 29. It was released in theaters on August 5, 2006. A mysterious being called Muse awakens, announcing the Precious to whoever gets to her first, causing a 5-way confrontation between the Boukengers, Gajya, the Jyaryu, Dark Shadow and the Questers. Even Satoru's father, Kouichi is involved. But as Satoru learns while dealing with his father ideals, the prize is more treacherous than the path to it.

''GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai''

As with Gaoranger before it, Boukenger features a team up special featuring five past Sentai members and a new hero, entitled GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai.
The villain for this special, Time Demon Chronos, abducts all of the Boukenger, save for Eiji, into an alternate dimension. A warrior known solely as Aka Red contacts Eiji on Earth and provide him a book that holds the names of all of the past warriors in it. He goes out and seeks the assistance of Tsubasa Ozu at a boxing match, Tekkan "Tetsu" Aira while he is undercover, Asuka taking care of his daughter on Dino Earth, and Nanami Nono at her concert. They then fight Chronos who has purchased Goodomu Engines from Gajya in order to bring back Furabiijo from Hurricaneger, revive Duchess Org TsueTsue from Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger and Sorcery Priest Meemy of Magiranger. While the remaining Boukengers are in the other dimension, they meet up with Hikaru and Smoky, his cat genie, and try to find a way to escape. When Chronos turns Meemy, TsueTsue, and Furabiijo into a staff-like Precious with a Hazard Level of 666, Aka Red becomes a vessel for the six Sentai Spirits and allows for DaiVoyager to become Burning Legend DaiVoyager. The events of the movie take place between Tasks 42 and 43.

Cast

Songs

;Opening theme
;Ending theme