Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Yokai in Kakuranger, Shinkenger and Ninninger

 Kakuranger, Shinkenger and Ninninger monsters were based on Yokai. Yokai are ancient Japanese monster folklore. The ones from Kakuranger were Yokai but had 'modern influences.' The Ayakashi have a more complex look and has more to do with an animal. The Yokai in Ninninger also had modern themes and components. In Power Rangers, all these references were not referred to and were just taken as any monster. In MMPR, they were Aliens or monsters created by Zedd and Rita or Finster. In Samurai, they were Nighlok from the Sanzu River. In Ninja Steel, they were Alien game show contestants. 



Kappa
Based on the water sprite Kappa. Sometimes they look like a frog. Namiayashi has two sides and one of it looks like a tiger. Kappa in MMPR appeared as an unnamed monster. Kappa in Ninninger looked more like a turtle. The American names are below. 
Kakuranger: Kapa / MMPR: No name
Shinkenger: Namiayashi / Samurai: TwoTone
Ninninger: Kappa / Ninja Steel: Slogre


Ittanmomen  
Both based on the Ittanmomen,  Ittanmomen flies through in the air and attacks people by wrapping itself around their face and throat trying to suffocate them.  Ittanmomen from Kakuranger appeared as a toy called Calicfire but not in the show. Urawadachi wasn't in Samurai, he looks like a hammerhead shark. Ittanmomen/Abrakadanger had a creepy wand/broom with an eyeball. It looked like he had teeth all around him. 
Kakuranger: Ittanmomen / MMPR: Calicfire (Toy only)
Shinkenger: Urawadachi
Ninninger: Ittanmomen / Ninja Steel: Abrakadanger 


Kasabake
They look alike. Okakurage is based on Karakasa is the spirit of umbrellas,which has one eye, a long tongue, a single foot, and an umbrella head. Kasa-Obake is a spirit of parasol are typical portrayed with one eye, a long tongue and single foot that originated from objects reaching their 100th year of existence. Kasabake appeared unnamed in MMPR and parts of him were used for other monsters. Kasabake and Okakurage water powers. The Kakuranger and Ninninger Kasabake had one eyeball. 
Kakuranger: Kasabake
Shinkenger: Okakurage / Samurai: Desparino
Ninninger: Kadabake / Ninja Steel: Spyclops 



Enraenra
 An Enenra is a yokai, or Japanese monster, that is composed of smoke. It resides in bonfires and, when it emerges, it takes the form of a human. It is said that an enraenra can only be seen by the pure of heart. Enraenra appeared in toy form in MMPR but not on the show. Enraenra looks like a robot with canisters and machines, while Oborojime looks like natural smoke. Toxitea looks like a teapot with smoke coming out of it. Also, Enraenra from Ninninger was male while Toxitea was female in Ninja Steel.
Kakuranger: Enraenra
Shinkenger: Oborojime / Samurai: Gigertox
Ninninger: Enraenra / Ninja Steel: Toxitea

 
Rokurokubi 
Rokurokubi resemble humans and can stretch their necks at night. They can also scare humans by changing their faces and are practical jokers. Rokurokubi was female, parts of her appeared in Power Rangers,and  Tsubotoguro appeared in PRS as Pestilox. Rokurokubi didn't appear in Ninninger. 
Kakuranger: Rokurokubi
Shinkenger: Tsubotoguro / Samurai: Pestilox 

Gakitsuki  
Gakitsuki is based on Gaki, which is also known as Preta, Preta are a type of supernatural being described in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain texts that undergoes more than human suffering, particularly an extreme degree of hunger and thirst. They are spirit of jealously or greed that cursed people with an insatiable hunger for a particular substance as punishment for their vices. Traditionally the substance could be something humiliating but in most recent legends, it can be basically anything. Gakitsuki and Sunsasusuri both had teeth and similar looks. Ninninger did not have a monster directly based on Gaki. 
Kakuranger: Gakitsuki 
Shinkenger: Sunsasusuri / Samurai: Grinotaur

Kasha
All based on Kasha, who is a cat-like monster that steals corpses during a funeral. Kasha is Miss Chief in MMPR and named Switchbeast in PRS. Kasha looked like a firefighter, hence the American name. Abekonbe had a lion head on the chest and a teapot-like body. He switched human minds with ordinary items or food. Kasha had firepower. Spinferno is also fire based. 
Kakuranger: Kasha / MMPR: Miss Chief
Shinkenger: Abekonbe / Samurai: Switchbeast
Ninninger: Yokai Kasha / Ninja Steel: Spinferno 


Dorotabou 
A mud spirit that emerges from rice paddies' murky mud and while not completely dangerous, his appearance of aged, bald, and apparently blind in one eye, it frightened people. Dorotabou of Kakuranger didn't appear in MMPR and the cauliflower-like fame-driven yokai wanted to be on TV. Azemidoro looked for revenge.
Kakuranger: Dorotabou
Shinkenger: Azemidoro / Samurai: Eyescar
 

Nurikabe
A spirit that manifests as a wall that misdirects or hinders walkers at night. Trying to go around the Nurikabe is guile as it extends itself forever. Knocking on the lower part of the wall makes it vanish. Nurikabe is known as Brick Bully for MMPR, he looked like a brick wall. Futagawara looks much different, he appeared as Skarf in Samurai. Nurikabe/Forcefear looks different too. 
Kakuranger: Nurikabe / MMPR: Brick Bully
Shinkenger: Futagawara / Samurai: Skarf
Ninninger: Nurikabe / Ninja Steel: Forcefear


Yamauba  
Yama-oroshi is a radish-grater spirit, a pun on a word for 'mountain storm.'  Sogizarai is known as Shark Jaw in PRS' "Clash of the Red Rangers". One of Yamauba's forms appears on MMPR like Dischordia and her other form appeared in background scenes. They look radically different.
Kakuranger: Yamauba / MMPR: Dischordia
Shinkenger: Sogizarai / Samurai: Shark Jaw


Nopperabou 
Usually mistaken for a badger, Noppera-bo is a faceless ghost that frightens people, some believe human spirits disguised themselves as a scary form. Nopperabou could break apart and form again. Narisumashi could pretend to be other people. Nopperabou only appeared as an unnamed background character in Power Rangers. Narisumashi appeared in a Christmas episode as Gred, red and green.
Kakuranger: Nopperabou
Shinkenger: Narisumashi / Samurai: Gred



Tengu
Both based on the Tengu, although they take their name from a dog-like Chinese demon, the tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey, and they are traditionally depicted with both human and avian characteristics. Also the most popular of Japanese folklore.  Isagitsune is called Vulpes in PRS and Tengu was Professor Longnose in MMPR. Isagitsune had a fox-theme. Also the footsoldiers of MMPR season 3 were originally known as Tengu, based on the birds of prey, later renamed Tenga because of 20th Century Fox Films copyright. Also, Badpipes had a longnose like Professor Longnose. 
Kakuranger: Tengu / MMPR: Professor Longnose
Shinkenger: Isagitsune / Vulpes
Ninninger: Tengu / Badpipes



Bakuki 
I'm not sure, I have to ask my friend, but Yumebakura is based on the Baku but looks like a Rhino. In PRS, he's known as Rhinosnorous. Bakuki is known as Vampirus in MMPR. Baku devours dreams and nightmares and looks like a tapir. 
Kakuranger: Bakuki / MMPR: Vampirus
Shinkenger: Yumebakura / Samurai: Rhinosnorous


 Kamaitachi  
There are several conceptions of how it looked like or operated, but the most common is one of a trio of weasels with sharp claws, riding on a gust of wind and cutting peoples' skin on the legs. According to this interpretation, the first weasel knocked the unsuspecting victim down, the second cut the victim's flesh, and the third applied medication to the wounds so that at the time the victim realized what was happening they were left only with painful wounds that weren't bleeding.  Ootsumuji is known as Scorpionic in PRS and Kamaitachi isn't in MMPR. Ootsumuji had a weasel face and a scorpion or insect-like armor. Kamaitachi from Ninninger looked like a weasel or rat. 
Kakuranger: Kamaitachi
Shinkenger: Ootsumuji / Samurai: Scorpionic
Ninninger: Kamaitachi / Ripperrat and Trapsaw


Tsuchigumo
Tsuchigumo means Dirt/Earth Spider and is a spider-like yōkai in Japanese folklore. They both look like Spiders but Tangleweb is more colorful. 
Kakuranger: Tsuchigumo / MMPR: Archanofiend
Ninninger: Tsuchigumo / Ninja Steel: Tangleweb


Umibozu
Little is known of the origin of umibōzu but it is a sea spirit and as such has multiple sightings throughout Japan. It means Sea priest. Both are blue. 
Kakuranger: Umibozu / MMPR: Hydro Hog
Ninninger: Umibozu / Ninja Steel: Doomwave


Nue
It is described as a japanese chimera having the head of a monkey, the limbs of a tiger, the body of a Japanese raccoon dog and the front half of a snake for a tail. In other writings nothing is stated about its torso, so it is sometimes depicted to have the torso of a tiger. The two monsters look very similar. 
Kakuranger: Nue / MMPR: Hate Monster
Ninninger: Nue / Ninja Steel: Drillion


Omukade
Ōmukade are monstrous mukade–centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes) with dark bodies and bright orange legs and heads. The two monsters aren't around the same color themes. 
Kakuranger: Omukade / MMPR: Centiback
Ninninger: Omukade / Ninja Steel: Voltipede



Oboroguruma
It is a ghostly oxcart with a face on it. Legend has it that on misty nights that are lit by the moon in Kyoto, people can hear squeaking sounds coming from an oxcart. When the person steps outside, they would find the Oboroguruma parked outside their home. Kakuranger had it as a taxi cab.
Kakuranger: Obotoguruma / MMPR: Crabby Cabby
Ninninger: Obotoguruma / Ninja Steel: Megamauler


Mokumokuren
The Mokumokuren usually live in torn shoji (Japanese paper sliding walls), although they can also be found in tatami floor mats and on walls. The name "Mokumokuren" literally means "many eyes" or "continuous eyes". Type Face is obviously a keyboard. 
Kakuranger: Mokumokuren / MMPR: See Monster
Ninninger: Mokumokuren / Ninja Steel: Type Face


Amikiri
It is depicted as a cross between a serpent, bird, or lobster. It has claws similar to that of a crab or a scorpion, but since there is no explanatory text within the book, it is not certain what kind of yōkai it is.
Kakuranger: Amikiri / MMPR: Witchblade
Ninninger: Amikiri / Ninja Steel: Stabberous
 


Shutendoji
Mythical oni or demon leader of Japan, who according to legend was killed by the hero Minamoto Raikō.
Kakuranger: Shuten Douji Brothers / Merrick and Erik the Barbarics
Ninninger: Shuten-Doji / Ninja Steel: Gorrox

There might be more, I know I missed some. Let me know.