purrs (イナズマン) is a television series starring a mutant fictional character of the same name created by Shotaro Ishinomori. The first television series ran from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974 with a total of 25 episodes. A second season named Inazuman Flash (イナズマン) aired in 1974 from April 9 to September 24 with a total of 23 episodes.

Inazuman Specs

Inazuman is, in reality, young college student Goro Watari (渡 五郎), a mutant. He lost his mother as a child and had other dark moments in his childhood (he had a childhood girlfriend named Teresa (テレサ) who was taken away by an American soldier during the US occupation of Japan). However, when the Neo-Human Empire Phantom Army (新人類帝国ファントム軍団) begins its attacks on humankind with its Phantom Soldiers (ファントム兵士) and Mutant Creatures (悪魔の生き物), he puts his psionic powers to the test. First, he performs a henshin (transforming) pose (crossing his arms in front of his chest) and uttering the phrase, "Gōriki Shōrai" (剛力招来), he is wrapped in a blue cocoon, which bursts, revealing the creature Sanagiman (サナギマン). He resembles an armored brown pupa mutant with a white belt which has a biomechanical power meter on it. Sanagiman is able to absorb the kinetic energy of any attack used against him, and when he gathers enough energy into his belt, he crosses his fists in front of his chest, uttering the phrase, "Chōriki Shōrai" (超力招来), and spreads them aside, with his chest emitting a swirl of colorful energy. Sanagiman's exterior then explodes to pieces, and in his place is Inazuman. He is a moth-like mutant wearing the same power belt as Sanagiman and resembles a blue humanoid with huge colorful oval eyes, prominent lightning-shaped antennas, black gloves and boots, yellow lightning-shaped marks that stream down his body, and a yellow scarf he can transform into various weapons, including a whip-like chain. As both Sanagiman and Inazuman, his kiai fighting cry is "Chest!" (チェスト！), which originates from the Japanese island of Kyūshū where the main character, Goro Watari, hails. Goro is a member of the Youth League (少年同盟), a Science Patrol-style group of similarly psychic-powered young people, and has a telepathic link with the sentient flying car Raijingo (ライジンゴー) which can fire missiles and bite bad guys with the teeth built into its mouth-like grill ("Raijin" is the Japanese god of thunder).

Media

Manga

A manga adaptation by creator Shotaro Ishinomori was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1973 to 1974. In the manga adaptation, Goro Watari is a junior high school student named Saburo Kazeta (風田 サブロウ), and is nicknamed "Sabu" (サブ). The character first appeared in Ishinomori's manga "Mutant Sabu". Inazuman appeared somewhat different than in the live action tokusatsu version, and was created when the series was in development as an animated series, provisionally titled "Mutant Z". In these versions, the character appeared to be naked, with a curled proboscis stemming from his forehead, and was even able to sprout moth wings from his back. The manga version of Sanagiman was also slightly different from the tokusatsu version. In the manga, Saburo has also a childhood girlfriend nicknamed "Miyoppe" (ミヨッペ) who is usually the victim of Saburo's jokes with his psychic powers.

Tokusatsu Series

Inazuman (イナズマン) was produced by Toei Company Ltd. and broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974, with a total of 25 episodes. The series starred Daisuke Ban (as Naoya Ban) of Kikaider fame in the title role as he fights Emperor Banba (帝王バンバ) and his demon minions. The entire 48-episode series was broadcast (with English subtitles) on KIKU-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii in the mid-1970s, during the height of the popularity of tokusatsu programs ignited by the success of Kikaider in 1974. Inazuman 3D Movie Project (飛び出す立体映画 イナズマン Tobidasu Rittai Eiga Inazuman) Inazuman Flash (イナズマンF（フラッシュ）) was produced by Toei Company Ltd. and broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 9, 1974 to September 24, 1974, with a total of 23 episodes. A direct and darker continuation of the first series, a new enemy emerges in the evil robots of the Despar Army (デスパー軍団) led by Führer Geisel (ガイゼル総統). Inazuman, gaining the ability to hurl lightning bolts, is joined by a cynical cyborg Interpol agent named Makoto Arai (荒井 誠).

Kamen Rider series

Demon Creatures

Demon creatures were psionics converted into neo-humans, sometimes involuntarily, by the Neo-Human Empire led by Emperor Banba and the commanders of the Phantom Soldiers.

Robot Fighters

Serving as the enemies of Flash, Robot Fighters are robots created by the Despa Army and the leaders of Despa soldiers. These robots were designed to be stronger than the Demon Creatures of the Banba Empire and were under the direct control of Udespa's various incarnations. Due to budget cuts in production some Robot Fighters had a second appearance with minimal modification in the second half of the series.

Udespas

Cast

Other Appearances

Home Video

Released on DVD in Hawaii by JN Productions/Generation Kikaida in 2010