This year's Super Sentai Series is "Mashin Sentai Kiramager." The tokusatsu sci-fi action show, which began its broadcast in March, airs Sundays on TV Asahi. The program depicts the battles between the Kiramager superheroes and a dark empire that aims to conquer one beautiful planet after another.
Each of the five members of the Kiramager superhero team has a different background and skills: A high school student who's good at drawing, a top esports player, a national record-holding sprinter, an action film star and a medical doctor. They were discovered and brought together by a princess who has fled her home planet after it was invaded by the dark empire, carrying with her special gems from her planet imbued with special powers. With these gems, our heroes dedicate themselves to the battle against evil forces.
"Kiramager" was first released as a feature-length film in February that details how the members, with the exception of the lead character, Kiramai Red, were selected for the superhero team. It also introduces backstories for each of the four characters that aren't explained in the TV series due to time restrictions.
When I started watching the film, Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Episode Zero," I casually thought it was nothing more than a spin-off. Surprisingly, however, the film made me cry. Raised in a prim and proper way, the princess feels powerless and thinks it impossible for her to protect the Earth, as she experiences war for the first time in her life. The four Kiramager members, she brought together also find themselves unexpectedly fighting against an unknown enemy force.
But the four encourage the princess not to give up and persuade her to leave the fighting to them and run away to safety. They then throw themselves into battle. It's very much a matter-of-fact, typically mainstream development found in superhero stories. Having watched it now, however, I can say it resonated with me very deeply.
The new coronavirus casts a dark cloud over most of the news stories that we hear these days, and our hearts are gloomy and filled with unease. But it's because we are in such times that I want all of you to watch superhero stories in which the characters gather courage and stand to confront the unexpected enemy forces. I sincerely hope you will take the message to heart and gain some of that courage as you watch them face the enemy before them and fight.
While I was writing this column, news came in that Rio Komiya, who plays Kiramai Red, tested positive for the virus. I sincerely pray for his speedy recovery.
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