Battle Fever J
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese TV series, being the third entry of the Super Sentai
series franchise
. It was co-produced by Toei Company
and TV Asahi
and aired on TV Asahi on February 3, 1979 - January 26, 1980 with a total of 52 episodes. It was Toei’s second co-production with Marvel
.
The Rangers have designations named for countries around the world: Battle Japan
, Battle France
, Battle Cossack (Soviet Union
), Battle Kenya
and Miss America (United States
). It was also the second show to introduce the Super Sentai format, where the heroes must control giant robots to defeat a monster who itself has grown to a gigantic size (or anything similar). Toei's Tokusatsu adaptation of Spider-Man
was the first to introduce this format used by Super Sentai to the present day, and it was the inspiration for this series, following its success. The series was also partially inspired by the Marvel Comics character Captain America
.
Battle Fever J was the first series to use the term Super Sentai (unlike the previous two who were just called Sentai, without the “Super”). For a long time, up to the airing of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
, Battle Fever J was considered the first entry in the Super Sentai series, as seen in Episode 1 of the 1989 series Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
that honors the past 10 sentai (the other nine being Denziman, Sun Vulcan, Goggle-V
, Dynaman
, Bioman
, Changeman
, Flashman
, Maskman
and Liveman
) until Toei announced in 1994 that its predecessors Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai were also part of the Super Sentai series, when Chōriki Sentai Ohranger was announced as the 19th Super Sentai team.
/ : A former National Defense Ministry officer. He is good at judo
and karate. He is armed with a spear. He does a kung fu dance. 21 years after Battle Fever J ended, Battle Japan appeared as one of the 24 Red Rangers in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, introduced by Liveman Red Falcon to inspire the current team. / (1-33): He was good at science as well as war. Wielded twin sais. He does a Cossack dance. He was the original second in command into the team. He left the Big Baser without the Battle Cossack uniform and was killed by Egos with Machine Guns, attempting to save Mayumi from Egos. He loved to play Pachinko
and enjoyed eating caviar
. / (33-52): A silent cowboy
. A man of action, not words. A scientist who trained in the Defense Ministry along with Kensaku. He joined Battle Fever to avenge the death of his friend. Makoto is an expert marksman. He is a loner, preferring to go off by himself. Makoto plays a trumpet to distract Egos. / : He is trained in France
. He became the new second in command of the team after Kensaku's death. He is normally a beautician, a dandy and playboy. He enjoys eating escargot. He is armed with a fencing
sword. He does a Spanish
dance. / : Unofficially the first Black Warrior in Super Sentai history. He was trained at Kenya. He is a wild child who can talk to animals. He is armed with a whip. He does a tropical dance. He eats just about anything. The smell of his cooking is not appreciated by the other team members. He is Set to Appear In Gokaiger Vs Gavan / (1-24): An FBI agent who joined the Fever team to avenge her father Bosner, who was slain by Egos. She is armed with throwing knives. She does a disco dance. After she was wounded by the Dracula Monster, she returned to the United States
. Diane has a sister named Catherine. / (24-52): An FBI agent trained by Diane Martin's father. When Diane was WIA
, Maria took her place as Miss America and then stayed on permanently when Diane decided to return to the United States.
used by Battle Japan and Miss America.: The motorcycles used by the rest of the BFS. In episode 35, Miss America rode Battle France's motorcycle.
Ending theme
, along with Gorenger, Kikaider, Kamen Rider V3
, and Ultraman
; all of which were shown in the original Japanese dialogue and subtitled by JN Productions on then KIKU
Channel 13. The show was also broadcasted in Thailand
late in the mid-1990s under the name of Ranger J on MCOT Channel 9
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese TV series, being the third entry of the Super Sentai
Super Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
series franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
. It was co-produced by Toei Company
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
and TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
and aired on TV Asahi on February 3, 1979 - January 26, 1980 with a total of 52 episodes. It was Toei’s second co-production with Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
The Rangers have designations named for countries around the world: Battle Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Battle France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Battle Cossack (Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
), Battle Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Miss America (United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). It was also the second show to introduce the Super Sentai format, where the heroes must control giant robots to defeat a monster who itself has grown to a gigantic size (or anything similar). Toei's Tokusatsu adaptation of Spider-Man
Spider-Man (tokusatsu)
is a Japanese live-action television series produced by Toei Company, loosely based on Marvel's Spider-Man character. The series lasted 41 episodes, which aired on the Wednesday 19:30 JST time slot of Tokyo Channel 12 from May 17, 1978, to March 14, 1979. A theatrical episode was also shown in the...
was the first to introduce this format used by Super Sentai to the present day, and it was the inspiration for this series, following its success. The series was also partially inspired by the Marvel Comics character Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
.
Battle Fever J was the first series to use the term Super Sentai (unlike the previous two who were just called Sentai, without the “Super”). For a long time, up to the airing of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
was TOEI Company Limited's eighteenth production of the Super Sentai television series. The name given to this series by Toei for international distribution is Ninja Rangers....
, Battle Fever J was considered the first entry in the Super Sentai series, as seen in Episode 1 of the 1989 series Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
Kousoku Sentai Turboranger
is the thirteenth entry of Toei Company's Super Sentai series. The first Super Sentai title of the Heisei period, it was aired on TV Asahi on March 3, 1989 to February 23, 1990 with a total of 51 episodes...
that honors the past 10 sentai (the other nine being Denziman, Sun Vulcan, Goggle-V
Dai Sentai Goggle-V
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the sixth installment in Toei Company's Super Sentai series of tokusatsu television dramas. It aired on TV Asahi from February 6, 1982 to January 21, 1983, with a total of 50 episodes...
, Dynaman
Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
is the seventh installment of Toei Company's Super Sentai series. It aired on TV Asahi from February 5, 1983, to January 28, 1984, with a total of 51 episodes...
, Bioman
Choudenshi Bioman
is Toei Company's eighth installment in the Super Sentai series. It was aired on TV Asahi from February 4, 1984 to January 26, 1985, with a total of 51 episodes, as well as a movie. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Bioman.-Plot:...
, Changeman
Dengeki Sentai Changeman
is a Japanese television series and is the ninth installment in the Super Sentai franchise. It was originally aired from February 2, 1985 to February 22, 1986 and it ran for 55 episodes.-Plot:...
, Flashman
Choushinsei Flashman
was the tenth Super Sentai television series produced by Toei Company. It aired on TV Asahi on March 1, 1986 to February 21, 1987.-Storyline:Twenty years ago, five children were kidnapped by the an alien group known as the Alien Hunters, for the sake of the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess -...
, Maskman
Hikari Sentai Maskman
is Toei's eleventh entry of the Super Sentai Series. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987 to February 20, 1988, with a total of 51 episodes. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Maskman.-Plot:...
and Liveman
Choujuu Sentai Liveman
is the twelfth entry of Toei Company's Super Sentai television series. The last Super Sentai title of the Shōwa period, it aired on TV Asahi from February 26, 1988 to February 17, 1989. It is the first Sentai with three members at the start, with two others joining up later in the series. In...
) until Toei announced in 1994 that its predecessors Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai were also part of the Super Sentai series, when Chōriki Sentai Ohranger was announced as the 19th Super Sentai team.
Plot
General Kurama assembles four young agents who had been dispatched around the world for training. They are joined by FBI investigator Diane Martin, whose father was murdered by Egos. The five don powered suits to become the Battle Fever team. (The word 'fever' was trendy at the time). The Battle Fever team's trump card is the Battle Fever Robo. Egos tries to stop the construction of the Robot, but the monsters they send to perform this task are defeated one by one by the Fever team. Egos then unleashes the 'younger brother' of the Buffalo Monster, a giant robot replica of its 'older brother'. The Robot, fortunately, is finished in time. Aboard it, the Fever team defeats the Buffalo Monster and its successors. The Fever team never stops, even when it lost two of its members (the original Miss America and Battle Cossack). With new members, the team defeats Hedder, now the Hedder Monster, and breaks into Egos' headquarters, where they are fed into the Egos Monster Making Machine so that they may be used as material for a Battle Fever Monster. The team destroys the machine and slays the mysterious deity Satan Egos himself with the Lightning Sword Rocketter sword-throwing move.Team Battle Fever
Team Battle Fever is unique among Super Sentai shows in that, originally, they did not "transform" into their costumes (as in the previous two series, Gorenger and JAKQ), instead resorted to an unseen costume change. In most episodes, however, the members yell, "Fever!" and spin around to transform./ : A former National Defense Ministry officer. He is good at judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and karate. He is armed with a spear. He does a kung fu dance. 21 years after Battle Fever J ended, Battle Japan appeared as one of the 24 Red Rangers in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, introduced by Liveman Red Falcon to inspire the current team. / (1-33): He was good at science as well as war. Wielded twin sais. He does a Cossack dance. He was the original second in command into the team. He left the Big Baser without the Battle Cossack uniform and was killed by Egos with Machine Guns, attempting to save Mayumi from Egos. He loved to play Pachinko
Pachinko
is a type of game originating in Japan, and used as both a form of recreational arcade game and much more frequently as a gambling device, filling a niche in gambling in Japan comparable to that of the slot machine in Western gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but...
and enjoyed eating caviar
Caviar
Caviar, sometimes called black caviar, is a luxury delicacy, consisting of processed, salted, non-fertilized sturgeon roe. The roe can be "fresh" or pasteurized, the latter having much less culinary and economic value....
. / (33-52): A silent cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
. A man of action, not words. A scientist who trained in the Defense Ministry along with Kensaku. He joined Battle Fever to avenge the death of his friend. Makoto is an expert marksman. He is a loner, preferring to go off by himself. Makoto plays a trumpet to distract Egos. / : He is trained in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He became the new second in command of the team after Kensaku's death. He is normally a beautician, a dandy and playboy. He enjoys eating escargot. He is armed with a fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
sword. He does a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
dance. / : Unofficially the first Black Warrior in Super Sentai history. He was trained at Kenya. He is a wild child who can talk to animals. He is armed with a whip. He does a tropical dance. He eats just about anything. The smell of his cooking is not appreciated by the other team members. He is Set to Appear In Gokaiger Vs Gavan / (1-24): An FBI agent who joined the Fever team to avenge her father Bosner, who was slain by Egos. She is armed with throwing knives. She does a disco dance. After she was wounded by the Dracula Monster, she returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Diane has a sister named Catherine. / (24-52): An FBI agent trained by Diane Martin's father. When Diane was WIA
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
, Maria took her place as Miss America and then stayed on permanently when Diane decided to return to the United States.
Gear
: The Battle Fever Squad's communication device.: The Battle Fever Squad's standard issue weapon. It transforms into the Battle Fever Squad's assigned weapons. Forms the cannon or boomerang.Vehicles
: Stock green Mazda RX-7Mazda RX-7
Series 1 is commonly referred to as the "SA22C" from the first alphanumerics of the vehicle identification number. This series of RX-7 had exposed steel bumpers and a high-mounted indentation-located license plate, called by Werner Buhrer of Road & Track magazine a "Baroque depression."In 1980...
used by Battle Japan and Miss America.: The motorcycles used by the rest of the BFS. In episode 35, Miss America rode Battle France's motorcycle.
Mecha
: The Battle Fever Squad's box-like undersea headquarters. It can move from place to place under the sea.: A submarine-like mecha carrier. Splits in half to launch the Battle Fever Robo and stores all of its weaponry.: Resembling a samurai, this the first giant robot in Super Sentai history. It has a variety of weapons:-
- : Samurai-type sword with scabbard. On the grip are the letters "ACFKJ" (America, Cossack, France, Kenya (Although Battle Kenya is technically a Black Warrior, the "K" on the grip is green), Japan).
- : The Battle Fever Robo's primary finisher.
- : The auxiliary finisher using the robot's total energy. It was used to kill Hedder Monster.
- : The auxiliary finisher used to kill Satan Egos in the final battle.
- : The throwing daggers stored in sheaths attached to the robot's legs. It was used in the attack.
- : The hatchet.
- : The chains stored in the robot's arms.
- : A spear.
- : A trident. It can be used in conjunction with either Chain Crusher.
- : A shakujoShakujoA khakkhara is a Buddhist ringed staff used primarily in prayer or as a weapon, that originates from India. The jingling of the staff's rings is used to warn small sentient beings to move from the carrier's path and avoid being accidentally trodden on...
. It was used in Episode 24 to fight the Dracula Robot. - : A defense tool. It can withstand 28,000 tons of pressure.
- : Knuckle dusters.
- : The robot can attack using its detached horns.
- Fever Cannons: The cannons stored inside the robot's lower legs.
- : Samurai-type sword with scabbard. On the grip are the letters "ACFKJ" (America, Cossack, France, Kenya (Although Battle Kenya is technically a Black Warrior, the "K" on the grip is green), Japan).
Allies
: The chief of the special science office of the National Defense Ministry who established the Fever team. He is a master of traditional Japanese swordsmanship.: One of the operatives that runs Big Baser.: The other operative that runs Big Baser.: Keiko's little brother.: Tomoko's little sister. Was used by Egos in episode 27 to find Battle Fever's base.: Robot mynah bird built by Tetsuzan as a present. Often had insight into the situation. Revealed in episode 51 to have a freezing ray built in.Secret Society Egos
is a religion of mad egocentrists who intend to plunge the world into chaos.: The mysterious head, entirely draped in black. He is ultimately slain by the Lightning Sword Rocketter. (1 – 51): The high priest of Egos. He later becomes the Hedder Monster and is slain as such by the Battle Fever Squad's new attack, Battle Fever Power. (19 – 52): An Egos American branch officer who came to Japan to aid Hedder with her super strength. She was killed in the collapsing castle as Satan Egos fled. Her last words were begging Egos to help her.: The foot soldiers in grey and black armed with MP40 machineguns.Episodes
Cast
- Narrator: Toru OhiraToru Ohirais a male Japanese narrator and voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. He is a representative of Ōhira Production.One of his most known roles is the dub voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars...
- Masao Den: Hironori Tanioka
- Kensaku Shiraishi: Yukio Itou
- Makoto Jin: Naoya BanDaisuke Ban, born , is a Japanese actor. He was born on May 5, 1947 in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo. He is best known for his role as Jiro in Android Kikaider....
- Kyosuke Shida: Yuuhei Kurachi
- Shiro Akebono: Kenji Ohba
- Diane Martin, Fake Diane Martin: Diane Martin
- Diane Martin (Voice): Lisa Komaki
- Maria Nagisa: Naomi Hagi
- Commander Hedder: Kenji Ushio (Episodes 1-7) / Masashi IshibashiMasashi IshibashiMasashi Ishibashi is a former Japanese politician and chairman of the Japan Socialist Party.-References:...
(Episodes 9-51) - Salome/Ayoko Ichijoji (52): Maki Ueda (Episodes 19-52)
Stunt Actors
- Battle Japan: Kazuo Nibori
- Battle Cossack: Hiroshi Atsum and Hirohumi Koga
- Battle France: Haruhiko Hashimoto and Tetsuo Mashita
- Battle Kenya: Kenji Ohba and Tsutomu KitagawaTsutomu Kitagawais a Japanese actor and Stuntman.He is mostly known for playing Godzilla for the Millennium series.He also played King Ghidorah for Rebirth of Mothra III...
- Miss America: Lisa Komaki, Eiko Onodera and Tsutomu Kitagawa
Songs
Opening theme-
- Lyrics:
- Composition and Arrangement:
- Artist: MoJoMoJobetter known as is a Japanese folk singer and anime song singer who has performed on the soundtracks of various anime and tokusatsu series and movies. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist for the theme songs for Battle Fever J, Dai Sentai Goggle V, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman, , Albegas, and...
with the Columbia Yurikago-Kai
Ending theme
-
- Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
- Composition and Arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
- Artist: MoJo
International broadcasts
Battle Fever J was especially popular in HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, along with Gorenger, Kikaider, Kamen Rider V3
Kamen Rider V3
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the second installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series, and the direct sequel to the original Kamen Rider...
, and Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
; all of which were shown in the original Japanese dialogue and subtitled by JN Productions on then KIKU
KIKU
KIKU-TV is an independent television station based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Currently, KIKU broadcasts on DTV channel 19, Time-Warner Cable 9/Digital 89 , Time-Warner Cable 10/Digital 89 , Time-Warner Cable Digital 89 , Hawaiian Cable 12, and Hawaiian Telcom Cable 20...
Channel 13. The show was also broadcasted in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
late in the mid-1990s under the name of Ranger J on MCOT Channel 9
Modernine TV
Modernine TV, formerly known as MCOT Channel 9, is a Thailand television channel. The headquarters are located in Bangkok, Thailand. The channel began operation as Thai TV Channel 4 on 24 June 1955 and its the first television channel on air in Thailand....
.