Masked Ninja Red Shadow (仮面の忍者 赤影 Kamen no Ninja Akakage), was produced by Toei Company Ltd., and aired on KTV and Fuji TV from April 5, 1967, to March 27, 1968, with a total of 52 episodes (divided into four segments).
Development
This was Toei's first color tokusatsu superhero show and Japan's first color live-action ninja TV series. Aokage's footage from the series was used to create several Watari films with the titles like The Magic Sword of Watari (not to be confused with the unrelated 1966 film Watari, Ninja Boy).
Story
The story is set in the late sixteenth century, when Japan was in the midst of a long period of civil wars. While some seek to unite Japan in order to bring peace, there are others who encourage conflict in order to bring more power to themselves. Akakage, Aokage and Shirokage are all good ninjas working for those who seek peace and unity and battling against evil ninjas and their daikaiju (giant monsters).
Plot
Akakage, is a ninja who wears a red-and-black costume and a stylized red mask. His adventures take place in Feudal Japan, where he and his ninja sidekicks Aokage and Shirokage fight evil warlords, wizards and daikaiju using high-tech gadgets (a blatant oddity in a period setting).
Characters
From left to right Shirokage, Akakage and Aokage
| Akakage | Akakage |
| Aokage | Aokage |
| Shirokage | Shirokage |
Villains
Ninja
Chapter 1
- Gama Houshi
- Kinenbu
- Kugutsu Jinnai
- Akuduji
- Yami Hime
- Kugutsu Jinnai
- Oboro Ikkan
- Mu Dou Hitotsume
- Kuro Koumori
Chapter 2
- Shiranui Tenma
- Gyorin Ryu Haku
- Haku Kuki
- Syuujuu Sakon
- Maruujyo
- Musasabi Douken
- Kuro Duushi
Chapter 3
- Mizumasi Ryuma
- Uzumaki Ikkansei
- Yamabiko Ta Mon Maru
- Arinomi Ganbei
- Hyaku Menki
- Yaka
- Tsumuji
- Mushiyase Kazaha
- Hitomukade no Yajiri
- Nagareboshi Sajyuu
- Mafuu Gyuubu
- Izayoi Genshin
Chapter 4
- Yome Cyusai
- Komou Jijhyuu
- Kuroma Saruhiko
- Kuroma Inuhiko
- Chishio Syuugen
- Yami no Kurozo
- Kuchyashi Mizuno
- Ashikiri Mondo
- Induubuu Onimaru
- Hananoko Douhaku
- Fuduu Kongumaru
- Dekka Dekka Touma
Monster & Daikaiju
Chapter 1
- Sennengama
- Dai Doku Kumo
- Kin Me Zou
- Hitotsume
- Kyo Me Zou
- Dai Koumori
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Episodes
Kamen no Ninja Akakage was divided into four chapters, of 13 episodes each. At the end of each chapter the head evil ninja would be killed, then the next chapter would introduce new evil ninja.
Chapter 1
- Toad Priest Apparition
- The Kouga's Evil Child
- Gama Houshi's Counterattack
- The Mysterious Spy's Mansion
- Riddle of the Ninja Top
- Frightning Big Evil Figure
- One-eyed Witch Goblin
- Secret of Southern Barbarian Tube
- Immortal Evil Figure
- Mysterious Ninja Kuro Koumori
- Kinenbu's Iron Vehicle
- Yami Hime's Hair Storm
- Destruction Strategy of Big Evil Figure
Chapter 2
- Riddle of the Manji Clan
- Little Priest Haku Kûki
- The Needlecrest Demon Monster
- Immortal Marûjyo
- Monster Crow
- The Twirling Umbrella Ninja Technique
- Monster Great Manji
- Skeletons Swallowed By Whirling Tides
- The Form-Changing Monster
- Marûjyo From Hell
- The Grosbeak Siblings
- Demon Bells
- Big Explosion
Chapter 3
- 13 Kon Ninjas Arrival
- Big Monster Fish Niinja Skill
- Yamabiko Transform Niinja Skill
- Ant Monster Gabari
- Strange Ninja Hyaku Menki
- Agon Iron Armor
- Big Centipede Doguma
- Monster Big Counterattack
- Owl Monster Gappo
- Stone Buddha Ninja Skill
- Ninja Monster Jyako
- Monsters Ninjas Full Forces
- 6 Big Monsters Counterattack
Chapter 4
- Fûma Clan Ninjas Invasion
- Armored Monster Guron
- The Steel Whip Ninja Technique
- Vampire Monster Gizorun
- The Ninja Without a Face
- Rock Monster Gagara
- Monster Gagara Versus Zabami
- Monster From Fûma Temple
- Children's Ninja Technique Contest
- Cannibal Flower Babiran
- Lizard Ninja-Beast Jijigora
- Fûma Ninja Forces Decisive Battle
- Six Big Monsters Encirclement
Cast
- Akakage: Sakaguchi Yuzaburou
- Aokage: Yoshinobu Kaneko
- Shirokage Maki Fuyukichi
- Kagerou: Toki Misa
- Oda Nobunaga: Kuraoka Shintarou, Shimada Keiitirou (other chapter)
- Takenaka Hanbee: Satomi Koutarou
- Kinoshita Toukichirou: Ohtuji Shirou
- Kouga Genyousai: Amatsu Bin
- Kurayami Kidou: Hara Kensaku
- Mahuu Ikduchimaru: Shioji Akira
- Narrator: Yamaguchi Sachio
Anime Remake
Kamen no Ninja Akakage (仮面の忍者赤影 Masked Ninja Akakage) is the anime remake produced by Toei that aired on Nippon Television from October 13, 1987, to March 22, 1988, with a total of 23 episodes. The complete series was released on DVD by Toei Video on June 10, 2015.
Live-Action Film
Red Shadow (RED SHADOW 赤影 Reddo Shadō Akakage) is a loose remake of the 1969 film for the original Akakage series. It was released in 2001, and was directed by Hiroyuki Nakano. It stars Masanobu Ando in the title role. The story, characters and their costumes were, however, re-designed from scratch.
Notes
- This was the one of the first toku superhero shows to be featured in color.
- Sennengama, the frog monster that appears in one episode, is actually a reworked toad from Magic Serpent.
- Sennengama further connects to the Magic Serpent in a later episode where he fights the dragon from the same film in a dream sequence.
- Akakage is influential in Japanese pop culture as even today he can be sometimes referenced on television, usually with the famous scene of a cutaway to his shadow approaching used in parodies or played straight in anime and tokusatsu.
