Red Muffler Corps

This article is about an ally organization in Daitetsujin 17.

The International Peace Corps (国際平和部隊, Kokusai Heiwa Butai), also known as Red Muffler Corps (レッドマフラー隊, Reddo Mafurā-Tai), or simply Red Muffler (レッドマフラー, Reddo Mafurā), is a military organization working constanly day and night. The name Red Muffler comes from the fact that all the members have red scarves around their necks. They have branches all over the world and the Institute is their branch in Japan. Initially, they provided security to protect Brain from intruders, but after Brain rebelled they were forced to fight it. They wield portable firearms (M1 carbine, M20 bazooka, etc.) and use F-104 / F-4 fighters. Their uniforms are the same as the work clothes of the Ground Self-Defense Force (like type 66 iron cap), but with the logo of the International Peace Force. They are comprised of smaller units each led by a captain within the squadron. From the third episode onward, the Japanese unit became led by Captain Kenmochi and became known as the "Kenmochi Corps".

Members[]

Dr. Sahara[]

Dr. Sahara (佐原博士, Sahara hakase) is a scientist in the International Peace Corps and the calm and collected commander of the Japanese branch of the Red Muffler Corps. He is 46 years old. His full name is Tadashi Sahara (佐原正, Sahara Tadashi). He is a leading doctor of engineering in Japan and one of Japan's leading authorities on system engineering. In order to protect people from the destructive activities of Brain, which he designed himself, he plans to build a computer that surpasses Brain. His wife is deceased.
He is portrayed by Tadao Nakamaru (中丸忠雄, Nakamaru Tadao).
His set age is 64 at the time of Megalo 17 (the initial name of Daitetsujin 17). He is listed as 45 years old in the proposal written before production started.

Chie Sahara[]

Chie Sahara (佐原千恵, Sahara Chie) is Dr. Sahara's eldest daughter. She is 18 years old. She mainly acts as a correspondent and Dr. Sahara's secretary. In place of her mother, who has already left this world, she does all the housework for the Sawara family. Her fiancé is Captain Nakai but he died in the line of duty in episode 2. Saburo sees her as his older sister and sometimes calls her "Chie-nēsan". Chie has shoulder length hair in her first appearance, but since episode 17, she has her hair cut.
She is portrayed by Midori Takei (竹井みどり, Takei Midori).
In the proposal just before the start of production, Izu Tayoko, who appeared in "Boken Family She is Planet 0", was listed as a candidate.

Captain Nakai[]

Captain Nakai (中井隊長, Nakai taichō) was the first captain of the Red Muffler Corps, 20 years old^[1]. He was engaged to Chie, however, their happiness was interrupted when Brain sent Hurricane Robot to attack Red Muffler's top-secret research facility and gather dangerous criminals to make an army. He asked Dr. Sahara for permission to infiltrate the Brain Party in order to destroy Brain himself, he pretended to be a bank robber and ruthless murderer (Red Mufflers helped him pull off the fake killings) in order to be taken into the Brain Party's base. However, because Brain expected him to infiltrate, Nakai's true identity was exposed and he was killed. He left a dying message showing the connection between Professor Hustler and Brain.
He is portrayed by Kenji Tamiya (多宮健二, Tamiya Kenji).

Captain Kenmochi[]

Tamotsu Kenmochi (剣持保, Kenmochi Tamotsu), better known as Captain Kenmochi (剣持隊長, Kenmochi taichō), is the next captain of the Red Muffler Corps, Nakai's successor. He is also known as Demon Kenmochi (鬼の剣持, Oni no Kenmochi). He graduated from the Ground Self-Defense Force Ranger Unit Special Division, and although he commands his subordinates in a very strict and calm manner, he hides a hot fighting spirit and kindness inside. He was once described as "the razor". He has a connection with Captain Gomez of the Brain Party since the Green Berets, and in episode 15, he picks up the hat left by Gomez, who was betrayed by Brain, and mourns Gomez. He has a younger brother named Yasushi who lost his life in a motorcycle accident, and Saburo reminded Tamotsu of his late brother while he was training Saburo. Since his appearance in episode 3, the corps led by himself is commonly known as the "Kenmochi Corps", and since then it has become the core. He is the only one to call Saburo "Member Minami" (南隊員, Minami taiin) instead of "Saburo-kun" like other people
He is portrayed by Go Haraguchi (原口剛, Haraguchi Gō).

Member Muranaka[]

Member Muranaka (村中隊員, Muranaka taiin) is Number 2 of the Red Muffler Corps' Kenmochi Corps. Acts as acting captain when the captain is absent. When he was young, he was caught in flames and nearly died. In addition, he majored in future science at university and applied for Dr. Sahara's assistant and joined the Red Muffler Corps, so he entered the body of 17 with Saburo in the same story and repaired it. He also assists Dr. Sahara when he removes the Satan Circuit from 18.
He is portrayed by Shungo Mitsui (三井俊吾, Mitsui Shungo).
Naoya Makoto and Naoya Ban were listed as candidates in the proposal just before the start of production.

Member Umino[]

Member Umino (海野隊員, Umino taiin) is a member of the Red Muffler Corps. He is a bright and cheerful person who takes good care of Saburo. He is strong. He plays the harmonica all the time. He is called "Mamedanuki" by Gantetsu.
He is portrayed by Naoyuki Kanno (菅野直之, Kan'no Naoyuki).

Member Ono[]

Member Ono (小野隊員, Ono taiin) is a female member of the Red Muffler Corps, working mainly as a communication member. She has a romantic relationship with member Muranaka. Enlisted with her brother. She is a karate 2nd dan. In the latter half of the series, she was with Saburo during his vacation.
She is portrayed by Junko Ohtsuki (大槻純子, Ōtsuki Junko).

Saburo Minami[]

Saburo Minami (南三郎, Minami Saburō) is a first-year student at Okutama Junior High School, 13 years old. On the day of his sister's wedding, his family was killed by Brain's Roller Robot. Attempting to avenge their deaths, Saburo finds an abandoned robot which previously belong to Brain and finds a helmet which enables him to reactivate the robot. He then confronts Brain as a member of the Red Muffler Squad. Since he became an orphan, he lives with the Sahara family. He sees Chie as his late sister, Kayo Minami. He usually wears plain clothes, but he sometimes wears a blazer and military uniform similar to the Red Muffler Corps.
He is portrayed by Masahiro Kamiya (神谷政浩, Kamiya Masahiro).

Other members[]

Member Okazaki (岡崎隊員, Okazaki taiin) (portrayed by Sakae Yamaura (山浦栄, Yamaura Sakae)), Nagamoto and Yamada are 3 members that were killed by Roller Robot in episode 1, along with Saburo's family.
Member Nomura (野村隊員, Nomura taiin) (portrayed by Katsuhiko Sasaki (佐々木勝彦, Sasaki Katsuhiko)): whose wife and daughter were kidnapped by the Brain Party but they were later rescued by the Red Mufflers, he and his family appear in Episode 9 & 10
Doctor Uno (ドクター宇野, Dokutā Uno): a high ranking member in the International Peace Corps that appears in episode 11. Captain Gomez disguises as Doctor Uno to enter the Red Mufflers' secret facility and kill the real Doctor Uno to lure Dr. Sahara into Brain Party, as well as control the Red Mufflers. He is portrayed by Akihiko Hirata (平田昭彦, Hirata Akihiko), the same actor as Captain Gomez.

Associates[]

Tetsugoro Iwayama[]

Tetsugoro Iwayama (岩山鉄五郎, Iwayama Tetsugorō), known more commonly as Mr. Gantetsu (ガンテツさん, Gantetsu-san). He is 25 years old. He is the uncle of Saburo's friend, Tetsuji Iwayama, and always wears a school uniform. He appears in episode 16. "Kendo 4th dan, Judo 4th dan, Karate 4th dan, Ronin 4th grade" was aiming to pass the University of Tokyo with his motto. Although he tried to join the Red Muffler Corps in a large armor and was not dealt with, he continued to appear after that, saving Saburo and the Red Muffler Corps from danger many times, and forcibly enlisting as a member of the misfit team. The Iwayama family is wealthy, and Gantetsu has a hobby of collecting classic cars.
He is portrayed by Masahiro Takashina (高品正広, Takashina Masahiro).

Rumi Sahara[]

Rumi Sahara (佐原ルミ, Sahara Rumi) is Dr. Sahara's second daughter, and like Saburo, she is a 13-year-old junior high school student. In the Sahara family, she is like a sister to Saburo. Since she doesn't have her mother in the Sahara household, she undertakes the housework. In episode 14, she is brainwashed by Brain and becomes a pilot of a battleship robot. After this event, she often works with Saburo and Gantetsu.
She is portrayed by Kaho Shimada (島田歌穂, Shimada Kaho).

Trivia[]

They are called Red Scarfs as featured in TOEI YouTube official channel.^[2]
The Red Mufflers' battle scene with the giant robot and the ending video use plenty of footage of the Self-Defense Forces.