Choushinsei Flashman

Choushinsei Flashman (超新星フラッシュマン, Chōshinsei Furasshuman; Supernova Flashman) is a Japanese television show broadcast on TV Asahi from 1986 to 1987.^[1] It was the tenth instalment in the Super Sentai metaseries produced by Toei Company, replacing Dengeki Sentai Changeman. It ran for 50 episodes before it was replaced by Hikari Sentai Maskman.

Choushinsei Flashman
Title Screen
Genre	Tokusatsu Superhero fiction Action Adventure Science fiction
Created by	Toei Company
Developed by	Hirohisa Soda
Directed by	Minoru Yamada
Starring	Touta Tarumi Kihachirō Uemura Yasuhiro Ishiwata Youko Nakamura Mayumi Yoshida Koji Shimizu Yutaka Hirose Sayoko Hagiwara Jouji Nakata
Narrated by	Eiichi Onoda
Composer	Kōhei Tanaka
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	50 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers	Moriyoshi Katō Takeyuki Suzuki
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	TV Asahi Toei Company Toei Advertising
Original release
Network	ANN (TV Asahi)
Release	March 1, 1986 (1986-03-01) – February 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)
Related
Dengeki Sentai Changeman Hikari Sentai Maskman

The show also aired in South Korea from 1989, where it saw popularity.^[2]

Yutaka Izubuchi designed all the characters in the series. He would return to design characters for Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.

In 2018, the costume worn by the character Red Flash was sold for ¥1,553,000 on Yahoo Auctions in Japan.^[3]

Storyline

In 1966, five infant children were kidnapped by an alien group known as the Alien Hunters for the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess, who wanted samples of humans from Earth to experiment on. The children were rescued by Mess' arch enemy, the Flash alien race, which took each one to a different planet of the Flash solar system for training. Each child was trained separately in a range of superpowers that will allow them to fight Mess, their bodies also adapted to the atmosphere of the Flash Solar System making them gain special abilities. When they finally return to Earth in 1986 to combat Mess, who is now trying to invade it, they use the opportunity to search for their birth parents.

Characters

Flashman

Raised in the harsh conditions of Planet Flash and its four moons, gaining powers in the Flash Star System, the eponymous Flashmen was brought up for the purpose of defeating Mess. The team can perform team attacks like the Combination Super Spear, a large energy spear created from the combined powers of the Flashmen.

• Jin (ジン, Jin)/Red Flash (レッドフラッシュ, Reddo Furasshu): He learned science on the desert planet Flash Star, gaining scientific mental powers and scientific knowledge including a wealth of knowledge dealing with machinery. Kidnapped from Earth at age 3, given a scar by an Alien Hunter in the process. Since he was the oldest of the five kidnapped, his memories about the kidnapping are the strongest, although still fuzzy. He is the strongest of the team and as the eldest, takes an older brother-like role, making him a strong leader. Red Flash would reappear again 15 years after the series ending in Gaoranger VS Super Sentai along with his 23 fellow Red Warriors led by Red Falcon, in which all 24 Red leaders performed their respective role calls.
• Dai (ダイ, Dai)/Green Flash (グリーンフラッシュ, Gurīn Furasshu): He gained great strength training on the rocky Green Star, enduring the most physical pain compared to his teammates. He made friends with boxer Ryuu Wakakusa, who further trained him in his boxing abilities. He arms himself with brass knuckles. Although he has a cold exterior, he is actually a very warm and charming person. He has a weak spot for women and loves nature and ramen. He befriended the teenage Sumire, who had actually died some years back and had been contacting Dai through telepathy.
• Bun (ブン, Bun)/Blue Flash (ブルーフラッシュ, Burū Furasshu): He gained speed and agility on the deserts of the Blue Star planet. He learned survival skills on the harsh planet of Blue Star, such as surviving 30 days on one cup of water and how to climb walls. He is sarcastic. As the youngest team member, he yearns most to find his parents.
• Sara (サラ, Sara)/Yellow Flash (イエローフラッシュ, Ierō Furasshu): She developed a sharp mind on the ice planet Yellow Star, often seen as cold and serious herself by most people. However, she is actually a caring person. She is able to analyze the attacks and strategies of the villains. In the series finale, Sara learns that she is the biological daughter of Doctor Tokimura.
• Lou (ルー, Rū)/Pink Flash (ピンクフラッシュ, Pinku Furasshu): She developed incredible jumping abilities on high gravity planet Pink Star. She possesses immense physical strength, which causes her to easily exhaust herself. She once mothered a Beast Warrior.

Allies

• Mag (マグ, Magu): A robot programmed by the aliens of the Flash Star to guard the Round Base from intruders. After being subdued by the Flashmen, Mag is reprogramed to assist them. He upgrades the prisms in their helmets to give them stronger prism weapons when the Mess officers power up, Mag can also pilot the Star Condor as seen in an episode where Jin Needs parts for his Flash Hawk.
• Doctor Tokimura (時村博士, Tokimura-hakase): A scientist and family man who lost one of his children 20 years to the Alien Hunters. Because the Alien Hunters blurred his memories of the event, he has created a time machine in order to return to that time to find out more information regarding the events. He helps the Flashmen with his inventions. In the series finale, he discovers that Sara is his daughter.
• Setsuko Tokimura (時村節子, Tokimura Setsuko): The wife of Doctor Tokimura, who is also Sara's mother.
• Hero Titan (英雄・タイタン, Eiyū Taitan): A legendary warrior of the Flash Stars. He is the one who the Flash aliens based their Flashman technology and mecha after. He was an honorable soldier who tracked down Mess from planet to planet in order to stop them. As a result of his travels away from the Flash system, he developed the Anti-Flash Phenomenon and died while in battle with Baraki.
• Leh Baraki (レー・バラキ, Rē Baraki): The first creation of Lie Köpflen. He fought with Hero Titan and was saved by him. In awe of the legendary warrior's courage and honor, Leh Baraki decided to defect from Mess and promised the dying Titan that he would deliver the Flash Titan when it was needed. Therefore, he fell into a slumber aboard the Flash Titan, who followed the Star Condor when it arrived to Earth, lying dormant until it was needed. He was killed by Kauler and the monster The Drake. In his dying breath, he tries to warn the Flashmen about a weak point of theirs that shall be their downfall, but expires before succeeding.

Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess

The Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess (改造実験帝国メス, Kaizō Jikken Teikoku Mesu) is a space-traveling alien empire that takes over planets, using their lifeforms as raw materials in its experiments. Their goal is to transform its leader Lah Deus into the strongest being in the universe through repeated bio-augmentation. The Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess' base of operations is the UFO-like spaceship called Labo.

• Great Emperor Lah Deus (大帝ラー・デウス, Taitei Rā Deusu; 1-49): The leader of the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess who sought to become the ultimate life form. To fulfill that end, he recruited several Great Doctor's over the Eons, some he abducted like Doctor Köpflen. As a result, he has undergone several reconstructive operations in those years. He could fire energy shots from his fingers to punish his officers. Before the finale, after Kauler and Gardan dismantled Lah Deus, Lah Deus was transformed by Köpflen into the Deus Beast Warrior The Deusura (ザ・デウスーラ, Za Deusūra). After being destroyed by the Flashmen, his broken mask was taken by Köpflen in order to extract its DNA and fuse it with Kragen for his final creation The Demoss (ザ・デーモス, Za Dēmosu). A big immobile character, The Demoss is actually portrayed by a kaiju-sized puppet-like mannequin. THe Demoss was put down by Great Titan
• Great Doctor Lie Köpflen (大博士リー・ケフレン, Dai Hakase Rī Kefuren): The right-hand man of Deus and creator of the empire's Beast Warriors by using a keyboard-like device called DNA Synthesizer. The centuries gave Köpflen a god complex as he turned his back on Lah Deus to become the ruler of Mess. Köpflen does not know that he is actually an Earthling just like the Flashmen and was abducted 300 years ago as a baby by Deus, who later trained him in genetics. In the final episode, he offers the Flashmen a chance to operate on them to repair their Anti-Flash Phenomenon in exchange for his life in the finale. After their refusal and the destruction of the DNA Synthesizer, Köpflen dies in Labo's explosion.
• Leh Wanda (レー・ワンダ, Rē Wanda; 1-47): A bat-winged, zebra-striped swordsman full of pride and overconfidence. He believes himself to be superior but is disgusted once he learns from Köpflen that he was a composite being created from five grotesque and ordinary creatures making him similar to a Chimera. Later powered up as the monster Wandarla (ワンダーラ, Wandāra), in which he possessed the power to stop time for exactly 3 seconds. By combining his powers with a Beast Warrior, he could stop time in an area for an indefinite amount of time. He challenged Red Flash to a final duel to prove his strength after losing his power and was eventually destroyed.
• Leh Näfel (レー・ネフェル, Rē Neferu): A cunning and cruel leopard-like loyal soldier, Näfel was among the first creations of Köpflen and in the final episode calls him "father". She had a talent for disguise and often caught members of Flashman off guard this way in order to attack them. She was later powered up to be able to transform into the cat/leopard monster Näfelura (ナフェルラ, Naferura). She was stabbed to death by Red Flash while protecting Köpflen in the finale.
• Leh Gals (レー・ガルス, Rē Garusu; 1-28): A big and strong commander made up of genes of wild beasts making him similar to a Chimera like Leh Wanda. This monster does not talk, but roars a lot while fighting the Flashmen. He receives a power-up in Episode 28, but is destroyed by the Flash King.
• Wolk (ウルク, Uruku; 1-45) and Kilt (キルト, Kiruto; 1-45): The assistants of Näfel which are derived from a wolf and a cat. In Episode 45, Kilt was transformed by Keflen into the Deus Beast Warrior The Kiltos (ザ・キルトス, Za Kirutosu) and was nearly killed by the Flashmen. To save her, Wolk decided to let herself be absorbed by her partner. However, their unified form was ultimately destroyed by the Great Titan.
• Alien Hunters (エイリアンハンター, Eirian Hantā): They are a gang of bounty hunters who worked most for Mess in rounding up lifeforms for them to experiment on.
  • Sir Kauler (サー・カウラー, Sā Kaurā; 15-49): The leader of the Alien Hunters, He was the one who kidnapped the five infants who grew up into the Flashmen. He rebels once Mess keeps considering him an outsider, despite the success he has brought them. Red Flash severely wounded him in a fatal exchange of blows in Episode 48. After letting Sara discover the truth about her parents, Kauler decides to perform a kamikaze attack on Labo to kill Köpflen, but fails and ultimately dies in his UFO's explosion.
  • Boh Gardan (ボー・ガルダン, Bō Garudan; 43-48): The assistant leader of the Alien Hunters. He dual wields a pair of steel sticks. He was involuntarily mutated by Köpflen into the Deus Beast Warrior The Gardess (ザ・ガルデス, Za Garudesu).
  • Kerao (ケラオ; 15-43): An Alien Hunter who wields a laser gun. He was eaten alive by the monster The Gitan.
  • Baura (バウラ; 15-44): An Alien Hunter who wields a huge scythe.
  • Hag (ハグ, Hagu; 15-44): Wielding a bow and arrow, she was the sole female Alien Hunter. She was able to emit damaging beams from her eyes.
  • Hou (ホウ, Hō; 15-44): An Alien Hunter dual wields a pair of boomerangs. He was also able to grapple opponents and electrocute them.
• Zolohs (ゾロー, Zorō):^[a] The mass-produced foot soldiers of Mess are green-eyed, red-carapaced insectoid ants. They sprayed acidic strings from their mouths, which caused victims to disappear.
• Kragen (クラーゲン, Kurāgen): A giant monster created from jellyfish DNA that enlarges the Beast Warriors by energy transfer, shrinking itself in the process. Its name comes from the Japanese word for jellyfish - kurage (海月). Kragen was later used with what's left of Desura's DNA to form The Demoss.

Beast Warriors

The Beast Warriors (獣戦士, Jūsenshi) are Chimera-based monsters that are created by Great Doctor Lie Köpflen through his DNA synthesizer.

Episodes

No.	Title	Original release date
1	"Hurry! Save the Earth" Transliteration: "Isoge! Chikyū o Sukue" (Japanese: 急げ! 地球を救え)	March 1, 1986 (1986-03-01)
2	"Behold! The Giant Robo" Transliteration: "Mita ka! Kyodai Robo" (Japanese: 見たか! 巨大ロボ)	March 8, 1986 (1986-03-08)
3	"An Old Enemy? Hunter!" Transliteration: "Shukuteki? Hantā!" (Japanese: 宿敵? ハンター!)	March 15, 1986 (1986-03-15)
4	"Mag Is A Genius Robo?!" Transliteration: "Magu wa Tensai Robo?!" (Japanese: マグは天才ロボ?!)	March 22, 1986 (1986-03-22)
5	"In The Care Of The Female Warriors!" Transliteration: "Onna Senshi ni Go-yōjin!" (Japanese: 女戦士に御用心!)	March 29, 1986 (1986-03-29)
6	"Roar! Machine" Transliteration: "Hoero! Mashīn" (Japanese: ほえろ! マシーン)	April 5, 1986 (1986-04-05)
7	"Balloon! Become A Weapon" Transliteration: "Fūsen yo Buki ni Nare" (Japanese: 風船よ武器になれ)	April 12, 1986 (1986-04-12)
8	"Father!! Mother!! Little Sister!" Transliteration: "Chichi yo! Haha yo! Imōto yo" (Japanese: 父よ! 母よ! 妹よ)	April 19, 1986 (1986-04-19)
9	"The Doctor Who Travels Through Time" Transliteration: "Toki o Kakeru Hakase" (Japanese: 時をかける博士)	April 26, 1986 (1986-04-26)
10	"Attack! The Flower Girl’s Trap" Transliteration: "Ute! Hana Shōjo no Wana" (Japanese: 撃て! 花少女の罠)	May 3, 1986 (1986-05-03)
11	"Lou Is The Beast Warrior’s Mother" Transliteration: "Rū wa Jū Senshi no Haha" (Japanese: ルーは獣戦士の母)	May 10, 1986 (1986-05-10)
12	"Super Power! Wanda" Transliteration: "Chō Pawā! Wanda" (Japanese: 超パワー! ワンダ)	May 17, 1986 (1986-05-17)
13	"Intense Battle! Watch out, Jin" Transliteration: "Gekitō! Ayaushi, Jin" (Japanese: 激闘! 危うしジン)	May 24, 1986 (1986-05-24)
14	"Love!? Bun and the Female Gangster" Transliteration: "Koi!? Bun to Sukeban" (Japanese: 恋!? ブンとスケ番)	May 31, 1986 (1986-05-31)
15	"The Giant Robo Is Worn Out" Transliteration: "Kyodai Robo Yaburetari" (Japanese: 巨大ロボ破れたり)	June 7, 1986 (1986-06-07)
16	"The Human Minimini Plan" Transliteration: "Ningen Minimini Sakusen" (Japanese: 人間ミニミニ作戦)	June 14, 1986 (1986-06-14)
17	"The Mysterious Giant Reckless Car!" Transliteration: "Nazo no Kyodai Bōsōsha!" (Japanese: 謎の巨大暴走車!)	June 21, 1986 (1986-06-21)
18	"Big Reversal! The Transforming Robo" Transliteration: "Dai Gyakuten! Henshin Robo" (Japanese: 大逆転! 変身ロボ)	June 28, 1986 (1986-06-28)
19	"Baraki’s Dying Warning" Transliteration: "Baraki Kesshi no Dengon" (Japanese: バラキ決死の伝言)	July 5, 1986 (1986-07-05)
20	"Revival! Giant Robo!" Transliteration: "Fukkatsu! Kyodai Robo!" (Japanese: 復活! 巨大ロボ!)	July 12, 1986 (1986-07-12)
21	"Sorrowful Sara" Transliteration: "Kanashimi no Sara" (Japanese: 悲しみのサラ)	July 26, 1986 (1986-07-26)
22	"SOS! Phoenix!" Transliteration: "Esu Ō Esu! Fushichō!" (Japanese: SOS! 不死鳥!)	August 2, 1986 (1986-08-02)
23	"Heart-Pounding Wishes!" Transliteration: "Onegai Dokidoki!" (Japanese: お願いドキドキ!)	August 9, 1986 (1986-08-09)
24	"The Occult Summer Vacation" Transliteration: "Okaruto Natsuyasumi" (Japanese: オカルト夏休み)	August 16, 1986 (1986-08-16)
25	"Hurry, Jin, Combination is Impossible" Transliteration: "Isoge Jin Gattai Funō" (Japanese: 急げジン合体不能)	August 23, 1986 (1986-08-23)
26	"Space Pumpkin Cooking" Transliteration: "Uchū Kabocha Ryōri" (Japanese: 宇宙カボチャ料理)	August 30, 1986 (1986-08-30)
27	"Dai’s Punch of Friendship" Transliteration: "Dai Yūjō no Panchi" (Japanese: ダイ友情のパンチ)	September 6, 1986 (1986-09-06)
28	"Sublime! Fiery Gals" Transliteration: "Sōzetsu! Honō no Garusu" (Japanese: 壮絶! 炎のガルス)	September 13, 1986 (1986-09-13)
29	"Monstrous Warrior Wandarla" Transliteration: "Yōjūshi Wandāra" (Japanese: 妖獣士ワンダーラ)	September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20)
30	"Bizare Nefelura" Transliteration: "Kaiki Neferūra" (Japanese: 怪奇ネフェルーラ)	September 27, 1986 (1986-09-27)
31	"It Vanished! The Power of the 5" Transliteration: "Kieta! Gonin no Pawā" (Japanese: 消えた! 5人の)	October 4, 1986 (1986-10-04)
32	"We Like You, We Like You, Mag, We Like You" Transliteration: "Suki, Suki, Magu, Suki" (Japanese: すきすきマグすき)	October 11, 1986 (1986-10-11)
33	"Papa Won’t Lose" Transliteration: "Papa wa Makenai!" (Japanese: パパは負けない!)	October 18, 1986 (1986-10-18)
34	"Bun Disappeared In The Rapids" Transliteration: "Gekiryū ni Kiąeta Bun" (Japanese: 激流に消えたブン)	October 25, 1986 (1986-10-25)
35	"The Starry Sky’s Duet" Transliteration: "Hoshizora no Dyuetto" (Japanese: 星空のデュエット)	November 1, 1986 (1986-11-01)
36	"The Shocking Wonder Bug" Transliteration: "Dokkiri Fushigi Mushi" (Japanese: ドッキリ不思議虫)	November 8, 1986 (1986-11-08)
37	"A Ghost’s First Love" Transliteration: "Yūrei no Hatsukoi" (Japanese: 幽霊の初恋)	November 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)
38	"The Day Jin Dies?!" Transliteration: "Jin ga Shinu Hi?!" (Japanese: ジンが死ぬ日?!)	November 22, 1986 (1986-11-22)
39	"Burn, Furious Sara" Transliteration: "Moero, Ikari no Sara" (Japanese: 燃えろ怒りのサラ)	November 29, 1986 (1986-11-29)
40	"Execution City, Operation XX" Transliteration: "Shokei Toshi Daburu Kurosu Sakusen" (Japanese: 処刑都市XX作戦)	December 6, 1986 (1986-12-06)
41	"Dai Becomes A Child" Transliteration: "Kodomo ni Sareta Dai" (Japanese: 子供にされたダイ)	December 13, 1986 (1986-12-13)
42	"Don’t Cry! Female Warriors" Transliteration: "Naku na! Onna Senshi" (Japanese: 泣くな!女戦士)	December 20, 1986 (1986-12-20)
43	"Kauler’s Treachery!" Transliteration: "Kaurā no Hangyaku!" (Japanese: カウラーの反逆!)	December 27, 1986 (1986-12-27)
44	"Deus Beast Warriors Appear" Transliteration: "Deusu Jū Senshi Shutsugen" (Japanese: デウス獣戦士出現)	January 10, 1987 (1987-01-10)
45	"Warrior! Leave The Earth" Transliteration: "Senshi yo Chikyū o Sare" (Japanese: 戦士よ地球を去れ)	January 17, 1987 (1987-01-17)
46	"Only 20 Days To Live!!" Transliteration: "Tatta Nijūnichi no Inochi!!" (Japanese: たった20日の命!!)	January 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)
47	"Wanda! Death Cry" Transliteration: "Wanda! Shi no Zekkyō" (Japanese: ワンダ! 死の絶叫)	January 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)
48	"The End Of Kauler!!" Transliteration: "Kaurā no Saigo!!" (Japanese: カウラーの最期!!)	February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)
49	"Counterattack, Lah Deus" Transliteration: "Gyakushū Rā Deusu" (Japanese: 逆襲ラー・デウス)	February 14, 1987 (1987-02-14)
50	"Farewell! Our Home Planet" Transliteration: "Saraba! Kokyō no Hoshi" (Japanese: さらば! 故郷の星)	February 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)

Movies

• Choushinsei Flashman (theatrical short released the same day as episode 3)
• Flashman: Big Rally! Titan Boy! (theatrical edit of episodes 15-18)

Cast

• Jin: Touta Tarumi
• Dai: Kihachirō Uemura
• Bun: Yasuhiro Ishiwata
• Sara: Youko Nakamura
• Lou: Mayumi Yoshida
• Doctor Tokimura: Akira Ishihama
• Setsuko Tokimura: Tamie Kubota
• Great Doctor Lie Köphlen: Koji Shimizu
• Leh Wanda: Yutaka Hirose (credited as Kazuhisa Harose)
• Leh Näfel: Sayoko Hagiwara
• Leh Gals: Hiroyuki Uchida
• Wolk: Miyuki Nagato
• Kilt: Yuko Kojima
• Sir Kauler: Jouji Nakata
• Hero Titan: Yoshinori Okamoto
• Boh Gardan: Yoshinori Okamoto (Episode 43-48)
• Narrator: Eiichi Onoda

Voice actors

• Great Emperor Lah Deus: Unshō Ishizuka
• Mag: Hiroko Maruyama

Guest Stars

• Miran: Kazuoki Takahashi (credited as Kenji Kawai) (Episode 21)
• Ryuu Wakakusa: Ryousuke Kaizu (Episode 27)
• Sibelle: Mina Asami (Episode 40)

Songs

Opening Theme

• "Choushinsei Flashman" (超新星フラッシュマン, Chōshinsei Furasshuman)
  • Lyrics: Reo Rinozuka (里乃塚 玲央, Rinozuka Reo)
  • Composition: Yukihide Takekawa (タケカワ ユキヒデ, Takekawa Yukihide)
  • Arrangement: Keiichi Oku (奥 慶一, Oku Keiichi)
  • Artist: Taku Kitahara (北原 拓, Kitahara Taku)

Ending theme

• "Fighting Pose, Flashman!" (ファイティングポーズ、フラッシュマン!, Faitingu Pōzu, Furasshuman!)
  • Lyrics: Kōhei Oikawa (及川 恒平, Oikawa Kōhei)
  • Composition: Yukihide Takekawa
  • Arrangement: Keiichi Oku
  • Artist: Taku Kitahara
• Episode 50 has a special ending where credits roll like the end credits with a last scene special BGM, followed by a special preview of Maskman.

Notes

1. Also spelt as Zoro.^[4]