Messenger of Allah (TV series)

Messenger of Allah (アラーの使者, Arā no Shisha) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei Company starring a young Sonny Chiba, at the time known as Shin'ichi Chiba.[3] It was created by writer Yasunori Kawauchi, who was also responsible for creating Moonlight Mask and Seven Color Mask. The series ran from July 7, 1960 to December 27, 1960 on NET (now TV Asahi) for a total of 26 episodes.

Messenger of Allah
Title card for Messenger of Allah
GenreTokusatsu
Created byYasunori Kawauchi
Written byYoshinari Matsubara
Directed byRyutaro Kondo[1]
StarringShin'ichi Chiba
Theme music composerGeorge M. Reed
Opening themeMessenger of Allah (アラーの使者, Arā no Shisha), written by Yasunori Kawauchi, sung by Toshiba Children's Chorus
Ending themeTe no Hira ni Nani wa Naku Tomo (手のひらに何はなくとも), written by Yasunori Kawauchi, sung by Yuji Mine
Composer(s)Nishiyama Noburo
Country of originJapan
Original language(s)Japanese
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Running time30 minutes
DistributorToei Company
Release
Original networkNET
Audio formatMono
Original releaseJuly 07[2] –
December 27, 1960

Development

After New Seven Color Mask ended its run, Shin'ichi Chiba continued on to star in Yasunori Kawauchi's swashbuckler adventure Messenger of Allah.[3] The series was inspired by creator Kawauchi's conversion to Islam in 1959.[4]

The title character was the basis for Warrior of Love Rainbowman,[3] which Kawauchi also created and wrote for, and also aired on NET.[5] The film for the first episode is all that exists,[6] which can be found on the Toei Tokusatsu BB website.[7] Messenger of Allah was sponsored by the Kabaya Foods Corporation. The Kabayan Kingdom, His Imperial Highness Coconut and Mammy were named after the sponsor's products "Kabaya Caramel Coconut" and the "Mammy" brand bisquits from Morinaga & Company.[2][3][6]

Story

The setting takes place in the fictional Kabayan Kingdom (カバヤン王国, Kabayan Ōkoku), in the Middle East. His Imperial Highness Coconut, the heir to the throne, and his sister Mammy are searching for hidden treasure, guided by a map. When Coconut and Mammy are attacked by the Crimson Lizard Gang (紅蜥蜴団, Kurenai Tokage-dan), the white turban-wearing ally of justice "Messenger of Allah" appears! Messenger of Allah's secret identity is Goro Narumi, a private investigator.

Cast
  • Shin'ichi Chiba: Goro Narumi/Messenger of Allah (鳴海五郎 (なるみ ごろう)/アラーの使者, Narumi Goro/Arā no Shisha)
  • Kaneko Akio: His Imperial Highness Coconut (ココナツ殿下, Kokonatsu Denka), successor of the Kabayan Kingdom.
  • Yumi Ichijo: Mammy (マミイ, Mamii), Coconut's sister.
  • Hitoshi Ohmae: Dr. Ijuin (伊集院博士, Ijuin Hakase)
  • Junorio Kozuka: Dr. Ueda (上田博士, Ueda Hakase)
  • Arima Shinji: Dr. Yamamura (山村博士, Yamamura Hakase)
  • Etsuko Sakurai: Chikako Ueda (上田睦子, Ueda Chikako)
  • Koji Matsuyama: Tamaran (タマラン, Tamaran)

Episode list
  1. Fear of the Crimson Lizard (恐怖の紅とかげ)
  2. A Formidable Enemy May Come (襲いくる強敵)
  3. Whispers of the Devil (悪魔の囁き)
  4. An Invitation to Hell (地獄への招待状)
  5. A Formidable Trap (恐るべき罠)
  6. A Conspiracy Is Cowardly (卑怯なる陰謀)
  7. Curse of the Ghost (幽鬼の呪い)
  8. House of the Long Shadow of Horror (戦慄の魔人館)
  9. Village of the Damned In Darkness (闇に光る眼)
  10. A Bizarre Mystery (奇怪なる謎)
  11. The Bald Mask (その仮面を剥げ)
  12. Challenge of the Savage Tribe (蕃族の挑戦)
  13. Victory Song of the Desert (砂漠の凱歌)
  14. The Vampire's Challenge (吸血鬼の挑戦)
  15. New Clutches (新たなる魔手)
  16. A Formidable Third Enemy (第三の強敵)
  17. A Great Mystery (大いなる謎)
  18. An Endless Mystery (果てしなき謎)
  19. The Thin Man (影なき男)
  20. The Devil's Challenge (悪魔の挑戦)
  21. Hell's Curse (地獄の呪い)
  22. A Formidable Ploy (恐るべき策略)
  23. Ghost Den (幽鬼の巣窟)
  24. The Monster's Loud Laughter (妖魔の哄笑)
  25. A Trap Is Cowardly (卑怯なる罠)
  26. The Great Mask of Horror (戦慄の大仮面)

Staff
  • Director: Ryutaro Kondo
  • Planning: Masamichi Sato, Seishi Matsumaru
  • Creator: Yasunori Kawauchi
  • Screenplay: Yoshinari Matsubara
  • Cinematography: Shigetaro Shiota
  • Fine Art: Sei'ichi Toriizuka
  • Music: Nishiyama Noboru

Theme song

Opening: "Messenger of Allah" (アラーの使者, Arâ no Shisha)

  • Lyrics: Yasunori Kawauchi
  • Composer: George M. Reed[8]
  • Song: Toshiba Children's Chorus

Ending: "Te no Hira ni Nani wa Naku Tomo" (手のひらに何はなくとも)

  • Lyrics: Yasunori Kawauchi
  • Composer: George M. Reed
  • Song: Yuji Mine

Manga

The manga version by Ippei Kuri was serialized in Adventure King (冒険王, Bouken Ou) magazine,[9] and the tankōbon was published in 2010.

Bibliography
  • Takeshobo/Ion-Hen, ed. (1995-11-30). 超人画報 国産架空ヒーロー40年の歩み (Chōjin Gahō Kokusan Kakū Hīrō 40-nen no Ayumi). Takeshobo. ISBN 4-88475-874-9. C0076.

References
  1. "近藤竜太郎 こんどうりゅうたろう". allcinema.net. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  2. 全怪獣怪人 (Zen Kaijū Kaijin). 勁文社 (Keibunsha). 1990-03-24. p. 60. ISBN 4-7669-0962-3. C0676.
  3. 超人画報―国産架空ヒーロー四十年の歩み (Chōjin Gahō Kokusan Kakū Hīrō Yon Jū-nen no Ayumi). Japan: 株式会社竹書房 (Takeshobo Co.Ltd.). November 30, 1995. p. 48. ISBN 4-88475-874-9.
  4. Baron, Reuben (6 March 2018). "The 15 Most Bonkers Superheroes From Japan". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  5. 岩佐 (Iwasa), 陽一 (Yoichi) (Apr 2001). 70年代カルトTV図鑑 (70-Nendai Karuto TV zukan). Japan: Bungeishunjū Ltd. p. 18. ISBN 978-4167660154.
  6. 石橋春海 (2013-12-05). '60年代 蘇る昭和特撮ヒーロー (60-Nendai Yomigaeru Shōwa Tokusatsu Hīrō). COSMIC MOOK. コスミック出版 (Cosmic Publication). p. 66. ISBN 978-4-7747-5853-4.
  7. Toei Tokusatsu BB website
  8. "ジョージ・Ｍ・リードの映画作品". MovieWalker. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  9. 超人画報―国産架空ヒーロー四十年の歩み (Chōjin Gahō Kokusan Kakū Hīrō Yon Jū-nen no Ayumi). Japan: 株式会社竹書房 (Takeshobo Co.Ltd.). November 30, 1995. p. 45. ISBN 4-88475-874-9.
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