Japanese Super Heroes Review: Bioman

        Choudenshi Bioman is the first super heroes sentai that I have seen. If my memory serves me right. It has also a huge-cult following all over the world. I even saw a French dubbed Bioman series online. I also bought a dvd of this from a Toy Convention in Megamall wayback. My favorite Bioman was Yellow 4, the archer, although there was a former Yellow 4 who was a photographer, in the story she died, but in real life the actress left the series because maybe, she was not satisfied with her talent fee. This is just only a guess). So they replaced Yellow 4. Just this year I was able to buy a Yellow 4 shirt, and I wore it in our office anniversary, we have a theme, 'I dream..'. When I was young I really wanted to be Yellow 4 and somehow wearing that Yellow 4 shirt, made me feel a bit like Yellow 4. Here in my country the series was dubbed in English.
 

The story is about people who were showered with Bio-particles. Peebo seems to be an alien female like robot, came into this planet earth to find these people, to become Bioman, and protect the earth from the evil Dr. Man of the New Gear Empire. This series is different from Maskman, since its not on the romance genre, more on family, and friends. But still, it is a good series, with a good plot, and twists. I remember Shaider, Bioman, Maskman, has even a movie that was shown here in my country. I really wanted to buy the cassette tape gift pack before, but my aunt didn't buy me since she said its just a waste of money. It is one of my frustrations actually. Anyway, this series is also special in my heart, for I remember fondly my childhood days. I recommend this for you to watch.

Japanese Super Heroes Review: Hikari Sentai Maskman

           If I have a favorite Japanese superhero series, there's only 3 (Bioman, Maskman and Shaider) that I cannot forget because I grew up watching this. I remember I would even call our househelper to watch it with me every Saturday in the late-afternoon.

           When I first saw the pilot episode I was immediately hooked. Why? because there's a love story in it. The series was dubbed in Filipino. I remember Red Mask, in the Japanese was called Takeru, and in the Filipino dubbed version his name is Michael Joe. While the underground Princess Iyal's human name was Rio, in the Japanese name she was called Mio. Because of this forbidden love, she was trapped and imprisoned in a block of ice, and I wonder if she'll ever escape from it, and if Red Mask will be able to save her. As the series goes on, there was even a sort of love triangle, since a new character has surfaced, named Kiros.

I also like the fact that the Maskman's strength from the story comes from within, it is called the aura power. There's a belief that our body has different aura colors, and if our mood is not good it is evident in the aura that will show. They say our aura is an energy field from our body that  cannot be seen with our physical eyes, it is merely spiritual. Eversince I have seen this super sentai series, in my opinion all the other sentai series is not as good as this. In real life Red Mask, married a Filipina, and he is still very visible in the cosplay convention in my country. (see the photo above that I got online: Mr. Inaba Kazunori with his wife, Ms. Georgette Anne Inaba with their child). There are a lot of adults who cannot forget this series, especially those who are of the same age as mine.We love Japanese Super Sentai series! You should also check out the opening, and closing theme. Below is the Filipino version of Maskman's opening theme.

Why Japanese Culture?

         Hello everyone! For my first blog post. I'm going to enumerate why I am interested in knowing more about the Japanese culture. Here's why:

1. I grew up watching Japanese Super Heroes or what they call sentai, (スーパー戦隊シリーズ Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu). I fondly remember Bioman (超電子バイオマン Chōdenshi Baioman, lit. Super-Electron Bioman), Shaider (宇宙刑事シャイダー Uchū Keiji Shaidā) , and Maskman 光戦隊マスクマン Hikari Sentai Masukuman.) They are the sentai series that I cannot forget. Please watch out for my upcoming blog post about each of the sentai series.

2. Aside from the live action heroes, people from all over the globe love watching Japanese cartoons, or we simply know it as anime. One anime that is close to my heart is Candy, Candy (キャンディ・キャンディ Kyandi Kyandi). I like this one because its closer to reality, and it has a love story. Candy is always waiting for her 'prince'. Other animes that I have liked through the years are namely, Flame of Recca, and Ghostfighter. I almost forgot mentioning Sailormoon which I have watched during my teen years.

3. I am drawn to East Asian cultures, (China, Korea, and Japan).  

4. I am into paper art, I do paper cuts, and also I appreciate the art of paper folding which is called, Origami. 折り紙. 

5. I have learned a lot while I was growing up by watching Japan Video Topics, very educational videos, aired in a local channel that talks about Japanese culture/lifestyle, technology, food, and arts. 

6. I also appreciate Japanese music. The first Japanese song I heard was Sweet Soul Revue by Pizzicato Five, a Japanese pop-band, Utada Hikaru's, First Love song, and I like the rendition of La, La, La, Love Song by a Korean singer who can sing, and speak Japanese by the name of Boa. I also like the upbeat and groovy, song Feel Like Dance by Japanese group called Globe. My favorite Japanese singer is Ayaka Iida 飯田 絢香 , because her voice is soulful. 

7. I also love to watch Japanese movies. My favorite Japanese movie is Kimi No Todoke, it is originally an anime. Also, I like the manga made live action Parasyte movie. Also, another Japanese movie that is close to my heart is Red Bean あん, which stars Kirin Kiki, a very good Japanese actress well-loved for her grandmother roles. 

8. Last but not the least, I have ties with the Japanese since I have nieces who are Japanese citizen.So that's all for now, and there are still many reasons why I, and everyone likes Japanese culture.