The Gedōshū
The Gedōshū (外道衆, Gedōshū, literally "Heretical Path Masses" or more simply known as "Heretic Party") are a legion of evil spirits who have been opposed for generations by the Shinkengers.
- Demon of Human Origin: Almost all of the Ayakashi and the lieutenants on the Rokumon Junk are the tainted souls of humans whose attachments to life keep them from passing on. The sole exception to this is Dōkoku himself, who was seemingly spat out of the Sanzu River itself as the living embodiment of hatred and rage.
- Standard Evil Organization Squad: The commanders of the Gedoshu: Dokoku, Shitari, Dayu and Akumaro, with Juzo sometimes joining in.
- Yōkai: They are each based on classical mythological Japanese monsters, and In-Universe are stated to be the origin of many of the myths surrounding them.
Chimatsuri Dōkoku
Portrayed by: Rintaro Nishi (voice), Hideaki Kusaka (suit)
Chimatsuri Dōkoku is the leader of the Gedoshu, armed with the Shōryū Bakuzantō , the Kōryū Gaiseitō , and the power to seal his fellow Gedoshu. He is easily angered and his comrades often suffer because of its intensity. The only things that can calm his volcanic temper are sake (rice wine) and whenever Usukawa Dayū plays her shamisen.
- The Alcoholic: To the point where chugging down sake is the only thing he does in most episodes.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: By far and away the strongest Gedoshu in the series, with power that outstrips all of his underlings as he demonstrates to Akumaro.
- Bad Boss: Dokoku is verbally abusive to all of his underlings, and has a well-earned reputation for killing any of his minions who can not prove their helpfulness to him, whether through failure, or being of no further use to his plans. Even so, Dokoku doesn't play this trope straight, as he also he's seen giving a pep-talk to a maimed Ayakashi, and has been talked out of killing failed underlings on at least two occasions.
- BFS: The Shoryu Bakuzanto, which replaces his original katana.
- Big Bad: He's the leader of the Gedoshu and the one who all of them act in the name of. He's pretty inactive compared to other Big Bads, doing little apart from drinking sake and lashing out at his minions, but when necessary he'll make a show of force to demonstrate just why he has the role.
- Dark Lord on Life Support: Following his rampage against the Shinkengers, he was dried out so much that he needed to soak in the Sanzu River for six episodes, and even then, he only came back because of a massive surge to the river.
- Devour the Dragon: Kills a mortally wounded Dayu and absorbs her, allowing him to resist the seal against him. Though Dayu allowed him to do so, and he was visibly upset when she died.
- The Dreaded: Considering Rintaro Nishi is the voice of Shadam, Dairanger audiences might wonder whether Dokoku is going to pull off some ridiculous Kick the Dog stunts to parents and children. We can thank our lucky stars he doesn't. Slightly subverted - he steps on Dayu's remnants, but he did show signs of genuine remorse.
- Drowning My Rage: Regularly drinks sake. The reason why is because he needs it and Dayu's shamisen to soothe his piercing headaches. In fact, he even fell asleep after raging from Juzo's subtle mockery while drinking too much.
- Evil Overlord: The brutal ruler of a race of demons bent on conquering the human world.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: He makes Maku seem pale in comparison.
- Large Ham: Compared to the rest of the regular villains, who are incredibly understated, Rintaro Nishi is clearly having a blast with this role.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: His name in eastern order translates to “Bloodbath Lamentation”.
- Orcus on His Throne: Out of the whole series, there are only 3 Acts where he does something other than chugging down sake. The reason being that he dries up much faster than any other Gedoushuu.
Usukawa Dayū
Voiced By: (and live actress in flashbacks): Romi Park, Yuichi Hachisuka (suit), Sanae Hitomi (substitute)
Usukawa Dayū is the right hand of Chimatsuri Dōkoku and the only regular female Gedoushu. She perpetually plays her Shamisen Of Murder while lounging around. Dayū is also the only one Dōkoku is kind to, provided she knows her place as his obedient and unquestioning servant.
- Evil Counterpart: To Mako. Both are the ladylike supmbordinate for their respective leader (Takeru for Mako and Doukoku for Dayu). If Mako represents the Yamato Nadeshiko (her cooking skills aside), in opposite Human Dayu was a Yandere.
- Her Heart Will Go On: She is able to finally let go of her past and Shinza.
- Instrument of Murder: Her Shamisen.
- The Smurfette Principle: She's the only main female Gedoushuu.
- Was Once a Man: Formerly a human woman named Usuyuki.
- Yandere: In Dayū’s backstory, she was a normal human woman named Usuyuki. She was madly in love with a man named Shinza, who did not love her. Usuyuki crashes Shinza's wedding and sets the venue on fire. When a dying Shinza strains to reach for his unconscious bride, Usuyuki loses it and pulls him to herself. Proclaiming that if she can’t have Shinza in life, she’ll have him in death, Usuyuki offers her soul to the Gedoushu. She is then transformed into Usukawa Dayū, with poor Shinza bound to her as her shamisen.
Shitari of the Bones
Voiced by: Chō
Shitari of the Bones is both The Dragon to Chimatsuri Dōkoku and the Gedoshu's strategist who saw humans as mere specimens for his research.
He was initially thought to have died during the Shinkenger finale. However, he survives the Rokumon Junk's sinking and reappears in Goseiger vs. Shinkenger, where he assists Buredoran of the Chimatsuri. After learning of Buredoran's true intensions, however, Shitari escapes and forms an army of black versions of the Nanashi and Nosakamata to regain the Sanzu River's water. Unfortunately, before he could put his plan into action, he is stopped by the Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, who quickly destroy his army and then Shitari himself after assuming the forms of the previous five Red Sentai warriors.
- Always Need What You Gave Up: He sacrificed his second life (which causes Gedoushouu to grow) in order to power up Oborojime. This comes back to bit him hard when he's taken out by the Gokaigers and unable to revive.
- Badass Bookworm: Despite usually staying on the junk and studying old records, he is able to hold his own quite well the few times he directly engages in battle.
- Butt-Monkey: Nothing goes right for him at all in Goseiger vs. Shinkenger, as Brajira plays him for a fiddle and steals the Sanzu's waters for his nefarious plans even swaying most of the remaining Ayakashi to his side. When he tries creating stronger troops loyal to him to defeat Brajira, the Gokaigers destroy them and him for good measure; he even lampshades his own bad luck before his death.Shitari: How can I end like this?! Impossible!
- Cthulhumanoid: Very inspired by the classic Old God.
- Combat Tentacles: Though he rarely fights, he can employ these to defend himself.
- Evil Genius: The brains of the Ayakashi, he is the one making up plans to flood the world with the Sanzu River.
- Evil Wizard: Specializes in magic, smarts and trickery over brute force.
- Old Retainer: Serves as this to Dokoku as his oldest and most loyal enforcer.
- The Strategist: As the brains of the Ayakashi and with Dokoku sitting on his throne, Shitari is the one in charge of making sure the Ayakashi have a plan to conquer the world.
- Undying Loyalty: To Dokoku.
Sujigarano Akumaro
Voiced by: Ryō Horikawa
Sujigarano Akumaro is an unusually polite and mysterious Gedoshu who surfaces after Dōkoku’s power boost. An expert [[schemer]] with a perpetual grin, he usurps Shitari as Dokoku's right-hand man and has a specific army of Ayakashi loyal only to him, which includes Fuwa Jūzō and Usukawa Dayū. Eventually Akumaro reveals himself to have much darker ambitions than his fellow Gedoshu.
- The Bad Guy Wins: His death gave him the eternal suffering he always wanted - and he gladly takes it.
- Big Bad Ensemble: While he's The Dragon to Dokoku, Akumaro spends much of the series pursuing an agenda entirely unrelated to Dokoku and the other Gedoshu's goals. Once he makes his treachery known, he goes rogue and briefly becomes the main threat... before being defeated and leaving Dokoku the undisputed Big Bad.
- Brains and Bondage: His massive claws can extend to attack opponents, and he's quite the capable schemer.
- The Chessmaster: He spends most of his tenure carefully laying out the pieces for his evil plan, all while most of the other Gedoshu are none the wiser.
- The Corrupter: He tried to be this to Juzo, only for him to learn the hard way that he is already a monster who puts his own bloodlust over his own family.
- Die Laughing: He spends his final moments in ecstasy, finally getting to taste the hell and suffering he sought.
- The Dragon: Akumaro commands a whole slew of personal Ayakashi and gets away with screwing Doukoku once. That speaks a lot about his power.
- Dragon with an Agenda: He harbors even darker ambitions than his rage-filled boss.
- Enigmatic Minion: It's clear from the moment Akumaro appears that there's more to him than meets the eye, and that he has his own plans apart from the rest of the Gedoshu. What exactly these plans are is unrevealed up until much later on.
- Evil Sorcerer: He's good at what can be considered a Gedoushu Onmyōdō.
- Eviler than Thou:
- Proves himself worse than his fellow Gedoshu with his Evil Plan, which would see both Earth and the Sanzu River caught in the crossfire.
- Also subverted massively. Even though he caused the deaths of Juzo's family, Juzo doesn't give a shit about his family's death and pulls an Eviler than Thou. Akumaro is so disgustingly impressed that he compliments Juzo as a "true Gedou", which is a lot coming from someone just as depraved as him.
- The Heavy: Due to Dokoku playing Orcus on His Throne for most of the series, Akumaro assumes this role once he shows up and becomes the most proactive villain the Shinkengers have to face.
- Faux Affably Evil: He speaks politely when it's clear he is a very dark character.
- Hedonist: To ridiculous sadomasochistic levels, with his .
- Hell on Earth: Around his debut point, he mentions that he wishes to create it. Turns out that he means it literally when he reveals his plan to reverse Hell and Earth, even betraying his fellow Gedoushu to make it happen.
- Hell Seeker: He's unusually excited at the idea of getting to experience Hell. It turns out later on this is due to his status as a half-human Ayakashi means he could never truly get to experience it.
- Irony: Claims he has nothing left worth living for once his plan fails, but he gets his wish anyways.
- Knight of Cerebus: His plans are even more elaborate than the one's Shitari devises and he orchestrated Fuuwa Juzo's Start of Darkness by murdering his parents.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: He's strong but he knows better than to fight Dokoku.
- Laughing Mad: Especially during his final moments.
- Noblewoman's Laugh: "Hoh hoh hoh..."
- Omnicidal Maniac: His plans to enact Hell on Earth would see even his fellow Ayakashi caught in the crossfire.
- The Starscream: He's not necessarily out to usurp Dokoku, but he plots to eventually betray the Gedoshu and his plans wouldn't see his former allies spared.
- Villainous Breakdown: When Juzo stops his 200 year ambition, he freaking loses his shit and goes Psycho Electro.
Fuwa Jūzō
Portrayed by: Mitsuru Karahashi (live), Riichi Seike (suit)
Fuwa Jūzō is an enigmatic Gedoushu swordsman whom the others consider a "stray". Loves fighting, and has a one-sided rivalry towards Takeru-until it becomes very mutual.
- Blood Knight: Probably the darkest, sickest take on this trope in the franchise's history. ALL he cares about is fighting and killing. Akumaro's plan with him fails because he actually thought he cared about something else.
- The Brute: He doesn't take much attention in strategies or such, as all he cares about is slicing people up.
- The Corrupter: Juzo spends the entire show trying his hardest to get Takeru to fall to Gedou and become his ideal opponent.
- Deconstructed Character Archetype: Of the many benevolent tropes often associated with The Rival. His desire for a Duel to the Death with Takeru is first and foremost. Any seemingly benevolent actions he performs throughout the series, like saving Takeru or preventing Akumaro's plan for Hell on Earth, is merely just to get that fight and anything else is not his concern in the slightest. His final moments involve him trying to get Takeru to fall to Gedou just like him so he'd have someone to fight forever, showing that while he is not necessarily aligned with them, he is a Gedoushu through and through.
- Eviler than Thou: Pulls this on Akumaro, thwarting his grand plan purely because it got in the way of his desire to have a showdown with Takeru.
- Expy: Of Jin from Gosei Sentai Dairanger, only without any of Jin's Noble Demon qualities.
- Faux Affably Evil: He talks to others such as Takeru like a soft-spoken and polite human being, even as he is readying his blade for a sadistic, bloodlust-motivated fight.
- Master Swordsman: He was the leader of a samurai clan after all... Even Takeru has difficulty in beating him.
- Pet the Dog: He actually likes Genta's sushi, and even allowed him to leave with Takeru once he found their location... just because he genuinely enjoyed it that much.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: The lengths he goes through to get a Duel to the Death with Takeru are astounding. He willingly backstabs top Gedoushu like Dokoku and Akumaro, is willing to cut down Jii when he tries to stop the battle, and even tries to goad Takeru into becoming a Gedoushu to ensure that his Duel to the Death with Takeru would never end.
- Pragmatic Villainy:
- He subverts the Noble Demon he would otherwise be by his desire to fight a worthy opponent for his own pleasure. None of what he does to spare or save Takeru is out of any honor or altruism, only to make sure the fight is more thrilling.
- As for stopping Akumaro's Hell on Earth plan, rather than a case of having standards it shows how beyond redemption he is. Also, you can't have a sword duel if the world is destroyed or merged with a place of eternal suffering.
- The Rival: To Takeru.
- Sadist: If his preoccupation with fighting and killing isn't any indication of this.
- Villainous Rescue: Since Juzo is interested to fight Takeru and considers him worthy for his blade and thirst to fight.
- Was Once a Man: And still retains his human form.
- Wild Card: Technically one of the Gedoshu, but he's only concerned with his own schemes.
Ayakashi
In General
- Monster of the Week: The Shinkengers periodically have to fight one.
- Youkai: Their name is derived from a kind of river youkai and they're stated to have inspired the youkai myths.
Kagekamuro
Voice actor: Nobuo TobitaThe very first Ayakashi battled by the Shinkengers. The giant blue face that forms his lower body make him the basis for the ōkamuro.
- Dual Swords: Hiki Sogantonote
- Starter Villain: The very first Ayakshi encountered.
Ootsumuji
Voice actor: Daisuke GōriAn Ayakashi equipped with a massive sword and able to create destructive whirlwinds. His powers make him the basis for the kamaitachi.
- Blow You Away
- Cool Sword/Sinister Scythe: Senpu Ogamatonote
Rokuroneri
Voice actor: Takashi NagasakoAn Ayakashi with extendable arms enabling him to attack from long distances underground. His powers make him the basis for the tsuchi-korobi.
- Rubber Man: He can extend his arms for surprise attacks.
Namiayashi
Voice actor: Koji TobeAn Ayakashi whose left half of his body is a tiger and whose right half is water, granting him an attack called the Tora Tsunami. His appearance makes him the basis for the suiko, or "river-tiger".
Yanasudare
Voice actor: Hiroshi TsuchidaA nihilistic Ayakashi with a destructive shotgun and an immunity to bladed weapons. His unique invulnerability makes him the basis for the fusuma.
- Catchphrase: Habitually utters Mudada.note
- No-Sell: Specifically to blade attacks.
- Shotguns Are Just Better: Ryushi Rendanjunote
Zuboshimeshi
Voice actor: Issei FutamataAn Ayakashi with the ability to read minds and turn insecurities into physical pain. His powers make him the basis for the satori.
- The Bully: Blurts hurtful insults to make people suffer. Completely fails on Kotoha, however.
- Cool Sword: Shitasaki Sanjakutonote
Yamiororo
Voice actor: Hideyuki UmezuA tree-like Ayakashi able to breathe poison gas. His arboreal appearance makes him the basis for the kodama.
- Breath Weapon: His breath will slowly poison you for days.
- Cool Sword: Edamata Sensenkennote
Hitomidama
Voice actor: Ryuzou IshinoAn Ayakashi able to control the minds of others. His large white head and small black face resemble a single huge eye from a distance and thus make him the basis for the hitotsume-kozō.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: What he does to ShinkenBlue and Tora Origami.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Ōkainonari Tedatenote
- Whip of Dominance: He has Mind Control powers and uses the whip to deliver their commands to their Brainwashed thralls.
Okakurage
Voice actor: Hidenari UgakiAn Ayakashi able to conjure rainstorms that induce despair in humans. The umbrella-like projection on his head that allows him to fly makes him the basis for the kasa-obake.
Ushirobushi
Voice actor: Jun'ichi SuwabeA fearsome Ayakashi warrior sent to prevent Takeru from mastering the Sealing Character. His ferocious appearance and strength make him the basis for the otoroshi.
- Cool Sword: Onikōbe Sekkeitōnote
- The Dreaded
- Make Some Noise
- Master Swordsman: Not to the extent of Juza or ShinkenRed, but was able to keep up with them.
Nakinakite
Voice actor: Rokurō NayaAn Ayakashi able to spawn minions called Oniko that can either steal children from their parents or acts as crushing weights on enemies they latch onto. His powers make him the basis for the konaki-jijī.
- Carry a Big Stick: Niekane Jigokukonnote
Hachouchin
Voice actor: Yoshimitsu ShimoyamaA trunked Ayakashi able to breathe fire. He strongly resembles a paper lantern, and this makes him the basis for the chōchin-obake.
- Playing with Fire: His only weapon.
- Breath Weapon: He breathes fire from his trunk.
- Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Hachouchin is immune to fire and wind attacks (or at least takes minimal damage and a powerup in the place of taking major damage), but is highly vulnerable to water attacks.
Narisumashi
Voice actor: Masaru ObayashiA faceless jester-like Ayakashi able to impersonate other beings. His powers and appearance make him the basis for the noppera-bō.
- Dual Swords: Urizane Fukusōtōnote
- The Mirror Shows Your True Self
- Voluntary Shapeshifting
Marigomori
Voice actor: Mitsuhiro IchikiA miserable armadillo-like Ayakashi with a nigh-indestructible snail-like shell he can curl into. His armor makes him the basis for the sazae-oni.
- Shy Shelled Animal: Tough-shelled introvert
Isagitsune
Voice actor: Ikuya SawakiAn Ayakashi versed in magic. He is the basis for two yokai - the kitsune through his vulpine traits and numerous magical powers and the tengu through his long nose and wing-like collar.
- Black Mage
- Cool Sword: Teni Yōsenken note
Hyakuyappa
Voice actor: Chihiro SuzukiAn Ayakashi covered in blades that he can extend from his body to overwhelm enemies. His knack for slashing and cutting things make him the basis for the amikiri.
- Avenging the Villain: He and Isagitsune were friends, until the latter met his end.
- Death of a Thousand Cuts: Zenshin Yaiba note
- Dual Swords: Muradachi Senjintōnote
- Revenge: Wished to avenge Isagitsune.
Oinogare
Voice actor: Toshiharu SakuraiAn Ayakashi whose body constantly leaks a slippery oil. Said oil makes him the basis for the abura-sumashi.
- Cool Sword: Aburatsuki Nameribantō note
- Slippery Skid: Sanzu no Abura Jigoku note
Utakasane
Voice actor: Mitsuki SaigaA soul-stealing Ayakashi covered in mouths that allow him to split his body into a swarm of mouths. His soul-snatching powers make him the basis for the uwan.
- Cool Sword: Otomata Meikyōtō note
- One to Million to One: Hyakutai Bunri note
- Your Soul Is Mine!: Tamashii Ridatsu note
Sasamatage
Voice actor: Mitsukai HoshinoAn Ayakashi who produces eggs that turns humans violent when attached to their bodies. His body carries traits from a turtle ("kame") and a jar of sake, making him the basis for the kameosa.
- Mook Maker: His eggs turn humans into extra mooks.
Urawadachi
Voice actor: Shinya FukumatsuAn Ayakashi with the ability to possess human clothing. His powers make him the basis for the ittan-momen.
Gozunagumo
Voice actor: Kunihiko YasuiA ox-spider Ayakashi who seeks to overthrow Dokoku by obtaining the Sealing Character. His hybrid appearance makes him the basis for the ushi-oni.
- The Starscream: He seeks to take Dōkoku as the Gedo leader.
Yumebakura
Voice actor: Jurota KosugiA Ayakashi with dream-based powers and a body composed of parts from multiple animals. His abilities combined with his chimeric form make him the basis for the baku.
Abekonbe
Voice actor: Nobuyuki HiyamaA cat-like Ayakashi able to snatch souls and place them in new bodies. His feline appearance and soul-stealing abilities make him the basis for the kasha.
- Cat Folk: He has the face of a cat.
- Cephalothorax: His face is on his chest.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: His Modus Operandi.
Dokurobou
Voice actor: Dai MatsumotoA skeletal Ayakashi able to create ghostly clones of himself. His phantom duplicates, combined with his undead appearance, make him the basis for the kyōkotsu.
Kugutsukai
Voice actor: TaketoraAn Ayakashi able to control humans with strings. His kimono-like body patterns and dexterous finesse with puppeteering make him the basis for the kosode-no-te.
- Marionette Master: Uses the students and staff of Takashiro Academy using a wrist band to take control over them.
Azemidoro
Voice actor: Koichi SakaguchiAn Ayakashi that once served Manpuku Aburame (Big Bad of the summer movie special) and now seeks vengeance for his master. His muddy appearance makes him the basis for the dorotabō.
Happouzu
Voice actor: Tetsu InadaA barnacle-like Ayakashi able to launch out orbs of fire and lightning en masse from his body. His destructive powers make him the basis for the Raijū.
Futagawara
Voice actor: Hisanori KoyatsuAn Ayakashi with a ravenous appetite and massive wall-like shields on his arms. Said protection makes him the basis for the nurikabe.
Sogizarai
Voice actor: Mitsuo IwataA spiny Ayakashi able to spin his body around like a tornado to destroy anything in his path. His prickly body makes him the basis for the yama-oroshi.
Mochibetori
Voice actor: Riichi SeikeAn Ayakashi able to fire globs of sticky glue-like pellets that bind victims together. His distinctive footsteps a white coloration make him the basis for the betobeto-san.
- Sticky Situation: Fires white globs of glue as his gimmick.
Ikusazure
Voice actor: Yosuke AkimotoA rifle-wielding Ayakashi who commands the Nanashi Rifle Squad and the Onanashi Cannon Squad. His fiery body makes him the basis for the tsurubebi.
Sunasusuri
Voice actor: Taiki MatsunoAn Ayakashi resembling a mouth with limbs able to induce incurable hunger in humans. The torturous starvation he inflicts on others makes him the basis for the gaki.
Tsubotoguro
Voice actor: Keiichi SonobeAn Ayakashi able to unleash swarms of stinging insects from his body. His insects bear a strong resemblance of flying human heads, making him the basis for the hitōban.
Yomotsugari
Voice actor: Atsuko YuyaA female Ayakashi assigned to assassinate Takeru by turning the Fire Mojikara against him. Her half-bird, half-human appearance makes her the basis for the onmoraki.
- The Smurfette Principle: The only seen female Ayakashi
Oborojime
Voice actor: Naomi KusumiA wispy Ayakashi with smog-based powers granted a third life by Shitari sacrificing one of his own to quicken Dokoku's resurrection. His smoke-like appearance and powers make him the basis for the enraenra.
Nanashi Company
- Mook: They're the regular foot soldiers of the Gedoshu.
- Giant Mook: They're bigger versions of the Nanashis and are able to fight with the Shinkengers' mechs.
- Flying Mook: They are the Onanashi with the ability to fly thanks to their wings.
