One Degree Of Separation / Toei Tokusatsu

• Kamen Rider: Over the years, numerous meetings of Kamen Riders have formed a network which inevitably leads to Kamen Riders gathering en masse for Crisis Crossovers.
  • In the original series, Tobei Tachibana was The Mentor to Takeshi Hongo even before he became the first Kamen Rider. Through this, he also oversaw future Riders Hayato Ichimonji (Rider #2), Shiro Kazami (Kamen Rider V3) and Joji Yuki (Riderman). However, after that he seperately mentors Keisuke Jin (Kamen Rider X), Daisuke Yamamoto (Kamen Rider Amazon) then finally Shigeru Jo (Kamen Rider Stronger) after bumping into them as if by chance.
  • In Kamen Rider: Skyrider, Genjiro Tani was introduced as a Suspiciously Similar Substitute for Tobei Tachibana, serving as such to Skyrider (Kamen Rider #8) and been oddly familiar with the previous Riders as if they were interacting with Tachibana himself. In the next series, Kazuya Oki, some time after being transformed into Kamen Rider Super-1 (Kamen Rider #9), is reunited with Tani who, as it turns out, knew Kazuya as a child. In relation to the Super-1 TV show, Tani's association with the previous Riders is mostly superfluous beyond serving as qualifications to support the new Rider and to function as a familiar face for the audience, especially since the first eight Riders made only a token appearance to assist Super-1 in his movie.
  • In Kamen Rider Kiva, protagonist Wataru Kurenai gets latched onto by Cool Big Sis Megumi Aso, but neither of them ever realizes that their parents (Otoya Kurenai and Yuri Aso) were a couple briefly. On top of that, Wataru eventually learns that his childhood friend Taiga Nobori is actually his half-brother^note Their mother Maya was the Fangire Queen; Taiga's father was the King, while Wataru was the product of a fling with Otoya. And that's not even getting into the tangled web weaved by the IXA armor...
  • In Kamen Rider Decade, protagonist Tsukasa Kadoya acts as the link between the Kamen Riders of the Alternate Universes through which he travels, having been sent on a quest to save the multiverse by what appears to be the prime Wataru Kurenai. Going from world to world, he typically ends up assisting that world's Rider overcome their Arch-Enemy, and even enters the world of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. Later, Dai-Shocker emerges to recruit the villains of multiple worlds in its bid to conquer the multiverse. Ultimately, the Nine Worlds merge into the World of the Rider War, where it is revealed that Decade is destined to destroy all Riders. This he does before allowing himself to be slain by his friend Natsumi, but then it turns out this saved the multiverse as the slain Riders are restored, with Tsukasa himself finally being revived by the memories of his friends.
  • In Kamen Rider Zi-O, protagonist Sougo Tokiwa is destined to become the Time Master Oma Zi-O. Manipulated by several parties including Decade, Sougo gains the means to Time Travel and inadvertently merges the past Riders' seperate realities into one, apparently being responsible for the Kamen Rider Shared Universe. Furthermore, he is responsible for the emergence of future Kamen Riders.
• In Super Sentai, numerous team-ups between Ranger teams of various origins culminates in the first 34 Super Sentai quickly assembling to face [the invasion of Earth by the Space Empire Zangyack.
  • Mirai Sentai Timeranger vs. GoGoFive is an early example of a nod to a previous crossover when Matoi Tatsumi (Go Red) misnames the Timeranger as "Timeman", alluding to Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGo Five vs. Gingaman.
  • Dino House started as the Local Hang Out in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger, managed by Ryunosuke Sugishita, friend of the Abarangers. In then served as a link between Sentai for a number of Vs. movies: Doggie Kruger (Deka Master) visited the restaurant and so befriended Ryunnosuke, (Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger vs. Abaranger( who in turn, was friends with Miyuki Ozu, the mother of the five Ozu siblings. When Doggie, Swan Shiratori (Deka Swan), and Miyuki met, they all quickly became close friends (Magiranger vs. Dekaranger). Ken Hisatsu's (GekiChopper) sister suggested the place for a treat (Gekiranger). Morio Makino and Miki Masaki, allies of the Boukengers and Gekirangers respectively, met there. (Gekiranger vs. Boukenger) Hant Jou (Go-On Green) worked at Dino House and he was encountered by Miki Masaki. (Go-Onger vs. Gekiranger) Captain Marvelous (Gokai Red), having been sent back through time to 2005, ate a meal at Dino House where reformed Monster of the Week Yatsudenwani served as headwaiter before being confronted by Hiromu Sakurada (Red Buster). (Go-Busters vs. Gokaiger)
  • Played with in Dekaranger vs. Abaranger, which almost one-ups the typical "current team joins forces with previous team" format when the Abarangers appear to receive a helping hand from Hurricane Red, who they first fought alongside in Abaranger vs. Hurricaneger, only for him to turn to be Kazakh in disguise who uses the chance to strike them down.
  • Daigoyou, Robot Buddy to the Shinkengers, witnessed first the Goseigers' Early-Bird Cameo assisting the two starring teams of Shinkenger vs. Go-Onger, then the Gokaigers doing the same thing inGoseiger vs. Shinkenger.
  • In Goseiger vs. Shinkenger Eri performs the Pink Double Attack with her predecessor Shinken Pink. Then in 199 Hero Great Battle she performs what she calls the "Pink Double Attack Part 2" alongside her successor Gokai Pink, to the latter's confusion.
  • Captain Marvelous' former mentor was Aka Red, the embodiment of the Sentai Red Warrior spirits who had previously fought alongside Satoru Akashi (Bouken Red} in Boukenger vs. Super Sentai. When Satoru meets the Gokaigers, having granted them Boukenger's Greater Power, he does not disclose this but does, after taking his leave, call out to Aka Red "This'll do right." As it turns out, each past Sentai was to grant their Greater Power to the Gokaigers, enabling them to unlock the Greatest Treasure in the Universe which had the power to Ret-Gone the Zangyack with the side-effect of erasing the Sentai too, before the Gokaigers decided to discard the Treasure and defeat Zangyack themselves.
  • Shuriken Sentai Ninninger established a chain of mostly ninja heroes. The five Ninningers, composed of a sibling duo and their three cousins, were trained for a brief period by Sasuke (Ninja Red) and Yousuke Shiina (Hurricane Red), who had been summoned by the Ninningers' father/uncle Tsumuji but were also motivated by an incident ten years prior, where they met Aka Ninger after coming together to fight a time-travelling monster. Later, a band of dark ninja emerge, resulting in veteran Toha Yamaji (Sekai Ninja Jiraiya) re-emerging to challenge the Ninningers, a result of mistaken identity. After realising his mistake and helping the Ninningers fight the Monster of the Week, Jiraiya is convinced to step down from active service, giving into scouts of the newly formed Committee to Protect Ninja Honor and becoming their President. The Ninningers are later assessed by Shurikenger (Hurricaneger's Sixth Ranger), who reveals that Jiraiya sent him in his capacity as President, while Sasuke and Yousuke disclosed their reports of the team.
  • Though the expected team-up between Uchu Sentai Kyuranger and Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger never materialized, several crossovers featured members of the two teams interacting.
    • Alongside other Sentai and Kamen Riders, the six Zyuohgers did fight in battle against Shocker with the nine Kyurangers, however, the only real out-of-suit meeting was between Amu (Zyuoh Tiger) and Balance (Tenbin Gold) & Naga Ray (Hebitsukai Silver).
    • In Lupinranger VS Patranger VS Kyuranger, Sixth Ranger Misao Mondou (Zyuoh The World) spontaneously shows up to join the three teams' fight briefly before leaving as soon as he came.
  • Super Sentai Strongest Battle has many heroes summoned and subsequently sorted into unlikely combined teams to participate in a tournament which is actually part of a plot to resurrect a long-dead villain. Our protagonists, the Oddball Team, is made up of Yamato Kazakiri (Zyuoh Eagle), Captain Marvelous (Gokai Red), Takaharu Igasaki (AkaNinger), Stinger (Sasori Orange) and Kagura Izumi (ToQ #5). Only Marvelous' meeting with Yamato in Zyuohger is acknowledged, though Yamato also met Takaharu before in Zyuohger vs. Ninninger, and Takaharu in turn met Kagura in Ninninger vs. ToQger. The Oddball Team also marks another meeting of Kyuranger and Zyuohger in Stinger and Yamato. A further nod is given when Stinger meets into Doggie Kruger (DekaMaster); Doggie and his colleagues had met a portion the Kyurangers which did not include Stinger in Kyuranger #17, he nevertheless recognises Stinger as one through his Seiza Blaster, while Stinger reveals that his teammates apprised him of the encounter.

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