Series / Mashin Sentai Kiramager

Kiramai-GO!

When people shine, a miracle is born.
That shine is the symbol of the warriors that can change the future!

Mashin Sentai Kiramager (roughly translated as "Magical Advancement^note Mashin also being a pun on 'machine' and "Hasshin" (= "vehicle launch") Squadron Kiramager^note a portmanteau of 'Kirameki' (Shining), 'Mage' and 'Ranger'") is the 44th program in the Super Sentai franchise that aired from March 8, 2020 to February 28, 2021, and the first Sentai entry in the Reiwa Era, following its start during the run of Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger. It is the second magic-themed installment in the franchise, following Mahou Sentai Magiranger (2005). The series' overall themes are magic, gemstones and vehicles. The Title Theme Tune was once again performed by Yohei Onishi.

When the planet of gems and jewels, Crystalia, is taken over by Emperor Yodon, its Princess Mabushina escaped with the five Kiramai Stones. Arriving on Earth, the Kiramai Stones, able to transform into sentient vehicles known as Mashin, sought five individuals with a strong "shining spirit" known as Kiramental, to team up and partner with them as the Kiramagers in order to fight back and take down the Yodon's forces, who have set their sights on taking over Earth next.

It started airing alongside Kamen Rider Zero-One and later Kamen Rider Saber in the Super Hero Time block. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Kiramager, along with Zero-One, was put on hiatus in early May 2020 after ten episodes, with several specials (including a cut-for-broadcast Episode ZERO) airing in its place for the next few weeks. This makes it the first Super Sentai season to be completely (in both production and airing) interrupted, although not for long; as Japan made significant progress in battling COVID-19, the show returned to production and then resumed airing on June 21, and aired continuously (save for annual pre-empting for special occasions) for the rest of its run.

Mashin Sentai Kiramager’s tie-in projects include:

• Mashin Sentai Kiramager: Episode ZERO, a prequel film to the series.
• Mashin Sentai Kiramager The Movie: Bee-Bop Dream, the annual summer movie that was meant to air on July 23, 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
• Mashin Sentai Kiramager vs. Ryusoulger, the crossover movie with Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger that was postponed until after the season ended.
• Mashin Sentai Kiramager Spin-Off: Yodonna, a web-exclusive show which began streaming on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on August 8, 2021 with Yodonna in the spotlight. It would later be followed by two sequels, Yodonna 2 and Yodonna 3: Yodonna's Valentine on the same platform.

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Recurring Super Sentai tropes:

• Color Character: Another "[team prefix] [English color]" Sentai.
• Combining Mecha: The Mashin can combine in the following combinations:
  • Mashin Fire + Mashin Shovellow + Mashin Mach = Land Mage
  • Mashin Jetter + Mashin Helico = Sky Mage
  • Land Mage + Sky Mage = Kiramazin
  • Mashin Jouki + Mashin Express = King Express
  • Mashin Zabyun + Mashin Express = King Express Zabyun
  • Episode 20 parodies this by introducing Kiramai Driller, a combination of Kiramaizin and Gigant Driller, which is basically the two mecha stuck together at the back with glue.
• Evolving Credits:
  • The OP of episode 14 inserts all of the heroes and Kiramai Silver with their mecha sans Gigant Driller/Drijan despite the team of six not quite solidifying yet...until the end of the episode.
  • The OP from episode 27 onwards adds Yodonna alongside Galza and Carantula.
  • The OP from episode 34 onwards adds Grateful Phoenix, along with Mashins Zabyun, Hakobu and Oradin.
  • The OP from episode 38 onwards has Emperor Yodon fully revealed.
• Fleeting Demographic Rule:
  • It has been 15 years since the last magic-themed Sentai (which coincidentally featured genies). In fact, Kiramager pulls very liberally from Magiranger itself, including a Red that's a high school-aged The Baby of the Bunch with a civilian Love Interest, having the Yellow be The Lancer, having a standardized Custom Uniform, and being very sparkly (unsurprisingly, both series share a producer).
  • A whopping 24 years since the last magically-powered vehicle-themed Sentai (which also recycles the base plot of a sole survivor of a fallen race granting humans magitek to fight the invasion moving on to Earth), and 31 years since the one before (which also uses the same base plot).
  • 8 years since the last human-looking female villain. (7 years if Candelilla's Human Disguise is counted.)
• Humongous Mecha: The Mashins can take the form of large vehicles who can combine into a single robot.
• Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Every episode title is a Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title referencing a Japanese movie that Toei produced or distributed, ranging from the obscure to the fairly well-known.
• In the Name of the Moon: Compared to its predecessor, it's a bit more personalized this time to fit with the Kiramagers' diverse backgrounds.
  Juru: The Sparkling Imagination! ^note  "Hirameki Sparkling!" Kiramai Red!
  Tametomo: The Precise Shooting! ^note  "Michibiki Shooting!" Kiramai Yellow!
  Sena: The Dashing Lighting! ^note  "Totsugeki Lightning!" Kiramai Green!
  Shiguru: The Unstoppable Edge! ^note  "Kissaki Unstoppable!" Kiramai Blue!
  Sayo: The Incredible Dexterity! ^note  "Tesabaki Incredible!" Kiramai Pink!
  Takamichi: The Shining Breakthrough! ^note  "Tsuranuki Shining!" Kiramai Silver!
  All: Arriving in a flash! With a shining solution! ^note  "Kiratto Sanjou! Karatto Kaiketsu!"
  Juru: Mashin Sentai!
  All: Kiramager!
• Law of Chromatic Superiority: Juru has the strongest Kiramental among the initial five, which causes him to be chosen by Fire and made the leader, despite having the least experience, and the team doubting him to begin with. That being said, he does take a step back to let the others take over and shine when necessary. While he does get the privileges of unlocking new mecha, he can relegate them to others more suited to it (such as Sena with Mashin Express).
• Leader Forms the Head:
  • While not involving the literal head of the mecha (which is formed by Sena's Mashin Mach), Land Mage and Kiramazin follow the spirit of the trope as Juru's Mashin Fire makes up nearly all of both combinations by itself.
  • Done very literally with Gigant Driller, as Kiramai Silver himself becomes Driller's head component.
• Make My Monster Grow: Downplayed; the negative energy the smaller Jamenshi collect for Carantula are usually used to summon the larger Jamen Beasts from a giant portal, but on rare occasions Carantula would instead send a human-sized Jamen Beast through a small portal while allowing it to feed and grow giant over time from the negative energy gathered while staying hidden on Earth. The two monsters' masks and abilities would also usually share a common theme.
• Mecha Expansion Pack: The team has additional Mashins beyond the Kiramagers' personal ones; including Mashin Rolland the steamroller, Mashin Lifton the forklift, Mashin Carry the flatbed truck, Mashin Magellan the cement mixer, and Mashin Duston the garbage truck.
• Mini Dress Of Power: Part of the Kiramager girls' suits.
• Monster of the Week: Two of them: The first ones, the Jamenshi, are fought in normal size, whereas the next ones, the Jamen Beasts (Kaiju with aspects of the human-sized monster) are battled in giant size.
• Rookie Red Ranger: Juru is the last Kiramager to be recruited, and hasn't achieved fame in a career like the others have. Yet he is still proclaimed team leader, as according to Crystalian tradition, the one chosen by the Red Kiramai stone — the strongest of the stones — is the leader.
• Super Mode: The Kiramagers can use the Kiraful Go Arrow to transform into the Go Kiramagers. However, they can only use it for 100 seconds. Notably, this is the first time since Goseiger that the entire team can power up at the same time.
• Transforming Mecha: The Mashins unfold from rectangular gemstones. Mashin Jouki also has an additional dinosaur form called Smog Jouki, while Mashin Drijan has no gemstone mode but instead becomes Gigant Driller.
• Transformation Trinket: One of the functions of the watch-like Kiramai Changer is changing to the Ranger form. Kiramai Silver has his own gadget, called the Shiny Kiramai Changer.
• Villains Act, Heroes React: As is the norm for Super Sentai, we generally get a MOTW appearing with an Evil Plan Once an Episode, with our heroes then quickly arriving on the scene to stop them thanks to CARAT, who can detect Yodon signals in the city.
• Weapon Specialization:
  • The main team is provided with the Kiramai Sword and Kiramai Shot gun for use, however Kiramai Green and Blue mainly use the Kiramai Sword only while Kiramai Yellow and Pink mainly use the Kiramai Shot; only Kiramai Red chooses to wield both as a Sword and Gun combo while coming up with the idea to combine them into the bayonet-like Kiramai Buster, which the others can also use.
  • Kiramai Silver is an Improbable Weapon User with the Shiny Breaker, a weaponized jackhammer that's also equipped with a grab-claw and can be used as a BFG. Part of this is due to swearing off using swords from an incident in his past.
  • In their Go Kiramager forms, the main team uses the Kiraful Go Arrow, an Energy Bow that also serves as their power up Transformation Trinket. While it can be used for multiple members at the same time, it exists as only one weapon, which often ends up having the Go Kiramagers pass it around during battles.

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Tropes Present in Mashin Sentai Kiramager:

• Actor Allusion:
  • Inori Minase (Mabushina) once played a good genie who is related to an evil genie (even though the latter redeemed himself). Her outfit during her concert section in Episode 23 also look like Cure Parfait's, especially the rainbow-colored skirt.
  • Yūichi Nakamura (Galza) previously voiced Orm/Ocean Master (an Evil Prince who plotted to kill his older brother out of jealousy of being denied the throne) in the Japanese dub of Aquaman (2018).
  • The series has multiple references to Daimaou Kosaka's (Muryo) well-known role as Piko-Taro of PPAP fame:
    • A sign hanging in CARAT HQ, visible in various episodes, reads "Perfect Performance And Physical".
    • Episode 2 has Muryo name a new gimmick by putting words together.
    • The ending skit of episode 16 is even more blatant, with Juru standing with Muryo while holding up a pineapple and an apple.
    • Episode 17 has Juru describe Gigant Driller's transformation (complete with signature hand gesture) as
      Juru: Takamichi and Drijan have —Ugh!— combined into a titan!
    • Episode 20 shows Muryo mime the PPAP hand gestures again while describing a Sticky Situation.
    • In episode 26, a scene with the camera on all 5 Kiramagers one by one reveal two pineapple and apple ornaments decorating the CARAT office.
    • Takamichi's Imagine Spot of Muryo as Kiramai Gold in episode 30 has his Kiramager form wear a long golden scarf in a similar fashion to Piko-Taro's.
    • Episode 37 has Muryo come up with a solution to recombine the split-up Senas PPAP-style.
      Muryo: We have a Sena 1, we have a Sena 2, UGH! Sena 1+2!
    • Episode 41 has Muryo and Mabushina sitting together, the latter of which is holding two sticks adorned with an apple and a pineapple.
    • Bee-Bop Dream throws the entire kitchen sink by having him actually sing the song and do the routine, and gave it an actual role in the story.
  • Numajo's mask resembles the Terror Dopant's head from Kamen Rider W; her voice actress, Naoko Kouda, previously starred in that series as Shroud/Fumine Sonozaki — who was the wife of Ryubee Sonozaki, the civilian identity of the Terror Dopant. Numajo also curses Oradin by targeting someone close to him instead, which is what happened in the backstory of Kamen Rider Skull, whom Shroud was backing at the time.
  • This isn't the first time Subaru Kimura voiced a MoTW with a bowling schtick.
  • In #43, Oradin does a certain running pose that makes you think he'd be saying "NIGERUNDAYOOOO!"
• All There in the Manual: The book Kirameki Collection (March 22th, 2021) identifies the Kiramagers' birthdays, age and height: Juuru stands at 180cm, was born on October 6th (2002) and turned 18 during Kiramager. Tametomo stands at 175cm, was born on October 31st (1998) and turned 22 during Kiramager. Sena stands at 158cm was born on July 7th (1998) and turned 22 during Kiramager. Shiguru stands at 181cm, was born on April 6th (1995) and turned 25 during Kiramager. Sayo stands at 165cm, was born on March 4th (1997) and turned 24 during Kiramager. Takamichi stands at 185cm, was born on March 21st (1971) and was 49 during Kiramager.
• Amnesia Episode: Episode 6 has Sayo lose her memories after a blow to her head from Galza.
• Bait-and-Switch: Episode 11 has Tametomo targeted by Yojiro, a dissatisfied opponent who grabs his hair to put a curse on him, and Tametomo does get put through a "Groundhog Day" Loop... but as is the usual case in this show, it was really the Monster of the Week doing it. So Yojiro was just being weird.
• Birthday Episode: Episode 11 takes place on Helico's birthday, as the stones define their birthdays based on the day they became sentient.
• Breaking Old Trends:
  • As the Jamenshi (the normal-sized MOTW) and Jamen Beast (the giant-sized MOTW) are two separate beings, one can appear without the other, as seen in episodes 1, 12, and 13.
  • Along with that, the Jamen Beasts are actually more personalized than the Jamenshi, as the latter are Bechats that went under Mook Promotion thanks to Carantula's Jamens ^note  transliteration: "evil mask" .
• Brutal Honesty: In episode 8, when the other Kiramagers apologized to Juru for pushing him so hard with training, Juru responds that they should be sorry, saying the training was terrible, much to their surprise, as they were expecting him to say something along the lines of "It's alright".
• Bullying a Dragon: Tametomo and Sena's big plan in episode 22 involves having to fight off and delay the Crystallian royal couple, which goes butt-shaped fast.
• The Cameo: Hiroya Matsumoto, with past Super Sentai roles ranging from proper Rangers to one supporting character, appears Stan Lee-style in #35 as a humble ice pop merchant.
• Casting Gag:
  • invoked Done In-Universe with Shiguru, normally a primetime drama/action star, getting the lead in I Fell In Love With a Shinigami, which sounds like it was adapted from a light novel. It looks like Playing Against Type to the audience in-universe, but the rest of our heroes know why it really isn't.
  • Sena is an athlete and often relies on her innate athleticism in fights. Yume Shinjo, on the other hand, admitted that she's actually not that good at sports. On the other hand, Sena is good at karuta and piano, both traits inspired by Shinjo herself.
• Cerebus Syndrome: While the show still has many lighthearted moments, Yodonna's first appearance signals a marked change in the show's overall tone. It gradually trades a good chunk of its comedy for drama and ramps up the stakes significantly once she comes around. This only doubles down when Yodon makes his appearance, setting up some unsettling reveals such as Yodonna being a Split Personality from Yodon and Galza's brainwashing at the hands of the emperor.
• Contrived Coincidence: Due to the structure of Kiramaizin (Blue and Pink can form a separate combination from Red, Yellow and Green), several episodes will have Sayo and Shiguru separated from Juru, Tametomo, and Sena due to the plotline. Episode 10 even emphasizes the age difference between the two groups as the real reason only three of them are affected by the Monster of the Week. At the same time, the primary arc involves Tametomo learning to accept Juuru as the new leader, which is why the plot tends to drive them together a bit.
• Crucified Hero Shot: The Evolving Credits add a shot of Mabushina with all four Kanaema Stones. It's meant to look pretty, but if you know of the implications it's also pretty grim.
• Deal with the Devil: Episode 32. Dr Kusaka agreed to complete the genetic enhancement on the Yodon Ivy, which would essentially terraform Earth into a new Yodonheim, just to be the one that's spared of the impending apocalypse, and manages to rope in Sayo with the hope of sparing her as well. Unfortunately that became the moment he outlived his usefulness.
• Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: A number of image songs from the Kiramai Music Festival that spanned from episode 23 to 31 were used as part of the show before being properly introduced as a special ending theme for the episode each was featured in.
  • In episode 23, Mabushina performed Crystal Signal as part of an act to help her mother calm down.
  • In episode 24, the Kiramagers formed the in-series Kiramai Band to perform Yuki wo Kanae e te to encourage the Victim of the Week of that episode.
  • In episode 27, an instrumental version of Winding Road was BGM for that episode's resolution scene.
  • In episode 28, Shiguru sings Perfect Blue in an attempt to help Hakobu regain his emotions.
  • In episode 29, Sayo's "shadow self" sings Kiseki o Yumemiru?, albeit with the lyrics rewritten to be fittingly darker.
  • In episode 30, an instrumental portion of Hakase janai yo, Hakata dayo! Shikamo Minami da yo! was used for Muryo's transformation jingle as Kiramai Gold. Turns out, it was just part of an Imagine Spot from Takamichi.
• Downer Beginning: For all of its overall lightheartedness, Episode ZERO certainly did not pull any punches, namely with Oradin getting killed onscreen and Crystalia getting taken over by the Yodonheim Empire.
• Dropping the Bombshell: In episode 9, Galza revealed (to the viewers essentially, as the Kiramagers didn't hear it), that there are FOUR guardians of Crystalia, and King Express is just ONE of them.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: After Yodon is defeated, Mabushina and Takamichi use the four Kanaema Stones to restore Crystalia from its ashes, intent on building back their kingdom. Skip to three months later and Crystalia is thriving under Mabushina's rule, clearly better than it was at the beginning. The Kiramagers are able to freely travel to Crystalia virtually through communication devices that transfers their consciousness, meaning that they can come to the kingdom at any time to hang out with the Mashins and the Crystalian family.
• Early-Bird Cameo: As a result of the pandemic, the Sixth Ranger Kiramai Silver has quite literally had the most hype leading up to his debut out of any sixth member. Teased multiple times in suit during the hiatus specials, and seen in the flesh twice (once at the end of Kira Talk 2, and another time in the pre-credits scene of Galza and Carantula's Jamental Institute special). All of this leading up to his eventual debut in Episode 12.
• Episode Zero: The Beginning: A prologue titled Episode ZERO was released in cinemas a month prior as part of the "Super Sentai Movie Party", then digitally the week before the series itself debuted. This marks the first time a Sentai season has gotten a pre-show movie; previously, they were relegated to cameos in the VS movies for the two preceding teams.
  • At the end of episode 45, Juuru ends up making another prediction drawing - it looks like the team of Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger.
• Foreshadowing: Yodonna is the only member of Yodonheim without a mask. That's because she is one. Her first transformation into the emperor is something that also shows it off and hints at the coming of Shadon, his other alter-ego, but only in hindsight. Look closely and the transformation is Yodonna's face becoming a mask, then Yodon appearing in her place - complete with another mask hanging on the side of his head. This is just before the mask that Yodonna became flips open to hang on the other side to reveal Yodon's face. On first glance, it's a weird transformation fitting a non-standard season that goes by too fast for the details to seem to mean anything. Once you know what Yodonna really is and that Shadon exists, it's clear that Yodonna is the left mask and Shadon is the right.
• "Freaky Friday" Flip: Both the Kiramagers and Mashins are subject to this in #19, along with other miscellaneous citizens due to Moving Out Jamen.
• Gotta Catch Them All: The Kanaema Stones, a set of four wish-granting stones that grant specific types of wishes individually, while being able to grant an ultimate wish with no limits once gathered. Takamichi's goal is to use them to free his family from the Yodonheim curse that killed his adoptive mother, which could potentially kill Mabushina next. After the curse is broken courtesy of Zabyun, Takamichi decides to use the stones to restore Crystalia.
  • Destoria: An orange Kanaema Stone and the first obtained. It grants wishes related to destruction and wanting something destroyed.
  • Reversia: A white Kanaema Stone and the second obtained. It grants wishes related to time, such as reversing time and time-travel.
  • Energia: A cobalt blue Kanaema Stone and the third obtained. It grants wishes related to strength and gaining/controlling energy, allowing its user to become more powerful, but at the cost of wearing them out or destroying them.
  • Illusia: A red Kanaema Stone. It creates illusions based on a nearby person's subconscious desires.
• "Groundhog Day" Loop: Tametomo gets caught up in one in Episode 11 thanks to the MOTW's powers. Hilariously and epically, this is also how he defeats the MOTW as well.
• Heroic RRoD:
  • Going through four consecutive training sessions (twice) and having to fight three Jamen beasts, Juru ends up collapsing mid-fight.
  • Takamichi may have Super-Strength, but digging through a collapsed building in episode 14 drives home the fact that he's still just one pair of hands, and he can't do this alone.
• Jerkass Realization: The other Kiramagers are overcome with guilt when Fire tells them that the reason Juru collapsed during a battle was because they wore him out with their training.
• Lighter and Softer: Kiramager not only has a lesser amount of vicious moments than the previous four seasons, but has a more uplifting motif through its "shining" elements. It also has a lot more cartoonish moments through the Mashin being comical talking mecha partners not unlike the Engines, the Dancing Theme ending having brief comedic scenes right before the lyrics, and a overall heavy comedic bent. Even when it undergoes Cerebus Syndrome, it never got rid of the humor or optimism.
• Maybe Ever After: After a few episodes of some Ship Tease here and there, the finale all but states that Juru and Kakihara got together over the three-month Time Skip after Yodon was defeated.
• Mentor Occupational Hazard: Hilariously subverted with Muryo in Episode ZERO, who after a dramatic death, followed by an epic battle, "revives" and reveals he staged the whole thing with VR.
• Mineral MacGuffin:
  • The Kiramai Stones, sentient and non-sentient, are able to be shaped to serve a myriad number of functions through the Imagination-Based Superpower Juru and King Oradin possess. Acquiring them requires a bit of effort, however; one known method of producing them is through Mabushina's tears.
  • Also the Kanaema Stones, a collection of four magical magatama stones that Takamichi hopes to collect in order to get a wish he can use to cure Mabushina of a witch's curse. Once her curse is lifted, he switches his goal to restoring Crystalia, with Mabushina as queen.
• Mythology Gag: Has its own page.
• Newspaper Dating: We get a rare backwards example in episode 21 when Shiguru finds a pamphlet stuck to the Monster of the Week for an event that hasn't happened yet. Said monster's been abusing a Kanaema Stone to kidnap humans from just one day into the future.
• Older Than They Look: Takamichi looks like he's about 20, but is actually the older brother of Muryou who is probably in his 40s. The crystal put in Takamichi has caused him to age much slower than a normal human.
  • Sena is downplayed in that she's only 22 but between her short height cute face and acting like an excitable high schooler most of the time (and spending alot of time paling around with Juuru who IS an excitable high schooler) you'd expect her to be around Juuru's age instead.
• Our Genies Are Different: In Kiramager's case, the Crystalians and the Yodonheim do not come from lamps or rings, nor do they grant wishes.
• Out of Job, into the Plot: Notably averted, and discussed as early as episode 2. Despite being recruited as heroes, the Kiramagers are allowed to keep and prioritise their day jobs, putting their Kiramager work as a secondary Part-Time Hero job where they are only called upon during an emergency and when the others available aren't able to cover for them. Juru also notes that the aversion of this sacrifice puts the team in a brighter mood to allow them to fight to their best with no worries or hesitations.
• Paper-Thin Disguise: In Episode ZERO, Mabushina can somehow remain under the radar while scouring the city for the new Kiramagers, with just a shawl on her head. She can even sneak into an operating theater!
• Poor Communication Kills: In Episode ZERO, when Kakihara sees the drawing of her that she asked Juru to sketch, she becomes immediately offended of its appearance. Juru then states of how the associated connotations of it showcase her brutality and cheating demeanor, causing Kakihara to storm off without letting him further explain his expressionism to her. By the time this gets brought up again in episode 20, Kakihara still refuses to listen to him, but the situation with Glue Jamen eventually gives them the opportunity to not only escape but for Juru to explain properly of how much those qualities he exclaimed is what he likes about her and what he himself entirely lacks. Kakihara then slowly warms up to Juru from that point on.
• Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: As stated above, the show's Idiosyncratic Episode Naming motif is this with Toei films as the recurring motif, which isn't surprising seeing how the main writer is the same one who wrote Dekaranger and Gokaiger.
• Power Crystal: A major series theme; the Kiramagers draw their powers from magic jewels, and their costumes and mecha are gem-encrusted.
• Product Placement:
  • Tekken is explicitly mentioned as the game of choice for the tournament in episode 11. Tametomo going with Joke Character Panda rather than his main, the popular Kazuya, is even a plot point.
  • Averted in #24. Juru's guitar is believed to be a Fender-type Telecaster, but the brand name is covered up with a noticeable sticker of a nonexistent brand.
• Pun: After finishing off their opponents, the Kiramai weapons announce "Check Mage", which sounds like "Checkmate", a term used for winning a chess game. This also doubles as a reference to the last magic-themed Sentai before Kiramager, who announced "checkmate" when a monster was defeated, and also featured a chess theme in their mecha cockpit.
• Punny Name:
  • The literal translation of "Mashin" is something akin to "demon advance" (though in context, "demon" refers to a generic mystic spirit rather than an evil one), but it's also a pun on "machine".
  • "Kiramazin" combines "kiramei" ("shining") with the "jin"/"zin" ("god") suffix seen in other Sentai mecha;^note DaiDenzin, Daizyujin, Senpuujin, Kyoryuzin, Shurikenjin which in turn ends up punning (intentionally or not) on "majin" ("devil" — same deal as in "Mashin"; it doesn't necessarily carry the same infernal connotations in Japan that it does in the West), "meijin" ("master/talent/professional"), and the English word "amazing".
• Shirtless Scene: Takamichi in episode 14 after getting out of the collapsed bathhouse.
• Shout-Out: As with Arakawa's previous works, expect there to be a reference or two within most episodes.
  • The series has many to Middle Eastern culture and Muslim mythology:
    • Crystalia is based on Jannah (جنّة), the Islamic version of Heaven, which is described as a radiant garden filled with precious stones.^note Galza's name is a reference to that, being a play on the Arabic word غلظر/gulzar ("garden") and the Persian word گلزر/golzar ("beautiful"). Yodonheim is based on Jahannam (جهنم), the Islamic version of Hell, which is described as a dark abyss.
    • Genies/djinns play a major role in the plot; Oradin's name is derived from Aladdin, the most famous folk tale about them. In addition, according to legend genies are attracted to gemstones (which is another theme of the series).
    • The grotesque masks used on the Jamenshi/juu is a reference to the demon head-shaped fruit of Zaqqum (زقوم), the Cursed Tree.
    • Islamic symbols are featured prominently: Galza's armor after his Evil Costume Switch has a crescent moon motif, and some of the Mashins and the Kiraful Go Arrow have the Rub el Hizb on them.
    • The palm tree shape of the CARAT HQ is a reference to the legend of the date palm tree, in which the Prophet Muhammad had embraced and touched the tree after he heard its cries.
    • The cockpit design of the Mashins (and the mechas) was inspired by Āina-kāri (آینه کاری), a style of mirror artwork from Iran.
    • The Monstones' ability to merge into lifeforms and people is a reference to shaitan (شياطين), demons in Islam.
    • Although the Grateful Pheonix was inspired from the namesake creature from Greek mythology, it also has elements from the Arabian anqa (عنقاء), Persian simorgh (سیمرغ) and the Turkic konrul. The word "grateful" may be a reference to genie lamps in which wishes have been granted and desires fulfilled and the recipient (the Kiramagers and Oradin) is "grateful" for all that has been done.
    • Yodonna and Emperor Yodon being one and the same is a reference to Mīṭaṭrūn (ميططرون‎), the Angel of the Veil.
  • The series also has several to Scandinavian culture and Norse Mythology.
    • Oradin's name is derived from Odin.
    • Galza's name is derived from Útgarða-Loki.
    • Yodonheim comes from the word "Jotunheim".
    • Mabushina's tears is a reference to the legend of Freyja, in which she wept tears of gold.
    • Like Kamen Rider Gaim's Yggdrasil Tower, CARAT HQ is also based on Yggdrasil (the world tree in Norse mythology).
  • The series also has homages to Egyptian culture and Egyptian Mythology.
    • The Grateful Pheonix pays homage to Ra (who is the god of kings).
    • The Crystalians resembled that of Amun.
    • Oradin is based on Seth while Galza is based on Osiris.
  • The series also has some to Indian culture and Hindu Mythology.
    • The star on the the Mashins and the Kiraful Go Arrow also represent the Star of Lakshmi.
    • The Crystalians resembled those of Hindu gods and goddesses.
    • Oradin and Mabayuine's Soul Transfer ability is akin to samsara (संसार).
    • Emperor Yodon is similar to Ravana.
  • The Kiramagers have a habit of using catchphrases borrowed from old Toku and Jidaigeki shows. Their post-transformation catchphrase is lifted from Kaiketsu Zubat, and after defeating a monster they use stock Jidaigeki phrases such as "clear skies over Japan" or "case closed".
  • The Kiramagers' plans to get the vice off of Shiguru's head in #3 are presented in title cards not unlike Neon Genesis Evangelion.
  • Episode 9 seems to take some cues from Chihayafuru from the jealous rival all the way to the whole concept (being centered around competitive karuta). Sena in particular takes some major cues from the main protagonist Chihaya, as they are both passionate, tomboyish karuta players with speed being the forefront of the playing style.
  • The Music Jamen in episode 10 "possesses" Iyo by turning invisible and hanging from her shoulders the whole time, just like the ghost from Shutter.
  • Sayo's part of the impromptu Goranger Storm is inspired by Mui from Shaolin Soccer.
  • The Crystalian tale of Brulus Liss is named after Bruce Lee.
  • The Kanaema Stones all have their own abilities, but bringing all four of them together can trigger something incredible - which could also describe the six Infinity Stones. Moreso when one is revealed to control time - and our heroes immediately use it for a time heist!
    • They are able to grant any wish when gathered, and scatter across the universe once that wish is granted, much like the Dragon Balls.
  • A Mockumentary in episode 3 reveals that Shiguru played the main character in a movie called Accel Police 8 where he plays a hard-edged cop whose catchphrase involves "breaking through".
  • Episode 6 has Tametomo striking a pose not unlike Yusuke Godai's signature thumbs-up pose.
  • A couple in #13 are named Kotaro and Minami.
  • Sayo's music band made of doctors in episode 24 is named "Ishidan", a letter away from real-life band Kishidan. ^note  Which is the band that performed Warera Omou, Yue ni Warera Ari, the opening for Kamen Rider Ghost, which Mio Kudo (Sayo) appeared in as Kanon.
  • In #19, when the Kiramagers and the Mashin stones have their souls switched to each other and the Mashin in Kiramager's bodies are forced to fight, Jetter is seen using Stone Breathing to wipe the Mooks out.
  • In #27, Sena's running tracker suddenly turns into a bomb that'll go off if she doesn't maintain speed.
  • In #29, Oradin's petrified body is clearly one to Han Solo frozen in carbonite.
    • They go 2-for-2 in #43, with Galza sending Oradin into the gut of a Jamen Beast to be slowly digested, just like Boba Fett.
    • And then #44 has them go for three with Galza returning to the light with Juru's help, and dying after turning on his former master, just as Darth Vader did in Return of the Jedi.
  • #30 has Muryou do the Gendo Ikari pose, complete with Scary Shiny Glasses.
  • #32 has the Riddle Jamen punish anyone who can't guess his riddles with a bunch of Bechats whipping them with rods, declaring "Zennin, Outo!"
    • There's also a samurai-themed Basra-type Jamen Beast. It's named Sengoku Basra.
  • In #33, all three Jamen Beasts execute the Jet Stream Attack.
  • In #35, the sociopathic villain Yodonna develops a soft spot for ice cream pops.
  • In #36, Carantula uses rap to spread hate and turn the Kiramagers and the Mashins against each other, Similarly to the Hate Master from Season 3 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • In Bee-Bop Dream our heroes have to be forcefully awakened from the dream world by Muryo playing music near them in the real world, which is straight out of Inception. It goes two levels deep if you know that the song from Inception is by Édith Piaf, played by Marion Cotillard who also had a role in Inception - in this movie, the song is instead the memetic PPAP, and the singer (Piko-Taro aka Daimaou Kosaka) is already in the movie!
• Show Within a Show: Due to Shiguru being an in-demand actor, his various "works" pop up here and there, such as Accel Police 8, a action crime movie, and I Fell in Love with a Shinigami, a horror romance drama.
• Special Edition Title: From Episode 23 to #31, instead of the usual Dancing Theme, we get the Kiramagers (plus Muryo and Mabushina) singing their character songs akin to Gekiranger and Go-Busters.
• Stealth Pun: The Bechats are made from a smelly, mud-looking gunk and wield rake-like weapons. They're muckrakers. ^note  The actual word is typically positive - one who exposes corruption - but it can also mean someone 'digging up dirt' as they actively seek to cause scandal.
• Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Episode 33 pushes this to ridiculous levels when Yodonna has Sayo hostage at the same time that Galza had both Hakobu and Oradin incapacitated - Juuru reasons that Oradin can use the same process that transmitted his soul from Yodonheim to Atamald (to create Mashin Oradin) to leave Galza's grasp and enter the Kiraful Go Arrow, allowing Juuru to shoot him across dimensions and get Galza, freeing up Greatful Phoenix.
• Unusually Uninteresting Sight: It's arguable how much Mabushina needs that shawl of hers in public, considering that she visits an aquarium and talks to an animal expert in episode 21 with zero shenanigans.
• Verbal Tic: Takamichi uses the word "Wonder" all the time.
• Wham Episode:
  • Episode 18 elaborates upon Episode 17's Wham Line, revealing that Mabushina is possibly afflicted with Numajo's curse that killed her mother. As soon as Yodonheim's crest appears in her eye, she only has seven days to live before she crumbles to dust. Because of this, Takamichi is desperate to find the Kanaema Stones before anything happens so that he could hopefully wish it away.
  • Episode 21 is a huge one. Not only do we get Mabushina's curse finally acting upon her, leaving the Kiramagers 7 days to gather all of the Kanaema Stones before she dies, we also get The Reveal that Galza manipulated Takamichi into leaving Crystallia to find the Kanaema Stones, thus leaving it vulnerable to attack.
  • Episode 25 starts off fairly normal... that is, until Shuka is revealed to be Yodonna, one of Yodonheim's generals and personal assistant to Emperor Yodon. Her plan? To open up a wormhole between Yodonheim and Earth to let the Yodon Empire wreck havoc by blowing up the mountain region due to its immense power.
  • Episode 32 manages to top the other Wham Episodes by a landslide. It starts out innocently enough, that is until Yujin shows Sayo the Yodon Ivy seed that Yodonna gave him. After Sayo inputs a formula to accelerate its growth, it suddenly grows to a gargantuan size, allowing Yodonheim to create another Yodonheim by corrupting the Earth with Yodonium. As if that wasn't enough, Hakobu was corrupted by Galza to take the latter to Atamald so that he can imprison Oradin. On top of all that, Sayo leaves her Kiramai Changer with Yujin so that they can get help, unfortunately leaving her helpless against Yodonna and her Bechats. Oh, and there's three Jamen Beasts on a rampage throughout the city, leaving the team with their hands completely tied.
  • And then comes Episode 37. Not only does Emperor Yodon finally take to the field, it's also revealed that Yodonna is a part of him as one of his personalities. And then Yodon proceeds to destroy most of the city.
  • Episode 42 just might take the cake for the whole series. With Carantula's assistance, Garza, after willingly becoming one of Emperor Yodon's new personalities, kills off Emperor Yodon in his own mindscape, usurping his power and position to become the new main villain of the series.
• Wham Line:
  • At the end of episode 17, Takamichi reveals his reasons for acting so distant from Mabushina and obsessively finding treasure:
    Takamichi: Because if I don't do something...Mabushina may be lost forever. Cursed by a great darkness...
  • Tametomo gives one when he figures out whose dream everyone is trapped during Bee-Bop Dream:
    Tametomo: The dreamer...is you, Galza.
• Wham Shot:
  • The end of episode 17 has Mabushina opening up a box, revealing the queen's crown.
  • Episode 21 has two. In the same scene. First we have a red-and-black Numajo, who is revealed to be Numajo's sister, Minjo. Then we have the Aqua Kiramai Stone turning to rust thanks to Numajo.
  • Episode 25 has Shuka, the shrine maiden, create a Yodon Changer out of mud. Then she uses that Yodon Changer to transform into her true self, Yodonna.
  • Episode 29 has Yodonna reveal the body of King Oradin, encased in stone.
  • Episode 37 has Yodonna transforming into Emperor Yodon.
• What Did I Do Last Night?: The premise of #35.
• What Happened to the Mouse?:
  • Juru's high school and his classmates just seemed to completely disappear after Episode ZERO, with nary a passing mention of whether Juru still even goes to school. Episode 20 rectifies this.
  • Minjo, Numajo's sister made all of one appearance in Episode 21 and hasn't been seen in the series ever since. She appears in the Bee-Bop Dream movie as the main villain.
• World Tree: The CARAT headquarters is a palm tree-shaped tower. As mentioned above, it's actually a reference to two at once.

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Checkmage! P-P-P-PERFECT!!!