Line #23 Manga/GekikouKamen


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gekikou_kamen.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Let's connect the stars.[[note]]From left to right: Mari Rima/''Beeaseder'', Takafumi Nakano/''Kiborger'', Otoya Jissoji/''Mikado Waechter'', Akinori Kiridōshi/''Zenopadon'', Yō Serizawa/''Ayamiyuri'', Ichiru Narita/''Nebula Buddi''[[/note]]]]
3
4	->In ancient times, when beasts were still stronger than men, our ancestors stared up at the sky from their caves... And, connecting the stars, made the forms of gods and [[Main/{{Kaiju}} fantastic beasts]] all [[SharedMassHallucination with one another]]. {{Tokusatsu}} art modelling is the sucessor to such acts.
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6	Otoya Jissoji, an awkward adult who works in odd part-time jobs like art modelling and selling customized model kits, used to be a member of the ''[[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]]'', a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji [[NoSocialSkills doesn't seem to be able]] [[{{Manchild}} to leave behind]] neither his fanatical passion nor his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as a new generation of passionate Tokusatsu fans and some stranger-than-fiction incidents, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times, as well as return to their ([[SuperLoser mostly inconsequential]]) vigilante activities.
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8	Gekikou Kamen [[note]]literally "Stagelight Mask"[[/note]] is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi (of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame) and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The manga is essentiallly a love letter to the history of Tokusatsu, both from the main characters' devoted geekness to the genre, as well as the author's in-depth overview of its history (from its earliest days through Creator/EijiTsuburaya[='=]s overlooked origins in wartime special effects to the genre's enduring popularity with modern blockbusters like the ''Franchise/ShinJapanHeroesUniverse''), highlighting the symbiosis between fandoms and the values of their fictional idols, as well as the complex relation between auteurism [[MerchandiseDriven and profit]] in commercial media.
9	----
10	!!This series provides examples of:
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12	* AbnormalAmmo: [[spoiler: Downplayed with Otoya's belt-thrown steel disks which, despite being disguised as ordinary Tokusatsu compact discs, are clearly designed as weapons first and foremost.]]
13	* ArmedLegs: The heels of Mari Rima's ''Beeasader'' suit can fire [[StickyBomb sticky paint balls]].
14	* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Zig-zagged with Yuhito Aiba, a ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer who has [[PowerIncontinence way too much strength]], but couldn't get into combat sports since he often injured himself more than anybody else. However, [[spoiler: when he discovers the Tokusatsu character to its eventual idealization, and later comes across unpleasant cosplayers who use their costumes to hide their criminal deeds, he finally has an excuse to vent his violence on others.]]
15	* AscendedFanboy: Mari Rima is the only one of the ''Tokubiken'' who indirectly works in the Tokusatsu industry, at a toymaker sponsor overseeing budget and designs. In contrast to the overtly idealistic Otoya, she clearly sees the MerchandiseDriven nature of the works. [[spoiler: This seems to slowly change in the series, as she fears that the odd events that make her return to the ''Gekikou Kamen'' activities are too weird for regular people like her boyfriend.]]
16	** To a lesser extent, everybody else seems to have jobs influenced by their love of Tokusatsu: toy fan Otoya Jissoji is both an art model himself and a model kit/prop seller, Ichiru Narita fights against real-life [[NuclearMutant atomic threats]] as a nuclear decommissioner, Takafumi Nakano became a [[StockSuperheroDayJobs policeman]], and Yō Serizawa is a scientist much like his ''Film/Godzilla1954'' namesake. Inverted with the ''[[Series/KamenRider Fukumen Viper]]'' cosplayer, who coincidentally seems to have had a delivery rider job before discovering the motorcycle-riding hero.
17	* BlindedByTheLight: Otoya Jissoji's ''Mikado Waechter'' suit has blinding lights in his ornamental goggles. Mari Rima's ''Beeasader'' suit is also equipped with a commercial-grade laser in her mask's forehead for the same purpose.
18	* BornInTheWrongCentury: Otoya is not only drawn to UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan imagery, he's also compared more than once to the malnourished and idealistic wartime teenagers who were brainwashed to die for their country. [[spoiler: His Imperial Japan-themed cosplay is what temporarily saves him from being killed by two opponents, since one of them does not want to fight against a fellow Japanese soldier.]]
19	* {{Bowdlerise}}: The Tokusatsu character ''Beeaseder'' literally cuts her enemies in half turning her legs into scissors. The ''Tokubiken'' cosplay downplays its violent nature, changing it to inflatable legs that can be used to crush whoever is between them.
20	* CapeWings: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a wing-shaped cape that can be used for gliding short distances, and opens with an electrical umbrella-like mechanism.
21	* ChainsawGood: Mari Rima's ''Beeasader'' "Beeacutters" are small scissor-shaped chainsaws. It's mentioned that they're explicitly limited to be used for cutting hazards at an emergency work, and they have a safety plastic cover whenever they're not used.
22	* CoolBike: Averted with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer, who rides a fairly utilitarian scooter for his delivery job. Not that it does stop him from listening the ''Fukumen Viper'' theme while riding it (in what is clearly a ''Google'' video search for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1E-FDQ_0BY the original actor-sung version]])... [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji inherits it after Yuhito's mysterious immolation, but doesn't last much longer.]]
23	* CoolMask: The vigilante ''Fukumen Viper'''s cosplayer helmet is noted one of the most expensive and limited replicas of the character's costume, signed by the original actor Shin Iwakura. [[spoiler: This hint proves essential to discovering his identity, as the vigilante seems too young to spend so much money on a seventies character replica. It turns out that ''Fukumen Viper'' himself, Shin Iwakura, gave it to a boy called Yuhito Aiba who seemed to wield the spirit of the character. That said, Yuhito modifies it to see correctly through the mask's "eyes", instead of the hidden eyeholes.]]
24	* {{Cyborg}}: Actor Shin Iwakura, much like his character Fukumen Viper, is mentioned to have had cutting-edge surgery first used in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar to repair his body. This is a ''very'' slightly modified homage to ''Kamen Rider'' actor Hiroshi Fujioka's surgery, who had an innovative hip surgery after having a severe accident filming the series which would make him a Tokusatsu legend.
25	* DecidedByOneVote: Most of the ''Tokubiken'' acts where the members have to use their suits and/or practical effects have strict regulations that have to be approved by a majority of the group.
26	* DefeatEqualsExplosion: Discussed by Otoya in a fight, who [[spoiler: thinks that dealing a killing blow will only remove any solid evidence of a real monster. Instead, he figures out that calling a bomb defusal squad might be safer and would involve witnesses.]]
27	* DivingKick: The ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer can do them even better than the series' performers, who relied on springboards and camera tricks, by sheer strength alone.
28	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The original ''Mikado Waechter'' novel describes rather clearly the superhero's phallus just after getting prepared to perform a mission. The exact shape is compared to a World War II [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_B5N Nakajima B5N]] torpedo bomber.
29	* EvilGloating: Inverted. [[spoiler: Otoya, who is afraid to die quickly at the hands of a ''kaijin'', tries to monologue against him to buy some time, but the monster doesn't quite fall for it, [[PrepareToDie uttering a single line]]. Both opponents settle for preparing their next blow.]]
30	* GrapplingHookPistol: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a rope-firing gun, [[spoiler: which is used to stop a fight between two cosplayers.]]
31	* HandSeals: Yō Serizawa makes a couple of them when cosplaying as ''Ayamiyuri'', enforcing the character's ninja gimmick.
32	* HazmatSuit: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit is a minor version of this, as it is not only equipped with a gas mask (like most of the ''Tokubiken'' members), but also with anti-infection measures. It helps that Serizawa has a background in biology studies.
33	* HenshinHero: Otoya pulls a real one, covering his flesh in slush powder gel and burning an outer bulky mountain climbing gear layer to reveal a fireproof ''Mikado Waechter Shikkoku'' costume.
34	* HeroismMotiveSpeech: Done in earnest by the old Tokusatsu star Shin Iwakura, who complains that a sardonic suit performer dressed as a security guard-themed superhero should take his job more seriously... And tries to perform his job with humiliating results, given the actor's feeble body. [[spoiler: At least an onlooker takes his words very seriously and imitates his old ''Fukumen Viper'' character, acting as a cosplayer vigilante.]]
35	* HourOfPower: Enforced. Nebula Buddi (i. e. ''Ultraman'') is mentioned to have a three minute limit. The narrator notes that this is similar to ordinary humans, who can only fight at full power for a similar time.
36	* HumanWeapon: [[spoiler: Some humanoid weapons seemingly created by UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan are revealed, like [[WhyAmITicking human bombs]], [[{{Transhuman}} steel-like supermen]] with human disguises, or (allegedly) air raid-resistant helmets.]]
37	* IaijutsuPractitioner: One of ''Mikado Waechter'' (Otoya Jissoji)'s main weapons is a genuine katana drawn by a compressed air-powered belt mechanism -- which is also ''very'' dangerous without the need of a weapon. [[spoiler: So far, the belt mechanism itself has been shown to be ''the'' most dangerous weapon in the series, accidentally gouging an eye out, throwing out steel disks that cut more than a katana, and puncturing a lung covered by steel flesh.]]
38	* JapaneseSchoolClub: The Tokusatsu Bijutsu Kenkyukai ("Tokusatsu Art Research Society"), aka the ''Tokubiken'', is a Tokusatsu fan club whose former attempts at making a completely realistic movie drive the plot.
39	* LighterAndSofter: Heavily implied to be the case of the ''Beeasader'' Tokusatsu show... For one, the original ''Beeasader'' ''manga'' on which the show was based on actually has her wearing a breast-exposing outfit, ''Manga/KekkoKamen''-style, and literally mutilating some of her enemies, gore and all. This is probably inspired by Creator/GoNagai's popular ''manga'', whose explicit content was heavily toned down in their ''anime'' adaptations[[note]]Keep in mind that, by seventies[='=] ''manga'' standards, this was ''common'' in works catered to the child-preteen ''shonen'' demographic, as TV standards were more strict[[/note]].
40	* LoonyFan: All the ''Tokubiken'' members to some extent (after all, their objective was to turn fictional characters into legitimate weapon-armed vigilantes), but perhaps the main character Otoya Jissoji suffers most from this, not quite having found his place in society unlike the rest of the team. [[spoiler: His safekeeping acts eventually get up to him, since Otoya's [[IJustShotMarvinInTheFace accidental gouging out of a teenager's eye]] (granted, the teen was trying to ''decapitate another kid'' trying to imitate [[MiddleEasternTerrorists graphic terrorist videos]], but it was a legitimate accident) quickly turns him into [[TabloidMelodrama a media pariah]] -- after all, a fully armed adult cosplayer who collects nude photos (as both an art model and the former team's tailor) and "fights violently against children" is hardly laudable.]]
41	* MagnetismManipulation: Yu Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' "Magneyuuri" sword which, despite being katana-shaped, is a powerful magnet purely used to attract steel weapons. Since most ''Tokubiken'' suits use electronics, the wearer has to learn how to use it as far as possible from them including his own, lampshading the SelectiveMagnetism trope.
42	* ManlyTears: The ''Mikado Waechter'' suit appropiately "cries" after a mock funeral... Although it's a rare case of an actor's sweat spilling out from the mask's eyeholes.
43	* MillionToOneChance: Deconstructed. In a fight, Otoya hopes that his [[TakingYouWithMe kamikaze-like tactic]] works, remembering the odds of the succesfull wartime suicide attacks... [[spoiler: His opponent, having actually lived during Imperial Japan, calls him out on what was manipulative wartime propaganda made by people who were never at risk of being deployed to combat, telling Otoya that most of his companions died in vain [[TheUnchosenOne hoping to be the one who made a difference]] in the war effort. In other words, by every one out of 100.000 who managed to pull it off, ''99.999 didn't''.]]
44	* NerfArm: Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'' carries a paint-firing toy firearm shaped like a Nambu Type 14 gun. [[spoiler: In what could be a life-or-death combat, Otoya fills it with [[DeadlyGas chlorine gas chemicals]].]]
45	* NetGun: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a net firing device, implied to have a web-like motif to the moth-themed character. While it's useful to retain any possible danger until the police arrive, [[spoiler: he hadn't any chance to use it, since the rest of the team decides to keep their opponents free.]]
46	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The manga is a who's who of famous Tokusatsu figures like Creator/EijiTsuburaya (Manji Ichinoya), [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (Yusaku Narita), early ''kaijin'' designer [[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/高橋章 Akira Takahashi]] (Akira Sayama), producer [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoyuki_Tanaka Tomoyuki Tanaka]] (Tomoyuki Morinaga), suit actor Creator/HaruoNakajima (Haruo Shimamura), "[[Series/KamenRider Takeshi Hongo]]" Creator/HiroshiFujioka ("Jin Sukima" Shin Iwakura) or Creator/IshiroHonda (possibly Shirou Itome) -- although other historical figures also appear, like admiral UsefulNotes/IsorokuYamamoto (Kameto Kuroshima).
47	* NoSocialSkills: Otoya is awful at human interaction, rather immature for his age, and tends to rehearse generic phrases before meeting with anyone. However, when he's doing anything related to his ''Mikado Waechter'' persona, he seems to loosen up.
48	* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Discussed by the ''Tokubiken'' members, who notice that Akira Sayama, a seventies ''kaijin'' designer, might have lied about his creations' original violent nature to mantain a family-friendly audience, merely talking about their educational and creative value.
49	** Manji Ichinoya (an Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the ''Tokubiken'' members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how accurate the Japanese military's private ''tactical simulations'' could be... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography. [[spoiler:At least a modified human seems to have a grudge against Ichinoya for making top-secret propaganda that probably made him want to be experimented with, which could potentially mean that he wasn't ''just'' involved in special effects.]]
50	* PowerFist: Otoya Jissoji's ''Mikado Waechter'' suit gloves are filled with ironsand attracted to magnetic knuckles. However, he can't hold anything while using it, rendering the hand useless during its use.
51	* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler: So far, the heroes have always managed to reach a stalemate with their deadliest opponents, from [[NotSoDifferentRemark realizing that there's no need to fight]] to [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds empathizing with their tragic transformations]].]]
52	* PowerUpFullColorChange: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit is made of photochromic materials. It's implied that the original character could change colors depending on day or night.
53	* ShockAndAwe: Ichiru Narita's ''Nebula Buddi'' suit has built-in defibrilators in her palms, as well as ground wires and an insulated suit to prevent any self-harm.
54	* ShoutOut: The ''Tokubiken'' members are named after famous industry figures: part-timer Otoya Jissoji after director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Jissoji Akio Jissoji]], club leader Akinori Kiridōshi after media critic Risaku Kiridōshi, toymaker executive Mari Rima probably after ''[[Series/SuperRobotRedBaron Red Baron]]'' MsFanservice heroine Mari Matsubara, policeman Takafumi Nakano after special effects director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruyoshi_Nakano Teruyoshi Nakano]], and postdoctorate researcher Yō Serizawa after the iconic ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' scientist Daisuke Serizawa. Nuclear decommissioner Ichiru Narita takes it a step further, since she's the granddaughter of a [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (early Ultra Series designer) expy.
55	** The ''Tokubiken'''s idols are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Postwar superhero Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagle of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), robot Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], alien Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, villain Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, ninja Ayamiyuri seems to be a mix between ''Series/{{Inazuman}}'' and ''Series/NinjaCaptor''[[note]]Although he shares the "Butterfly Ninja" title with Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya''[[/note]], and the police Kiriko Asami/Beeasader seems to based on ''Anime/CuteyHoney'' / ''Manga/KekkoKamen'' and Denpa Ningen Tackle from ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' with a scissor motif based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]][[spoiler:, up to the point of a ''Beeasader'' cosplayer "cutting" (actually ''crushing'', since the "scissor" weapons aren't sharp-edged) a sexual abuse-charged celebrity's phallus.]].
56	** Other than the main heroes, there's Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the non-tokusatsu Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]'', but also resembles karateka [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama Mas Oyama]]'s alleged anti-GHQ postwar vigilantism shown in ''[[Creator/IkkiKajiwara Karate Baka Ichidai]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku / Agō (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] / [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Agito]]''[[note]]"Zeku" seems to be a reference to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra Heart Sūtra]]'s ''yojijukugo'' "shikisoku'''zekū'''", i. e. "''form is emptiness''"[[/note]]), [=TraiZion=] (''Series/{{Kikaider}}'' / ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''), Uchū Seigi Renpō K (''[[Series/MetalHeroes Uchū Keiji]]'' series / ''Series/RobotDetective K''), Nebula Buddy Torou (''Series/UltramanTiga''), Buddhi Zero (''Franchise/UltramanZero''), the Yaobikuneez (nineties ''Franchise/SuperSentai''), or Shōjo Kabuto Hachikazuki oo (''[[Manga/SukebanDeka Sukeban Deka II]]'' / ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikazuki Princess Hachikazuki]]'').
57	** Manaon, Nakano's wife, is into bodybuilding. He seems to be pretty proud of her, comparing her body to an "ogre back" much like the Hanma family's in ''Manga/BakiTheGrappler''.
58	** In a fight, Otoya thinks of using the tactics seen in the climax of ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' to [[TakingYouWithMe end a fight]], since he only has an oxygen tank and a bullet to pierce it as weapons. [[spoiler: It backfires in an unexpected way, since [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome the tank flies off like a rocket]] and ricochets off a wall.]]
59	** Chapter 42 is a giantic homage to ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' (as ''Nebula Buddi''): not only are [[InvadingRefugees Baltan]], [[TragicMonster Jamila]] and [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters Woo]]'s episode metaphors explicitly mentioned, but the way of dealing with the MonsterOfTheWeek is a reference to [[spoiler: episode 35, where it turns out that the heroes discover [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman a space graveyard inhabited by all the killed monsters]], and accidentally bring a peaceful one to earth. Narita, inspired by the episode, asks the now-disfigured opponents to hide and find a happy place, in exchange of not revealing anything about them to the authorities.]]
60	* SuicideAttack: Wartime Japan's history with suicide attacks is thoroughly discussed, like the alarmingly low success rate of the ''[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiten Kaiten]]'' manned torpedoes being embellished by the otherwise pefectionist Manji Ichinoya for propaganda purposes, or the ''[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuryu Fukuryū]]'' suicide divers being an unintentional influence on some early Kamen Rider-esque ''kaijin''.
61	* SquareCubeLaw: Lampshaded in the first ''Tokubiken'' meeting, where the leader reads an essay about how it's technically impossible for ''kaiju'' to exist for those reasons.
62	* StartsWithTheirFuneral: The plot starts with the death of Akinori Kiridōshi, the leader of the ''Tokubiken'' university club, and how the members reunite to pay respects... As well as perform a mock funeral-execution to his Tokusatsu costume, as one of his last wills.
63	* TeenGenius: Downplayed with Yō Serizawa, who merely skipped a grade. Unlike the rest of the team, he's still doing university research in the present, which lets him have some more time to ''Tokubiken'' activities than the rest of the team (not helped by being the only one without a romantic partner, other than Jissoji). This is possibly a reference to how many real-life postdoctorates have to settle to being university researchers for lack of jobs.
64	* ThreeLawsCompliant: Lampshaded with Takafumi Nakano playing as ''Kiborger'', who must recieve commands from a human partner played by Otoya... Who deliberately tries to be ambiguous with his orders, to give Nakano an opportunity to play more freely his character.
65	* TorpedoTits: Mari Rima's ''Beeasader'' suit is armed with revolving Stanley knife-style blades in her breasts, much like a fan. [[spoiler: It's actually used in a commuting harassment incident (Mari was wearing the suit to get used to its weight), dealing small hand cuts to a pervert. In that moment, Mari Rima finally feels-like an actual hero, instead of being limited to be an award-winning, MaleGaze-enduring cosplayer.]]
66	* TransformationSequence: Discussed with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer's henshin pose, who doesn't quite convey the original character's strength (performing more like ''Fukumen Viper Zeku'''s [[BattleChant haka]]-like pose)... [[spoiler: Until, to the surprise of everyone (and even himself), he transforms into a sea urchin-like [[WhyAmITicking human cluster bomb]].]]
67	* TrickedOutShoes: Otoya Jissoji's ''Mikado Waechter'' boots have compressed air-powered extending heels, useful for meter-length jumps or a blow with the costume's steel knee pads.
68	* UncannyValley: [[spoiler: Jissoji's obsession with ''tokusatsu'' makes him feel uneasy with a man's [[TheUnblinking odd blinking]]. Also he seems to weigh more than his appeareance seems... Turns out that Jissoji was right: his appearance is just a disguise.]]
69	* VigilanteMan: Gekikou Kamen (roughly translated as "Tempestuous Light Mask"), a non-Tokusatsu nationalistic masked vigilante, was mentioned as an active vigilante during [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan Occupation-era]] Japan fighting against American-made injustice. Noticeably, this seems to vaguely inspire the future ''Tokubiken''.
70	* VigilanteMilitia: The ''Tokubiken''[='=]s functional suits are later used to stop petty crimes like voyeurism, hate speech or stalker victim protection, mostly making time for policemen to arrive. To Otoya's dissapointment, their real-world impact is very small, in comparison to the dramatic nature of their original influences. [[spoiler: Otoya / ''Mikado Waechter''[='=]s attempt at saving a boy from a decapitation attempt ends rather badly, with the main assailant being accidentally hurt and Otoya almost jailed.]]
71	** Other cosplayers' practices devolve into more standard street fights and even more violent turf war battles, using the characters' masks as a mere excuse to hide their identities when using violence.
72	* VillainsActHeroesReact: Discussed by the ''Tokubiken'' members, who talk about how they need to compare real-life incidents to tokusatsu villains to prove they're the heroes. Policeman Nakano compares it to desiring to join the police in hopes of becoming a high-ranking officer or in riot control just to [[SuperCop tackle the most interesting cases]] as seen on fictional media, instead of doing more realistic mundane tasks.
73	* VomitIndiscretionShot: [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji vomits his breakfast after being crushed by a ''kaijin''... Thankfully, his mask has a built-in emergency nozzle. Not much later, the ''kaijin'' vomits blood after having his lung pierced.]]
74	* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya is constantly called out on his admiration for UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan, like remarking the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide in front of a WWII veteran who ''lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks'' (or, even worse, ''[[ShaggyDogStory in their training sessions]]''... Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly), or wishing to live up to the ideal of doing an heroic [[ImpossibleMission one in a million]] sacrifice, without realizing that the selfish trope degrades ''every other human being'' to CannonFodder status.
75	* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Averted with Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'', who always uses his gun as the first weapon. Its lethality is proportional to [[SetSwordsToStun the opponent's threat level]], [[spoiler: choosing its ammo from innofensive paint to DeadlyGas.]]
76	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: The ''Hachikazuki''-like woman suffers from dementia caused by [[OlderThanTheyLook her old age]]: she mistakes a group of horny photographers for a gang of rapists, which she might have been a victim decades ago, and uses the former wartime orders as a justification. Her brother, another mutant himself, is just trying to cover her crimes, hoping that she never makes the same mistake again, and noting that there's no excuse for it. To end with their pain, since they will [[HumanWeapon never]] [[NeverGrewUp live]] a normal life, he chooses to do a final double murder-suicide.]]
77	* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Takafumi Nakano as ''Kiborger'', thanks to his experience as a mover and his suit's abilities, is able to chuckle a football player like if he were a real-life Tokusatsu character... Thankfully he doesn't do it, since the ''Kiborger'' character doesn't harm humans, therefore preventing any possibility of heavily injuring somebody.

Context Manga / GekikouKamen