Series / Seven Color Mask

Seven-Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) was a tokusatsu superhero TV series created by Kohan Kawauchi, who previously created Moonlight Mask. Aired in black-and-white, it was was the first superhero TV series by Toei Company Ltd.. It was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from June 3, 1959 to June 30, 1960, with a total of 57 episodes divided into 7 segments. Aside from being Toei's first TV superhero show, this series was also the debut of actor Sonny Chiba, who was 19 at the time, who took over the title role from Susumu Namijima after Episode 32.

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A Spiritual Successor to Moonlight Mask, Seven-Color Mask was itself followed by Messenger of Allah, another Kohan Kawauchi show which starred Sonny Chiba as the lead.

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• Arc Villain: Cobra Mask, King Rose, Red Jaguar, the Three Aces, Golden King.
• Compilation Movie: The first four arcs were compiled into theatrical releases.
• Film Serial: The Susumu Namijima arcs were compiled in released in theaters as this. The first arc was divided into four films, while the next three were divided into three each.
• Gold and White Are Divine: As Seven-Color Mask, Kotaro wears a white suit with a golden mask.
• Guns Akimbo: Like Moonlight Mask before him, Seven-Color Mask has a gun for each hand.
• Master of Disguise: Kotaro Ran uses seven different personalities, his 7th disguise being Seven-Color Mask.
• New Season, New Name: After 31 episodes and four arcs, the show was renamed New Seven-Color Mask for the remaining 26 episodes and three arcs, reflecting the change in leading actor.
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• Protagonist Title
• Secret Identity: Kotaro Ran is Seven-Color Mask.
• Spiritual Successor: To Moonlight Mask, also created by Kohan Kawauchi. Both have Badass Normal detectives who change into a masked hero with Guns Akimbo.
• Story Arc: Seven-Color Mask ran for seven arcs, of which the last three aired under the name New Seven-Color Mask.
  • Cobra Mask (12 episodes)
  • King Rose (6 episodes)
  • Red Jaguar (7 episodes)
  • Three Ace (6 episodes)
  • Map of the Dragon Tiger^note Ryuuko no Chizu (6 episodes)
  • Don't Touch the Poisonous Spider^note Doku Kumo ni Tewodasuna (7 episodes)
  • Japan is Targeted^note Nihon wa nerawa rete iru (13 episodes)

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