This is a list of Asian superheroes.
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses superpowers or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books, as well as in Japanese media.
The Super Sentai Series is a Japanese superhero team metaseries and media franchise consisting of television series and films produced by Toei Company and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi. The shows are of the tokusatsu genre, featuring live action characters and colorful special effects, and are aimed at children and young adults. Super Sentai airs alongside the Kamen Rider series in the Super Hero Time programming block on Sunday mornings. In North America, the Super Sentai series is best known as the source material for the Power Rangers series.
Tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, tokusatsu mainly refers to science fiction, war, fantasy, or horror media featuring such technology but is also occasionally dubbed a genre itself. Its contemporary use originated in the Japanese mass media around 1958 to explain special effects in an easy-to-understand manner and was popularized during the "first monster boom" (1966–1968). Prior to the monster boom, it was known in Japan as tokushu gijutsu or shortened tokugi.
Shotaro Ishinomori, né Onodera, was a Japanese manga artist and cartoonist. Known as the "King of Manga", he is regarded as one of the most influential manga artists of all time. Outside of manga he is also one of the most prolific creators in the history of anime, tokusatsu, and Japanese superhero fiction, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009, the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider series. He was twice awarded by the Shogakukan Manga Awards, in 1968 for Sabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae and in 1988 for Hotel and Manga Nihon Keizai Nyumon.
The Metal Hero Series is a metaseries of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television.
Superhero films are movies centered around one superhero or several superheroes. These characters typically possess superhuman abilities. Hero ensembles often feature many distinct character archetypes and personalities. Traditionally, the first film in a series about a superhero character focuses on the hero's origin story and introduces the hero's nemesis. Superhero films typically contain genre elements of action, adventure, fantasy, or science fiction, and often address themes of power, justice, and morality.
Nao Nagasawa is a Japanese actress, voice actress, former singer and model. She is known for her roles in various tokusatsu series, film, and drama, such as "Nanami Nono / Hurricane Blue" in the series Super Sentai Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger.
Toshihiko Sahashi is a Japanese composer. He graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1986. Sahashi has composed music for various anime series, video games, films, dramas, and musicals. His works include the original soundtracks for Zipang, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Gunslinger Girl, Black Blood Brothers, Ultraman Gaia, Ultraman Mebius, Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Agito, Kamen Rider Hibiki, Kamen Rider Den-O, Full Metal Panic!, Hunter × Hunter, Simoun, Reborn! and composed all three Saint Seiya anime series. Together with the London Symphony Orchestra, two symphonic albums have been released, each arranging his compositions from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny. For the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise's 30th anniversary, he again collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra for another symphonic music album.
Keshi aka keshigomu is the Japanese word for eraser. In modern "keshi" refers to a collectible miniature figure, often of a manga or anime character, made of coloured hard rubber. However, the word's reference has broadened beyond its etymological meaning, as keshi are made of several types of rubber, ranging in appearance from opaque matte to transparent. Also, some lines, such as the "Cosmos Souls Keshi Gum", use plastic parts. Keshi figures are not necessarily based on Japanese comic book or TV series franchises, since there are keshi dedicated to video games and some western lines are based on local mythologies and popular culture. A similar product is often mistakenly thought be keshi, the pencil cap toy which appeared around the same period.
A superpower is a special or extraordinary superhuman ability far greater than what is considered normal. Superpowers are typically displayed in science fiction and fantasy media such as comic books, TV shows, video games, and film as the key attribute of a superhero. The concept originated in American comics and pulp fiction of the 1930s and 1940s, and has gradually worked its way into other genres and media.
Superhero fiction is a subgenre of science fiction examining the adventures, personalities and ethics of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. The genre primarily falls between hard fantasy and soft science fiction in the spectrum of scientific realism. It is most commonly associated with American comic books, though it has expanded into other media through adaptations and original works.
Hiroshi Maeda is a professional Japanese stunt man and suit actor from Kōchi Prefecture who is best known for portraying the Red Ranger in most of the Power Rangers series as well as the Tyranno Ranger, Red Hawk and Five Red in the 1992 Super Sentai series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger.
Koichi Sakamoto is a Japanese film and television director, stunt performer and coordinator, fight choreographer and producer. He is best known for his work in the tokusatsu genre, particularly for the Power Rangers, Super Sentai and Kamen Rider franchises.
Rose Media and Entertainment or formerly known as Rose Video, and Rose Animation is a Thai entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 by Phiraphon Montphichit. The company markets and distributes films and music, was an anime licensor from 2000 to '2017, and later included the owner of BNK48's label Independent Artist Management.
The Chouseishin Series is a tokusatsu superhero TV franchise which debuted in Japan from 2003 through 2006. The Chouseishin Series was produced by Toho Company, Ltd., in association with Konami, to emulate and partner the success of Toei's Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series.
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger is a Japanese television series, the 39th entry of Toei's long-running Super Sentai metaseries, following Ressha Sentai ToQger. It is the third ninja-based Sentai, and the fourth to be based on Japanese mythology and culture and aired from February 22, 2015 to February 7, 2016, replacing Ressha Sentai ToQger and was replaced by Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger. The program joining Kamen Rider Drive, and later, Kamen Rider Ghost in the Super Hero Time line-up on TV Asahi affiliate stations, until concluding on February 7, 2016. Ninninger also serves as the 40th anniversary of the franchise. The lead screenwriter for the series is Kento Shimoyama and Kousuke Yamashita serves as the series' composer. Its footage is used for the American Power Rangers season, Power Rangers Ninja Steel and its follow-up season, Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel.
Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger is a Japanese Tokusatsu drama and the 40th entry of Toei's long-running Super Sentai metaseries, following Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. It aired from February 14, 2016 to February 5, 2017, replacing Shuriken Sentai Ninninger and was replaced by Uchu Sentai Kyuranger. The program joining Kamen Rider Ghost, and later, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid in the Super Hero Time line-up on TV Asahi affiliate stations. Released as part of Super Sentai's 40th anniversary and Toei's "Super Hero Year", Zyuohger is the seventh series in the franchise whose central theme is animals, after Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan, Choujyu Sentai Liveman, Chōjin Sentai Jetman, Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, and Juken Sentai Gekiranger. The series also has a Minecraft-inspired and Rubik's cube motif. The lead screenwriter for the series is Junko Kōmura.