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Monday, June 23, 2014

Power Rangers Dino Charge vs Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger

Saban Brands will soon water down another Super Sentai show, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, into Power Rangers Dino Charge. Here is the reported story line about the “new”  Power Ranger show.


In Dino Charge, the Energems were given to a dozen dinosaurs for safe keeping by an alien, but they were lost when asteroids hit the Earth and wiped out the dinos. Now in the present day, an intergalactic bounty hunter starts sniffing around Earth looking for the Energems in order to harness their power and annihilate the world, so a team of Power Rangers forms to find the Energems first and fight the bounty hunter and other threats with dino-powered swords, blasters, Zords and Megazords.

In the United States, which was founded on the freedom of religion, the story line from the Japanese show would never be allowed on American TV. Too religious. And from a country where Christianity is less than 1% no less has created a TV show that clearly explains the Christian belief in its basic forms.

The original story line for Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger is as follows.

Long ago, in the time of the dinosaurs, the Earth was invaded by an alien menace called Deboth, the leader of an invasion army. On the verge of extinction, some of the dinosaurs are transformed into Zyudenryu and seal Deboth and his forces in ice.

Now, in the modern world, the Deboth Army have thawed and now intend to commence the mass extinction of humanity while thawing their still frozen leader. But having prepared for it, Wise God Torin gathers the only people capable of helping the Zyudenryu stop the Deboth Army: "the People of the Great and Mighty Lizards", which has been shortened to "Kyoryugers"

But within the storyline there are spirits, resurrection, forgiveness, inheritance, redemption and the end of Hell as we know it. I will break many of this down as I have seen these things within the show.

Wise God Torin was originally created for evil and sent to destroy the Earth and all life on it. But he fell in love with Earth and the dinosaurs. He used all of his powers to change 24 dinosaurs into Zyudenyu. The Deboth Army was defeated and frozen away underwater.  He then spent many years overcoming all those he had killed and the Zyudenyu who died for him. He created and trained many Kyoryugers over the years to stop fragments of the Deboth Army invading Earth.

Just as Jesus went to the cross to establish spiritual salvation, Torin went with the same mission to cleanse the spirit world of evil. His spirit was pure and bright. Not dark and evil as when he first came to Earth. In John 16: 12-15 when Jesus spoke of someone coming after him to spread the truth can also be seen between Torin and Dantetsu Kiryu.

Dantetsu Kiryu walked the Earth his whole life. He was able to listen and communicate with the earth. Eventually becoming King of Earth. His son, Daigo Kiryu  - Kyoryu Red followed in his footsteps but rarely saw his father over the years. But Only when Dantetsu assumed the role that Torin held did everyone know the full story. And why Torin had to die in order to save everyone. Eventually Daigo Kiryu obtained the same level as his father and becomes the second generation King of the Earth.

Utsusemimaru and Raging Knight Dogold are the perfect examples of Matthew 5:43-48. Two people who truly hated each other to eventually come to care and respect each other to their deaths. Dogold is an empty shell type monster. Four hundred years ago he trapped Utsusemimaru within his armor. They both fused in mind and body till eventually they were separated. Still hating one another. As they knew everything about each other, they always took verbal swipes at each other. But they each went to the others defense when they were struggling or in great turmoil. Eventually fighting together to stop the Deboth Army.


Joyful Knight Candelilla is a Deboth villain. Stealing joy and love from people. But when she encountered Nobuharu Udo - Kyoryu Blue she began to change as both of them fell in love with one another. He would remind her that she could change just as Torin did. He even protected her when she was hunted down by the Deboth Army. Because of Nobuhara unchanging love for her, she was able to change her ways, eventually joining Torin in destroying Hell and becoming a mentor for the Kyoryugers.


Sorrowful Knight Aigaron causes people to feel sorrow. He caused a lot of problems for the Kyoryugers only to show unconditional love towards Candelila. So much so that when the leader of the Deboth Army was revived Aigaron sacrificed his life so Candelila could escape. Even Ian Yorkland -Kyoryu Black was moved to tears by his sacrifice and forgave Aigaron. Aigaron was responsible for killing Ian’s friend years earlier as Ian’s sorrow and anger kept feeding Aigaron.

In terms of inheritance the show gave three examples of it. Two of the Kyoryugers are spirits as they had died years ago. Tessai – Kyoryu Gray gives his descendant, Shinya Tsukouchi the ability to become a Kyoryuger. This can be called Ancestral lineage inheritance.

Doctor Ulshade – Kyoryu Violet had been raising his granddaughter, Yayoi Ulshade who eventually took over as Kyoryu Violet. Their relationship was much like Abraham and Isaac. She held unconditional love for her grandfather that their scientific work and fighting style were as one in the same. Not like an obedient child but more like in Matthew 5:48 (the correct translation; You therefore must be mature, as your heavenly Father is mature.) She was treated as an adult by the way she maturely acted, even though she was still a teenager.  This is Parental lineage inheritance.

Yuko Fukui is the younger sister of Kyoryu Blue. She is chosen to replace Ramirez – Kyoryu Cyan as Ramirez had to go with Tessai and Torin to destroy Hell. She inherited the position for many reasons. But mainly for protecting Ramirez when he was attacked and hunted down by the Deboth Army. Just like the story of the Good Samaritan, she took him into her home and protected him. Even protecting her older brother’s secret that he was a Kroyuger from her.  She inherited the role as Kyoru Cyan much in the way that Christianity inherited the role as the second Israel.

Unlike Power Rangers, the Super Sentai shows express real life situations. People do die. The bad guys do win from time to time. And making the ultimate sacrifice does happen. Christians are famously known for sacrificing themselves for their religion and faith. And throughout the series many of the Kyoryugers were sacrifice for their faith as well. Ramirez died fighting the Deboth Army five hundred years ago. Kyoryu Red faced the leader of the Deboth Army knowing he was not going to make it out alive. When he killed Transcendenterfly God Deboth and the ship was burning above the Earth; he simply sat down and waited to die. Utsusemimaru even fought to his death when he and Dogold defeated Resentful Knight Endolf.  


Saban Brands had no choice but to drown the main storyline of the Kyoryugers. Atheist would protest the show as being too religious. Christian groups would protest the show as an attack on their religion. The Network sponsors would pull their ads out of fear of offending anybody and losing money and profits. A kids TV show that stood out with a great story line and with a very Christian theme from a country where Christianity is as common as the blue moon. 

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Ayaka Shiomura vs Japanese Political Standards


Japan is up in arms about insensitive and sexist remarks made by male members of The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (the equivalent of a U.S. State Government Assembly) toward a female representative during her presentation earlier this week. She was speaking on issues of raising children in Japan.

Ayaka Shiomura, a 36-year-old member of the opposition Your Party, called for the Tokyo metropolitan government to support women who need assistance while pregnant or raising children during a June 18 assembly session. She also suggested that the government should help Japanese women who have fertility issues to conceive children.

Japan is wrestling with a declining birth rate and growing elderly population. It has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.

While she was speaking, men in the section for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) began jeering at her with lines like: “Hey you, should hurry up and get married!” and “Can’t you have babies?”


Shiomura continued to speak even though she had to choke back tears at one point. After the session, Minoru Morozumi, the secretary-general of Your Party’s assembly members, lodged a protest with his LDP counterpart, Osamu Yoshiwara.

Osamu Yoshiwara told the press that he wasn’t in a position to confirm whether or not it was a member of his party who yelled out the comments, but he asked assembly members to behave in a “in a dignified manner.”

While she was speaking, men in the section for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) began jeering at her with lines like: “Hey you, should hurry up and get married!”

It should be noted that this isn’t the first time the leaders of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government have made sexist and inappropriate remarks; it’s almost a tradition. LDP backed Shintaro Ishihara, who was governor of Tokyo from April 1999 to October 2012, remarked circa 2001, “It’s a waste and a crime for women who have lost their reproductive powers to go on living.” (PDF) The current governor of Tokyo, Yoichi Masuzoe, also backed by the LDP, has said in the past such classics as “Women are not normal when they are on their period. They are abnormal. You can’t possibly let them make critical decisions about the country [during their periods], such as whether or not to go to war.” He also has commented that women elected to office were “all a bunch of old middle-aged hags.”

The incident might have passed quietly but what began as a protest about inappropriate behavior by Tokyo Assembly members quickly grew into a roaring wave of resentment and anger from women all over Japan—and some men as well.

A online petition, which calls for punishment of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly  members who hurled those sexist comments, gathered more than 32, 000 signatures throughout Japan in under 24 hours.  The petition was posted on Change.org, a website which provides a platform for citizens to gather signatures and support for popular causes. The number of signatures is expected to exceed in 60,000 in the next day.

The jeers were also disturbing in that they seemed to echo the sentiments of the 10 Precepts for Marriage issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1939 during the period of military rule in Japan. The guidelines concluded with the infamous line:  For the sake of the country, give birth and grow the population.

The petition is the fastest-growing campaign ever placed on Change.org Japan, according to Emmy Suzuki Harris, Campaigns Director for Japan at Change.org.

Surprisingly the creator of the petition is a man. He corresponded with The Daily Beast on conditions of anonymity. He feels that the signatures are not enough.

“We should know why something that the citizens cannot really forgive happened. However, to see people in other regions showing the same anger at what happened touched and reassured me.”

“I’m deeply angry not only as an individual, but as a male. Because pressure and discrimination against women reflects badly on men as well.”

“These sort of taunts fly around and there are assembly members who laugh in an assembly where members who say ‘we’ll promote the social advancement of women!’ or ‘we’ll work firmly toward providing child care support!’ gather,” Shun Otokita, a colleague of Shimomura’s wrote on his blog. “This is the reality of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in the capital of our country.”

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that Yoshiwara said that he hadn’t heard the comments and suggested, “Perhaps each assembly faction makes sure its members don’t make rude comments.” The Daily Beast called the LDP faction for comments on the incident, but our reporter was disconnected twice and then told to call the public affairs office of the General Assembly.


Shiomura wrote on Twitter “ I was debating about pregnancy, giving birth, and infertility when the jeering began….As a woman there were very regrettable things said. The heartless taunts made me teary-eyed. I will take taunts about my policies, but I don’t think these are things you should say to women who are suffering (over child raising issues).”

Japan is  very far behind the rest of the developed world in terms of gender equality. Japan was ranked 105th last year in the 2013 Global Gender Gap Report, which  ranks women’s equality in 136 countries. Under the Shinzo Abe (LDP) administration, Japan’s ranking in press freedom has also fallen to new lows.
Shiomura is reportedly going to seek punishment for the person who yelled the comments at her. Judging by the huge numbers of people signing the petition and that her protest tweet has now been retweeted nearly 30,000 times—-she may have a lot of support.

On Friday, the organizers of the petition when to the assembly's council secretariat bearing a box filled with 42,580 signatures and 6,390 comments from supporters. The group demanded that the LDP punish the person responsible for the remarks by June 25. If this is not done, "The Tokyo branch of the LDP would be widely recognized at home and abroad as a group that accepts discrimination against women," wrote the petition's organizer on the Change.org webpage.


Prime Minister Abe, the most powerful person in the LDP, who has made anemic but sincere proclamations to promote gender equality may find himself in a position where he has to support an opposition party member and slap down his own rank and file.*

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Do College Age Children Understand Reality

As many people throughout the South was hit by a major snow storm a college basketball game between Duke University and UNC was postponed to a later date.

Many UNC students took to the internet to attack the Duke coach for cancelling the game. Even though it was the ACC officials with the coaches from both Universities that concluded that the severity of the storm was the main reason for postponing the game.

UNC backetball player Marcus Paige stated to the local media that the snowstorm wasn't horrible as all. Even though one person in the Raleigh area died and many were injured. Below is the article and link to this story plus news coverage after the snow and ice had stopped.

WRAL news story link


Disappointed students who walked away without seeing the Battle of the Blues last Wednesday may disagree, but the North Carolina Tar Heels said the snowstorm wasn’t a horrible thing.

“A week off didn’t hurt us,” said James Michael McAdoo. “The game being cancelled definitely gave us time to rest and catch up with schoolwork. And off course it gave us time to be kids and play in the snow.”

And believe him, people played in the snow.

“Yes, I played in the snow, why wouldn’t I?” McAdoo said. “I didn’t go sledding because the coach wouldn’t like to hear ‘McAdoo out for the season.’”

“We went outside and threw snowballs around with the students on campus. It was a good time,” Marcus Paige said. “I didn’t think it could snow that much down here. I’m from the Midwest so I’ve seen this much snow. For me it’s no problem but I didn’t think North Carolina was capable of getting this much snow.”

The cold of that winter blast provided Carolina a chance to keep heating up, adding two more wins since the postponed game against Duke. Carolina bolstered its battle of the blues resume and has now won seven straight games.

“It gives us a little more confidence,” said Marcus Paige. “The game against Pittsburgh was a really big game for us. We taught we really got better that game.”

“You don’t have to psych yourself up, if you do, you’re not breathing,” said Coach Roy Williams. “And I know I’m alive.”

That’s for the snowstorms side effect of four games in eight days. Marcus Paige is looking at the silver lining of that storm cloud and calls this week a great preparation for next month’s ACC tournament.



Thursday, February 13, 2014

Why I Hate the Power Rangers and Loving It

It took many years but I have finally come to terms with Power Rangers. Originally I regarded it as a joke and insult to the original version still being broadcasting in Japan known as Super Sentai. What made it worse for me was my two boys fell in love with the show. Forcing me to listen to countless stories about the shows episodes and toys they wanted to buy. But now I am beginning to understand it in a better light.

A little history:
Zyuden Sentai Kyoryugers



Ressha Sentai ToQger marks their entry as the 38th Super Sentai show just starting up this February 2014. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger has just finished there series run as the 37th Sentai show with the traditional two Super Sentai movies shown in the movie theaters. Plus the usual specials, music CD’s and the live action stage shows. The theme of the Kyoryuger’s is dinosaurs as ToQgers are trains.

My kids became fans of the Power Rangers during the Power Rangers series call Jungle Fury. The American version of the Sentai show called Juken Sentai Gekiranger. Were as Gekirangers was set inside a martial arts school, a pizza parlor was the headquarters for Jungle Fury as the owner built their equipment in the upstairs loft in-between making pizzas for the customers.

My kids continued to watch the Power Rangers as I eventually found a few links to watch the original Japanese version with subtitles. I didn’t think my kids would like it but they ended up loving the Japanese version so much that they stopped watching Power Rangers. Their response was that Power Rangers looked stupid.

The nail in the coffin was Power Rangers RPM. A Terminator theme as the machines had taken over the world except for a small human colony. The Japanese version of Engine Sentai Go-onger theme was humans and machines from another world working together to stop an invasion into the human world.

Bandai makes all the toys for both Super Sentai and Power Rangers. We have been buying all the Japanese toys from Go-onger to the new series ToQgers.  They are larger, made of metal and stronger plastics making them well-built and more durable. These toys make the Power Ranger toys look in comparison to a McDonald’s kid’s meal toy. 

For some reason Bandai made sure every Power Ranger toy set have motorcycles. Even if no one in the show drove one.  That might change as the Kyoryugers use motorcycles that were basically comprised of two dinosaur transformers.

The current Power Ranger show is called Power Rangers Megaforce loosely based on Tensou Sentai Goseiger. In the Japanese version the Goseigers are Angels from Heaven who guard the Earth. The Power Ranger version is five teenagers chosen to fight the invading forces. The second season of Megaforce is called Power Rangers Super Megaforce based on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

In the Japanese movie Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle, all the Super Sentai unites to stop the invading army called Zangyack. They lose all their powers which are transformed into keys that a group of space pirates called Gokaigers find and use them for their purpose.

Saban is skipping over Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters to make Power Rangers Dino Charge based on the Sentai show Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger. In Kyoryugers the ones that killed the dinosaurs are unfrozen and threaten to kill the Earth as originally planned. A group of people are chosen for their bravery by the dinosaurs to stop the bad guys. The last two episodes of the series was really an emotional ride that I doubt the Power Rangers would not dare show on American TV.

Episode 37 part 1 was, in my opinion, taken from the movie called ‘Legend of the 8 Samurai’ starring Hiroyuki Sanada. An actor you may remember from the 2013 movie ‘The Wolverine’ and the Syfy show called Helix. In it eight people were chosen to protect a princess. In doing so all but one died in holding back the invading armies so the Princess could escape.

 And in Kyoryugers each one is helping the rest get into the fortress to stop it from destroying the planet. And not everyone walks away from it alive. What sets this show apart from the future Power Ranger version is that two and eventually one more of the Kyoryugers are spirits. And to fully protect the Earth they have to destroy Hell in order to keep the bad guys from resurrecting. A story line from a country that has less than 1% Christianity in it.  But will never be broadcast in a country founded on the freedom of religion.

But what helped me to begin tolerating Power Rangers was due to a 1969 movie called ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ staring James Garner. A Western comedy that more than inspired Mel Brooks when he made 1974 movie ‘Blazing Saddles’. But the sequel to ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’ was called ‘Support Your Local Gunfighter’. Using the same actors from the first movie and based on the 1961 Japanese movie ‘Yojimbo’.

American remakes of Japanese movies and TV shows have opened up for more people to experience Japanese entertainment and culture.  With Power Rangers my boys were able to connect to current TV shows in Japan such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Garo as well as many of the Japanese animation shows that are yet shown or unlikely in being shown here in America.

And as I look back on TV shows and movies that I grew up watching; many of which originated from Japan has showed me that my negative attitude towards Power Rangers is hurting more than helping. As bad as it may be, it is causing kids and adults to research more on these shows and to explore more quality entertainment outside of America. Whether it is coming from Japan or other nations has taught me that Hollywood is running dry on TV and movie ideas for American audiences.

Many shows are simply being changed in character names and language to appear as if was originally from America. But in fact Hollywood has been plagiarizing for decades with blessings of the original creators or not. Dragonball Evolution is one example. As is the DreamWorks movie ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ which is loosely based on an old Japanese cartoon called ‘Vicky the Viking’. As ‘Vic the Viking’, a German live action version, is one of the few movies to truly honor the original Japanese works. But Disney’s The Lion King plagiarized nearly frame by frame from Kimba the White Lion and still refuses to admit it.

The list goes on and on but from an old Western movie I have opened up to loving the Power Rangers for what it is. And in the process has caused my two boys to delve deep into other cultures and lifestyles. They are joining others in breaking down stereotypes and dissolving racial and bigotry thoughts and actions that many older generations still cling to. I just wish they would stop using the same opening song for every freaking Power Ranger show.

10 minutes and 30 seconds into the movie below is when Goseigers and Gokaiger meet for the first time. Just before they start fighting each other. Roll call is at the 50 minute mark.


Ressha Sentai ToQger ( last 10 minutes of the 1st episode)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Why Kit Kat's Are Popular in Japan


RocketNews24        Mirror News       Different Flavors

Japan takes customer service very seriously, something that’s easy to see when even convenience store clerks are so dedicated to their job they’ll ask if you want your hot and cold purchases bagged separately, or else build a protective barrier between them. Hospitality standards are no joke, either, as illustrated by the tasks traditional innkeepers are expected to perform, such as carrying the dishes and utensils for full-course meals into and out of guests’ rooms.

One woman recalled the impressive service she received while she was in the midst of taking college entrance exams. Many schools have their own proprietary test, which must be taken at the campus. If an applicant is taking multiple exams in the same city over a period of days, it’s often easier to simply book a hotel for the duration rather than waste precious studying time going back and forth between home and the test sites, which is just what this woman did.


The staff of her hotel picked up on the reason for her prolonged stay, and seeing how hard the young lady was working, decided to give her a couple packs of Kit Kats. Ordinarily, free candy in and of itself is something to be happy about, but there was a reason for the specific brand. The Japanese pronunciation of the popular chocolate sticks sounds similar to kitto katsu, or “I believe you will succeed.” Kit Kat are a popular good luck charm for college applicants to carry with them on test day, and the woman was moved by the sweet sentiment shown by the hoteliers.