Ryoga Terasaka Joins “Number One Sentai Gojūger” as New Patrol Ranger 1, Sparks Tokusatsu Grand Slam Hopes

Popular actor Ryoga Terasaka's casting as the new "Patrol Ranger 1 / Kazuki Haresora" in "Number One Sentai Gojūger," a tokusatsu drama currently airing on TV Asahi, has generated considerable buzz among tokusatsu fans. On July 27th, Terasaka himself announced on his social media that he would appear from episode 24, causing related keywords to instantly trend.

Terasaka is known for his role as Kengo Manaka, the protagonist in "Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga," which aired on MBS and TBS, where he actively portrayed a transforming hero. His current appointment as "Patrol Ranger 1" follows his appearance in the Ultraman series, marking his entry into the Super Sentai series. This has led many tokusatsu fans to express hopes for his appearance in the Kamen Rider series as well. If this were to happen, combined with his past experience in a Pretty Cure production, it would be hailed as an "achievement of a tokusatsu Grand Slam," encompassing the "Big Three" tokusatsu franchises: Ultraman, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider.

Of particular note is that one of the "VS Vehicles" used by Patrol Ranger 1 is named "Trigger Machine." This name strongly evokes "Ultraman Trigger," Terasaka's representative work, leading to a flurry of excited comments on social media like "It's a Trigger connection!" Furthermore, fans are once again discussing the actor who played the original Patrol Ranger 1, Keiichiro Asaka, in "Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger," fueling expectations for comparisons between the new and old "Patrol Ranger 1" and how their respective worldlines might connect. Adding to the excitement, it has also been revealed that legendary suit actor Seiji Takaiwa will appear as a student council president, drawing attention to the star-studded cast.

Expectations are high for what kind of action Ryoga Terasaka's "Patrol Ranger 1" will deliver as he builds a new hero image, transitioning from Ultraman to Super Sentai, with his appearances starting from episode 24.

The Context

This article discusses a significant development in the world of Japanese tokusatsu, a genre of live-action film and television that heavily relies on special effects. It's akin to Western superhero franchises but with a distinct Japanese style.

The actor, Ryoga Terasaka, is making headlines for crossing over into major tokusatsu franchises. He first gained prominence as the protagonist in "Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga," part of the long-running Ultraman Series, which features giant heroes battling colossal monsters. His new role is in "Number One Sentai Gojūger," an installment of the Super Sentai Series (known globally as the basis for Power Rangers). Super Sentai features teams of color-coded heroes battling evil forces.

Fans are particularly excited by the possibility of Terasaka also appearing in the Kamen Rider Series, another major tokusatsu franchise featuring masked, motorcycle-riding heroes. If he were to act in all three of these iconic live-action series—Ultraman, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider—it would be considered a "tokusatsu Grand Slam," a rare and celebrated achievement among fans. The mention of a past role in a Pretty Cure production (a popular magical girl anime franchise, where actors sometimes have voice roles or stage appearances) adds to his diverse portfolio.

The character Terasaka plays, "Patrol Ranger 1," is notable because that name previously belonged to the leader of the police-themed heroes in "Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger," a unique Super Sentai series that pitted two distinct teams against each other. The new "Patrol Ranger 1" in "Gojūger" sparks fan discussion about connections between different series' "worldlines."

The "VS Vehicle" is a key item used by the heroes in the Super Sentai series for transformations and combat. The fact that one of these items in "Gojūger" is called "Trigger Machine" is a playful nod to Terasaka's previous role as "Ultraman Trigger," delighting fans with this inter-franchise "connection."

Finally, the appearance of Seiji Takaiwa, a "legendary suit actor," is also a big deal. Suit actors are the performers who physically embody the costumed heroes, often performing all the action sequences. Takaiwa is particularly famous for having played the lead hero in numerous Kamen Rider series, making his appearance in "Gojūger" a significant cameo.

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