The Kagestar

The Kagestar (ザ・カゲスター, Za Kagesutā) is a 1976–77 Toei live action tokusatsu television series[1][2]in which shadow puppeteer turned salaryman Kageo Sugata (Naoki Tachibana) gains the ability to merge with his shadow and transform into a hero known as Kagestar, thanks to an electric shock received while rescuing his wealthy boss's daughter from kidnappers.

The Kagestar
Also known asザ・カゲスター
Za Kagesutā
GenreTokusatsu, superhero
Created bySaburo Yatsude
Written byFumio Ishimori
Directed byAkira Kashima
StarringNaoki Tachibana
Emi Hayakawa
Goro Naya
Country of originJapan
No. of episodes34
Production
Running time30 min. approx
Production companyToei
Release
Original networkNET TV
Original release5 April 1976 (1976-04-05) –
29 March 1977 (1977-03-29)

An Evel Knievel-inspired superhero with a swirling star-spangled striped cape he can use like a weapon, Kagestar rides a winged white motorcycle called the KageroCar that he keeps housed in a big and quite bizarre-looking aircraft called the Kagebuse, which he summons with his flashlight gun. He can also bring his shadow to life in giant form to battle the forces of evil.

While Kagestar initially fought costumed crooks patterned after American superhero comics early in the show’s run, in later episodes his foes became Kamen Rider-style mutated monsters created by his archenemy Dr. Satan (Goro Naya), a former Nazi scientist turned megalomaniacal mastermind also identified in some English language sources as Dr. Saturn.

Kagestar is assisted his similarly empowered white-skirted partner Bellestar (Emi Hayakawa), who rides a motorcycle of her own called the BelleCar and has a small bell on her bracelet that rings to warn her of danger.

Cast

References
  1. "ザ・カゲスターとは". kotobank. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  2. 特撮全史 1970年代ヒーロー大全』講談社〈キャラクター大全〉、201。ISBN 978-4-06-219821-9 p.80
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