As I've recounted in other posts, it was actually my love of Tokusatsu that got me interested in it in the first place. I'd been showing my then-girlfriend episodes of "Kamen Rider V3", and, noticing the formulaic structure of the show, (i.e., introduce baddies, confront the problem, get to the source of the corruption, then with an action music blaring, take down said villains) and said to me, "You know, I REALLY think you'd enjoy Abarenbo Shogun...its pacing is SO similar to Kamen Rider!"
Try it I did, and soon tuned in religiously each week, enjoying the dashing exploits of the "Rambunctious Shogun" as he lived his dual life of Shogun of the land and his mild mannered alter ego living among the people. I also really loved the songs, especially Saburo Kitajima's wonderful "Otoko Michi" which closed each week.
Along the way, I'd see commercials for the current shows that Japanese program Channel KIKU were running, and I remember seeing previews for shows like "Night Embrace", "The King's Restaurant", as well as a show that would go on to become one of my all time favorites, Aishiteirutte to Ittekure, "Say You Love Me"!
It was seeing those commercials for it that prompted me to ask my friend Dan if I could borrow his VHS tapes of the show once I decided to start watching J-dramas proper! And my obsession just grew and GREW til it practically took over my life!
"Shin Abarenbo Shogun" airs this coming January!
