Japanese Superhero teams without resorting to the stereotypes.

[Shiva13]

This is a thread that is a bit of an inspiration to me.

 

I'm looking for ideas for Japanese superheroes from outside of the common western believed stereotypes..

 

So leave your Samurai and Ninja at the door please. They are not what I am looking for. I'm looking for new ideas. Because the stereotypes are way overused.

[Black Ops]

So the Zen Team from the old Allies book is out too?

I am not sure do you want our own inventions or do you want the ones from canon?

[TheQuestionMan]

List of Japanese Superheroes - Wikipedia  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_superheroes#Japanese

 

Japan/Nippon - International Hero  

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/j/japan.htm

 

Japanese Mythology (Creatures, Heroes, Gods) - Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_mythology

 

Japan - DC Comics Database  

http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Japan

 

Japan - Marvel Comics Database  

http://marvel.wikia.com/Japan

 

Japan - Comic Vine 

http://www.comicvine.com/japan/4020-55746/

 

 

More Later

 

 

QM

[esampson]

Shinkansen - Japanese speedster. If you want to try and break stereotypes a bit more you could have them be fairly well armored. Another variation would be a brick with a high running speed (probably specializing in move through)

 

Tsunami - Water manipulator. Alternately someone able to turn themselves into a large wave and smash into people (tricky to do that, however).

 

Oni - Monstrous brick style similar to the Hulk.

 

Yuki - Possibly short for Yuki-onna, yuki-musume, yukinba or another from a list of names. Woman with ice powers. Possibly the spirit of someone who died.

 

Tsukumo - Able to animate small inanimate objects (not statues but things such as umbrellas, shoes, clothing, rope, knives, etc.)

[SKJAM!]

A new anime series that might be of interest is "Samurai Flamenco" (despite the name, no samurai are involved.)   A male model who's secretly a huge superhero geek decides that since costumed crimefighters don't actually exist, he will become one so that they do.  His first adventure winds up with a cop burning his costume.  He gets better at it once he gains a fighting coach.

 

Later he's joined by Flamenco Girl, a pop star who had the same idea, but did more advance prep (and thus was forced to debut after him.)  Despite her frilly "magical girl" costume, Flamenco Girl is pretty formidable.  She knows martial arts, and her "magical girl wand" has tear gas, a taser and retractable spikes.  Also, she likes to make sure criminals won't be able to reproduce any time soon.  She's kind of disturbing, actually.

 

The cop is desperately trying to rein the heroes in while secretly wishing he too could bust heads without legal procedure.

 

Episode seven either reveals that actual superbeings do exist, or is trolling the audience hard--we won't know until the next episode.

[Hermit]

I have no idea what the Japanese translations on these names would be, but here are some ideas

 

Kid Thunder- Daichi is a J-Pop/Hip Hop star! Okay, he's not a star, he's a star wanna be, but fortunately for him he just got an origin! He was wearing a superhero type outfit for a video he and his friends were making to get in the spotlight when he ended getting 'beamed up' by some aliens who were in desperate need of a 'Earth Hero to save them'. Rather than admit that his clothes were misleading, Daichi explained how he used to have all sorts of powers but they'd been stripped away by an evil master mind. The aliens, realizing Earth DNA was far more malleble than their own, offered to do their best to restore them. Daichi ignored the words like 'possible death' 'could be health complications or mutations' and said yes before the aliens could blink. Instead of the flight and superstrength he wanted, Daichi found himself gifted with a power that was even more useful in his art. He can do more than lay the beat down, his voice can sunder concrete, shatter glass, and knock foes through walls. He saved the aliens from their enemies, mostly by bluff and pretending he was best friends with the Champions. The 'good' aliens thanked him, and returned him. Now Daichi sees this hero gig as his way to break into the big time in music. He's doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons, but isn't such a bad guy and another hero might yet turn him around.

 

Green Bird- Ayune Yu is a no nonsense woman who considers her powers more of a nuisance than a help. She had put herself in the service of a big name car company and hoped to climb the corporate later due to her diligence and skill. Instead, an encounter with mutagenic chemicals caused her to sprout feathered wings of emerald hue, gain superstrength and an incredible healing factor. The company immediately paid her a great deal of money to rebrand herself as 'Green Bird', a heroine that advertises for the company. Ayune Yu resisted at first, but when villains kept causing trouble anyway (And what was she going to do, LET them kill innocent people?) she agreed to it for some provisos. While she feels utterly silly in the skin tight suit they make her wear,her contract includes a percentage of revenue derived from her commercials efforts and Green Bird Merchandise. She also has a lot of stock in the company now. And she has the right to stop REAL threats even if it means some promo gets on hold. She hopes that within eight years, she'll have enough influence in the company where she can go back to just being a regular bussiness woman. However, much to her surprise, she is finding out that helping people really does make her feel good.

 

Mr. Anywhere- Yuto is a single father who gained his powers in a desperate attempt to save his daughters from being taken out by a giant robot of all things.  He managed to draw its attention and ended up being disintegrated, but somehow, instead of dying, he merely returned a moment later, now with powers related to teleporation. He defeated the robot by managing to make his car teleport inside the robot's head! The effort darn near killed him. However, now that he has the power, he can't help but continue to help the people of Japan and beyond. Calling himself "Mr. Anywhere" he's donned a nice blue suit, a fedora, and a half mask that has arrow designs going in all directions. Only a few know his secret, including his two daughters that encourage him to save the day every chance he can. His mother also knows, but is less supportive of his alturism. She thinks he should be seeking out a second mother for her grandaughters instead of be bopping around fighting silly people in sillier outfits.

[The Arc]

Pachinko, a speedster that bangs into things. The more things he bangs into the faster he goes.

[Lord Liaden]

Champions Worldwide does a pretty good job of presenting Japanese superheroes derived from elements of Japan's own culture, rather than Western stereotypes. Heroes in the book with full Fifth Edition character sheets and backgrounds include: Charm Girl, a petite woman with tremendous superhuman strength and durability, and the power of flight, who's an enormously popular celebrity; Shonen No Kufu ("Gadget Boy"), a genius inventor who uses a wide variety of technological devices, particularly his giant robot lab assistant/ bodyguard Gokin (the Japanese name for diecast toy robots); and Tetsuronin, something of a Japanese Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and inventor who wears one of the most advanced powered armors in the world, styled to resemble traditional samurai armor. Tetsuronin nominally leads an informal group of Japanese superheroes called Jinsoku Chiimu ("Swift Team"), although the other team members aren't specified.

 

The book also mentions Japan's most prominent superhero team, the Tokyo Super Squad, and names and briefly describes its members: To ("Tower"), a powered-armor wearer; Kiku ("Chrysanthemum"), a mystic martial artist; Fidobakku ("Feedback"), a sonic energy projector; and Kodotai ("Zodiac Man"), a shapechanger.

[phoenix240]

A new anime series that might be of interest is "Samurai Flamenco" (despite the name, no samurai are involved.)   A male model who's secretly a huge superhero geek decides that since costumed crimefighters don't actually exist, he will become one so that they do.  His first adventure winds up with a cop burning his costume.  He gets better at it once he gains a fighting coach.

 

Later he's joined by Flamenco Girl, a pop star who had the same idea, but did more advance prep (and thus was forced to debut after him.)  Despite her frilly "magical girl" costume, Flamenco Girl is pretty formidable.  She knows martial arts, and her "magical girl wand" has tear gas, a taser and retractable spikes.  Also, she likes to make sure criminals won't be able to reproduce any time soon.  She's kind of disturbing, actually.

 

The cop is desperately trying to rein the heroes in while secretly wishing he too could bust heads without legal procedure.

 

Episode seven either reveals that actual superbeings do exist, or is trolling the audience hard--we won't know until the next episode.

 

Cool, they kind of sound like anime's answer to Kick*** and Hitgirl.

[SKJAM!]

Cool, they kind of sound like anime's answer to Kick*** and Hitgirl.

Yeah, the first few episodes are like a much less cynical KA with much, much less profanity.  Not sure where the show is going now that possibly real superpeople exist.

[phoenix240]

Snow Monkey: normally a quiet, bookish young woman she dons a white furred costume and becomes a wise crackling crimefighter that uses her amazingly agility, quick wits and array of nonlethal weaponry to combat and harass crime especially crimes against women. Sort of a Japanese Spiderman.

[sinanju]

Kamikazi--based on the literal meaning of the words (divine wind). A divine (or semi-divine) super with wind/weather control powers.

[TheQuestionMan]

Yeah, but what happens when he faces a edge wielding super villain. 

 

Eek!

 

QM

[kahuna's bro]

sounds like the super friends member samurai to me

[bigbywolfe]

Yeah, but what happens when he faces a edge wielding super villain.

 

Eek!

 

QM

Who? There has been multiple characters suggested.

[TheQuestionMan]

Kamakazi - Suicide Bombers of WWII (also Marvel Comics Mutant Terrorist beheaded by Archangel's bladed wings)  

[wcw43921]

The Determined Men, or The Determined Seven (Kettei dansei, or Kettei Sebun)--Seven salarymen (office workers) who have taken up costumed crimefighting as a revolt against the constant pressure and severe regimentation of their workplace.  That was the original idea--but things are about to change, and they are about to find themselves in over their heads.

 

(All Japanese names courtesy of Google Translate, so if any of these are inaccurate--blame them, not me.)

 

White Moon (Howaito Mun)--A huge fan of Gekko Kamen, he is the one most committed to the heroic ideal as he sees it--"Do Not Hate.  Do Not Kill.  Prevent The Crime."  The only one with innate superpowers, he possesses a precognitive/telepathic ability that enables him to see crimes and identify criminals as they happen--or even before.  (Think David Dunn's ability, but with greater range and clarity.)  Lately he's been having dreams--nightmares, actually--of a great and vast evil approaching Japan.  It's the reason he's gathered the Determined Men together--although he hasn't told them yet.  He wears is a form-fitting white suit with a white hood which covers everything but his eyes, which are concealed by goggles.  He also wears a red cape and a red belt, and white gloves and boots.  Like his hero Gekko Kamen, White Moon rides a motorcycle, also in white.

 

Monster Man (Monsutaman)--A big fan of horror movies, he loves nothing more than to scare the pocky out of people, and as a superhero he can do that to criminals, which gives it a certain air of legitimacy.  He fights berserker-style, letting out a raging roar as he charges in to attack.  His costume is a cross between Frankenstein and Wolfman, using prosthetic makeup to give himself pointed ears, a pronounced forehead, sickly green-gray skin, furred hands, claws and fangs.  He also wears a tattered black jacket and pants, and a T-shirt with a different movie monster on it every time.

 

Super Commando (Supakomando)--Has seen every Arnold Schwarzenegger movie way too many times--even Junior ("Funniest movie ever, even more than Kindergarden Cop!") He fancies himself an action hero in the Arnold mold, and trains himself extensively in bodybuilding and martial arts. His costume is a black tank top, camoflauge fatigue pants, black military boots and camoflauge makeup.  He doesn't carry any weapons, much as he'd like to, on account of Japan's restrictive gun laws, which makes him envious of--

 

Space Champion (Supesuchanpion)--A fan of space adventure, he managed to come across an energy pistol that was lost by  a supervillain during the course of a firefight between the villain and a team of heroes.  The weapon had an inexhaustible power supply (Reduced END Zero END +1/2) and he took his finding it as a sign to become the magnificent space hero he always wanted to be.  His costume is styled after Han Solo's outfit, but the vest and pants are in silver metallic fabric rather than black, and includes a silver cape and helmet.

 

Red Baron (Reddobaron)--White Moon's best friend, the first to join him in the Determined Men.  Proclaims as often as he can, "As the original Red Baron was the Ace of the Skies, I am the Ace of the Streets!"  His costume is similiar to White Moon, but all in red (what else?)  He rides a red motorcycle with a "comma" shaped tail fin in white bearing the German Iron Cross.

 

Santo Amigo--A huge fan of Mexican masked wrestling, he considers himself "a champion of wrestling inside the ring, and a champion of justice outside it!"--even though he has never actually wrestled in competition.  His costume is a silver wrestling mask with black-trimmed eye and mouth holes, and silver wrestling tights with black trim.  He's usually bare chested, but wears a jacket in cold weather.  He also wears a cape, but takes it off before going into battle, and will often use it to wrap around an opponent's head. 

 

Mystery Man, aka Agent 007 (Nazo no otoko, aka Ējento 007)--Fancies himself a cross between Philip Marlowe and James Bond, he's actually a very capable detective, not to mention exceptionally genre savvy.  Between his skills and White Moon's precognitive powers, the Determined Men are much more successful at fighting crime than they have a right to be.  Mystery Man's costume is a fedora, dark glasses and trench coat over a turtleneck shirt and dark slacks.

 

Hope that helps.

[Lucius]

Crossposted from: Guess the inspiration behind this superteam!

 

I'll try this game.

 

Hokusai, Musashi, Hiroshige, and Sotatsu were misfits among Kappa. In all the ponds and rivers of Japan there were no four Kappa less magically adept, less interested in playing cruel and wicked tricks, or more lacking in the traditional Kappa grace and courtesy. Like all Kappa though they did love cucumbers.

 

Curiosity they had in abundance, and they were drawn to the strange folk called Americans, especially the warriors. Soldier's garb tickled their fancy because it was a mottled green just like a Kappa's own shell and hide.

 

One day they were careless and were spotted by an old soldier who had retired. He won their trust by offering them pickles, and they were soon living in the fishpond in his garden. They used their knowledge and skill - for even the least Kappa-like of Kappas has some skill at healing - to ease the pains and incapacities of age, and in return he taught them much. He had been special forces, and such soldiers don't grow old unless they are very good indeed...

 

Now the four are masters of American commando style fighting, along with techniques of stealthy infiltration, escape and evasion, survival and navigation. Special helmets that look like GI issue but have a watertight fit protect their heads and obviate the Kappa's greatest weakness, for if the fluid filling the shallow depression in their skulls spills, they are helpless. "For honor and pickles!" is their battle cry, as they fight against petty criminals, Yakuza gangsters, and bizzarre villains, as

 

 

The Young Kappa Commandoes!

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary says Lucius Alexander is recycling materiel again

[kahuna's bro]

easy the TMNT

[phoenix240]

Would it be too much of a stereotype if you take something from a Japanese movie about a Japanese stereotype?

 

If not, this might provide some ideas

[TheQuestionMan]

It broke my brain. 

[Cassandra]

Soryu - Japanese Naval Intelligence Officer.  Refuses to use weapons of any kind.  Martial Artist with an EB (thrown objects).

 

Soryu means Green Dragon.

[kahuna's bro]

I trust he prefers "soryu"to avoid being confused with the villain green dragon

[Cassandra]

An homage to the Champions character.

 

Hiryu - Scientist who gained the ability to transform into a winged super-strong creature after a lab accident.  

 

Hiryu means Flying Dragon.

[薔薇語]

This is in response to wcw43921's post.

Sometimes google translate gets kind of lazy. ^^  I am going to add the Japanese characters for each name and try to suggest a slightly more accurate way of doing each name, too. Of note is that I am by no means Japanese and have to venture a "best guess" on some things. 

English - Google Translate - Japanese of Google translate - Alternate version - How to say the alternate version. 

 

The Determined man -　Kettei Dansei - 決定男性 - 決然者 - Ketsuzen Shya. 

 

White Moon - Howaito Mun - ホワイト　ムン - 白月 - Shira Zuki.

 

Monster Man - Monsutaman - モンスターマン - 化け者 - Bakemon (of note, Bakemono is the word for Monster, but I have change the third character to be "man" but the reading is the same as before - Thus the image of a monstrous man should be conveyed). 

 

Super Commando - Supakomando - スーパーコマンド - 超騎兵 - chou kihei (Chou = super. Kihei = commando / cavalry)

 

Space Champion - Supesu Chanpion - スペース・チャンピオン - 宇宙ファイタ - Uchu Faita (Space fighter)

 

Red Baron - レッド　バロン - No clue. wcw's first idea is probably the absolute best. 

 

Mystery Man - nazo no otoko - 謎の男 - 怪人 - Kaijin (This is one way to say "Dr. Who" in Japanese, btw). 

If I come up with any, I will try post them. 

La Rose.