Remembering Toku Legend: The Late Kenji Ohba

Yes, it's hard to accept, but actor Kenji Ohba finally joined the stars the other day. I wrote an eulogy the other day where I said, "Farewell Gavan, my imaginary friend." I wanted to shout out, "Space Speriff Gavan!" I could remember the moment was in my late teens and found out the extensive acting this guy did. I guess Super Sentai wasn't the best career launcher that time. After all, the actor Hiroshi Miyauchi was "stuck" in Tokusatsu playing different roles. The same went for him. He was a stuntman AND an actor. The contribution this guy has done is so extensive it's going to be hard to summarize them.

He was the hidden suit actor for some shows. If I'm not wrong, he was the suit actor for the titular hero of Kikaideri. He also served as a substitute suit actor for Akarranger in Himitsu Sentai Goranger -- while serving a cameo role in episode 75. We also guest-starred in Dengekitai JAKQ as Hayato Kono (episode 3). JAKQ was cancelled so soon in 1977 (with a hurried finale) before he was given his first spandex role in Battle Fever J as Shiro Akebono, the first black ranger, representing Kenya. He was later cast as Daigorou Oume in Denshi Sentai Denziman the following year. This makes me appreciate the whole "same actor, different actor" scenario than making an actor play the same actor all throughout his career!

Perhaps the most iconic (for some) would be his titular role in Ucchu Keiji Gavan as Retsu Ichijouji. The role proved to be versatile, from main hero to captain (in Ucchu Keiji Sharivan), to an elderly mentor figure. Sure, he had made guest roles in Super Sentai as different characters. I could remember him as Retsudou and a guest alternate form for Shurikenger in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger. I even felt like the Hurricanger cast is just too lucky to hang around him. He was also Jan Kandou's father, Dan, in Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger. However, Toei somehow decided to use Retsu's character as a sidelined character whenever Kenji returned to play the character. It was also interesting Kenji returned in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Ucchu Keiji Gavan -- even making cameos for his two other iconic characters in Super Sentai. 

I enjoyed how Toei made Retsu more of the "important guest" than the nostalgia bait. The proof was that Space Sheriff Gavan: Next Generation focused on Geki Jumonji, played by Yuma Ishigaki. It was interesting to see Retsu show up in that film as moral support. He also showed up in the rather mature spin-off Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger vs. Ucchu Keiji Gavan. Retsu kept taking the backseat like he should. In Sharivani, he became the new captain. Later on, Retsu becomes the inspiration for the younger people. It gets interesting that somehow, Retsu didn't return in the Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters episodes -- choosing to focus on Geki. The same move was done in Ucchu Sentai Kyuranger, which may have fixed the plot black hole from Go-Busters -- a black hole that doesn't kill you but sends to ANOTHER UNIVERSE. 

Things got bad when Kenji got hospitalized in 2018. That alone would've already been a bad omen. Toei placed Super Sentai on what might be a long hiatus or even possible cancellation. It gets sad really when the Gavan Infinity were just starting their career. In fact, it gets even sadder. From what I heard, the actor Kohei Nagata expressed his condolences too. 

RIP thank you for all the memories!