Yoroiden: Samurai Troopers Series Review
                    written by Patricia Munson-Siter
                                    
                              Presented by
                       Silver Dragon Productions
                                  and
                            Argon of Cantee
                                    
                        Copyright 1989, 1993 by
                       Silver Dragon Productions
                                  and
                         Patricia Munson-Siter
                                    
                       Credit Where Credit Is Due
   Alara Rogers was a help in translating articles on this show from
  various animation magazines. V. Perry and D.  Messerschmidt wrote a
short piece on the show for one of the APAs we all belong to that I also
 used as source material. Carol Hoeke, Elyse Grasso, and Gloria Oliver
   all helped with translations of episode titles, names, and so on.
 Several people also sent corrections and such in response to the short
article I did on this series that appeared in the October 1988 issue of
                  Celluloid Diversions.  Thanks, all!


==================
== Introduction ==
==================

When I saw the first episode of Saint Seiya a few years ago, I knew from
that first episode that the series would be very popular in America with
a large portion of the American anime fans. Time proved that my original
gut feeling was correct, Saint Seiya (or at least, the first season of
the series) is probably one of the most popular Japanese series among
American anime fans, or at least among those fans who do not
automatically ignore shows that do not have giant mecha or star Lum.
However, when I saw the first episode of Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, the
first thing that went through my mind was "Saint Seiya Rip-off."

Well, I could not have been more wrong. While Samurai Troopers is
obviously designed to appeal to the same large audience that Saint Seiya
did, it is not a "rip-off" of Seiya by any stretch of the imagination.
It does have "pretty boys in power armor," but the resemblance to Seiya
really ends there. Seiya seems to have a cast of thousands -- many of
whom the viewer never gets to know. Troopers, on the other hand, has a
cast of a couple of dozen and the viewer gets to know and care about
almost all of them. Although Seiya takes place in the modern world, the
events of the series never really seem to have any effect on the world.
Events in Troopers do have effects in the world.  Despite all the
trappings of Greek mythology, Seiya is really a very straight forward
(and very long) combat. There is little mysticism or magic, and after
the first season ends there is not even much inner conflict, the
opposing sides have become clearly black and white. Troopers, however,
is full of mysticism and the opposing sides are not quite as black and
white as the first seem, the series is full of surprises.

Personally, I find myself enjoying Yoroiden Samurai Troopers much more
than Saint Seiya. Troopers just seems to have more "meat" to it. Judging
by the sales of Samurai Troopers merchandise by mail-order houses like
Nikaku Animart -- they cannot keep Troopers merchandise in, the series
is extremely popular among American fen (although it has been almost
ignored by the American semi-pro anime magazines, probably because
Troopers is not a "mecha series" or a series with a number of
scantily-clad females as the main characters). It therefore gives me
great pleasure to present this Yoroiden: Samurai Troopers Series Review
as the first of the volume in the Anime Publications Bureau's series of
fan-produced guides to popular Japanese anime TV series and OVA series.
Already in the works for future volumes in this series are a reprint of
the first volume of the Saint Seiya Series Review that was published
last year by the now defunct C/FO and a new second volume covering the
second and third seasons of Saint Seiya.

Randall Stukey


======================================
== CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ==
======================================

INTRODUCTION
============

Yoroiden: Samurai Troopers (Legend of Mystic Armor: Samurai Troopers) is
a joint production of Sunrise Animation (formerly Nippon Sunrise) and
Nagoya TV, an independent TV network. The first episode aired on 30
April 88. Troopers was slotted at first for a 20-episode run, but proved
so popular in the area where it was aired that the final episodes were
pulled and re-written so the storyline could continue for a much longer
run. In addition, Sony Video is releasing the series on pre-record video
tape, five episodes to the volume, so viewers in areas not served by
Nagoya can have a chance to see the show. The TV series ran to 39
episodes and has been followed by a number of OAVs.

STORYLINE BACKGROUND
====================

Some 400 years ago, in the time of the samurai and the great civil war
in Japan (when Nobunaga Oda and his followers were struggling to unify
the country), the Earth was invaded by a demon from another dimension.
This was Arago, the ruling Lord of his own empire - who was and still is
determined to bring our planet under his sway. He appears in Japan,
where he once lived when he was human (prior to becoming a demon). At
first the samurai do poorly against him, until the arrival of a masked
warrior who is a mage as well - and this masked samurai defeats Arago,
forcing him back into his own dimension and closing the "door" Arago
created between his own dimension and our own. But the mage knows that
the door is not completely sealed - one day Arago will re-emerge and
attempt to conquer our world once more. So, from the remains of Arago's
armor, he creates nine suits of mystically-endowed samurai armor - the
"Yoroi" of the title - and awaits the day when Arago will return.
("Yoroi" usually refers to an early style of samurai armor that was the
first to use small plates of metal sewn onto a background, and generally
fell out of usage in favor of a more modern style circa 1200. (Not long
after the end of the Genpei Wars.) However, another translation of
"Yoroi" means "Mystic Armor", which seems more appropriate for this
particular series. I will occasionally use the word "Yoroi" rather than
"armor" in this article.)

In current day (or near-future -- there have not been any solid
dates/years given to the series, but the cars and other technology are
those of the present - This is important, as I've calculated the ages of
the characters when given based on 1988 being the actual time period the
events in the series take place in.) Japan, Kaos the priest/mage senses
that the day when Arago will once more manifest in our world is nearly
here. He finds five young men who are suited to wear the armor (somehow,
in the meantime Arago has appropriated four of the Yoroi) and gives it
to them. They have about a year to find out how to use their armor and
its special abilities, and make each suit their own - there is a sort of
mystic bond between each suit of armor and its wearer. As Arago gains
power and begins to open the door into our dimension, the five are all
drawn to Shinjuku, a suburb of Tokyo, and our story is ready to begin.
 
NOTE: In the following, a "straight" transliteration of the characters'
names comes first, followed in parenthesis what the name sounds like
when pronounced by most of the other voice actors.

CHARACTERS: THE GOOD GUYS
=========================

KAOS
Kaos dresses like a Shinto monk, his face hidden by his hat. He is
Arago's counterpart; in Arago's previous manifestation Kaos is the one
who defeated the demon and sent him back to his home dimension. (In
later episodes it appears that members of Kaos' clan have traditionally
been involved in preventing inhabitants of the Demon World from entering
our own dimension.) In the current situation Kaos appears to be more
spirit than solid; he may have used his considerable magical powers to
keep his spirit manifest to be ready for the next time Arago reappeared.
The demon considers him to be his major opponent. It is Kaos who gave
the Troopers their armor, and he is often found watching them, giving
them help when necessary. The full extent of his power is never
revealed. His staff, a shakujo (used normally by mendicant monks to
scare insects out of their path so they do not accidentally get stepped
on and killed), was originally a sword that was used to to destroy Arago
some 400 years ago and is a repository of vast mystic energy in its own
right. In episode 15 he is seemingly defeated and 'absorbed' by Arago,
but in his defeat he is able to create an energy bridge between Arago's
floating castle and the city of Tokyo - which the Samurai Troopers are
then able to use to ascend and take on Arago and his demon generals on
their own ground. (One source claims the initial battle between Kaos and
Arago occured 1,000 years ago. However, other sources say it was during
the Japanese "civil war" 400 years ago, and the armor worn by the
participants in flashbacks is from the civil war time period, not
earlier.)  

Height: 177cm

SANADA RIYO (RYO) 
His full title is Rekka no Ryo ("Ryo of the Blazing/Raging Fire"). Ryo
wears red armor, and he bears twin katana as his weapons. The symbol on
his armor is that of four squares set within a circle so that their
intersections form a four-pointed star. He is the leader of the
Troopers, and he also has something of a temper - at least partly
because of his "vast heart" which causes him anguish whenever others are
being hurt. He is accompanied by a huge white tiger named Byakuen. In
the new storyline he gets a new set of armor, which is formed when the
energy of his four comrades is joined with his own. At first this effect
also drains Ryo's own energy rapidly. This new, white armor is called
"Kikotei" - literal translation is "Sparkle Glitter Emperor", but my
Japanese teacher says it is a poetic way to say "sun", so it can be
refered to as the "Sun Armor". When he uses his full power, he yells "So
En Zan" (Two- Direction Flame Cut). The words used with the Kikotei
armor are "Sen Ko Zan".  Ryo is an orphan; his father was a wildlife
photographer killed by a wild animal.

Ryo is the first of the Troopers to show up in the series, and naturally
is the main protagonist.

Name Kanji: SANADA: Braid  RYO: Distant
Forehead Kanji: JIN: perfect virtue/humanity
Element: Fire
Birthday: 15 August (Leo) 1973 (14/15 years old in 1988)
Height: 165 cm (about 5'6")
Weight: 57 kg (about 125 lbs)

HASHIBA TOUMA (TOMA) 
His full title is Tenku no Toma ("Toma of the Firmament" - with the word
Firmament in this case referring to the sky/stars). He is the
intellectual of the group, and when not in combat may often be found
with his nose buried in a book. His armor is dark blue, and its symbol
is a stylized arrowhead. He is armed with a fold-down bow (shouhyaku).
When using his full power, he yells "Shinku Ha" ("Vacuum Breakthrough").
His main opponent was meant to be Oni Demon General Sh'ten, if you go by
the opening credits, but Sh'ten usually ends up fighting Ryo or all five
Troopers at the same time. Toma's parents are divorced, and his
interests include puzzles and intellectual games such as chess, go, and
shogi. He is a mathematical genius. (Some sources claim he has an IQ of
250; those of you familiar with the IQ system will know that's rather
ridiculous...)

Name Kanji: HASHIBA: Flying Sticks/brushwood (a type of weapon?) 
   TOMA: Flax, hemp
Forehead Kanji: CHI: wisdom/strategy
Element: Air
Birthday: 10 October (Libra) 1973 (14/15 in 1988) (Sports Day)
Height: 165 cm (about 5'6")
Weight: 55 kg (about 122 lbs)

DATE SEIJI (SEIJI) 
His full title is Korin no Seiji ("Seiji of the Halo/Aura"). His armor
is green and gold, and the symbol on his armor is a lightning bolt. His
weapon is a huge sword, with a shiriken as part of the guard. He also
has some ability to heal injuries when he uses his full powers. His
sword is a no-dachi, an extremely long "field sword". His battle cry is
"Rai Ko Zan", or "Thunder Lightning Thrust". As the series progresses,
it seems at times that he's gotten sweet on Nasti... His main opponent
is Darkness Demon General Anubis.  His father runs a small martial arts
dojo, and his interests revolve around swords, meditation, and "chatting
up girls".

Name Kanji: DATE: Show-off SEIJI: Conquering Warrior
Forehead Kanji: REI: courtesy
Element: Spirit
Birthday: 9 June (Gemini) 1973 (14/15 years old in 1988)
Height: 167 cm (about 5'7")
Weight: 58 kg (about 127 lbs)

SHUYU REI FUAN (SHU) 
His full title is Kongo no Shu ("Shu of the Great Strength (or
Diamond)"). He uses orange and brown armor, and the symbol on it is that
of a samurai helmet with one horn shorter than the other - just like his
own helmet. Shu is somewhat chubby, and his weapon is a short spear with
points at both ends. The haft of the spear can be seperated and used as
a three-part staff. His battle cry is "Gen Tessai" or "Rock-Steel
Crusher". His main opponent is Phantom Demon General Rajura. His family
runs a Chinese resturant in Yokohama, and his main interest is eating!

Name Kanji: Most articles do not list kanji for his name. The one that
did lists them as SHUYU: Excellent  REI: Fine, lovely  FUAN: Yellow
Forehead Kanji: GI: justice/morality/loyalty
Element: Earth
Birthday: 1 September (Virgo) 1973
Height: 164 cm (5'5")
Weight: 62 kg (about 138 lbs)
 
MOURI SHIN (SHIN) 
Full title: Suiko no Shin ("Shin of the Waters"). His armor is dark blue
and its symbol is a yin-yang sign without the dots in their 'heads'. His
weapon is a spear with a three-pronged head (it can sometimes assume the
shape of a trident). He also has "claws" on the right forearm of his
armor. Yell: "Chor Yu Ha" or "Super Flow Thrust". His main opponent is
Poison Demon General Naza.  He was raised by his mother and an older
sister who are both potters, and one of his interests is cooking (no
wonder he becomes one of Shu's best friends!)

Name Kanji: MOURI: Fur/profit SHIN: Stretching, Progress
Forehead Kanji: SHIN: sincerity/trust/faith
Element: Water
Birthday: 14 March (Pisces) 1973
Height: 164 cm (about 5'5")
Weight: 54 kg (about 122 lbs)

PROFESSOR YAGIYU 
A folklorist/researcher who is an authority on old samurai armor as well
as the period of Japanese history previous to the Civil War - that is,
the years prior to the time Nobunaga (of Time Stranger and Yotodon fame,
if you're not familiar with Japanese history) unified Japan. One of his
favorite subjects is that of Arago's attempted invasion. In the course
of his studies, he has learned of the yoroi and the Samurai Troopers,
and has been worried about the possibility of Arago's rebirth.
Additional background note: The Yagiyu clan is one of the more
well-known "han" in Japanese history. They were supporters of Tokugawa
when he became Shogun, and were one of the primary sources of the
bureaucrats ("bakufu") during the Edo Period. While they lost most of
their power following the Meiji Restoration in the late 1900s, they
still retained a good bit of their wealth - perhaps one reason why
Professor Yagiyu can afford a house large enough to seem a mansion to
normal Japanese, and not all that far from Tokyo, either! In addition,
up until about 15 years ago the Yagiyus (who were also reknowned
swordsmen) were often portrayed as heros in the old samurai epics and
the like. Only recently have they been depicted as the villains (both
Lone Wolf and Cub and the Kamui saga use members of the Yagiyu clan as
some of their bad guys).

YAGIYU NASUTEI (NASTI) 
Granddaughter of Professor Yagiyu, she is his assistant in doing
research and is very skilled with computers. In the beginning of the
series she seems to know more about what's going on than the Samurai
Troopers do. She uses her computer and the files her grandfather left on
it to locate the Troopers after they are forcibly seperated as a result
of their first major battle with Arago. While she is captured and used
as a hostage several times early in the series, by episode 12 or so
she's learned to keep well out of the way and this "problem" vanishes.
She's that rarity in anime shows - the female "sidekick" who is actually
quite useful and able to handle herself quite well

Birthday: 28 May (Gemini) 1970 (She's 17/18 in 1988)
Height: 168 cm 

YAMANO JUN (JUN) 
A young boy who is caught up in events and often ends up being the one
who gets into trouble - which in turn acts as the catalyst for the
Troopers to go to his rescue and discover more about their own powers
and abilities as a result. He is a typical animation rug-rat. On
occasion his antics on his skateboard generate moments of humor as well
as being an occasional asset to the team. We see his parents in episode
#1, but they disappear during Arago's invasion and do not reappear.

Birthday: 30 Jun (Cancer) 1979  (He's 8/9 in 1988)
Height: 118 cm

BYAKUEN 
A huge white tiger, the kanji of his name stand for "White Fire". He is
devoted to Ryo, but also spends a certain amount of time saving both
Nasti and Jun. He is as large as a small horse and Ryo, Nasti, and Jun
have all ridden him at times. There are jokes in anime fandom that he's
the smartest member of the Samurai Trooper team. In the second storyline
he acquires his own set of armor that matches that of Ryo's "Sun Yoroi".
Note that in most cases the animators have made Byakuen move and act
like a real cat...even to the movement of his ears, something a lot of
animators ignore when "doing" cats.

CHARACTERS: THE BAD GUYS
========================

ARAGO 
The chief bad-nasty of the show, Arago-sama (Lord Arago) initially
appears in our time period as a huge, spectral samurai helmet. Arago is
a demon who rules another dimensional plane (referred to as "the Demon
World") and has his eye on adding ours to his empire. He has manifested
several times before on our world, in Japan at the time of the samurai.
At that time he appeared as a human-sized (well, very large human-sized)
warrior. When he was defeated, the doorway between dimensions was
closed. Recently, he has forced the doorway open once more. This time he
brings helpers - initially, the four Demon Generals as well as his
"demon army". Later, other servants of the Demon Lord also show up to
battle our heroes. When Arago first manifests in our time period, all
technological equipment fails and dies wherever Arago's influence
touches - it seems he actually absorbs the power, not only from
technological sources but also from the humans within range. Because
technological weapons are useless against him, mystic forces are needed
to oppose him. As he gains more power, Arago manifests a solid body
instead of only the transparent, ghostly helmet he appears as in the
beginning of the series. This time his body is quite large - of a size
to successfully challenge Godzilla! A truely powerful, nasty foe for the
good guys to fight against. After his initial defeat in episode #19, he
becomes more cautious, testing his foes in an attempt to learn the full
extent of their powers before he commits himself once more. According to
an article in Animedia, over 1000 years ago Arago was once human, but
was so evil that when he died his spirit entered the demon world. Once
there, he set about conquering it, and the other demon lords who ruled
there were either subjugated (like Kenbokyou) or killed. Once he had
consolidated his rule, Arago-sama set his sights once more on Japan and
the Earth. He has also managed to bring the spirits of other evil people
into the Demon World, where they have been reborn to serve him in his
quest. Arago's ultimate goal is to break down or dissolve the "wall"
between the Demon World and our own, making the two one - with himself
as the ultimate ruler, of course!

Name Kanji: A: Flatter/flattery  RA: Thin silk, silk guaze  GO: Cream
"Birthdate" - about 1,000 years ago

SHUTEN DOUJI (Sh'ten) 
Sh'ten is the Oni Demon General ("Oni Ma Sho") and is easily the most
complicated of the characters in this show. He rapidly becomes something
more than a generic bad-nasty as the series progresses. He seems to be
both the strongest and the youngest of Arago's Demon Generals and has an
ego to match.  His compatriots don't like him very much, taking much
glee in twitting him about his various defeats at the hands of the
Samurai Troopers (not that they do much better). Also one of the more
intelligent of the cast, he develops second thoughts about his service
to Arago and starts questioning orders. He finally rebels against his
master and kneels to Kaos. At this point he, too, manifests a forehead
kanji. As a side note, he has red hair, and the first kanji of his name
means "cinnebar" or "vermillion" (his full name means "Red Sky Child" or
the equivilent - perhaps a small pun here, for it could also be
translated as "Red Top Child". As his fellow Demon Generals tend to use
it, with emphasis on the "Doiji", it could mean "red-haired kid" ("the
kid") and seems to be one of their ways of reminding him he is the most
junior of the four.) His armor is dark grey and blue, and does not seem
to have a symbol.  (None of the armor worn by the Demon Generals have
apparent symbols on them.  However, in the Rapport Deluxe special on the
show, and on the models of the characters by Chonando, Sh'ten's yoroi
symbol is given as that of a demon-horned skull with long hair. This
symbol - and those used for the other three Demon Generals - is not used
in the show.) His weapon is a scythe and chain with a clawed weight at
the other end (it's a kusari-gama, which normally is a ninja rather than
samurai weapon). Battle cry: Ko Rai Sei (Red Lightning). He was born in
or near Kyoto, and his interests are self-improvement and reading and
writing - in other words, he was a scholar as well as a warrior. The Oni
Demon General Yoroi gets its' power from "the contemplation of evil"
according to the special insert booklet in the March 1989 Animedia. His
yoroi is refered to as the "devils' armor".
World and our own, making the two one - with himself

Name Kanji: SHU: Red TEN: Sky/Top  DOU+JI: Child
Forehead Kanji: CHU: loyalty/innocence
Birthday: 5 May (Taurus) 1551 (Children's Day)
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 67 kg 

RAJIYURA (Rajura) 
The Phantom Demon General ("Gen Ma Sho" -- and the kanji for "Gen" in
this case can mean "vision/illusion" as well as "Phantom" -- considering
Rajura's abilities, both meanings can apply!), Rajura has only one eye.
His armor, which is the "spider yoroi", is dark pink and brown, and his
weapons are scythes that are normally attached to his back so they
resemble the legs of a spider. One of his attacks utilyzes an energy
field that resembles a spider's web. Further, when he first appears to
face a foe, it is often hanging upside down in the middle of his energy
web, or from the nearest tree. He can take the multiple scythes off his
back and use them as a hand weapon; and he also has both nunchuka and a
morningstar attached to the forearms of his armor -- and uses both. His
special power is projecting his own image over others, so the Troopers
attack each other -- thinking they are attacking him. He can also
project someone else's image over his own, and at least once has created
an illusion that created the false images of several of Arago's demon
army warriors. Chameleon-like, he can also fade "into" the landscape so
his opponents don't see him. His powers of illusion are somehow tied
into the fact that his left eye is sealed up by spider threads. The
symbol Chonando and the Rapport Deluxe book gives him is a stylized
spider. The kanji associated with his yoroi is that of Nin, which means
to bear pain and to endure; or to conceal oneself -- considering
Rajura's chameleon-like abilities, I think the latter is probably an
additional pun. "Rajura" literally means "Spiral Cursed (silk) Thread
(spinner)" and is the name of a type of spider in Japanese. He is the
second of the Ma Sho (Demon Generals) to become disaffected from Arago.
His battle cry means "World of Murderous Illusions". If he used his
powers for good, his illusions could soothe the human soul, giving them
visions of peace.

Name Kanji: RA: Spiral JIYU: Curse, spell RA: Thin Silk (thread)
Forehead Kanji: NIN: Bear/Endure Pain, Conceal Oneself (Endurance)
Birthday: In 1549
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 70 Kg

ANUBIS 
Darkness Demon General ("Yami Ma Sho"), Anubis has a nasty scar beneath
his left eye. He wears the "Black Jackal" yoroi.  His weapon is a huge
sword (called the "Black Wolf Sword"), another nodachi like Seiji's,
though the Darkness Demon General's is made in the style of a cavalry
saber. His armor is mostly brown and black.  He seems to be the best
teleporter of the Demon Generals.  The symbol associated with his yoroi
is a stylized wolf's head. The kanji associated with his Yoroi is Ko:
Filial Duty. When he attacks he calls "Leaping Darkness". He can see in
total darkness, and tends to prefer attacking when there is no light to
aid his enemies.  According to one source, he - or his yoroi, anyway -
is possessed by/the reincarnation of the Egyptian god Anubis. (Anubis is
the name an Egyptian jackal-headed god, one of their many gods of the
dead.)If he were to use his abilities for good, he would be "the eyes
for those who have lost their way in darkness, battling evil spirits of
the night. His greatest show of power would be for the sake of defending
others."

Name Kanji: A: Evil  NU: Servant  BI: Increasingly  
   SU: Obey/Defend (Evil Servant Who Defends??)
Forehead Kanji: KO: Filial Piety
Birthdate: in 1550
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 63 kg 

NAAZA (NAZA) 
The Poison Demon General ("Doku Ma Sho"), Naza has what can only be
described as "bug eyes", and uses multiple swords as his weapons. His
armor is green and red in color. He can control - perhaps through a type
of telekinisis - all of his six swords at the same time, while also
projecting an image with six arms.  He can also join all six swords
together in what amounts to a razor-sharp whip. Naza is known as the
Poison Demon General for good reason, as he has a full range of rather
nasty poisons in his arsenal of weapons as well as his swords. I have
the distinct impression that Naza is not quite sane.  He seems to have a
special hatred for Sh'ten - even when he's fighting Ryo, about half the
time (when he's not telling Recca how he's going to tear him apart) he's
bitching about the Oni Demon General! Battle cry: Ja Ga Ken. While his
armor is visually more insectile in appearance, it is the "Spitting
Cobra yoroi", (and the symbol associated with his yoroi is a stylized
cobra); and the poisons he uses in his attacks frequently cause
prolonged suffering in his victims. (When he tells someone "Kurushime!"
during an attack, he's saying "Suffer!") He - or at least the yoroi - is
said to be possessed by the spirit of the Asian snake god/demon, Naga.
His not- quite human appearance may stem from myths in Japan of families
who number snake-demons among their ancestors.  These snake demons, like
the kitsune (fox demons), could change into human shape and interbreed
with humans if they wanted to. Families that had "snake blood" in their
ancestory are said to often have scaly skin somewhere on their bodies,
and their eyes sometimes are not human in appearance. If he used his
power for good, the poison would heal instead of inflict pain and death.

Name Kanji: NA: What  A: Deafmute  ZA: Crush
Forehead Kanji: TEI: to serve our elders (Obedience)
Birthdate - in 1551
Height - 172 cm
Weight - 70 kg

The "forehead kanji" for Anubis and Naza switches between episode #19,
when Kaos tells Ryo which kanji are associated with which armor, and
which kanji the two actually manifest in episode #32. The ones given are
those used in episode 32.
 
The kanji for "Demon General" is "Ma Sho". "Sho" stands for "Commander,
General, Admiral" and in this context either "Commander" or "General"
would work; I selected "General" because it sounds better and has
already become common usage in fandom. The kanji "Sho" is also used in
forming the word "Shogun", if you're interested. You'll find I use the
term "Ma Sho" interchangably with "Demon General" throughout this
review.  The four Ma Sho were originally generals of various armies
during the time of the Japanese "Great Civil War", e.i., Nobunaga Oda's
unification of Japan.  They each at one time or another found themselves
fighting enemies of greater strength and thus lost battles. They each
wanted to win so badly that each in turn "sold their souls to the Devil"
so to speak, and were pulled into the Demon World where they were given
the greater strength they wanted - but only as servents of the Demon
Lord. Eventually they come to realize that they have been nothing but
tools Arago has used to achieve his goals, and realize that the "great
strength" they have been given has resulted in nothing but emptiness.
Finally they come to the conclusion that "soul" is more important than
"strength", and find themselves allied with the Troopers in opposition
to their former master.

A large part of the Demon Generals' fighting abilities rely on illusion,
but this should not lead one to think they don't have physical might as
well. It is their ability to combine their illusions with their physical
attacks which makes them so deadly. Sh'ten is the only one of the four
who does not use illusions very much. He relies more on his physcial
prowress when fighting his battles. (As a matter of fact, Sh'ten in
general seems rather out of place as one of the Demon Generals.)

ANKOKU (BLACK/DARKNESS) PRIESTS 
===============================

(Arago also calls these mystical beings "Evil Earth Spirits", but I've
chosen to use the Ankoku Priest appellation throughout this review.) The
Ankoku Priests are the spirits of evil men who have died on Earth. They
are energized by Arago's power and have no life of their own. These
spirits have become semi-autonomous parts of the Demon Lord, and act as
a channel for his energy.  They seem to be one way Arago can channel the
power he pulls from various sources, including the life energy he
absorbs from the human beings he has imprisoned. He uses them in
creating balls of energy in episodes 9 and 10. In episode 11 they play
several types of flute-like instruments, the mystic music from which
create a barrier that prevents the Samurai Troopers from being able to
call their armor. In episodes 14 they bombard Sh'ten with energy in an
effort to force the Oni Demon Genral to gain greater control over his
own abilities and power (to be used against the Samurai Troopers, of
course). In episode 16 he uses them to attack the mystic bridge Kaos has
created and which the Troopers are using to attack his floating castle.
In episode 17 -- after Sh'ten has joined the Troopers and then been
captured by his former comrades in arms -- the Ankoku Priests subject
him to various tortures in order to keep him too weak to escape. In the
rest of the series they act as channels for the power Arago is raising
to bring Earth and the Demon World together, as well as helping control
the wayward Demon Generals.  They are dressed in garb much like the
ceremonial outfits worn by the Shinto priests in Emperor Showa's
funeral.

SARANBOU 
He appears first in episode #20 as one of Arago's warriors. I have my
doubts about his humanity. This is one NASTY demon, friends! By #21 he's
come pretty close to defeating all five Samurai Troopers on his own. His
weapon is a type of pikestaff, and it seems that his main goal is to
find out more about Ryo's white/sun yoroi/mystic armor.

Name Kanji: SA: Sand  RAN: Storm  BOU: Priest (Sandstorm Priest)

KENBUKYOU 
A minor demon lord in his own right, Kenbukyou was defeated by Arago in
the past and thus must serve the Demon Lord. He first appears in episode
#22 accompanied by a huge black tiger and does his damnedest to kill
Ryo, severely wounding Byakuen in the process. His weapons are twin
katana something like Ryo's, but they are refered to as the "Swords of
Strong Passion" (truer translation is "Strong Violent Swords") and are
the second of the weapons that the Troopers must use to defeat Arago
(the first is the "Blazing Sun" or Kikotei yoroi.) It is from
Kenbukyou's tiger that Byakuen obtains the armor he wears in later
episodes - and Kenbukyou's twin katana become the weapons used by Ryo
when he wears the Sun Yoroi. The black tiger's name is Byakueno ("White
Flame King").

Name Kanji: KEN & BU together: Sword dancer 
    KYOU: Lord (Lord Sword Dancer) 

KOKUYOEN 
Also refered to as Arago's Demon Envoy, Kokuyoen is a creature that
resembles one of the rotound "frog-eyed" household gods in early Japan.
The Demon Envoy has control over water's temperature, and can turn it
into either ice or steam. He is sent after Ryo and fails.

Name Kanji: KOKU: Black  YO: Pride, Male (There are over a dozen
possible translations for this kanji, but the above seem to fit best in
this context) EN: Sun, fire, flame

KAYURA 
Seemingly Sh'ten's replacement after the Oni Demon General's defection,
she is known as the Demon Priestess (or Princess), and is an even
nastier fighter than the other Demon Generals. She seems to have been a
member of Kaos' clan and was one of those who was being trained to
defend Earth from Arago and his ilk about 400 years ago. She was
captured at the age of 5 and brain-washed by the Demon Lord; the
gold-colored chest plate she wears keeps her under Arago's thumb. When
it is destroyed in one of her battles with Ryo, her mind is freed and
she eventually joins the battle against the Demon Lord. (When Kayura
turns back to good, her voice goes up somewhat. This is a convention
adapted from Kabuki theater, where, when a good character turns to evil,
their voices become deeper and lower.) When she initially appears, she
is accompanied by the vision of wisteria blossoms and petals. Her
weapons are twin jitte - the jitte a much older cousin to the sai.
Instead of the central rod we're familiar with in the sai, this ancient
form of jitte has a slender two-edged sword blade.

Name Kanji: KA:(phonetic) YU: Play, enjoy oneself RA: Silk guaze; 
   fine-spun silk thread
Birthdate: 12 Dec 1559
Height: 158 cm
Weight: 44 kg

DARA 
One of Arago's demon commanders, Dara seems to have been one of the
original inhabitants of the Demon World who chose to submit willingly to
Arago rather than fight him. He uses the "Yoroi Sword" Arago creates out
of energy from the Korin, Kongo, and Suiko yoroi against Ryo, as well as
leading his own army against the two remaining Troopers in episodes 30 -
31.

Name Kanji: DA: Degenerate RA: Silk Gauze

BADAMON 
A sorcerer/scholar dressed as a Chinese Confucian scholar, he is one of
Arago's servents and is tasked with discovering the secret of the yoroi
and the Kikotei armor.

Name Kanji: BA: Banana DA: Steep   MON: Be in agony, be worried

GASHURA 
One of Arago's servents, Badamon sends him after Sh'ten, Nasty, and Jun
to prevent them from learning the secrets of the Kikotei armor and the
shakujo.  He is defeated by Sh'ten with the help of ghost warriors who
once served Kaos and the shakujo in a previous war with Arago.

Name Kanji: GA: Hunger  SHU: Grasp  RA: Silk Gauze

ARAGO'S DEMON ARMY 
Generic cannon fodder, these animated suits of samurai armor (which
appear to be poor duplicates of the armor worn by the Troopers and the
Demon Generals) are powered only by Arago's own energy. When they are
sliced open, there is nothing inside, except occasionally for wisps of
black smoke. There are only a few at them at first, but as Arago absorbs
more energy from our planet, the more of them he can generate.

A large number of Arago's servants seem to have an affinity for
water...Naaza loves to emerge from lakes and streams to attack his
opponents. Sarenbou takes to the sea frequently, taking Ryo with him
when he defeats the Recca trooper.  Kenbukyou emerges from a fountain
when sent into this world by Arago. And the "frog eyed" demon warrior
uses ice and steam extensively in his attacks.  Another note: most of
those who serve Arago seem to have armor that is somewhat "organic" in
shape - that is, it resembles living things of one type or another.
Three of the Ma Sho have yoroi named after living things. Both Rajura's
and Naza's are insectile in appearance. Anubis' is somewhat wolf-like.
Both Sarenbou and Kokuyoen to a certain extent resemble aquatic
creatures. (Sarenbou may also be intended to resemble a bird demon
similar to a tengu.) Dara in episodes #30 - 31 reminds me of a
bear...Sh'ten's armor is anomalous (what isn't about the Oni Demon
General?) and is much closer in appearance to that worn by the Troopers.
If he'd retract the face mask and if his body armor was the same
white-and-color color scheme as the Troopers, he'd probably fit in much
better visually with them than he does with the Demon Generals.
Kenbokyou also doesn't fit in, but then, it's made clear in episode #23
that he originally was not one of Arago's warriors, and has been forced
to serve the Demon Lord. Kayura...well, her armor is more
"cheesecake"-ish in nature than true yoroi any way you look at it...

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION 
===========================

FOREHEAD KANJI 
Specific kanji are associated with each of the Yoroi Kaos makes from
Arago's discarded armor after Arago's initial defeat. The kanji are
transferred to the Samurai Trooper who wears the Yoroi. When the
troopers are in danger, or calling upon the full energy levels available
to them, the kanji symbols on their foreheads (which normally are
invisible) glow. This effect can also act as an "emergency signal" to
let all the other Troopers know that one or more of their number need
help. In the second storyline, each of the Troopers carry a small
crystal ball (about the size of a large marble) in which their
particular kanji glows, and which also seem to act as some sort of
mystic focus for their powers, and are instrumental in summoning the
Troopers' body armor/padding when they are in "civies". In episode 17,
while Sh'ten is being held in the dungeon of Arago's castle, he feels
such a call for help by the Troopers (they've invaded the castle and are
under strong attack by Arago's forces) and finds the strength to escape
his prison and come to their aid.

ELEMENTAL LINKS 
Each of the five Samurai Troopers is strongly linked to one of the five
elements. (Oriental mythology/beliefs add a fifth element to the
tradtional Western four of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth: That of Spirit
(some sources list it as "wood", and technically it represents the
mystery of life itself). While this theme is common to much of what we
see in animation from Japan (thus the preference for five-man teams,
each representing one of the five elements), in this series the linkage
seems to be especially strong. The naming of the elements for the
Troopers is based on four factors: Each Troopers' special powers, how
they are used, their special affinities - and the Zodiacal sign of each!
Toma is a Libra, an air sign. Seiji is a Gemini, another air sign (there
is no "spirit" element in the Western Zodiacal system. I think "air" was
the closest they could get to indicating "spirit"). Shin is a Pisces --
a water sign, of course! Shu is a Virgo, an earth sign; and Ryo is a Leo
-- a fire sign.

On the other hand, the four Demon Generals seem to be more closely
related to the four seasons than to the elements. Sh'ten -- whose most
fierce attack involves sending the clawed weight and its chain deep into
the ground, whereupon which it re-emerges multiplied by ten-fold --
seems most likely to represent spring. Kayura, when she shows up, is
definately SPRING!! with bold-face capitals and multiple underlines --
she is accompanied by visions of wisteria petals. Rajura, who appears
amid visions of searing heat that dries out and kills all plants,
represents summer -- a summer of Saharan porportions. Naza's arrival is
usually accompanied by the trees and plants around him turning brown and
losing their leaves; he is representative of fall. Finally, Anubis --
who loves to attack during blinding snowstorms and freezes waterfalls as
well as living creatures solid, and has a yoroi that somewhat resembles
a wolf (even if it is supposed to be a jackal...), is definately a
creature of winter...


==============================================
== CHAPTER 2: FIRST SEASON EPISODE SYNOPSES ==
==============================================

#1 (4/30) The Target is Tokyo
-----------------------------
It seems to be a normal, nice day in Shinjuku, a suburb of Tokyo, when a
cloud gathers overhead and casts a strangely shaped shadow on the
buildings below.  Demonic laughter resounds. In a room at a university
nearby, Nasti Yagiyu is busy with a computer, working for her
grandfather, Professor Yagiyu. Her grandfather is worried. The yoroi of
the Samurai Troopers have disappeared, which could mean that the Demon
Lord Arago -- whom he has researched for years as a folklorist -- may be
ready to manifest once again. (Unfortunately, the symbols which show up
on the computer screen are so much garbage, not a real readout even in
Japanese...) In Shinjuku's shopping district, Jun and his parents are
window-shopping when Jun almost runs into Byakuen -- and gets a wet lick
as a greeting from the huge white tiger. Then the tiger's human
companion (partner more than master), Ryo, speaks with him. Jun's
parents then pull him away, fearful for his life, as Ryo and Byakuen
continue about their business. But someone has called the police about
the appearance of the tiger, and the media arrive, too. Nasti and
Professor Yagiyu see a news broadcast about the young man and his "pet."
Professor Yagiyu identifies Ryo as a Samurai Trooper. (If they explain
how he knows about the Troopers as well as Arago and the yoroi, I've
missed it. Maybe he recognizes Byakuen?) He sends Nasti off to bring Ryo
to him. Dark clouds suddenly appear, travelling too fast to be natural.
Nasti's "Samurai" (jeep look-alike) dies, as do all the cars around her.
She steals a policeman's bike to continue her mission. A helicopter
falls from the sky, its motor quiting. (It should have been able to
auto-rotate down safely, but I suppose that wouldn't be as dramatic as a
fiery crash...) Ryo and the police surrounding them watch in horror.
Lightning strikes around them, breaking windows as people panic - and
Jun loses his parents in the crowd. Behind Ryo,a deadly-looking suit of
samurai armor materializes. It's a warrior of Arago's demon army.
Byakuen senses it and responds, giving Ryo enough warning to leap out of
the way of its first blow.  The demon soldier's scythe cuts open the
back of his shirt, and we see the red body armor he wears through the
slit. Ryo turns and challenges the warrior, discarding the rest of his
civies to display the body armor that was concealed underneath them. "I
am Recca no Ryo!" (Ryo of the Raging Fire), he declares.  The warrior
merely laughs, twirling the chain that is part of his weapon and then
striking at Ryo. Ryo's own attacks have little effect on this opponent.
Buildings and roads begin to crumble around them. Jun stumbles into the
battle zone, looking for his parents (everyone else is gone -suppose
they've all been smart enough to take cover?). Jun is nearly killed by
the warrior (wrong time, wrong place more than by deliberate intent) but
Nasti arrives in time to save him. Ryo is not doing very well at all in
his first battle, and it is the arrival of Tenku no Toma (Toma of the
Firmament/Heavens) that saves his life.  They are then joined by the
other three Troopers - Kongo no Shu (Shu of the Great Strength), Suiko
no Shin (Shin of the Waters), and Korin no Seiji (Seiji of the Halo).
(Seiji has a wonderful entrance scene as he leaps off a 10-story
building and unconcernedly falls groundward head-first as he introduces
himself.) The warrior seems unconcerned; he's quite willing to take on
all five humans by himself. Nasti is telling Jun a little about Arago
and the Samurai Troopers as the battle continues. The others have no
better luck that Ryo did in affecting Arago's warrior. Nasti yells at
them to put on their yoroi; the warrior responds by taking her and Jun
hostage. Ryo calls the Recca yoroi; and the other four are enarmored as
well. (This is the first time we'll see the rather nice stock footage of
Ryo getting into his armor. As he does so, we see bolts of silk
unrolling around him, as well as cherry (sakura) petals. Very
appropriate as both have long been considered symbolic of the samurai in
Japanese history.) The warrior laughs once more, "So you are the Samurai
Troopers!" he gloats. Ryo attacks, but the warrior parries his blows.
"You don't know how to use your yoroi yet!" the warrior taunts as he
knocks Ryo into the ground. Then he throws Jun and Nasti into a magic
"screen" where their image appears -- and demonstrates that whatever is
done to him (hitting his armor, for example) the two hostages will feel.
(He gets a perverse enjoyment out of the demonstration, too!) Ryo puts
his swords away and lets the demon warrior wrap him up in his chains,
whereupon which Ryo gets thrown against all sorts of the things...Jun
calls to him, and Ryo discovers how to power up, using his "Two-
Direction Flame Cut" to destroy his opponent. Jun and Nasti are
released, Byakuen catching them before they can be hurt. The others have
almost no chance to congratulate Ryo before nasty laughter is heard from
the roofs overhead. They look upward to see four men dressed in yoroi
somewhat like their own. The foremost tells them that Arago has just
been testing his newest foes, and introduces himself as Sh'ten, Oni
Demon General -- and sworn to Arago's service. The other three also
introduce themselves -- Darkness Demon General Anubis, Phantom Demon
General Rajura, and Poison Demon General Naza. With a warning that
they'll be back, all four teleport skyward as Arago's voice is heard.
The clouds clear somewhat, and for the first time we see Arago's Dark
Castle floating above the city.

#2 (5/7) Oni Demon General! Fierce Attack of Sh'ten 
---------------------------------------------------
Photographs from a photo-reconnaisance satellite reveal a small circle
of nothingless, where the camera refuses to pick up an image, in the
area of Shinjuku. Japanese Defense Force helicopters try and move in,
reporting the prescence of Arago's Dark Castle, but their motors shut
down when they reach Arago's area of influence. When one tries to
autorotate down, one of Arago's warriors splits its fuel tank open with
a spear, and it explodes. Technology does not work where the Demon
Lord's power holds sway, and Arago seems to actually absorb power from
such sources. Inside the castle, the Demon Generals are getting orders
from Arago. It rapidly becomes clear that Sh'ten is disliked by his
fellow Demon Generals, and Arago's selection of him as the first to go
against the Samurai Troopers is greeted with a mixture of rage,
irritation and frustration as the others argue that he is too junior for
the honor. Arago shows Sh'ten where the Troopers, Nasti and Jun are
hiding -- in the subway -- and dispatches the Oni Demon General after
them. Below, Byakuen is curious about the cats trying to find food in
the scattered garbage of an alley. Toma and Seiji watch him with some
amusement, each commenting on the emptiness of the streets. They also
introduce themselves to each other. (One gets the feeling this is the
first time most of the Troopers have met each other, as in this and the
following scene they give their complete real names and the province
they each come from to each other.) Below, Nasti is telling the three
other Troopers about her grandfather and his studies; and they also
introduce themselves to each other as well as Jun and Nasti, trying to
cheer Jun up. Above, jet aircraft attack Arago's castle, but Arago turns
their missiles around so they end up shooting down each other instead.
Further proof that it will take magic, not science, to defeat the Demon
Lord. Byakuen senses danger (both his magical and normal senses are much
more acute than those of the Troopers) and warns them -- as Sh'ten
arrives on the street above. His search does not take long as he tears
up the street above the subway to reveal their hiding place. The five
Samurai Troopers call their armor, but use the yoroi's power to set a
shield around Nasti and Jun. They then attack Sh'ten without their armor
-- and predictably, Sh'ten easily ignores their attacks and inflicts
quite a bit of damage on them. Next we get a glimpse of a man in Shinto
monk's garb, a shakujo (a special type of staff) in one hand, his face
hidden by a straw hat. The smoothness of his features belies the long
white hair (Note: In Japanese mythology, white or blond hair usually
indicates a supernatural being or spirit/ghost). This is our first view
of Kaos -- who throws down the shakujo, disrupting the yorois' shield.
The yoroi go to their owners. Sh'ten still shows no hesitation in
attacking (whether this habit of his of taking them on all at the same
time is courage, arrogance, or a mixture of both is debatable!). He and
Ryo go at each other. Sh'ten is damaged in the exchange. Ryo is knocked
unconscious, and one of his katana falls to the ground below. The other
Samurai Troopers arrive to defend Ryo, who obviously is already on his
way to being their leader. Arago has watched with amusement at Sh'ten's
success, but becomes alarmed as each Samurai Trooper begins to glow,
their energy beginning to unite. Arago intervenes -- sending down a
black tornado to kill them. All five are drawn into the funnel cloud.
Each becomes a glowing ball of energy, and they shoot away from the
tornado in five different directions, the tornado torn apart by the
result. One of the energy spheres, red-colored, lands in Fuji-san, which
erupts under the impact.

#3 (5/14) Armor Empowered (acquires rank), Secret of the Raging Fire 
          (Rekka)
--------------------------------------------------------------------          
Jun and Nasti climb out of the rubble they have taken refuge in to sleep
through the night as the city crumbles around them. Then Jun notices a
growing glow not far away -- it is one of Ryo's katana, the one he lost
in his battle with Sh'ten. Nasti grabs it up as Byakuen arrives. In
"tiger talk" he makes it obvious he wants them to follow him. Deep
inside Fuji, Ryo, in the Fire Yoroi, slumbers in the middle of a lava
pit -- then slowly begins to wake. In the audiance chamber of Arago's
castle, Sh'ten is looking at the viewscreen/magic mirror down at the
city below. The other Demon Generals arrive and twit him about the fact
he didn't really win his first battle -- Arago did it for him! (They're
already referring to their fellow Demon General as "kisama" - this does
not bode well for any hope of them acting as a team!) Arago interrupts
them angrily, as it seems the Troopers are still alive, if dormant.
Arago cannot touch their yoroi and twist them to his own use until the
present wearers are dead -- or have been converted to his side. Further,
it seems Recca no Ryo is beginning to wake. The scene on the mirror
changes, and it shows them Byakuen, Jun, and Nasti all enroute to Fuji
with Ryo's missing katana. Sh'ten is given the chance to redeem himself
by eliminating this danger to Arago's plans. Next we know, Nasti, Jun
and Byakuen (Nasti riding Byakuen, and Jun following close behind by the
expedient of standing on his skateboard and holding onto the tiger's
tail -- I will refrain from making jokes/puns here...) are attacked by
Sh'ten and members of Arago's Demon Army.  They are saved by the
intervention of Kaos who uses the shakujo to create a rift between the
them and Arago's forces. Nasti finds her jeep -- and this time the
engine starts! They leave once more. However, Sh'ten now knows where
they are going. At Fuji, Ryo painfully climbs to the lip of the
volcano's mouth, only to discover Sh'ten waiting for him. As they
battle, Byakuen delivers Ryo's second katana to him. The battle
continues, and Sh'ten makes the mistake of knocking the Fire Trooper
back into the lava. Ryo emerges, stronger than ever, having gained power
and strength from the lava's heat. In desperation, Sh'ten grabs Nasti
and Jun as hostages (despite their attempt to escape), then throws the
two into the volcano. Ryo saves them, but must discard his super-hot
armor to do so. He collapses on the lip of the volcano where he has
carried them, sans yoroi. Before he can call it back, a chain whips
around his throat and Sh'ten yanks him within range of his scythe, the
chain preventing Ryo from calling his armor. Beating him near
unconscious, Sh'ten drops Ryo back into the volcano -- but Ryo has been
playing possum. He grabs Sh'ten and the two both fall toward the lava.
Sh'ten saves himself by finding some rocks to land on, while Ryo calls
his armor in time to save his own skin. Then Ryo breaks Sh'ten's scythe
with his two katana (NEVER attack someone whose element is fire in the
middle of a volcano -- that's the center of their power!) and the Oni
Demon General falls as another eruption occurs.  Arago pulls a rather
singed Sh'ten back to the audiance chamber in disgrace, and chews him
out, to the unconcealed glee of the other Demon Generals. Ryo, watching
the volcano erupt, says they've got to find his companions -- he cannot
stand against Arago by himself. Nasti suggests that perhaps her
grandfather can help. Not knowing what else to do, and acknowledging
that Nasti's information has been most helpful, Ryo agrees...Elsewhere,
Kaos watches, both worried and approving.

#4 (5/21) Poison Demon General! Naza's Trap
-------------------------------------------
The populace of Shinjuku is under Arago's control, and are being herded
to some sort of limbo. In the audience chamber, Sh'ten is being
unmercifully taunted about his failure against Recca when Arago appears.
The Demon Lord is not sure what Recca plans, but wants the Samurai
Trooper stopped before he can get to and awaken the other Troopers. This
time, he dispatches Poison Demon General Naza to do the job. Nasti, Jun,
and Ryo are in Nasti's jeep, Byakuen running along behind (you'd think
they could rent or "borrow" a trailer or something for the poor tiger!)
are enroute to the university where Nasti's grandfather teaches, unaware
that Naza has gotten there before them. They take a detour as they go
through the area where Jun lived; long enough to visit his house -- and
discover that not only are his parents not home, but it appears no one
has been there since Arago's manifestation. Nasti and the Troopers are
his only family now. When they arrive at the university, Nasti's
grandfather does not seem terribly pleased to see them. Jun and Ryo
leave the room as Nasti and her grandfather argue. Jun picks up a
Polaroid camera. As he looks through the lens he sees glowing red eyes
in the suits of samurai armor in the cases outside the Professor's
office. Then the armor comes to life and attacks them, transforming into
warriors of Arago's army. Inside the office, Professor Yagiyu tries to
kill Nasti and Ryo must save her. Deducing that the old man has been
possessed, Ryo scares the demon out of his body by nearly killing him.
But the strain has been too much on Yagiyu's heart. He tells Nasti that
the answer to their questions is in an ancient poem/song that is in the
computer -- but he dies before he can tell her the code word to unlock
the right files (see the section on the song in the back section of this
review for more information). She goes to work to discover the code
words while Ryo watches -- and Byakuen, sensing Naza, goes hunting the
Poison Demon General.  His subsequent battle draws Ryo's attention, and
then Recca no Ryo goes against Naza. He does poorly, thanks to the Demon
General's illusions. Jun's camera, however, "sees" through the
illusions, and when he and Nasti escape the falling building Naza has
destroyed (after Nasti has unlocked the computer code words) he shows
the picture to Ryo - who then uses that knowledge to temporarily drive
off the Poison Demon General. (Note: some of the worst artwork and
animation in the series occurs in this episode. Yuck! I understand that
periodically the students at the animation schools for each studio are
allowed to animate parts of projects the studio is working on; perhaps
this episode was done as a class project?)

#5 (5/28) Resurrection! Warrior of Light (Bright Warrior)
---------------------------------------------------------
Nasti's computer has deduced that the most likely place for them to find
Seiji is Akiko Cave on the Akidoshi Plateau (once refuge and place of
meditation for various religious types, the caves are now a major
tourist attraction).  (Luckily, the information was all stored in a
lap-top portable computer rather than a main-frame or desk-top model!)
Once more, Naza has arrived first. Ryo sends Byakuen, Nasti, and Jun
into the cave for safety while he faces Naza.  During the battle, some
of the poison on Naza's blades gets into Ryo's eyes, and he is blinded.
Inside the cave, Byakuen senses Ryo's plight and goes to rescue him. Jun
wants to follow, but Nasti tells him they'll serve Ryo better if they
continue and try to find Seiji. Outside, Naza prepares to kill the
blinded Samurai Trooper. Byakuen arrives just in time to save his
partner, carrying the injured Ryo deep into the caves. Ryo bathes his
eyes in clean water to no avail. Seiji seems to be his only chance. He
calls the Recca yoroi to him, hoping its link with the Korin armor will
help lead him to Seiji.  First, though he's got to fall off the
requisite cliff...(seems he shares more with Pegasus Seiya of Saint
Seiya than just the same voice actor!) Meanwhile, Nasti and Jun have
been captured as Naza searches for Recca. Ryo locates Seiji, but Korin
is encased in a pillar of stone in which Ryo cannot reach him. Naza
arrives, and Ryo spends half his time fighting off the Poison Demon
General and the other half trying to wake Korin. He finally succeeds,
just prior to fainting from his injuries. Seiji, once awake, blows Naza
away. He, too, has come into his power. He helps Ryo to the surface, and
then Seiji demonstrates that his power includes healing as he restores
Ryo's sight. Now they have three more Troopers to find...

#6 (6/11) Angry Counterattack - Super Flow Thrust 
-------------------------------------------------
Seiji, Ryo, Jun, and Nasti are now at the bridge in the Inland Sea that
towers above the Great Whirlpool of Meimon (yes, they really exist, and
are located in the Naruto Straits between the islands of Awaji and
Shikoku. However, the whirlpool effect occurs only four times a day in
conjunction with the changing of the tides rather than all the time. And
again, they are a major tourist attraction in Japan). Seiji and Nasti
take the jeep and depart, heading for Hokkaido where they believe Shu
is. Ryo and Jun stay to try and find Shin, who if the song/poem is right
will be somewhere near the whirlpool. Ryo dives in as Jun waits on the
bridge. On one shore, Naza watches, and summons several of Arago's
warriors. He is determined not to be defeated as Sh'ten was. Above,
Arago and the other three Demon Generals watch. When they're not
taunting Sh'ten, the other two are asking Arago to be given their chance
at the Troopers. Anubis, to his great satisfaction (including a
triumphant look at Sh'ten and Rajura) is sent after Nasti and Seiji. In
the water, Ryo is attacked by Arago's warriors. At the ocean bottom,
Shin lies as if asleep, his yoroi having created a "bubble" of air
around him to keep him alive. The fish watch over him like faithful
watchdogs (including one orca [killer whale]).  Ryo calls his yoroi and
defeats his current foes. This is what Naza has been waiting for, and he
attacks. Ryo's armor has been damaged in the previous battles. Seawater
-- combined with Naza's poisons -- does not mix at all well with the
Fire armor where it has been damaged. Ryo experiences the equivilent of
short-circuiting in his armor. This is not only painful and distracting,
but weakens him in his battle against the Poison Demon General. Ryo
falls...and Naza goes looking for Shin. He finds Suiko, and is
distracted by the fishy guardians. Ryo's katana are now circling above
Shin, ringing, and wake Suiko. Shin is rather upset, especially when he
discovers Naza's poisons have killed many of "his" fish! He is also
disturbed when he finds one of Ryo's katana -- with no sign of Ryo
nearby. He uses a whirlpool attack to distract Naza, hauls the
unconscious Ryo out of the water, then returns to the sea to fight his
foe. They battle, ending up on the bridge. Meanwhile, Byakuen starts to
drag Ryo to a fire (caused by an overturned gasoline truck) with Jun
helping when he realizes what the tiger is up to (that's no ordinary
cat, that's for sure!). Shin is hurt, but Naza is distracted by Ryo,
renewed by the fire. (If lava won't hurt him, a little gasoline fire
sure won't!) He is too weak to stand up for long against Naza, but gives
Shin the time to power up and dispose of their enemy. It's the Poison
Demon General's turn to be humbled before Sh'ten and Rajura as Arago
lets him know exactly what he thinks of this failure...

#7 (6/18) Enlightenment (Opening of Eyes, Spiritual Awakening)! 
          Destruction by Thunder Lightning Thrust 
---------------------------------------------------------------          
Nasti and Seiji are almost to their destination -- Mt. Daisetsu on the
island of Hokkaido -- and are being watched by the unnaturally
intelligent eyes of several wolves. Anubis awaits them not much further
on. Nasti parks when they can drive no further; they must go on foot
from here. Nasti is rather angry when Seiji takes off, leaping to the
top of a cliff she can't climb. He laughs and goes on as she fumes and
walks up the normal (and much longer) footpath.  She notices dark clouds
scuttling in. Then she hears the howls of the wolves as they attack --
Seiji arriving in time to save her. But there are too many, and the two
end up running until they are surrounded. Anubis, who has been watching,
sends an avalanche down at them. They barely escape, Seiji carrying
Nasti to safety. They come to a Shinto shrine, a garland-vested rock
above a waterfall. Shu is somewhere inside the rock, which is refered to
as "The Seat of God" (I suspect it represents an actual Shinto Shrine in
Hokkaido). Anubis announces himself and attacks. Seiji calls the Korin
yoroi, parries Anubis' own sword and then strikes the rock. But his
nodachi has no effect on it. He has revealed Shu's location to Anubis,
however. The Darkness Demon General thrusts his own nodachi into the
rock, and it slowly disappears within. It'll keep going, he tells the
horrified Seiji and Nasti, until it works its way deep enough to
penetrate Kongo's heart...then Anubis goes at Seiji again, this time
using the claws of his yoroi against the Trooper's sword, until he
forces both Nasti and Seiji off the cliff, and watches them drop into
the waterfall.  (Seiji drops his sword and puts both arms around Nasti
as they fall -- I think that it's at this point he begins to realize she
is a girl -- and a brave one as well as something of a "brain".) The
two, unseen by Anubis, land in a cave behind the waterfall. We see Kaos'
spirit form -- the water passing through his figure -- come and speak to
Seiji as the Trooper begins to wake up. Nasti goes to distract Anubis
while Seiji meditates, trying to figure out Kaos' words. Nasti is
willing to risk her life if it will help free Shu, and Seiji begins to
admire her courage even more. Nasti sees Kaos and recognizes the
shakujo, and knows it has something to do with the Samurai Troopers and
their yoroi. Despite her calls, Kaos keeps walking and disappears into
the snowstorm. Nasti then succeeds in drawing Anubis' attention --
better than she'd planned, as he captures her, ties her to a rope and
drops her into the freezing liquid of the waterfall in an attempt to
make her tell him where Korin is. Seiji is wakened by her danger and
comes to her rescue when Anubis freezes the waterfall solid in his
frustration. In the process of destroying the ice, Seiji also learns to
use more power himself -- and as his power outflow grows accordingly,
splits open the rock Shu is imprisoned in. Anubis lands on top of the
rock, one leg on either side of the crack Seiji has made.  There is a
power surge, and Anubis' own sword comes flying out of the crack (you
should have heard some of the dirty jokes we made about this scene and
how near the nodachi came to cutting off a certain portion of the
Darkness Demon General's anatomy...), followed by Shu's emergence.
Anubis is blown back to the Demon Castle as Nasti, Seiji, and Shu head
back to Kyoto to see if they can locate the last missing Trooper, Tenku
no Toma.

#8 (6/25) Phantom Demon General! Rajura's Plan (Strategem)     
----------------------------------------------------------
The two groups of Troopers intend to meet at Tembashi, near Lake Biwa.
They must find Toma -- but the poem/song is not terribly clear on exacty
where they might find him. They interpret it as somewhere near Kyoto...
Meanwhile, it's Rajura's turn to try and stop the Troopers. They have no
hope of defeating Arago without all five of their number present; Arago
does not intend to give them the chance. (For once, Naza backs up Sh'ten
as the Oni Demon General discounts Rajura's boasting.) Ryo, Seiji, and
Jun make their destination first, and Jun enters one of the numerous
temples in the historic part of the city. Rajura materializes in front
of the youngster, and shortly Shin and Ryo are fighting the
spider-armored Demon General. He tells them he's already captured Toma,
and disappears. Seiji and Ryo race after him, and think they see Tenku
in the distance, a number of Arago's warriors holding him prisoner.
They attack -- but it is Rajura in the center of the circle, creating an
illusion that he is their friend. Then he makes Ryo and Shin think each
other is the Demon General, and the two Troopers blow each other away in
their resulting battle. Rajura barely has time to gloat when Seiji and
Shu appear.  The Phantom Demon General pulls the same trick on them.
Seiji, raising his sword, sees Shu's image reflected in his blade, and
not the Demon General his eyes tell him is there. Realizing what has
happened, he drops his blade and lets Shu blast him. Shu sees Rajura's
form turn into Seiji, and realizes to his horror that he's just knocked
his own teammate unconscious. Then he notes the prescence of the real
Rajura, and proceeds to take him out despite his illusions. Needless to
say, Arago is not pleased -- but the Troopers still have not figured out
where Toma is. That night, as they rest and recover, Ryo sees a falling
star -- and suddenly realizes that Toma's resting place is not on Earth.
"Tenku" means Firmament as in night sky, after all! But how to reach
their comrade? He seems as unreachable as Arago's dark fortress.

#9 (7/2) Rekka's Rescue of Tenku (Ryo's Rescue of Toma)
-------------------------------------------------------
The four Troopers and their two friends are camped out along the sea
shore, discussing how to get to Toma...and they can't quite figure out
how. Then Nasti wonders if Arago can get at him. This sets Ryo to
thinking. Toma may well wake up on his own given enough time, something
Arago will try to prevent. If they can force Arago's hand, perhaps they
can use the Demon Lord to assist in awakening Toma. In Arago's castle,
the Demon Lord tells his Demon Generals he has a plan to eliminate the
danger Tenku represents to them. In camp, while the others sleep Ryo
gets up and starts off with Byakuen -- but Shu is also awake and insists
on accompaning Recca. The two head for Shinjuku.  Above them, the Demon
Generals have been summoned to witness the "birth" of Arago's newest
servants, the Ankoku Priests, from the lava pits in the lowest level of
the castle. The Demon Generals are not terribly pleased by this
development. The purpose of these new servants is to draw to themselves,
refine, and shape energy -- energy that will be used to knock Tenku out
of the sky and kill him. They take over and reinforce a sky-scraper to
use as a type of cannon barrel of sorts. Meanwhile, the other Samurai
Troopers have followed Shu and Ryo, who even now are fighting Arago's
troops enroute to their destination. In Arago's audience chamber, the
Demon Generals sense the intrusion and want to go after Recca and Kongo,
but Arago tells them to hold off for a while. His Ankoku Priests are
about to send off an energy "cannon ball" and he doesn't want the
process interrupted. The Troopers watch in shock as the deadly mass
heads into orbit. Not far away, Kaos also sees it -- and uses the power
of the shakujo to make it drop into the ocean. Ryo sees that if he can
somehow "ride" the next energy bolt, he may be able to reach Toma.
Arago powers up the cannon -- and sends Sh'ten to stop Kongo and Recca.
After they've left, Arago laughs to himself and says Sh'ten may find
himself expendable. As the two Troopers break into the skyscraper, they
hear Sh'ten's laughter -- then they are fighting the Oni Demon General,
who vows not to be defeated this time! The power build-up continues. Ryo
and Shu take cover.  Sh'ten is not fast enough, and is caught in the
energy malstrom. But instead of dying, he somehow absorbs the power,
becoming super-charged. Seemingly driven berserk by the experience, he
charges after the Troopers. His powers increased tremendously, the two
are no match for the Oni Demon General. As the energy ball rises, Ryo
jumps on it -- and finds himself sinking into it like quicksand. Only
Shu emerges from the dust to meet his friends. Ryo is headed skyward --
while Arago is fascinated by Sh'ten's increase in power.

#10 (7/9) Assemble! Five Warriors 
---------------------------------
The three troopers on the ground are busy fighting Arago's army as the
Demon Lord taunts them that Ryo's actions have doomed Toma as well as
himself.  Sh'ten confronts Arago, and is severely punished for his
audacity -- then told not to presume to question his lord's orders or
actions. (It should be noted that by now Arago's helmet is noticeably
more solid.) Ryo, however, is made of stern stuff -- he breaks through
the energy sphere, dissipating it. His yoroi forms an environmental
"bubble" around him to keep him alive. But he has no way of propelling
himself -- he can't reach Toma, nor can he return to Earth.  His entry
into orbit has got him close enough to Toma that his Fire armor can
"call" to Toma's Tenku yoroi. Toma's forehead kanji glows, and Tenku
wakes up.  In his own element, Tenku has no trouble moving around and
draws Ryo to him.  Then he propels them earthward. Below, all the
Troopers' forehead kanji glow as Tenku uses his full power. In Arago's
castle, Sh'ten is on his hands and knees, felled by a tremendous
headache. He doesn't notice that something is glowing on his forehead.
The viewer, if one looks close, can make out the kanji there although it
is not truely clear yet: CHU, which stands for loyalty. All Sh'ten
knows, however, is that somehow Recca and Tenku are responsible for the
pain he is experiencing. Without waiting for orders, he calls his yoroi
(another absolutely wonderful scene -- if you have freeze-frame, watch
how the shadows grow across Sh'ten's face as the candle goes out, and
then recede as the light flickers back to life as the process is
reversed. His assuming yoroi is quite understated in contrast to that of
the Troopers, but the difference is quite effective! It may also
illustrate that the Demon Generals have had their yoroi long enough to
feel comfortable with them, not needing the "flashier" display of the
less-experienced Samurai Troopers) and goes after Ryo and Toma. The two
Troopers land -- and Sh'ten arrives on their heels. After a fierce
battle, he knocks out both Toma and Ryo -- and literally has them "on
the ropes" with his chains. Somehow, though, he just can't bring himself
to kill an enemy who can't fight back. (Another effective scene occurs
here, with Sh'ten's head "splitting in two" -- one with helmet on, one
without -- to illustrate his indecision -- that is, he's of two minds
about the matter! (Sorry...)) Toma wakes and is bewildered by Sh'ten's
hesitation. He's willing to take advantage of it, however, and draws his
bow.  Calling Sh'ten's name, when the Oni Demon General turns Toma
looses an arrow at him. But Sh'ten manages to catch the arrow, to
Tenku's disbelief. Sh'ten's helmet, however, has been shattered by the
impact of the arrow, and splits.  This reveals his face -- and Toma's
shock is compounded when he sees that the Oni Demon General is human,
not a puff of evil black smoke like those animating the other demon
warriors they've cut down. Furious, Sh'ten attacks Toma -- and Arago,
thoroughly pissed off at Sh'ten for not finishing off Ryo when he had a
chance (as well as disregarding orders) grabs the Oni Demon General
before he can connect, dragging Sh'ten back to the dark castle in
disgrace. The other Samurai Troopers arrive to see their two friends are
safe -- and Toma wonders how a human being could fight for a thing as
evil as Arago is. (NOTE: This is, of course, one of the key scenes of
the first storyline, as it shows Sh'ten [and perhaps the other Demon
Generals] has the potential to leave Arago and work for the "good guys",
as well as the Troopers realizing that all their enemies are not inhuman
monsters from the Demon World.)

#11 (7/16) Cast Down the Evil Magic Gate
----------------------------------------
While the Troopers were gone, Arago has been very busy. He has created
four "gates" around Shinjuku that allow him to draw power from his own
dimension.  The Troopers themselves are still somewhat shook up by
Toma's discovery that the Demon Generals seem to be human. When they
return to Shinjuku, they find themselves in a deserted city shrouded by
a thick fog. They all know it is a manifestation of Arago. They proceed
further into the city until they confront a wall seemingly made out of
black fog. Shu rides a mini-van into the fog, only to find himself under
attack by what appear to be living "strands" of wind energy. He is
pulled out barely in time by his teammates. Arago notices their entrance
and summons Rajura to delay the Troopers until his Lord is ready to
"receive" them. Temporarily defeated by the mystic winds, the Troopers
are nursing their wounds and discussing what to do when there is a
gale-force wind that sweeps away the fog -- revealing to their startled
eyes the prescence of the four gates Arago has created. As they look at
the gates, the five decide that it will be too dangerous to allow Nasti
and Jun to follow them through the gates. Shu opens one gate; Ryo tells
Jun and Nasti to stay behind. He actually slaps Jun when the youngster
puts up an obnoxious fuss and insists on going along. Jun runs away in
tears. Nasti, who understands why Ryo has done it, follows the child.
Ryo tells Byakuen to follow Nasti and keep her and Jun safe. The five
Troopers step through the gate. They hear Rajura's laughter and his
voice, taunting them. They go after him, only to find themselves
immediately under attack by more mystic winds. Inside the gates, we can
see them clearly enough to realize that each is an instrument-playing
Ankoku Priest entering from the other gates. The music they play is
similar to the Chinese-style dirge played by the Shinto priests during
Emperor Showa's funeral. Not only are the Troopers blown every which way
by these "living winds", but the music "jams" their communication with
their yoroi. When they call their yoroi to them in response to the
Phantom Demon General's attacks, nothing happens. So long as the music
plays they won't be able to bring their yoroi to them, Rajura tells
them. And then he strikes, catching each of the Troopers in his energy
webs despite their resistence. Meanwhile, Nasti has finally located Jun,
who has recovered and also realized the reason behind Ryo's out of
character actions. Byakuen, at Nasti's side, senses Ryo's peril and
draws their attention to the city center. Seeing the webs even from that
distance, they realize Rajura is in action. Rajura is taunting Ryo, even
offering him a place in Arago's service -- which Ryo rejects. Nasti and
Jun cross through the gate and are attacked by the winds. As soon as
they step backwards out of the gate, the winds disappear. Then Kaos'
staff appears in mid-air, floating down to Nasti's hands. The power of
the shakujo allows the three to proceed, unhampered by the evil spirits,
through the gateway. They see Rajura and Ryo fighting. Rajura throws his
morningstar at them. Nasti thrusts up the shakujo, and the bell- like
tones from its rings stop the Demon General's weapon cold. Further, it
silences the winds' music -- and the Troopers immediately call up their
armor. The power "blade" of Ryo's thrust penetrates the floor of Arago's
castle (much to the demon's shock and displeasure!) as well as blowing
away Rajura. Arago curses Ryo as the Trooper leader apologizes to Jun.
(NOTE: While the background art and the work on Rajura and the Ankoku
Priests in this episode is very nice, that done for the Troopers is BAD
- it looks like two different groups of people were responsible for this
episode. Suppose the animation school students got to animate the
Samurai Troopers this time?)

#12 (7/23) Seiji! Darkness of the Life and Death Struggle
---------------------------------------------------------
Weary and wary, the Troopers, Nasti and Jun are walking down a street
shadowed by Arago's storm clouds. Jun sees a shop selling skateboards
and remembers the last time he looked at such a store -- with his
parents, just before Arago struck. He fights away his tears and runs
ahead of the team, saying that they have to rescue his parents. Nasti
chases after him. Byakuen bristles, indicating something nasty is
enroute. The Troopers tense up, as several of Arago's demon warriors
burst through windows in the stores around them.  "Nasti!" Seiji
screams, echoed by Ryo, as both realize that she and Jun have gone on
ahead -- and are unprotected. The Troopers fight. Jun and Nasti are
facing the menace too. Byakuen rescues them from their initial attacker;
then Nasti drags Jun after her into the subway -- where they were
relatively safe the last time. More and more of the demon army
materialize around them as they run -- and they shortly discover that
Arago has invaded the subway, too. Toma and Byakuen rescue them this
time, the other Troopers on their heels. Arago has had time to adapt to
today's technology, and he activates the cars and trucks in the subway
parking lot to try and run them all down. Shin, Ryo, and Shu smash up
some cars, then Ryo takes Nasti and Jun and runs while Shin and Shu
remain behind to finish the job. But Ryo and his friends are ambushed,
Nasti and Jun running while Ryo takes on these newest foes. Descending
into the lowest level of the subway, they discover that Arago has been
here before them as he tries to run them down with subway trains. They
escape the first one themselves, but Seiji grabs and hauls them to
safety the second time -- allowing Korin to to hug Nasti rather closely
in the process, too! After the train is gone they find an airduct to
crawl down (Seiji and Nasti on hands and knees, Jun stomach-down on his
skateboard) but when they try to come up to street level find themselves
surrounded by the enemy once more. Elsewhere, the other Troopers have
all called up their yoroi and are destroying warriors of Arago's army in
wholesale lots. Seiji decides it's time to call up his own armor and
makes short work of his foes. But then a nearby building collapses on
them -- they barely escape being crushed by falling into the subway
again.  But they are not yet safe -- the voice of Darkness Demon General
Anubis, Seiji's counterpart on Arago's side, laughs at them and
challenges Seiji to combat. The two cross swords and go at it. Anubis
throws in a few illusions as well as teleporting for good measure. Seiji
finds himself losing the battle.  Nasti and Jun watch fearfully from the
refuge they have taken. Anubis connects with a "Leaping Darkness" attack
and follows up with a second one, effectively paralyzing his foe. Jun
picks up the shakujo Nasti has dropped and throws it at Anubis,
dispersing the Demon General's power discharge. Seiji is enraged when
Anubis strikes at Jun, and finds the power within himself to retaliate.
Anubis is defeated for the moment as Seiji rejoins Jun and Nasti -- who
wonder where the other Troopers have gotten to.

#13 (7/30) Mystic Armor's True Nature/Character
-----------------------------------------------
Shu, alone, is walking down the subway line when he hears other
footsteps -- it is Toma, he is relieved to see. Above, Arago is
relatively pleased as he talks to Rajura, Anubis, and Naza. He
dispatches Rajura with instructions to place doubts in Shu's mind. This
type of mental manipulation is right up the Phantom Demon General's
alley, and he leaves to carry out his orders. Below, Toma and Shu face
subway trains racing toward them on both tracks and jump upward to
escape. Shu lands on top of one train, Toma leaps up high enough to grab
a pipe in the ceiling. Shu discovers that the whole train is filled with
Arago's warriors, and is busy fighting them until the train runs
full-speed into a bunch of rubble blocking the tracks. As Shu is thrown
forward he seems to disappear from our world and time, and finds himself
in a hot, parched landscape where two samurai-led armies are fighting
each other. Shu believes he's been thrown back in time for a moment.
"Where am I?" he demands, but it is Arago who replies. Shu sees an army
approaching, then the forms of the four Demon Generals rise out of the
ground before him. Arago claims that the yoroi are all his; Kaos has
stolen that of the Troopers from him. "But you have proven strong enough
to be worthy of the yoroi," Arago tells him. "Join me, Kongo..." Then
the forms of the other four Troopers rise out of the ground as well.
"You've served me before, as have your companions. Join me once more,"
Arago argues. Shu, somewhat in shock, refuses. Then the forms of the
Troopers attack, and will not stop -- and Shu must strike them down. As
he bends over the Recca armor, wanting to know if Ryo is all right, it
turns into Rajura.  "Join Arago - or die!" the spider-armored general
tells him. Shu fights back.  At one point Rajura shows Shu a vision of
himself as a Demon General, leading one of Arago's armies to victory --
the other Troopers at his side. Rajura attacks with other unpleasant
visions as well as more physical attacks, until Shu calls up his yoroi
and strikes back with a full-power blow, forcing Rajura to retreat. But
Arago is pleased with the result -- Shu is now experiencing a massive
bout of self-doubt. And so long as he is uncertain of himself, Kongo
will be unable to call his yoroi or be much of a help to his teammates.
Below, Shu is haunted by the vision of himself as a Demon General,
tempted as well as horrified by the idea. Arago's voice taunts him,
telling him that even when fighting against Arago the destruction his
anger has caused works in Arago's favor. Rajura is very pleased with
himself -- until Arago tells him that it is Sh'ten who will follow up in
the next attack. "Why not me?!" Rajura rages. "I have been --
experimenting -- with Sh'ten. Let us see how he does this time," Arago
laughs. As the episode closes, we see a vision of Sh'ten in the lava
pits in the lowest level of the castle, screaming in pain as the Ankoku
Priests floating above the Oni Demon General lash him with a combination
of energy and lava...

#14 (8/6) Sh'ten, Spirit Torn by Inner Strife
---------------------------------------------
Deep inside the Demon Lord Arago's skyborne palace, Oni Demon General
Sh'ten is being systematically tortured by the Ankoku Priests under
Arago's direction. Arago tells him that if his plan is successful,
Sh'ten should be able to control enough power to completely destroy all
the Samurai Troopers.  The Ankoku Priests intensify their discharge --
and something inside Sh'ten snaps. He absorbs the energy discharge and
blows away lava and Priests both.  Arago's experiment has seemingly been
successful. Below, Seiji, Nasti, and Jun find a deserted amusement park.
As Jun and Byakuen run around the park, several rides start up -- Arago
has discovered them and sent his troops in response. Ryo and Shin then
arrive to help out, and they are forced to retreat into the Tokyo
subways. There they meet up with Toma and Shu; but Shu is very subdued,
most different from his normally exuberant self. Rajura's mental games
have made him doubt himself, and his reasons for being a Samurai
Trooper. He is afraid he may give in to the temptation of Arago's offer
to make him a Demon General. Then they hear distant metallic footsteps
approaching. It is Sh'ten, who has been driven somewhat berserk by the
amount of pain and energy Arago has forced him to absorb. With his
helmet gone they can all verify for themselves Toma's report that that
this Demon General is indeed human. It also gives Shu more doubts -- if
the Demon Generals are human, then Arago's words may indeed be the
truth! When the other Troopers armor up, Shu doesn't -- and when they
convince him to try, he finds his yoroi will not respond. In the battles
that commence, Sh'ten compounds Shu's problem by generally ignoring him
except when Shu attacks him; and then uses only enough stregth to knock
Shu away rather than really hurt him. Disheartened, Shu almost gives up
while Sh'ten trounces the other four Troopers. Then, as Sh'ten prepares
to dispatch Ryo (and hesitates once more before following through on his
intentions), Jun mounts Byakuen and attacks. Sh'ten merely backhands his
newest attackers, sending boy and tiger flying. Jun just has the wind
knocked out of him, but Shu realizes then that what Jun represents --
humanity as a whole -- is worth fighting for. If he just gives up, he
will have given himself over to Arago without a fight. He also remembers
-- and is reassured by -- the fact his armor/kanji is the Justice yoroi.
Confidence restored, Shu calls his yoroi and takes on Sh'ten. Sh'ten
tries to absorb this extra energy and overloads as a result, and,
wreathed in mystic flames, falls unconscious. The other Troopers rise
and join Shu, who is wondering just what to do with their fallen enemy.
Then Arago grabs Sh'ten and prepares to haul him back to his castle --
but Kaos intercepts the Demon Lord's burden, bringing Sh'ten's
unconscious form to his own arms as Arago curses his enemy.

#15 (8/13) Kaos -- Life or Death Decision 
-----------------------------------------
In a park somewhere in Shinjuku, Kaos has laid Sh'ten on the ground
while he talks to the Samurai Troopers. They are gathered around him as
both Nasti and Jun recognize Kaos' staff from previous encounters. After
he congratulates the Troopers on their successes, they ask him what to
do with Sh'ten. He tells them that the armor Sh'ten wears is yoroi, just
as that they wear is. It was intended to be worn by another Samurai
Trooper like themselves. Sh'ten is already more theirs than Arago's.
They react in shock. As Sh'ten begins to wake up, all five draw their
weapons and point them at the dazed Demon General. (The alarm with which
they view Sh'ten waking up is almost comical.)  Kaos stops them with a
gesture and sends them away as he talks to Sh'ten, telling the Demon
General that he wears a yoroi and that he was destined to be a Samurai
Trooper, not one of Arago's warriors. Yoroi? How can that be? Sh'ten
demands. "Each of the yoroi is imprinted with the sign of one of the
Confucian or Bushido virtues," Kaos tells him, and names those of the
five Troopers.  "And yours -- Look, Sh'ten Doiji!" The head of his staff
lights, and something glows on Sh'ten's forehead. He stumbles to the
pool and looks in, shocked to see the kanji for "Chu" (Loyalty) shining
between his eyes. "Now you have a decision to make, Sh'ten!" Above,
Arago is considerably pissed off, so much that when Rajura suggests
they'd be better off without Sh'ten, Arago punishes all three of the
Demon Generals before sending them off to collect his wayward servant.
The Oni Demon General is not going to be given much of a chance to make
a decision... When his three compatriots arrive, Sh'ten tries to brush
them off. They regard his hesitation and vague answers as proof of his
having become a traitor to their lord and attack. Sh'ten fights back,
but, still exhausted and damaged from his previous battles with the
Troopers, proves no match for all three of the other Demon Generals at
the same time. Then the Troopers respond. The actions of the three Demon
Generals has proved that Sh'ten has indeed become a Trooper, even if
they are still not totally sure of him. "Look, Sh'ten, the Samurai
Troopers fight for you!" Kaos tells him, and Sh'ten, half-awake, is
amazed that they would risk their lives for him when he was trying to
kill them himself only a short time ago. Then Arago intervenes, and
drags the Demon Generals and their prisoner back to the castle. Facing
Kaos, the Troopers are dispirited. The only way to rescue Sh'ten is to
get to the castle -- but they have no way to get there! Above, Sh'ten is
dragged before Arago, and defies the Demon Lord -- and tries to convince
his fellow Demon Generals to join him. They respond by taking him to the
dungeon, while Arago decides it is time he took care of Kaos. Below, the
Troopers are discussing Sh'ten's defection from Arago and subsequent
capture. One way or the other, they decide, they must find a way to
Arago's floating castle. So long as they fight him on the ground, they
cannot hope to defeat their enemy.  A short distance away, Kaos waits --
and Arago responds to the challenge.  Mystic battle is engaged as the
two old foes lock in deadly combat. Kaos makes a fateful decision. It
will take all the energy his soul-self possesses to do what needs to be
done. He gestures, and a huge towering energy pillar erupts from the
spot he stood on, its crown reaching past the Demon Lord's castle in the
sky. He has sacrified himself to create a bridge for the Troopers.
Arriving, they realize what has happened. Arago curses Kaos, then
laughs.  True, the Troopers now have a way to get to the floating castle
-- but that will put them on the Demon Lord's own ground, where he and
his minions are at their strongest. Meanwhile, the Trooper's thoughts
have borne fruit -- though the price was tremendous. What they plan will
be dangerous, but now they have the means by which they can ultimately
face down Arago himself...

#16 (8/20) Plunge into Arago's Heart
------------------------------------
Using the energy bridge Kaos has created with his own life energy, the
Troopers ascend towards Arago's castle. Ryo leaves Byakuen behind to
protect Jun and Nasti. Arago marshalls his Ankoku Priests against them,
but the pillar structure itself protects them from the attack. In fact,
the bridge itself actually responds with pure energy of its own,
dispersing the Ankoku Priests.  Arago is not unduly worried. The
Troopers will find an unfriendly reception committee awaiting them. They
discover that even the cannon fodder is harder to defeat here at the
center of Arago's power. Meanwhile, the three remaining Demon Generals
find themselves being subjected to the same tortures Sh'ten had to
endure earlier. Not as flexible as the younger man, they are finding it
a lot more difficult...Above, the Troopers call their armor and make
short work of the cannon fodder once within the protection of their
yoroi and able to channel their power through their weapons. But they
are stopped by an unexpected act as a shaft of power knocks them off
their feet. Looking up, they see the three Demon Generals, glowing with
their new found power, poised protectively along the roof of the
castle's main building. Each demonstrates to the Troopers how strong he
has become, then taunt them -- daring them to enter. Then each teleports
away. Undeterred, the Troopers force their way into the main doors --
and are swept away by a mystic whirlpool. Each wakes to face a Demon
General. Seiji faces a figure dressed in Kabuki costume (the dress of an
oni demon, to be exact) armed with a huge sword -- but the voice gives
him away; it is Anubis. As Seiji identifies him, Anubis discards the
disguise. The two fight a nasty battle. Cut to Shin and Ryo, who are
faced with battling Naza. After a few exchanges, Shin tells Ryo to find
Arago while he keeps Naza busy. He blows Ryo out of the battlezone with
a water spout, then faces the Poison Demon General himself. Finally,
Toma and Shu face Rajura. Toma fires a barrage of arrows, which is
effective in revealing where Rajura has hidden himself. Shu grabs the
Phantom Demon General and tells Toma to go on. Toma does. Recca no Ryo
meanwhile has located Arago and is joined by Tenku no Toma.  Arago
laughs and shows them a sight that horrifies them -- the people of the
city below, held in some strange limbo while Arago drains them of life
energy to power his demon army and Ankoku Priests. "Surrender or they'll
all die!" Arago tells them. "They'll die anyway -- and a lot of other
people with them - - if the Samurai Troopers quit," Toma replies
defiantly; then Arago strikes.  Elsewhere, the other Troopers are
winning their current battles, blowing themselves and their opponents
through the castle walls. Below, Sh'ten, imprisoned in the lava pit by
magical bonds, is still able to "sense" the presence of the Troopers --
and is frustrated by his own helplessness.

#17 (8/27 & 9/3 - it played twice) Tale of Mystic Armor -- Years Past
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryo has been blown out of the palace, as have the other Troopers. He
slides down the roof, barely catching himself in time. He goes back to
face Arago again, and is no more successful this time. In fact he is
knocked unconscious and lands rather solidly on the tiled roof. On the
ground Byakuen senses his master's danger; Nasti decides it is time to
go up and do what they can in support of the Troopers. Riding Byakuen,
they ascend the bridge. They are met by some nasty members of Arago's
demon army. The Troopers are still fighting the Demon Generals, and
Arago watches carefully. The signs of energy that the Troopers are
generating alarms him somewhat. It is time for the Demon Lord himself to
take a hand. He summons his Demon Generals out of their battles and
tells them that he needs to absorb their armor and their life forces in
order to defeat his enemies. If they are willing to voluntarily give
themselves to him, he will have more power available than otherwise.
Proudly, they agree (this is one of the few dignified moments the Demon
Generals are really given in this part of the series as well), and Arago
turns each of them into raw energy and "eats" them. As he does, his
gigantic spectral helmet becomes solid, and he manifests solid, armored
hands. He manages to grow even larger as he "digests" the energy his
Demon Generals have given him. (I'm fairly sure that Arago HAD to absorb
each of the Yoroi to become solid in our dimension -- for reasons that
will become clearer in episode #19.) Elsewhere, Nasti, Jun and Byakuen
have discovered the unconscious Ryo and revive him. They are joined by
the other Troopers and surrounded by the enemy. All five begin to link
for maximum effort, their forehead kanji manifesting. Arago mutters to
himself, especially when he realizes that, far below, Sh'ten is also
responding to the call, his yoroi and forehead kanji glowing. Knowing
his new comrades are in trouble, and that he is indeed now a Samurai
Trooper, Sh'ten reaches deep into himself to find the power to escape.
Above, Arago is becoming somewhat alarmed by the power the Troopers are
manifesting and intervenes, disrupting them before they can complete
their mystic link and utilize the energy that would then become
available to them. Ryo is picked up by one of the monsterous hands and
is beaten about, then knocked out -- his armor leaving him in the
process. Seiji rescues him as the other three find Arago a most
formidable foe. Jun and Nasti have been cornered elsewhere.  Defeated,
Shin and Toma are absorbed by Arago -- and the Demon Lord gains a torso.
Shu falls next, and Arago's armor is almost complete. Nasti and Jun are
rescued just in time by the arrival of Sh'ten, who destroys the cannon
fodder holding them. His forehead kanji manifests, echoed by that on
Ryo's forehead.  Seiji tries to defend Ryo, but is instead "eaten",
leaving Ryo alone -- and now once more in armor -- to fight Arago. Not
quite alone, however -- as Sh'ten arrives to give him some much-needed
backup. In a scene that is 'way to short for my biased tastes, the two
fight side by side and seem to be holding their own for a short while.
Jun is delighted, and Nasti remembers Kaos' words that it would take a
team effort to defeat the Demon Lord. Then Arago grabs Sh'ten and the
former Oni Demon General is himself absorbed. Only his jin baori (the
cloak he wears over the armor) is left, to be blown by the wind past the
horrified Ryo.

#18 (9/10) Fear of Evil Majic Ruler (Demon Lord)
------------------------------------------------
Ryo now faces Arago all by himself, his companions having all been
absorbed by Arago. Due to the fact that the Demon Lord has "eaten" their
life energy (much greater, naturally, than that of normal humans) as
well as their yoroi, Arago is somewhere near 40 feet tall rather than
being about human size as he was in past manifestations. Needless to
say, Ryo -- already tired and injured -- does not do very well against
his Godzilla-sized opponent. While at first Ryo struggles valiently
against his foe, the punishment he has already taken -- and is still
receiving -- has begun to tell. Even his strongest blows have no effect.
At one point the spirits of the Troopers manifest for a second,
momentarily paralyzing the Demon Lord and enabling Ryo to escape his
grasp.  Arago calls down lightning, and his power expands. "How am I to
fight this?" Ryo wonders. "And my friends -- they're part of him now!"
Ryo solves the immediate problem by falling off the roof -- and nearly
off the castle to the ground quite some distance below as well! But
Byakuen arrives in time to save him. It is only the tiger's great speed
now that keeps Arago's sword from killing them. Then the battle becomes
worse -- as Arago demonstrates that having absorbed the Troopers, he can
manifest in form and weapon as any of Ryo's friends. The gigantic forms
of each friend in turn attack Ryo.  He is even more shook up by this
experience than he was by any of the other attacks.  Byakuen is knocked
out by the psuedo-Shu's attack, and Ryo is nearly exhausted. He summons
up what power he has left to attack Arago, but discovers he cannot -- he
keeps seeing the faces of his friends and knows that if he destroys
Arago they, too, will die. He hears them urging them on, that Arago's
defeat is more important than what will happen to them. Ryo cannot
complete his attack despite their pleas. Gloating, Arago encases his
opponent in an energy ball and brings the disheartened Ryo up to
eye-level, preparing to turn him, too, into energy and "eat" him...is
Earth doomed to Arago's domination?

#19 (9/17) Decisive Battle! Brave/Strong Fire (Recca) Against Arago
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Arago is gloating over his victory as the episode opens. Nasti and Jun
scream at Ryo, trying to wake him up. They are only partly successful as
Ryo is absorbed. But once "inside" Arago, Ryo discovers that part of
Kaos' spirit is there, too -- and Kaos shows him how Arago nearly won
during his last manifestation. Only the intervention of the
monk/mage/warrior that Kaos was then enabled humanity to escape Arago's
rule. Kaos' shakujo-sword finished Arago off, and the Demon Lord's evil
essence left his armor to return through his dimensional gates -- which
proceeded to disintegrate behind him. But Kaos, now monk/mage only --
and the shakujo now turned into a staff -- discovered that Arago's
abandoned armor could not be destroyed. It could only be re-formed. Kaos
used his magic to make nine suits of mystically-endowed yoroi, imbedding
one of the five Confusian or one of the four bushido virtues in each
one. Somehow, Arago drew back to himself the four yoroi that used the
bushido virtues in the time that has passed since, giving them to his
four Demon Generals. The yoroi are indeed a part of Arago -- but this is
a weakness for Arago as well as the Troopers; if the Troopers are strong
enough then they can reach Arago through the armor. If they are not
strong enough, then Arago can affect them instead. As the leader of the
Troopers, it is Ryo who must join them together and find the strength to
defeat their foe. Arago gloats, figuring he's won. Ryo's spirit locates
those of his fellow Troopers, floating as if asleep inside the
deceptively quiet limbo Arago has placed them in. Ryo almost joins them
in slumber, but hears Kaos' words once more. They are human, the mage
tells him, and thus have resources Arago cannot even concieve of.
During these lectures Kaos has the disconcerting habit of switching back
and forth with Arago's form, the Demon Lord counselling Ryo to give it
all up and join his friends in the peaceful quiet. Ryo then hears his
fellow Troopers telling him to fight back, and he finds the willpower to
refuse that slumber - - and frees himself from Arago, much to the Demon
Lord's shock and surprise.  He calls the life energy of his companions
to him, and as all four join within him, his armor disappears -- to be
replaced by new, white-colored armor.  Arago, shocked, recognizes the
armor as the Kikotei or Sun yoroi, and can't figure out where it came
from. The two battle again -- and this time it is Arago who is defeated.
As things crumble around them, Nasti and Jun ride Byakuen back down the
pillar. Ryo's armor returns to normal, and Ryo faints from the overload
of power. His four friends materialize around him, and the five slowly
float groundward, the protective shields created by their yoroi keeping
them safe. Ryo wakes briefly to see his friends around him. Watching
from a rooftop, the Samurai Troopers see Arago's dark storm clouds
dissipating. (And if you watch closely, you'll see Seiji has managed to
get closest of the five to Nasti...) The narrator tells us, however,
that they have only won a battle -- not the war.


===============================================
== CHAPTER 3: SECOND SEASON EPISODE SYNOPSES ==
===============================================

#20 (9/24) Fresh Conflict
-------------------------
Ryo, in armor, is battling fiercely against warriors of Arago's demon
army.  Then a slightly-larger-than-human Arago shows up, and Ryo
discovers he is no match for the Demon Lord. Two of Arago's swords pin
him against a boulder, and Arago is driving a third at his head -- Ryo
wakes up from the nightmare screaming, much to Byakuen's distress (I
should note that I think the nightmare scene is one of the most
effectively-executed scenes in the series; one can feel Ryo's terror as
Arago starts delivering the final blow...) Where is he? He sees the
small crystal ball on the bedstead next to him, his own kanji glowing in
its depths. Getting up, he goes and opens a window, and welcomes the
clean air and quiet. Then he sees Shu and Shin below having fun.  They
tell him he's been asleep for over a week since Arago's defeat.
Dressing, he wanders elsewhere in the house, realizing that it once
belonged to Nasti's grandfather -- and thus now belongs to her. In
Shinjuku, Toma and Seiji are enjoying a quiet day on the town, now once
more crowded with people. Somewhere above them, one of Arago's gates
fades into existence, a giant form in demonic armor standing before it,
muttering about Arago and Samurai Troopers. Below, Ryo finds Nasti, who
tells him he should still be in bed. She has been doing research trying
to discover where the white armor came from. Toma and Seiji are taking a
break on the drive home when they are shocked by the appearance of
Arago's gate. The armored figure we saw before come out of the doors and
identify itself as Sarenbou, one of Arago's demon warriors. He proceeds
to beat the crap out of them, then leaves them unconscious next to the
roadway.  They arrive home rather battered and report their experience
to their companions. They agree they must face this new opponent -- but
they won't tell Ryo what is going on. He is still too weak from the
injuries he got while fighting Arago. All four go out and challenge
Sarenbou. He soon has all of them on the ropes -- and then sends an
image to challenge Ryo, telling him his companions will die if he does
not respond. Recca no Ryo of course comes to the rescue of his friends.
We return back to the other four, who as the clouds clear away from the
moon see that there is a dark shaft of shadow connecting Sarenbou to a
duplicate demon seemingly reflected against the full moon's brightness.
They realize he is a type of moon demon -- one that can use the mystic
power of the full moon to create a doppleganger of himself to fight his
battles while Sarenbou himself remains safe. The four are in agony as
Sarenbou keeps them suspended in an energy field of some kind, in too
much pain to give Ryo any type of warning except to stay away. Ryo
ignores their pleas, of course, and attacks. He does not do too much
good, until -- seemingly involuntarily, and most painfully, the other
four release part of their own energy to join with Ryo's own, and the
white armor again appears. With the increased power now available to
him, Ryo defeats Sarenbou -- or his doppleganger, anyway! Above, the
real Sarenbou watches the tremendous power display. He now has an idea
of what causes the white armor to appear, the true reason for his
activities. He returns then to Arago's dimension to report his findings.
As Ryo finishes his attack, the white armor is replaced by the red Recca
yoroi, and Ryo once more faints from power overload. Nasti arrives just
in time to see the transformation. A little ways down the road, the
other four Samurai Troopers, much the worse for wear, are also out cold.

#21 (10/1) Radiant White Armor
------------------------------
Under the sea, Sarenbou haranges a group of Arago's demon warriors,
giving them their orders. At Nasti's house all five of the Samurai
Troopers are feeling the worse for wear. Shu, at least, comes to as
Nasti enters the house with the groceries she has bought. He tears into
the food, provoking a response of "don't eat everything!" from Shin. At
the two tussle, Ryo reacts negatively -- how can they joke around like
this when it's obvious that Arago is still a very real threat? Ryo
storms outside. The others reveal as they talk that they are worried not
only about Arago but also about Ryo. The white armor has saved them
twice -- but it has nearly killed Ryo each time he called it to him, and
they still don't know anything about it! Outside, a challenge from
Sarenbou is delivered to Ryo. He decides to accept and takes off,
calling Byakuen to him - and not telling the others what he's doing. But
Jun sees the Trooper leader and Byakuen take the turnoff toward
Shinjuku, and a little later asks the others why Ryo is headed for
Tokyo. Horrified, the others follow. Ryo faces Sarenbou and is defeated.
Sarenbou begins to experiment (ugh -- tentacles yet again. This creep
definitely is not human!) and discovers that the "shadow" of the white
armor appears when energy is applied to the Recca yoroi. Sarenbou drags
Ryo undersea and fixes him in the center of a pentagram. The others
arrive and begin fighting cannon fodder. Sarenbou shoots an energy beam
through Ryo's left arm -- and above, Shin feels Recca's pain in his own
left arm. Sarenbou similarly "skewers" each of Ryo's arms and legs,
provoking painful reactions in each of the other Troopers. Then the
final beam -- this one goes right through Ryo's head. The reaction is
not what Sarenbou expects. Ryo's forehead kanji glows -- and those of
the others respond to his need. Thier life forces streak out to join
Ryo's, and the white armor appears.  Ryo soundly defeats Sarenbou. As
before, Ryo again collapses when he's done.  Worse, we see that the
energy flow has been too much for the Recca armor's katana -- the two
blades have cracked from the overload.

#22 (10/15) Kenbukyou's Challenge
---------------------------------
Deep in Shinjuku, a tall, caped figure accompanied by a huge black
armored tiger emerges from a fountain, cursing Arago as he materializes.
Back "home", Jun is playing at being a Samurai Trooper (do I need to
spell out who his hero is?) with Byakuen's help, as Nasti tries to
figure out how to heal Ryo's katana. Ryo throws a tantrum in his
frustration, and someone remarks on his "fiery temper". "Fire," muses
Nasti. "Fire -- that's it! Your armor was empowered when immersed in the
lava of Fuji. Perhaps the fires there will repair the damage!" They are
interrupted as Byakuen senses a rival -- and then is having an enormous
cat fight with a black tiger, who we recognize from the opening scene.
(The "cat fight" is great fun to watch, too -- it has the flavor of real
cats fighting without losing sight of how much these tigers would weigh
if they were real!) Then the black tiger disappears. It seems he, too,
is magic. The next day the Troopers and friends are enroute to Fuji. As
they walk up the foot trail Shu has fun pretending he's a monkey, and
Toma has his nose buried in a book, oblivious to the scenery around
them. They aren't aware that they are being watched. The Troopers find a
cave in which they see two swords surrounded by Shinto religious
symbols. The swords are guarded by a mystic shield. Successfully
breaking through by using the magic powers of their yoroi, Ryo picks up
the swords -- then batters them into the ground in frustration as he
realizes they are fakes. Laughter booms from overhead, and our heroes
realize the cave makes a perfect trap. The armored figure who looms over
them tells them he is Kenbukyou, and at Arago's orders is here to
challenge Ryo. They fight, and the black tiger -- Byakueno, who is
Kenbukyou's partner much as Byakuen is Ryo's, battles the white tiger.
Ryo once more assumes the white armor, but his swords break under the
strain, and only Byakuen throwing himself in front of Ryo and taking the
blow meant for him saves Recca's life. Kenbukyou pulls back, putting his
swords away in their sheaths which are part of Byakueno's armor. "Heal
Byakuen, and then we'll face each other again!" Kenbukyou tells Ryo, and
disappears. The menance gone, Byakuen collapses -- but this time, Ryo
doesn't!

#23 (10/22) Byakueno, Struggle Against Death (Death Wagered in Battle?)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Near Fuji, Kenbukyou remembers how he was a demon lord in his own right
in the Demon World. Then he had to fight Arago - and lost, gaining the
slash in his cape that still rents the fabric. That day, he ceased to be
a lord -- and was forced to become one of Arago's servents. A servitude
that only death can release him from. (Lovely fight sequence here, too;
and the background of what the Demon World looks like is very
interesting.) In a cabin near Fuji's slopes, Ryo, Nasti and Jun tend to
the wounded Byakuen, while Ryo feels guilty -- Byakuen was wounded
because of his own failings, Ryo believes. Outside the other four
discuss matters, and decide that they must defeat Kenbukyou themselves
and give the demon's swords to Ryo. They saw in their last battle that
Kenbukyou's swords can withstand the hugh amounts of energy Ryo is now
capable of generating. (More wonderful artwork here -- the lake glitters
golden behind them, while the light and shadows play across their faces
-- someone sure cares about what the art in these later episodes looks
like!) Toma (who at times seems to have become Ryo's best friend) goes
in to tell Ryo their decision. Ryo, upset, runs into the forest and away
from his friends, Jun on his heels as the Trooper leader breaks into
frustrated tears.  HE was the one challenged, and he should be the one
to fight this strangely honorable foe. But how can he, with his sword
blades shattered? Toma's offer was well-meaning, but it has merely
increased Ryo's current feeling of worthlessness. Kenbukyou and Byakueno
appear to reinforce their challenge, then fade into the mist. The
Troopers return home. Ryo is sleeping restlessly when Byakuen hears
Byakueno's challenging roar, and leaves. Moments later Ryo cries out for
Byakuen and wakes when there is no response. Byakuen and Byakueno have a
running battle. In the end, Byakuen pulls one of Kenbukyou's swords from
its sheath on Byakueno's back -- and gets swiped in the throat by
Byakueno's claws in the process. Ryo has arrived, and Byakuen gives him
the sword before collapsing. Kenbukyou now arrives. "Now we each have a
sword," the demon tells Ryo gently. "If you win, Recca, I will heal
Byakuen for you." The other Troopers arrive, but Ryo tells them to stay
out of it -- this is his battle. He does not do too well, and finally
the others have had enough.  Instead of having their energy
involuntarily taken from them, this time they will it to Ryo...and the
Sun Armor appears. He defeats Kenbukyou (in his power attacks,
Kenbuyou's energy takes the form of a butterfly -- a symbol of renewal
and strength in Japan. It was also the symbol of the Taira, the family
that was defeated and destroyed in the Genpei Wars...) and ends up with
both swords as his foe collapses. Ryo drops the swords and goes to
Byakuen's side as the tiger lies dying, Jun, Nasti and the others
watching helplessly.  Byakueno nuzzles his dying partner. "These young
men in armor (yoroi) need you, Byakueno," the demon whispers. "Do you
understand?" The lights in Kenbukyou's eyes go out, and his body fades
away into nothingless. Byakueno roars, then his body glows and
dissolves. Not far away, Byakuen suddenly comes back to life, to the
happiness -- and amazement -- of his friends. Kenbukyou was true to his
promise to Ryo. Byakuen has been healed.

#24 (11/5) Demon Lord's Envoy
-----------------------------
A strange meteor lands near Fuji. From it emerges yet another of Arago's
demons. (This one looks remarkably like one of the old Japanese
household gods -- and like Sarenbou, I rather doubt it's human.) At
Fuji, Ryo, in the Recca yoroi, throws his broken swords into the lava.
The molten rock fountains, and rains over Ryo, who stands unhurt by the
assault. When the lava subsides, his swords are intact. Jun and Nasti
wait above and are as pleased as Ryo is at the result. Ryo senses
something watching...but says nothing. As they drive home, the demon
appears before them. Nasti slams on the brakes. Ryo watches with
amazement as the jeep passes through the creature's form; it seems it
was an illusion. (The look on Ryo's face is priceless...) Then the
pavement fountains around them (the ground and road repair folks must
love the Troopers!) as this new enemy attacks, giving his/its name as
Kokuyoen. At home, the other four hear the news reports about the
strange meteor, and realize very quickly who/what must be behind the
phenomena. (Shu meanwhile has been moaning about Nasti and Ryo being
late..."I'm dying of starvation!" he wails.) The four go to find Ryo.
Meanwhile, Ryo has discovered that Kokuyoen's whip is an extremely
effective weapon. Then one of Toma's arrows forces the demon back.
Kokuyoen's whips, however, are like Sh'ten's chains -- they can
multiply, and shortly the Troopers are all wrapped up. Then they are
partially paralyzed by the demon's energy, coursing through the metallic
coils. Byakuen attacks, driving off the creature. Kokuyoen multiplies
itself, and there's one of him facing each of the Troopers -- who must
parry each blow or die even as painful energy bursts continue to course
through them. Byakuen intervenes again. Kokuyoen senses Byakueno's aura
around the tiger, and attacks. As the tiger fights the demon, the big
cat is engulfed in energy -- and turns into Byakueno, complete with
swords and armor! Ryo realizes that Kenbukyou saved Byakuen's life by
having his own partner merge with the white tiger, and thus also gave
his swords to the Samurai Trooper who had defeated him -- and released
him from his servitude to Arago. "Don't just stand there -- DO
something, Ryo!" his friends call. "But if I call the white armor, it'll
leave you helpless!" Ryo replies. "Defeating the enemy is more
important!" they tell him. Reluctantly, Ryo calls up the white armor --
and as each Trooper glows, their power adding to Ryos', the multiple
forms of their current foe disappear and consolidate into one. After a
fierce battle, Kokuyoen is defeated. Then lightning lances down from the
cloud-darkened sky, and one of Arago's gates appears. The doors open,
and Arago's voice rolls out, taunting them before the gate dissolves.
They realize that the only way to end the danger the Demon Lord
represents to their world is to enter the Demon World and defeat their
foe on his home ground.

#25 (11/12) Showdown! Two Suikos
--------------------------------
In the Demon World, in Arago's palace, a familiar figure walks down a
candle-lit corridor. He approaches Arago's throne room. When Arago
demands who it is, Poison Demon General Naza identifies himself and is
told to approach his Lord. It is time for the Demon Generals to enter
the fray once more. But this time they will face their foes one on one.
Further, Arago wants the Samurai Troopers brought back alive. These
humans have learned to harness an unusual amount of power, and Arago
wants to use that energy to further his own goals. Naza's assignment --
defeat Suiko no Shin. This is most agreeable to the Demon General. Naza
uses his own magic to creat a duplicate of Suiko -- an evil and, being
Naza's creation, poisonous red-colored doppleganger of Shin's yoroi,
powered by Arago's energy as well as Naza's. At home, each of the
Troopers has had a dream in which Kaos has appeared to them and told
them to seek the source of their power. Remembering where each of them
were sent after their first battle with Arago -- and where they first
came into their true initial power -- the five split up and go their own
ways. Shin heads for the Naruto Straits, where the whirlpools are, and
dives into the water. He isn't aware that Naza is watching him. Naza,
with a wave of his hand, summons several flying boats, manned with
members of Arago's Demon Army. They attack Suiko, who is trying to
figure out what Kaos meant when he said "seek out the source of your
power." Shin defeats the cannon fodder, but finds his doppleganger to be
a much tougher foe. "His armor looks just like mine!" Shin gapes.
Further, when they're in the water, he realizes that the red-colored
Suiko is poisoning the water and the fish are dying. He brings the
battle onto land. He finally realizes that the source of his power is
within himself, not a particular geographic area or element. He summons
up a full-power blast that is similar in energy level to that used by
Ryo when he's in the Sun Armor. The poisonous double is defeated. Shin,
exhausted, is unable to rise to his feet let alone fight when Naza
approaches him, and tells Suiko that Arago will be most pleased to
discover how much energy his new prisoner is capable of generating. Shin
lapses into unconciousness, and Naza slings him over his shoulders and
carries the Trooper off to the Demon World.

#26 (11/19) Korin! Reclaim the Light
------------------------------------
Seiji has returned to the Akidoshi Plateau, Kaos' words ringing in his
ears.  He rests for a few minutes beside a spring, then rescues a fawn
from wild dogs. He is shocked when the fawn appears to be even more
afraid of him than the dogs, and begins to wonder if something is wrong.
His armor was once worn by Arago...could he be becoming tainted by that
contact? In the Demon World, Arago has summoned Darkness Demon General
Anubis. He is dispatched to capture Korin. Seiji is becoming more and
more upset by the idea he may have been adversely affected by Arago's
aura through the yoroi. Anubis then arrives, and attacks. Seiji calls up
his armor and fights, but he keeps hesitating -- which causes him to
receive a lot of blows he would otherwise have avoided. Anubis taunts
him that perhaps he doesn't really want to hurt Arago's forces...perhaps
he knows which side he should be on. Seiji sends away his armor and
flees in confusion. Anubis yells after him that he can't hide forever.
Seiji takes refuge in a waterfall, where he attempts to order his
thoughts through meditation. In the caves below, Anubis concentrates --
and brings an early, hard winter to the area. Seiji is frozen inside the
waterfall, and the temperature falls low enough to freeze the wildlife
around him. Anubis' voice taunts Korin until Seiji gets angry enough to
break free.  Seiji goes to face Anubis, and Anubis eventually goads his
foe into calling his armor -- and then gets more than he bargained for
as Seiji, too, finds new power levels and blows the Darkness Demon
General away. Seiji takes off his armor and splits it in two with his
no-dachi. He watches in amazement as the armor and sword glow, and the
damage is repaired before his eyes. "Kaos told the truth. The yoroi
cannot be destroyed, only shaped into new forms," he whispers. Unseen
behind him, one of Arago's gates forms. Lightning strikes him from the
opening doors, and his armor forms around him as Arago's voice is heard.
"Well done, Korin. You have learned a truth about the yoroi. But now -
you are mine!" And Seiji is drawn into the Demon World by Arago's power.

#27 (11/26) Become Angry Kongo! Break (Defeat) the Sand Demons
--------------------------------------------------------------
Arago has summoned Rajura to the throne room. He tells the Phantom Demon
General that his comrades Anubis and Naza have succeeded in their
missions, and challenges him to do as well. Rajura's target will be
Kongo no Shu. Shu meanwhile is enroute to Hokkaido. He is not aware that
Rajura has gotten there first and is following him closely. Rajura
launches his first attack as Shu enters a construction site. The Demon
General is accompanied by two "sand demons" who appear to be earth
spirits/elementals of some type. Shu fends them off, and Rajura leaves
with a parting taunt. As Shu heads for the mountains, Rajura prepares an
unpleasant welcome. The fight is rejoined. Shu manages to defeat the two
earth elementals. But when Rajura tells him that Suiko and Korin have
already become Arago's prisoners, Shu loses all of his fight and allows
Rajura to drag him off in his wake to the Demon World. (Initially it
appears as if Shu is following Rajura willingly; perhaps he is hoping to
free his friends once he gets to the Demon World.)

#28 (12/3) Riddle of Demon Priestess Kayura's Appearance
--------------------------------------------------------
Tenku no Toma stands waist deep in the ocean, bow drawn as he uses zen
meditation techniques to free his mind and call his powers to him. He
looses an arrow, parting the clouds overhead with its energy wave. He is
content - until he hears rather nasty girlish laughter, and a storm
suddenly whips up.  Wisteria petals whip past him, and then an energy
bolt strikes. He wakes to find himself in the clouds facing a young
woman who introduces herself as Kayura, Arago's Demon Priestess. She
tells him that Suiko, Korin, and Kongo are all Arago's prisoners. Toma
reacts angrily, shooting at her; Kayura pulls her twin jitte (an early
form of sai) and counterattacks. Kayura ends up cutting off the power
keeping Toma suspended in mid-air and the Trooper falls earthward. At
the last minute he uses his power to cushion his landing. He is unaware
of a figure dressed similarly to Kaos' iternant monk's garb, including
the shakujo, but with shoulder- length red hair, watching him. In Fuji,
Ryo stands amid the lava, unaware of Kayara watching from above. He
nearly blows out the side of the vocano with his blow, but is not sure
this is what Kaos meant. As he thinks, wisteria blossoms begin to rain
around him, and Kayura taunts him. Ryo jumps upward. Before either
opponent can strike, Toma arrives and his arrows force the Demon
Priestess to jump backwards a few feet. Toma tells Ryo that Kayura
claims Arago has taken their friends prisoner. "Is that true?" Ryo
demands in disbelief. In answer, Kayura summons Seiji's nodachi and
Shin's spear. "Proof enough? Think it over -- I will see you again with
Arago's demands!" Kayura smirks before teleporting away, leaving the
weapons for them to examine. Back home, the two discuss their options,
but are interrupted by Kayura's arrival. Kayura summons a vision of what
is happening to their friends -- in continuing pain as Arago uses his
Ankoku Priests to forcibly draw energy from them. "Give in, serve Arago,
and this will cease.  Continue the fight, and they will eventually die
in agony," she tells them.  But the two Troopers will not give in.
Kayura was expecting this decision and proceeds to beat the two
Troopers, proving she is just as powerful a fighter as either of them
are. She summons a gate and is about to drag them through it when we see
the red-haired figure in Kaos' clothes once more. He raises the shakujo
and throws it. The bell-like tones of its rings seem to hurt the girl,
and the powerfield of the staff, along with Toma's energy, enables Ryo
to summon the Sun Armor. All three assume it is Kaos who has thrown the
staff, and Ryo enthusiastically destroys the gate -- but Kayura escapes.

#29 (12/10) Go! Two Warriors
----------------------------
Open to a quiet Shinto shrine where the man wearing Kaos' garb -- whom
we can tell by now (as if we hadn't already guessed last episode, neh?)
is Sh'ten -- meditates before the sanctuary. A fierce wind begins to
whip across the garden, and wisteria blossoms blow around Sh'ten. It is
Kayura, who questions who he is -- Kaos is gone and cannot return! What
is his purpose? She pulls out her jitte, and the man turns and raises
the shakujo in response. Kayura attacks, and Sh'ten either dodges or
parries each blow. Sh'ten tells her that he intends to carry on with
Kaos' mission. Kayura returns that he's not had time to learn how to
properly use the shakujo, and aims a full- power attack at her opponent.
Sh'ten demonstrates he's learned far more than the Demon Priestess gives
him credit for by first blocking the energy blast (though it takes an
obvious effort) and then transporting himself out of the combat zone,
leaving a confused Kayura behind. At Nasti's home, Ryo and Toma are
arguing about what they should do. They can't give in -- but on the
other hand, they can't afford to wait for Arago's next attack, either.
Finally they agree that they'll have to force Arago's hand by going out
into the open and trying to lure the Demon Lord's forces to attack them.
If only they knew where Kaos was... Kayura reports to Arago that Kaos'
replacement may be more dangerous than they believed -- he knows how to
use the shakujo almost as well as Kaos, although it takes him more
effort than it did his predacessor. Kayura, to the dismay of the other
Demon Generals, is sent back against Recca no Ryo and Tenku no Toma. As
the two Samurai Troopers prepare to head for Shinjuku, they hear the
sound of the shakujo's rings, and turn to see a figure coming up from
the lake toward them. His face is hidden by his hat and at first they
think it's Kaos. He takes off the hat, and they recognize him as Sh'ten,
their former enemy. He tells them that Kaos has chosen him as his
successor. He is not as skilled or as experienced as Kaos was yet, but
he'll do his best to help the Troopers defeat Arago. He won't tell them
-- or can't tell them -- what has happened to Kaos. (It's rather fun to
listen to him trying to beat around the bush on the subject when
questioned, too!) However, he cannot open a gate into Arago