 This article is about a monster in Gosei Sentai Dairanger.
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- "It seems that you did care for me, Ryou. Thanks."
- ―Demon-Fist Master Jin Matoba's final words before his death
Demon-Fist Master Jin Matoba (魔拳士ジン的場陣 Makenshi Matoba Jin) is master of Kempo and all forms of martial arts but was also a gentleman assassin. He would later become Garouki (餓狼鬼 Garōki)
History[]
Jin was close to Aki, daughter of his master, growing up. However, that all changed when his left hand was removed. 
TV STORY-Ep. 27: It's The Final Punch
Jin's master taught him the power of Hyoga-ryu Jashin-ken. However, his master was a ruthless teacher and pushed him over the edge of a cliff while training. Though he initially caught Jin, Jin would have pulled them both to their death, and so Jin's master cut off his arm. This was not an accident, but a lesson of Hyoga-ryu Jashin-ken: in a desperate situation, you must only think about yourself and a true warrior fights alone. TV STORY-Ep. 26: A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy
Dairanger[]
Jin got a prosthesis, perfected his arts, went on a campaign to slaughter in fair challenge other masters who considered themselves fit to destroy promising students and fully intended, when he was ready, to return and kill his first teacher. His favorite targets were martial arts masters, as his own master cut off his left arm. Jin's trademark was to flip a coin into the air and kill his opponent before it landed. But the his father foiled his ultimate plan by dying before Jin got around to it.
Still, he would earn a life of luxury with rich drinks, fast cars, and beach houses. When he was not killing masters for his own sick pleasure, he was being contracted to do it by wealthy figures. His lifestyle changed the day he met Ryo of the Heavenly Fire Star. After injuring him in one assassination, Ryo confronted him after he assassinated a swordsmaster. Though he put up the best fight so far, Jin still defeated Ryo with his Wind Fist attack. TV STORY-Ep. 26: A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy
Jin then went to assassinate the last master of the Great Forest Temple Fist, Master Chin, an elderly man who was recovering in a hospital, with the guise of delivering flowers. However, Master Chin saw through his ruse. As the two dueled in the air, Jin defeated a fatal series of blows. However, Jin's friend Aki was present as a nurse. Once again, he told her to stay away for her own protection. Jin would eventually chase him down to his seaside home, but by that time, Ryo had found his location and challenged him. Jin accepted his challenge, believing he would be giving Ryo a gift of mercy by finally killing him. However, Ryo had trained wearing springs, which now made him as fast as Jin. When Aki called out to him, Ryo used his distraction to knock him into the sea.
He washed up on the beach to find Major Zydos. Zydos instructed him to abandon his heart to become a mythical master, but when Aki appeared, he left to let Jin consider the option. Jin ultimately embraced is inner darkness and killed Aki in cold blood. Zydos bestowed upon him the power of his Black Orb, granting him the powers of magical fist mastery, but also transforming him into a half-mutant form. Though Zydos revived and revitalized him, he refused to follow any man's orders, and fled. The Dairangers would return to the scene of his defeat and find nothing but his discarded coin. TV STORY-Ep. 27: It's The Final Punch
Jin roamed on his own, still killing masters to practice his deadly new "Dance of the Spider" poisoning technique. His latest victim encountered Shoji and Ryo minutes before his death while crawling away from Jin. Seeking revenge for his earlier defeat, Jin attacked the two Dairangers and poisoned Ryo. Zydos attempted to recruit Jin again, though Jin still refused.
Ryo was left incapacitated at the Dairanger HQ while the others battled Jin and sought a cure. They sought out the master of a dance studio, only to find Jin haunting it instead. In actuality, Master Kaku had just called the master back to HQ on a favor to help Ryo overcome his fears. Ryo's friends and Kaku's words helped strengthen Ryo's composure, thus rendering him immune to Jin's new technique. Jin and Ryuranger clashed attacks, with Ryo and the Dairangers almost victorious. However, before either side could claim victory, Zydos and Sergeant Cannon attacked with the intent of finishing off Ryuranger with Sergeant Cannon's one-time attack. Jin noticed the imminent bombardment and took the attack himself instead. Jin told Ryuranger that only he would be the one to defeat Ryo, calling Sergeant Cannon a weakling before passing out. While the Dairangers were busy with the mecha battle against Sergeant Cannon, Zydos kidnaps Jin with the intent of truly making Jin his puppet. TV STORY-Ep. 35: New Secret Art, the Dance of Spiders
After his death, Jin would later appear as a ghost to Ryo, encouraging him not to give up or let his emotions get in his way. TV STORY-Ep. 47: The Amazing Truth
Personality[]
Jin was a very pessimistic and nihilistic man, losing his faith in humanity after his master cut off his left arm. He believed everyone only looked out for themselves. He initially set out to prove himself superior to all others and had no interest in materialistic things like money. He would attack dojo masters and kill them in single combat. His sole remaining shred of kindness was his lingering feelings towards his master's daughter Aki, who begged him to give up his dark path every time they met. His violent actions would eventually lead him to cross path's with Ryo, with whom he would develop a rivalry. After killing Aki for her interference in a fight with Ryo, Jin fully embrace his inner darkness and after being granted the power of the Dark Orb by Zydos, became the Demon-Fist Master.
When Ryo went out of his way to help Jin after he was injured, Jin initially thought Ryo was just a naive idiot, but later expressed genuine gratitude.
Forms[]
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Strength: Even as an ordinary human, with no access to chi power, Jin possessed super human levels of strength. He was able to leap great heights, kick through a car door to deliver a fatal strike to the driver and break a katan with his bare hands. In his first few battles with Ryo, Jin was able to overpower the dairanger and even shrug of one of his chi attacks.
Abilities[]
- Hyoga-ryu Jashin-ken: Also known as "Dark Karate", this brutal fighting style is known for it's intention to kill the target with every attack. Having the mastered style, as well as embracing the philosophy behind it, Jin was able to slay most other martial arts masters with little effort.
- Sharpe Fist Technique: Jin is able cut and stab his opponents with his physical strikes, even when blocked.
- Wind Fist of the Evil God: Jin's most powerful technique. He unleashes a powerful barrage of blows to his targets head and body, leaving no time to block.
Weaknesses[]
- Humanity: Despite all his bravado, Jin hadn't completely abandoned his humanity. When his childhood friend Aki appeared during his third fight with Ryo, Jin hesitated and this opening allowed him to be beaten. After this defeat however Jin embraced his inner darkness and killed Aki, the last of his humanity dying with her.
Arsenal[]
- Prosthetic Hand: Jin has a mechanical prosthetic to replace the left hand his master cut off. It appears to have the full range of motion as an organic one and doesn't implead him in combat.
- Golden Coin: A coin engraved with a skull. Befor starting a fight Jin would flip it into the air, intending to defeat his foe befor it struck the ground.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Demon-Fist Master: Infused with the energies of a demon forest by Zydos, Jin has become much more powerful and gained the ability to use Yo Power in combat. He transforms into his Demon-Fist Master form by calling out "Demonic Nature Descend".
- Super Strength: Thanks to his new demonic power, Jin's physical abilites have increased greatly. He is now strong enough to hold his own against the Dairangers, minus Ryo, in battle.
- Super Speed: Jin can now move at incredible speed, becoming a black blur of motion that can even outpace the Dairangers, minus Ryo.
Abilities[]
- Hyoga-ryu Jashin-ken: Jin's fighting style has become even more lethal thanks to his use of Yo Power and increased strength. He develops new techniques that make use of his new abilites.
- Demon Path Yo Fist - Spider Dance: A new developed technique. Jin ensnares his target in spider web-like threads, then channels his power into his fist and strikes them. His foe is branded with the mark of a spider on their abdomen. This mark induces fear upon those it's inflicted and grows stronger from it. The more fear the victim feels, the closer the spider mark moves towards their neck and if it reaches reaching that spot they will die.
- Demon Destruction: Jin charges up a ball of red energy with his hand that he then unleashes upon his foes.
Weaknesses[]
- Fear Mastery: If Jin's victims are able to remain composed and master their fear, his spider mark loses it's power.
- Warrior Pride: Though he has embraced is dark path, Jin still has his pride as a warrior and will not allow others to interfere in his battles. He will even throw himself in the way of oncoming attacks to protect his opponents.
Arsenal[]
- Prosthetic Hand: In his Demon-Fist Fighter Form, Jin's mechanical hand becomes enlarged and clawed.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Fangs: Garouki uses it's large fangs to attack it's victims
- Super Speed: Garouki is able to move at super human speeds, becoming a white blur of motion.
- Energy Blades: From the protruding bone one it's right arm, Garouki unleashs a barrage of red, energy blades.
Abilities[]
to be added
Weaknesses[]
- Humanity: Jin's will rejects what he has become.
- Lack of Skill: Despite taking over Jin's body, Garouki displays none of his martial arts skill. It simple acts as a blood thirsty monsters.
Arsenal[]
to be addedBehind the Scenes[]
Portrayal[]
- Jin was portrayed by Yutaka Hirose who had previously portrayed several different Sentai Villains, most notably Ley Wanda in Choshinsei Flashman, Dr. Kemp in Choju Sentai Liveman, and Emperor Tranza in Chojin Sentai Jetman. His role as Jin would be his final role in Super Sentai.
- Disguised as a cleaner in Ep. 26: A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy, he was portrayed by Fukunosuke Izumi (泉福之助 Izumi Fukunosuke).
- Disguised as a dancer in Ep. 35: New Secret Art, the Dance of Spiders, he was portrayed by Romu Kanda (神田 瀧夢 Kanda Romu).
Design[]
to be added
Concept Art[]
Etymology[]
- Jin: 陣 (Jin) – A kanji meaning “battle formation,” “camp,” or “military front.”
- Written in katakana, this could emphasize a cool, sharp-sounding personal name, often used for antiheroes or strong-willed characters. It may also echo the English "jin" (as in "genie" or "spirit").
- Matoba: 的場, Matoba means "target field” or “field of focus,” possibly hinting at someone precise, tactical, or connected to a battleground.
Notes[]
- A Makenshi (魔拳士) combines the kanji for “magic” or “demonic” (魔), “fist” or “martial arts” (拳), and “warrior” (士). Altogether, it means “Demonic Fist Warrior” or “Dark Martial Artist.” The term evokes the image of a powerful fighter who channels dark supernatural energy through hand-to-hand combat. In many tokusatsu or anime stories, a Makenshi is often a dangerous rival or antihero—skilled, disciplined, and walking the line between power and corruption.
Appearances[]
Gosei Sentai Dairanger
- Ep. 26: A Bad, Bad, Bad Guy
- Ep. 27: It's The Final Punch
- Ep. 28: Everyone Appears!! (illusion only)
- Ep. 35: New Secret Art, the Dance of Spiders
- Ep. 39: The Demon Fist Falls in the Setting Sun (death)
- Ep. 47: The Amazing Truth (spiritual form)
- Ep. 48: Magnificent!! Master Dies (spiritual form and final appearance)
- Final Ep.: Let's Go! (flashback; archive footage only)
See Also[]
- Skelerena - Power Rangers counterpart in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Season 2). See comparison page. - Garouki's counterpart
References[]
Footnotes[]