 This article is about an episode in Avataro Sentai Donbrothers.
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Don 19: Hello Ghost (もしもしユーレイ Moshimoshi Yūrei) is the ninteenth episode of Avataro Sentai Donbrothers.
Synopsis[]
A worker tasked with removing a phone booth is attacked and vanished because of a fire demon. The Donbrothers try to fight the demon, but it has no physical body! Haruka encounters a girl named Minako who resides in the phone booth, who pressured her into being her friend. Minako is somewhat of a bad person, who follows Haruka home and reveals she is a ghost! She cannot become a Buddha in the afterlife because of a crush she has and is waiting on a phone call from the person she loves…
Plot[]
Haruka is at home on the couch, reading manga on her phone when her aunt returns home from shopping. She complains that her niece spends too much time on her phone, but Haruka replied she likes the convenience of it. Yuriko thinks it is dull for someone to spend their lives using a smartphone. Haruka wonders what she means by that, with Yuriko saying relationships are so publicly interconnected nowadays, girls talk to their boyfriends on instant messaging services like Line.
When she was Haruka’s age, communication was more of a private affair as family members may not have approved of who you were dating. Girls would sneak outside to a phone booth, pay ¥10, and call a boy to talk to him. She nostalgically thinks that made love more romantic as well as the thrill of hanging up before his parents found out just to keep the relationship going.
Haruka, being a girl who was born in the Heisei era, cannot relate since the Showa Era ended before she was born nor does she understand why that would be romantic as it sounds awkward.
Yuriko offers to fix a snack for both of them and goes to wash her hands in the other room. Haruka wonders about phone booths, then narrates to the audience (some of which have never seen or used such a device due to their age) the abridged history of the phone booth in Japan.
The first one was installed in Tokyo in the year 1900 and their era peaked in 1993 with over 930,000 phone booths spread across Japan. By the late 2000s and the decade of the 2010s, smartphones began to dominate the culture of communication and as they grew in popularity, phone booths were gradually taken out of service and removed with their numbers dwindling every year.
The lecture ends with the camera panning to a phone booth and a telecom service crew arriving in a truck ready to tear it down, only for a Hitotsuki, Engineki, to come out of the phone booth and attack, sucking up a worker into its body.
Back at the apartment, Haruka receives a series of text messages from her ex-boyfriend, who wants to restart their relationship. Haruka is grossed out by his desperation and remembers his cowardly behavior in the alternate reality where she was never Oni Sister. She finds his persistence embarrassing, but she is then called to action by her DonBlaster and teleported away just as Yuriko is about to make their snack, wondering where her niece went.
Engineki is preparing to devour the other workers when the Donbrothers teleport in and Haruka laments she is not going to enjoy her snack and isn’t too motivated to fight as the team engages the enemy. Don Momotaro tries to strike Engineki with the ZanglaSword, but the attacks phase right through it and have no effect. The other four try blasting Engineki, but Don Momotaro knows it won’t work and quickly leaps out of the way so he isn’t hit by the blaster fire as it passes through Engineki while the workers flee to safety.
Upon seeing they cannot damage the enemy, Shinichi recalls them fighting a Hitotsuki before that had no physical form, but they all are pummeled by Engineki with its super speed before he can formulate a plan. When the service truck leaves, Engineki stops fighting and returns to the phone booth. Haruka sees a young girl inside the phone booth and simply thinks she was a frightened passerby that sought shelter inside the booth, only to be suddenly teleported back to her apartment.
Upon her return, her sudden appearance startles her aunt, who after wondering where she went off to, says now Haruka can’t have her snack as it will spoil her dinner. Haruka then remembers the girl and decides to go check on her, cycling to the location of the phone booth.
She finds that the girl is still there, who is surprised Haruka can see her and immediately asks to be her friend. She introduces herself as Minako Sagiyama and gives a fast paced rundown of her blood type, astrological sign and favorite hobbies. Haruka feels a bit uncomfortable with Minako, thinking she is crazy due to how clingy she seems. Minako asks if they can be friends, Haruka says yes awkwardly to humor her as she backs away slowly to her bicycle. Minako hopes that is a promise, as she hates people who fake being nice to her. Haruka excuses herself as she claims she is running late for something and pedals really fast to get away from Minako, who smiles and then disappears into thin air.
Haruka returns home, with her aunt Yuriko cutting vegetables in preparation for dinner and surprised how busy her niece seems to be running around the city. Haruka is about to talk to her, when she is startled by Minako suddenly appearing on the couch. Strangely, Yuriko cannot see or hear Minako, with Haruka discovering that Minako has no reflection in the hallway mirror, she then freaks out upon figuring out she has a ghost in her apartment!
Minako says she is indeed a ghost, she is aware she has died and has not passed on into the afterlife, and how nice it is to meet Haruka.
Yuriko becomes concerned when her niece seems to be talking to no one and acting unusual, thinking she needs to rest a bit from all the running around. Haruka narrates that is not the case, she is having a panic attack at the idea of a spirit haunting her home. Minako notices the time and she excuses herself as she has to leave for the day because Shinzo might call her, vanishing from the apartment. Haruka decides to go after her.
Minako waits inside the phone booth, with the sun setting as the time for Shinzo to call her passes. Haruka finds Minako sad and wondering why her beloved hasn’t called.
At Cafe Donbura, Haruka tries explaining to Shinichi and Tsuyoshi her situation and to help Minako, but they think she is joking around until Tsuyoshi holds his breath for a second and Minako suddenly appears and startled him. He tells Shinichi to hold in his breath for a minute so they both can see her, with Minako playfully mocking his puffy face and scaring him upon suddenly appearing. Shinichi is shocked at the existence of ghosts and both men synchronize holding their breath to make Minako visible again.
She politely says it is nice to meet Haruka’s friends and brags she was once the pinnacle of good health and never caught a cold. Tsuyoshi fails to see how that introduction is relevant as Minako is dead. Kaito smiles upon observing the group as he also reads his copy of First Love Hero.
Minako explains her story, she died 50 years ago in 1972 in an accident. Before that, Shinzo Tadokoro was a pen pal she wrote to that became a relationship over the phone as they talked to each other every day. Her house was old and had no phone lines, so she would go to the nearest pay phone to talk to Shinzo. Her last call she was going to make was to ask Shinzo out on a date, to cement their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. But she died before it could happen and because of her unfinished business, she cannot pass on into the afterlife.
Shinichi thinks that finding this Shinzo could resolve the issue, Haruka says she found nothing on the internet about him but Tsuyoshi thinks the name sounds vaguely familiar. Haruka drew a depiction of Shinzo based on Minako’s description of her boyfriend, but both men pointed out that she never met Shinzo. Taro arrives late and wonders why he was called to meet the team, when Minako mistakes him for her boyfriend and hugs him. Taro is able to see Minako without holding his breath and so does Kaito whose handsome looks have Minako thinking he is Shinzo. The team is surprised Kaito can see ghosts while Taro passes his hand through Minako’s ethereal body to confirm she is a ghost, with her teasingly calling “Shinzo” a pervert for feeling her. Tsubasa enters the cafe, wondering if the lunch menu was still available at this hour, only for Minako to appear and fall for him as Shinzo. The Donbrothers concluded that she has no idea who her boyfriend actually is.
In a park, a man reads First Love Hero, only for Sonoza to interrupt and ask if the manga is funny and if he can read it. Intimidated, the man gives him the manga and runs away, with Sonoza reading the title and who the author is: Haruka Kitou.
Tsuyoshi is at his job, rummaging through a folder of business cards until he discovers that Shinzo was a former client as he pulls out his business card with detailed contact information.
Haruka is working and wonders how Minako’s three dates with Taro, Kaito and Tsubasa are doing. She finds out later that evening when she visits Minako at her phone booth, who had different experiences with each date.
Taro was in a rush to get through the date, only stopping for a large shared onigiri lunch and took her “skydiving” by using his Robotaro form to fly her around the city. Tsubasa took her to a park by a pond and upon seeing she liked dogs, transformed into Inu Brother for her to fawn over and pet to her hearts content. He only insisted Minako in exchange to not go into the specifics of his form.
Minako enjoyed both of her dates and had fun, though she had trouble relating to either of them as they are all unlike ordinary people. Haruka finds that a hypocritical statement since both were dating a ghost. She then asks Minako about the date with her boss.
Kaito overdressed for his date, getting unwanted attention from crowds who wanted photos and selfies with him, thinking the handsome young man was some kind of celebrity. Minako got upset at being ignored and for “Shinzo” “cheating” on her. She learned a valuable thing today, that the true Shinzo is her soulmate and she will keep waiting for him, returning to the phone booth to await Shinzo’s call. Haruka finds this so sad and feels she needs to help.
At Cafe Donbura, Tsuyoshi has brought Shinzo Tadokoro with him, having used his business card to find him after some work with another client. Shinzo, now a man in his early 60s, says he remembers Minako well even though they never met face to face, as she was his first love. Taro thinks that now all they have to do is arrange a meeting, but Shinichi thinks that is a bad idea as Minako’s time has stood still and she thinks her lover is still a young man. Haruka already has a solution…
At 6AM, Minako gets her long awaited call from Shinzo, who apologizes for keeping her waiting. She cries tears of joy and sadness, happy to hear her love’s voice. She says she is the one who should apologize, she couldn’t make it to the phone as she was hit by a truck during a snowfall and her body died just a few feet away from the phone booth. Shinzo comforts her, saying that wasn’t her fault.
Their conversation is interrupted by the telecom service workers from earlier retuning with their boss, trying to explain that they couldn’t remove the phone booth because a monster attacked them and they should quickly destroy the booth before it returns. Minako gets angry that her call is being interrupted and part of her spirit splits into Engineki to attack the workmen. The Donbrothers see this and change to rescue them. Engineki cannot be defeated though, with Taro thinking that Minako must pass on in order for the Hitotsuki to be defeated as it is tied to her.
Jiro arrives to try and help but Don Murasame gets in the way, forcing him to fight the Ranger.
After beating down the Donbrothers, the wild Engineki becomes Engineking and the Rangers form Don Onitaijin. Minako picks the phone back up and resumes her conversation with Shinzo.
Don Onitaijin is unable to damage Engineking no matter what they try. Taro says all that the team can do is stay defensive and wait as Haruka cheers on Minako. Shinzo regretfully tells Minako that he cannot go on their date, but she understands as a lot of time has passed and Shinzo has become a great man.
Don Murasame manages to overpower Don Doragoku and knocks him off a ledge, but the Ninninger Alter is summoned in its “Big Version” to carry Don Doragoku up and helps win the fight with Don Murasame retreating.
Don Onitaijin falls after a barrage of fireballs hits them, on the verge of defeat. Shinzo tells Minako that he never forgot about her and promises that they will see each other again in Heaven someday. Minako cries and smiles, saying she looks forward to it, Shinzo then hangs up.
Just as Engineking is about to deliver the fatal blow, it loses power as Minako lets go of her desire. Don Onitaijin quickly rises to its feet and destroys Engineking with the DonBros Paradise. Haruka hopes Minako can rest in peace now, as the latter hangs up the phone, thanking Haruka and her comrades before she passes on into the afterlife.
With Minako no longer haunting the phone booth, the telecom workmen successfully tear it down. Haruka narrates that it is a bittersweet moment but she is glad Minako made it to heaven. She gets more annoying texts from her ex-boyfriend and decides to tell him off, only for it to become awkward when Hitoshi’s mother answers her son’s phone.
Cast[]
- Taro Momoi (桃井 タロウ Momoi Tarō): Kouhei Higuchi (樋口 幸平 Higuchi Kōhei)
- Shinichi Saruhara (猿原 真一 Saruhara Shin'ichi): Yuuki Beppu (別府 由来 Beppu Yūki)
- Haruka Kitou (鬼頭 はるか Kitō Haruka): Kohaku Shida (志田 こはく Shida Kohaku)
- Tsubasa Inuzuka (犬塚 翼 Inudzuka Tsubasa): Totaro (柊太朗 Tōtarou)
- Tsuyoshi Kijino (雉野 つよし Kijino Tsuyoshi): Hirofumi Suzuki (鈴木 浩文 Suzuki Hirofumi)
- Jiro Momotani (桃谷 ジロウ Momotani Jirō): Raizou Ishikawa (石川 雷蔵 Ishikawa Raizō)
- Kaito Goshikida (五色田 介人 Goshikida Kaito): Kiita Komagine (駒木根 葵汰 Komagine Kiita)
- Yuriko Kitou (鬼頭 ゆり子 Kitō Yuriko): Hitomi Miwa (三輪ひとみ Miwa Hitomi)
- Sonoza (ソノザ): Shinnosuke Takahashi (タカハシ シンノスケ Takahashi Shin'nosuke)
- Don Murasame (ドンムラサメ DonMurasame, Voice): Ayumu Murase (村瀬 歩 Murase Ayumu)
- Mother (マザー Mazā, Voice): Mamiko Noto (能登 麻美子 Noto Mamiko)
- Yamada (山田) (Credited as Director (部長 Buchō)): Kōtarō Taki (滝 晃太朗 Taki Kōtarō)
Guest Cast[]
- Minako Sagiyama (鷺山 美奈子 Sagiyama Minako)/Engineki (炎神鬼 Enjinki): Kokoa Naka (中 心愛 Naka Kokoa)
- Shinzo Tadokoro (田所 新造 Tadokoro Shinzō): Kazuhiko Inoue (井上 和彦 Inoue Kazuhiko)[1]
- Young Man: Genta Wakabayashi (若林 元太 Wakabayashi Genta)
Suit Actors[]
- Don Momotaro: Kosuke Asai (浅井 宏輔 Asai Kōsuke)
- Saru Brother: Yasuhiro Takeuchi (竹内 康博 Takeuchi Yasuhiro)
- Oni Sister: Ayumi Shimozono (下園 愛弓 Shimozono Ayumi)
- Inu Brother: Kazuya Okada (岡田 和也 Okada Kazuya)
- Kiji Brother: Masashi Takada (高田 将司 Takada Masashi)
- Don Doragoku: Shigeki Ito (伊藤 茂騎 Itō Shigeki)
- Don Murasame: Takahiro Yoneoka (米岡 孝弘 Yoneoka Takahiro)
- Dai Gattai Don Onitaijin: Yohei Fujita (藤田 洋平 Fujita Yōhei)
- Engineki, Engineking: Naoya Iguchi (井口 尚哉 Iguchi Naoya)
Form Changes and Collectibles Used[]
Avataro Gears[]
- Don Momotaro - Don Robotaro, Don Robotaro (Dai Gattai)
- Saru Brother - Saru Brother Robotaro
- Oni Sister - Oni Sister Robotaro
- Inu Brother - Inu Brother Robotaro
- Kiji Brother - Kiji Brother Robotaro
- Don Doragoku - Ninninger Alter
Avatar Changes[]
- Don Momotaro - Don Robotaro
- Saru Brother - Saru Brother Robotaro
- Oni Sister - Oni Sister Robotaro
- Inu Brother - Inu Brother Robotaro
- Kiji Brother - Kiji Brother Robotaro
- Don Doragoku - N/A
Errors[]
- to be added
Notes[]
- Viewership: 4.1%
- As part of Super Hero Time, this episode aired alongside Kamen Rider Revice
episode 43, The End of Eternity, Where Regret Leads. - Donbrothers sunglasses featured in title card: Yellow
- Count at episode end
- Gears in the Donbrothers' possession: Zenkaiger, Ryusoulger, ToQger, Lupinranger, Ohranger, Patranger, Zyuohger, Fiveman, Kiramager, Go-Busters, Gokaiger, Ninninger, Kyuranger, Kyoryuger, Turboranger, Carranger, Zyuranger, Jetman, Go-Onger
- The date shown on the calendar in Café Donbura when the Donbrothers meet Minako Sagiyama is Thursday, July 7, three days before the episode's airdate.
- When Kijino is searching for something on the business card book, both Tomorrow Research (with Tatsuya Asami's name) and Energy Management Center (with Masato Jin's name) Business Cards were seen on the book.
episode 43, 
- Haruka is able to see Minako without holding her breath. In Kanji, the symbol character for oni is derived from Chinese hieroglyphs, which in certain cases symbolically represents the spirits of the dead.
- Kazuhiko Inoue, who portrays Shinzo Tadokoro in this episode, previously portrayed Ginis, in Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger. He would later voice Giff in Kamen Rider Revice beginning from the week after.
DVD/Blu-ray Releases[]
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Volume 5 features episodes 17-20: Don 17: Light and Tsubasa, Don 18: A Jawsome Strike, Don 19: Hello Ghost, and Don 20: High Nose Elegy.
External Links[]
- TV Asahi's official preview for もしもしユーレイ
- Toei TV's official episode guide for もしもしユーレイ
- JAE's official episode guide for もしもしユーレイ
References[]
Footnotes[]