This article is about a ranger in J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai. |
- "Spade Ace!"
- ―Spade Ace's roll call[src]
Goro Sakurai (桜井 五郎 Sakurai Gorō) is Spade Ace (スペードエース Supēdo Ēsu) of J.A.K.Q. He is a Japanese pentathlon athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist.
Biography
J.A.K.Q.
In addition to being a champion in karate, archery and judo, he was also a skilled equestrian and all around top athlete. He originally turned down Joker's offer to join JAKQ, but later had a change of heart when he save Karen Mizuki. TV STORY-Ep. 1: 4 Cards!! The Trump is J.A.K.Q.
vs. Gorenger
to be added TV STORY-J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger
Sun Vulcan
to be added
Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai
Spade Ace is among the Sentai warriors seen in clips when Daimon Tatsumi (GoYellow) lectured Kai Samezu (GaoBlue) about the past Sentai technical warriors and their fighting spirit.
Led by his Liveman successor Red Falcon, he appeared as one of 24 previous Red Rangers in Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai together with fellow Red Rangers from his predecessor Akarenger to his successors from Battle Japan to TimeRed. He had no interactions with his former teammate Sokichi Banba, who also appeared, but as the leader of the Dream Sentai instead. TV STORY-Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai
Gokaiger
Legend War
Years later, Gorou fought alongside not only his own team, but every single Sentai ranger in existence, against the Empire of Zangyack when it attacked the Earth in the Great Legend War. After fighting against hundreds of Gormin and their Zgormin commanders. Akarenger noticed the fleet moving towards them, he gathered all the Rangers together and gave them the order to sacrifice their powers to wipe out the first invasion's armada. The Spade Ace powers are later used by Captain Marvelous via the Ranger Keys. TV STORY-Ep. 1: The Space Pirates Appear TV STORY-Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle
Farewell Space Pirates
After the Zangyack's final defeat, Marvelous returned the Ranger Keys to their original owners. It is assumed Sakurai and his teammates have their powers once again. TV STORY-Final Ep.: Farewell Space Pirates
Super Hero Taisen
Goro, alongside his team, among the majority of the Super Sentai heroes, was caught up in the "Super Hero Taisen" incident which eventually resulted in the Super Sentai teams and Kamen Riders joining forces to defeat both Dai-Zangyack and Dai-Shocker. During the final battle, he is seen in the background fighting Furious Demon God Gai. TV STORY-Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
Zyuohger vs. Ninninger
Spade Ace appeared as part of a conference of the first 38 Reds led by Red Falcon, whom addressed the Ninningers and Zyuohgers as the greater Super Sentai pantheon intervened to save them from defeat at the hands of the titanic Gillmarda. Empowering the Combination Nin Shuriken to form Wild Tousai Shuriken King, the first 38 Super Sentai further imbued their successors with the power to perform the Zyuoh Ninnin Super Sentai Burst, destroying Gillmarda with the combined power of all 40 Super Sentai. TV STORY-Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Ninninger: Message from the Future from Super Sentai
Super Sentai Strongest Battle
Goro joined the Super Sentai Strongest Battle as a member of Sports Team. It’s unknown whether he participated in any of the matches, but his team lost the competition either in the first round against the Animal Lover Team offscreen or won against them and lost in the second round against Leader Team offscreen.
Personality
Chou Super Hero Taisen
Personality
Gorou is a born leader and uses his abilities to seek out the weak points of his enemies. He had a romantic involvement with Karen towards the end of the series.
Video game appearances
Super Sentai Battle: Dice-O
- Profile:
- Goro Sakurai/Spade Ace: Goro Sakurai is a gold-medalist in the pentathlon, with a love of children that's unrivaled. He fights freely using nuclear energy with a leader-like existence for J.A.K.Q.
Super Sentai Battle Base
Spade Ace is among the vast pantheon of Rangers which are available in the mobile game Super Sentai Battle Base.
Super Sentai Legend Wars
Spade Ace appears with his team among all Sentai in the mobile game Super Sentai Legend Wars.
Spade Ace
As Spade Ace, Goro's cybernetic bionic enhancements allowed him to manipulate Atomic Energy in a wide variety of ways:
- Moving at super speed by activating his “Kosouku [Acceleration] Switch”
- Seeing through walls and other barriers using his X-ray vision (Chu Seishi [Neutron] Scope)
- Enhanced hearing using his “Enkaku Shuon Souchi [Ultra Sound Device]”
- Enhancing the impact of his blows
Spade Ace also wields a number of specially designed weapons, chief among which is his “Spade Arts” power bow. With the Spade Art, Sakurai is able to shoot “atomic charged” arrows which can puncture and bore through most substances. The Spade Arts bow can also be converted into a whip which can bind an opponent.
Arsenal
- Spade Arts
- Spade Machine
- Sky Ace
- Big Bomber (Spade Ace provides the barrel for the team cannon)
Design
Spade Ace wears a red cloth suit with white arms and a sash that possesses several holsters within it with a bronze-colored medal around the right side with the letter "A", representing "Ace". His gloves are red while his boots are white in color. A silver belt with more holsters surround his body with the buckle for J.A.K.Q. in the center; while with a small yellow cape around his back. His helmet possesses a blue Spade representing his card suite, but unlike his teammates his helmet is completely red outside the Spade. Above the Spade is the letter "A".
Legend Sentai Devices
- "J.A.K.Q.!"
- ―Mobilates' Gokai Change announcement[src]
The Spade Ace Ranger Key (スペードエースレンジャーキー Supēdo Ēsu Renjā Kī) is Goro Sakurai's personal Ranger Key and what became of his powers after he along with the rest of the 34 Super Sentai sacrificed their powers to end the Great Legend War.
This key along with the majority of the Ranger Keys were collected by the Red Pirates and later used by the Gokaigers. The Spade Ace Ranger Key was mainly used by Captain Marvelous (Gokai Red), who used it to fight as Spade Ace. It was also used by Gai Ikari on one occasion.
- Alongside Joe, Ahim, and Don, as they became the original four Jackers while fighting Action Commander Nanonanoda. TV STORY-Ep. 6: The Most Important Thing
- When the Gokaigers became JAKQ in their fight against Action Commander Zaggai. TV STORY-Ep. 10: Card Game
- When the Gokaigers became JAKQ in order to use the Big Bomber cannon against Action Commander Shieldon in a vain attempt to penetrate his shield. TV STORY-Ep. 32: One Power
- Gai uses this key alongside all other Red keys after being merged with Captain Marvelous by Insarn. TV STORY-Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: Let's Do This Goldenly! Roughly! 36 Round Gokai Change!!
- While fighting against Kamen Rider Decade who had transformed into Kamen Rider Blade. TV STORY-Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
The J.A.K.Q. keys, along with all the Ranger Keys of the first 33 Super Sentai, were briefly taken by the Black Cross King and turned into Ranger puppets that were fought by the Gokaigers and the Goseigers. The J.A.K.Q. keys were defeated by Super Gosei Red. TV STORY-Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle
After Zangyack were finally defeated, the Gokaigers gave the Ranger Keys back to their rightful owners. Goro received his key and became Spade Ace once more. TV STORY-Final Ep.: Farewell Space Pirates
The Legend Sentai Ressha (レジェンド戦隊レッシャー Rejendo Sentai Ressha) are Ressha based on the mecha, specifically those belonging to the Red heroes, of the ToQgers' preceding Super Sentai teams. They can form a unique combination of ToQ-Oh reminiscent of past Sentai Robos by switching with Red Ressha. The ToQ Changer toy is shown to have sounds for Legend Ressha of all 37 previous Sentai.
The J.A.K.Q. Ressha (ジャッカーレッシャー Jakkā Ressha) appears as a toyline-exclusive SG Ressha.
Red Spirit
As the second Red, Spade Ace's Red Warrior Spirit was embodied by AkaRed. TV STORY-GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai
Imitations
A Crimer posed as Spade Ace as part of a Dummy JAKQ team, who sparred with Devil Scrap's Scrap Gundan. TV STORY-Ep. 22: Big Red Counterattack!! Attack the Suicide Bomber Army
Behind the scenes
Portrayal
Goro Sakurai was portrayed by Yoshitaka Tanba (丹波義隆 Tanba Yoshizaki)
As Spade Ace, his suit actor was Jyunichi Haruta, in one of his two suit roles as the Red; the other being Takayuki Hiba/Vul Eagle II. He would be more well known on camera as Kanpei Kuroda/Goggle Black of Dai Sentai Goggle V and Ryuu Hoshikawa/DynaBlack of Kagaku Sentai Dynaman.
Musical Themes
Spade Ace has one leitmotif, entitled "Spade Ace Wakai Shishi".
Recognition
Spade Ace is featured as #53 in the 1986 archive compilation video Toei 100 Great Heroes Super Fight.
Notes
- He is the only Red Ranger in the entire series to start as a leader and later become a non-leader.
- He shares his first name with Goro Hoshino, the Red of Chouriki Sentai Ohranger.
- Goro is the only member of J.A.K.Q. who does not possess a white helmet.
- Due to his team starting with an even number and his stepping down as leader, Goro is the only Sentai Red Ranger to have never been the center of his team formation.
- Goro is the only Red Ranger from the first 15 Sentai who never had Kazuo Nibori as a suit actor (his main suit actor was Jun'ichi Haruta).
- In the Ishinomori Hero File book, it was revealed that during the concept planning stages Spade Ace was originally intended to be the Blue Ranger.[1]This would come full circle though, as a blue hero of another franchise would have the Suit of Spades as a motif.
Appearances
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai
- Ep. 1: 4 Cards!! The Trump is J.A.K.Q.
- Ep. 2: 2 Ten-Jacks!! Destroy the Secret Factory
- Ep. 3: 5 Flashes!! Roar, Panther
- Ep. 4: 1 Joker!! The Perfect Crime's Assassin
- Ep. 5: 3 Snaps!! The Ballade of Betrayal
- Ep. 6: 9 Pokers!! The Beauty's Trap
- Ep. 7: 8 Supercars!! Super-Speed, 350 km/h (theatrically screened as J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai: The Movie)
- Ep. 8: 6 Targets!! Exploding Flowers
- Ep. 9: 7 Straights!! The Deadly Fist of Hell
- Ep. 10: 11 Collections!! Invitation to Happiness
- Ep. 11: 13 Jackpots!! Burn! Flames of Friendship
- Ep. 12: 10 Pyramids!! The Maze of the Golden Mask
- Ep. 13: Blue Key Quiz!! The Riddle of the Secret Room Murder
- Ep. 14: All Supercars!! Violence!! Great Violent Dash!!
- Ep. 15: The Crimson Occult!! Ghost Story - Vampire
- Ep. 16: Black Baseball!! The Attacking Miracle Ball
- Ep. 17: Black Demon Moon!! Ghost Story - Hell House
- Ep. 18: Blue Whirling Tides!! The Face of the Secret Spy
- Ep. 19: Great Crimson Adventure!! Demon Extermination of Bottomless Haunts
- Ep. 20: Messenger of Darkness!! The Transparent Monster Runs the Darkness
- Ep. 21: The Rose-Colored Baseball Era!! CRIME's Slugger
- Ep. 22: Big Red Counterattack!! Attack the Suicide Bomber Army
- Ep. 23: White Birdman! Big One
- Ep. 24: Demon? Angel?! The Marvelous Flute-Playing Man
- Ep. 25: Victory? Death?! Demon Shogun and Mechanization Army
- Ep. 26: Invaders!? The Mysterious Space Pirate Ship
- Ep. 27: The Despot's Ambition!! Break it! The Death Camp
- Ep. 28: My Secret! A Space Monster in My Pocket
- Ep. 29: Go, Seven Changes! Iron Claw vs. Big One
- Ep. 30: The Code That Calls Death! Deadly Poison, Cobra Twist
- Ep. 31: Red Impact! The Spy is a Fourth-Grader
- Ep. 32: Which is the Real One?! Danger, Big One
- Ep. 33: The Blitzkrieg Squad Annihilated?! CRIME's Cooking Class
- Ep. 34: Infiltration! CRIME Fortress Island
- Final Ep.: Big Victory! Farewell, J.A.K.Q.
- File:Icon-goranger.png J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger
- File:Icon-prtf.png Mirai Sentai Timeranger Super Sentai Big Gathering (archive footage only)
- File:Icon-prwf.png Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai (archive footage only)
- File:Icon-oo.png GoGo Sentai Boukenger vs. Super Sentai (archive footage only)
- Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (as Spade Ace only)
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger
- Ep. 29: The Monarch of the Monarchs (transformed archive footage only)
- Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Ninninger: Message from the Future from Super Sentai (as Spade Ace only)
See Also
- Rocky DeSantos - Power Rangers counterpart in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. See comparison page. - The first Red Ranger to not be a leader.
External links
References
- ↑ Ishinomori Hero File Book ISBN: 978-4-05-610166-9
Footnotes