Yakumo Katou

This article is about a ranger in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger.

Yakumo "Cloud" Katou
AoNingerAo-Rider
Gender:	Male
Sentai Show:	Shuriken Sentai Ninninger
Colors:	Blue
Homeworld:	Earth
First Appearance:	Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kyoryuger: The Movie
Last Appearance:	Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen
Number of Episode Appearances:	47 (Ninninger) 5 (movie) Full list of appearances
Actor:	Gaku Matsumoto
AoNingerAo-Rider

"The Rumbling Cloud! AoNinger!"

―AoNinger's roll call^[src]

Yakumo "Cloud" Katou (加藤 "クラウド" 八雲, Katō "Kuraudo" Yakumo) is AoNinger (アオニンジャー, Ao Ninjā, Blue Ninja), who is known as The Cool Ninja (おちついた忍者, Ochitsuita Ninja), the Blue Ranger of the Ninningers. He is mostly nicknamed as Yakkun (やっくん, Yakkun) by Fuuka and Nagi.

Biography

One of Yoshitaka Igasaki's successors, Yakumo was one of his grandchildren chosen to become the Ninningers. He was called by Tsumuji Igasaki, his uncle and Takaharu and Fuuka's father to return to Japan. After reunited with the other Ninninger candidates, Tsumuji leads them to Gengetsu Kibaoni's resting place, which was sealed by Yoshitaka until the Sealing Shuriken were released by the revived Gengetsu and wandered off to various part of the city. After the Ninningers destroy Youkai Kamaitachi, it grew large and they received five OtomoNin Shuriken, which they used to form Shurikenjin and finished the Youkai. Yoshitaka revealed himself to be much alive, but lectured them for their inexperience and lead them to their new dojo that they will use as their new base. In the end, Yakumo was forced to abandon his magic training from England to take the mantle of AoNinger. TV STORY-Shinobi 1: We're Ninja!

During the hottest point in summer, the boys decided to play a prank on the girls after Nagi overheard Kasumi confide in Fuuka that she was afraid of ghosts, with Yakumo only agreeing after being accused of being scared of Kasumi. Luring the two to an abandoned building which they claimed to be haunted possibly due to a Yokai, they proceeded to put on spooky costumes, with Yakumo dressing as a fallen soldier. Pulling their prank, they were confused to see only a spooked Fuuka run out, especially due to her claiming to see a 'lady ghost' which they did not account for. Takaharu headed back for Kasumi, followed by Yakumo and Kinji. With no word, Nagi and Fuuka found they had been frozen by the Yokai Yuki-Onna, with Fuuka soon following suit. Left alone, Nagi managed to conjure some heat as Kasumi revealed herself having used a decoy, luring the Yokai into a trap. Yakumo and the others were thawed by a Fire technique as the Ninningers proceeded to defeat Yuki-Onna. TV STORY-Shinobi 23: It's Summer! Ninja Courage Test

Yakumo undercover as a potential actress.

When Fuuka was scouted by a producer for his new movie featuring the popular actor SILVER as Dracula, the Ninningers, suspecting the Western Yokai Dracula was involved, went undercover and accompanied Fuuka to her audition, with Yakumo and Nagi disguising themselves as potential actresses alongside Kasumi. Along with all the other candidates bar Fuuka; Yakumo, Nagi then Kasumi as well fall victim to Dracula's bite, putting them into a deep sleep allowing him to harvest human fear through induced nightmares. Yakumo and the others soon wake up when their life energy is returned following Dracula's defeat by Fuuka, Takaharu and Kinji. Yakumo, Nagi, and Kasumi then board their OtomoNin to get back at Dracula, pushing him back enough for Takaharu to destroy the enlarged Western Yokai. TV STORY-Shinobi 25: It's Summer! Beware of Dracula

Yakumo finds that he has come 5th in the mid-point Last Ninja race.

When Yoshitaka announced the mid-point results of the Last Ninja race, Yakumo was disappointed to learn that he had only made second-from-last at 5th. In reality, however, "grandad" was actually Nekomata's doppelganger Yokai Mataneko in disguise, who intended to get revenge against the Ninningers by breaking them up, hosting a lightning quiz round when the initial results failed. After the Ninningers noticed signs that something was amiss, Kasumi fetched a second Yoshitaka, exposing the first as a fake via catnip. The Ninningers then transformed to fight him, with Takaharu as AkaNininger Chozetsu defeating Mataneko with Shinobimaru after being accidentally enlarged alongside the Yokai. Afterwards, at the request of his grandchildren, Yoshitaka gave his true mid-point results, stating that they were all still at the starting line, with this news only giving them a strengthened resolve to continue training. TV STORY-Shinobi 26: It's Summer! Last Ninja Race Intermediate Announcement!

Yakumo insists that Takaharu's acquaintance doesn't concern him.

Finding Takaharu bringing a girl to the house, Yakumo along with Nagi, Kasumi and Kinji, discussed this new development while eavesdropping on the two, wondering what Fuuka would make of her brother having a girlfriend. Inadvertently revealing themselves when Fuuka arrived, it turned out that Takaharu's 'girlfriend', Kikyo Kousaka, was an old friend of his from his days travelling while training as a ninja, having returned due to the opening of a new ninja school by the ninja master Kiroku Ise, where she was to instruct new students. This intriuged the Ninningers, with Yakumo sneaking into the school with Kasumi and Kinji, they learned that Kiroku was involved with the Kibaoni Army following a skirmish with Masakage Tsugomori, warning Takaharu who came to confront him personally. Yakumo and the others later helped the students escape from the school before saving Takaharu, Kikyo and Kiroku from Puppet Ninja Kuroari who had been manipulating Kiroku, with the Ninningers proceeding to defeat the dark ninja. After Takaharu said goodbye to Kikyo, the Ninningers were amused that he misunderstood what Kikyo meant by wondering what they would be when they next met, assuring him that he didn't have to worry about it yet. TV STORY-Shinobi 30: Targeted Ninja School!

Beyond AoNinger, Yakumo fought through the Yokai horde before reuniting with the others as they backed-up Takaharu against Sakuya Kyuemon. With their unwavering resolve, all six Ninningers were able to restore their Nintality, transforming together and overcoming Sakuya Kyuemon, managing to get through to him before he was absorbed by Gengetsu who, as a giant, would be finally destroyed by the Ninningers in Gekiatsu Dai-Oh with help from Kyuemon, who left behind the End Shuriken before passing away. With the End Shuriken in their grasp, the Ninningers used it to wish for a world without the End Shuriken, finally wiping out the Yokai and restoring the damage that had been done to the world. With the title of Last Ninja passed onto them, the six Ninningers elected to go their seperate ways and meet back in two years to recollect what they have each done.

Naming himself the Last Magic Ninja, Yakumo returned to his magic school in England where he taught a combination of ninjutsu and magic. TV STORY-Shinobi Final Chapter: To a Future Without Hiding, Wasshoi!

Zyuohger vs. Ninninger

TV STORY-Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger vs. Ninninger: Message from the Future from Super Sentai

As a memento of their team-up, Misao Mondou made a set of Zyuohger vs. Ninninger menko cards bearing the heroes' likenesses. TV STORY-Ep. 44: Monarch of the Humans

Chou Super Hero Taisen

File:Chou-sht-deno orig.jpg

An iteration of Yakumo Katou/AoNinger was selected to join Team Ex-Aid, formed and led by Emu Hojo to fight for the title of Kamen Sentai Gorider in the Chou Super Hero Taisen tournament. After being chosen by Emu and Momotaros for their team, he mistakenly choses Masato Jin, due to being similar to Tsubasa Ozu. Facing the Dairangers in the first round, AoNinger bested KirinRanger. Ultimately, Team Ex-Aid faced off against Team Genm, led by Kamen Rider Genm Zombie Gamer Level X, in the final round. Though AoNinger was beaten by Kamen Rider Specter, the team prevailed as Ex-Aid bested Genm. Upon completing the tournament, AoNinger became Ao-Rider as Team Ex-Aid were granted the form of Kamen Sentai Gorider, allowing them to use the Rider Hurricane together to destroy the Andor Genesis mothership. Their objective achieved, Yakumo and the other Game World teammates returned to their card forms and left while Emu's Aka-Rider transformation as he was left to face the Chou Shocker Taisen.

During the final battle against the Shocker army from the Game World, Kamen Rider Brave, who had acquired the cards from his Game World counterpart, summoned Ex-Aid's teammates again to back him up in his fight against the Oogumo Great Leader. Unfortunately, the quartet did not last long before being defeated, however, Ex-Aid would ultimately vanquish Shocker Leader III alongside the Kyurangers. TV STORY-Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen

Personality

Yakumo has lived most of his life abroad and was learning European magic in England when he was called back. He is the rich boy type with a cool demeanor and somewhat presumptuous. In contrast, however, he has a quick temper and can be a bit of a bonehead at times. Out of his cousins/Ninningers, Yakumo is a quick-learner and can master ninjutsu quickly than the others, claiming it easier than magic.

Yakumo at first had no interest in Ninjutsu, claiming it easier than magic training. This was however until when he was lectured by Takaharu/AkaNinger and had developed a rivalry with him, he decided to compete with the others to inherit his grandfather's title as the Last Ninja.

Thanks to his tactical mind and maturity, he is more level-headed than his cousin Takaharu, and as such can be seen as the unofficial leader of his Sentai team.

The Western Combo.

After bonding with Kinji Takigawa/StarNinger, Yakumo's partnership with the American-born ninja is jokingly refered to by the other Ninningers as the Western Combo (欧米コンビ, Ōbei Konbi, Western Combi), coined by Kasumi, refering to the special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. TV STORY-Shinobi 11: Shinobimaru, Come Back!

Family

• Harukaze Katou - Mother
  • Yoshitaka Igasaki - Grandfather
    • Former Last Ninja - Great-grandfather
      • Doshun Igasaki - Ancestor
• Tsumuji Igasaki - Uncle
• Sakurako Igasaki - Aunt
  • Takaharu Igasaki - Cousin
    • Yoshiharu Igasaki - First cousin once removed
  • Fuuka Igasaki - Cousin
• Unnamed aunt
  • Nagi Matsuo - Cousin
• Unnamed aunt
  • Kasumi Momochi - Cousin

Powers and Abilities

Ninjutsu Expertise

Being trained to be a ninja for many years, he is skilled in ninjutsu and Shuriken Ninja Arts.

Enhanced Reflexes

Since Yakumo as well is a trained ninja, his body reflexes also maximized.

Body Flicker

He was able to move at an almost untraceable speed in a puff of smoke.

Body Replacement

He is able to put a straw dummy in his place to fool his enemies.

Shuriken Ninja Art (シュリケン忍法, Shuriken Ninpō)

Thanks to his Nintality inherited from Yoshitaka Igasaki, Yakumo can perform a wide variety of abilities through ninja techniques in addition to those accessed using the Ninninger arsenal.

Magic Expertise

As a student of a unnamed wizarding school in England, as well as having being tutored by Tsubasa Ozu/MagiYellow, he has shown many skills of magic. Yakumo notes that magic wears off over time meaning that, such as in the case of his transformation spells, they are only temporary. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Fire Manipulation

He was able to create a fire and shape it into a small dragon with his wand. When imbued it with AkaNinger with his Shuriken Ninpo-fuelled Flame Technique, it turns him into a giant fire dragon that attacks his target.

Levitation

He was able to use his wand to levitate himself and fly around.

Daudora Taiha (ダウドラ・タイハ, Daudora Taiha)

Forces the target to reveal what information Yakumo wanted to know.

Roude Migaka (ローデミ・ガカ, Roude Migaka)

Creates mirror as a defensive shield against magic-themed attacks.

Reena ni Kota (レーナニ・コタ, Reena ni Kota)

Turns Dragomaru into its kite-riding formation.

Reedomo Nin Gorado (レードモニン・ゴラド, Reedomo Nin Gorado)

Revert the kite-riding Dragomaru back to its dragon formation.

Reega Arimo (レーガ・アリモ, Reega Arimo)

Creates a cyclone as an attack.

Reena ni Kinuta (レーナニ・キヌタ, Reena ni Kinuta)

Changes the target into a Tanuki statue, accidentally used on Tsumuji Igasaki. TV STORY-Shinobi 17: Good Bye, StarNinger!

Redomo ni Shidarifu (レードモニ・シダリフ, Redomo ni Shidarifu)

Revert the spells that affected the target to normal, used to reverse Tsumuji's aforementioned Tanuki transformation. TV STORY-Shinobi 17: Good Bye, StarNinger!

Reena ni Muufoniyu

Changes the target into a baseball player, used on Takaharu.

Reena ni Miruguinu (レーナニ・ミルグイヌ, Reena ni Miruguinu)

Changes the target into a plush white dog toy reminsicent of Wanmaru, used on Fuuka. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Reena nichamo Onomaruku (レーナニチャモ・オノマルク, Reena nichamo Onomaruku)

Changes the target into a dump truck toy reminiscent of Dumpmaru, used on Nagi. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Reena nichamo Onotagi (レーナニチャモ・オノータギ, Reena nichamo Onotagi)

Changes the target into a toy guitar, used on Kinji. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Reena ni Uyoginni (レーナニ・ウヨギンニ, Reena ni Uyoginni)

Changes the target into a doll, used to turn Kasumi and Takaharu into a pink girl doll and an AkaNinger figurine respectively. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Reena nichamo Onongorado (レーナニチャモ・オノンゴラド, Reena nichamo Onongorado)

Changes the target into a blue dragon toy reminiscent of Dragomaru, used on himself. TV STORY-Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad

Reena ni Jaanni (レーナニ・, Reena ni Jaanni)

TV STORY-Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger The Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland

Video game appearances

Super Sentai Battle Base

AoNinger is among the vast pantheon of Rangers which are available in the mobile game Super Sentai Battle Base, with his Chozetsu form also being available.

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!!

AoNinger appears with his team in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Game de Wasshoi!!, where they are controlled by the player to fight the Yokai as on the show.

Super Sentai Legend Wars

Ninninger as seen in Super Sentai Legend Wars.

AoNinger appears with his team among all Sentai in the mobile game Super Sentai Legend Wars.

Forms

• AoNinger
• Ao-Rider

• Default
• Chozetsu
• Seiryuumaru

AoNinger outfit

"Ao Ja! Ninja!"

―Transformation announcement^[src]

Arsenal

• Nin Shuriken
  • AoNinger Shuriken
  • OtomoNin Shuriken: Blue
• Ninja Ichibantou
• Gama Gama Gun
• Ninnin Buckle
• Karakuri Hengen

Mecha

• OtomoNin Dragomaru
• OtomoNin Seiryuumaru

• AoNinger
• Yakumo

File:Chozetsu AoNinger.png

AoNinger Chozetsu

"The Chozetsu! Chozetsu Ninja!"

―Transformation announcement^[src]

AoNinger Chozetsu (アオニンジャー超絶, Aka Ninjā Chōzetsu) is AoNinger's power-up form accessed through the Chozetsu Shuriken and Chozetsu Shoubu Changer with Shishi-Oh's blessing, allowing him to fight with the power of the lion OtomoNin.

Arsenal

• Ninja Ichiban-shoubu-tou
  • Chozetsu Shoubu Changer
  • Ninja Ichibantou

Mecha

• Sky OtomoNin Lion Ha-Ojo

Appearances: Ninninger Episodes 38, 44

Chozetsu Yakumo

"The Chozetsu! Chozetsu Ninja!"

―Transformation announcement^[src]

Arsenal

• Chozetsu Shoubu Changer

This form is exclusive to Ninninger Episode 38.

Seiryuumaru
Original Form:	AoNinger
Length:	30.6 m
Width:	7.7 m
Height:	10.3 m
Weight:	200 tons
Speed:	600 km/h
Power:	30,000

OtomoNin Seiryuumaru (オトモ忍セイリュウマル, Otomo Nin Seiryūmaru, lit. "Companion Ninja Azure Dragon Circle") is a dragon-themed OtomoNin designed by Yakumo. It forms the right arm of Gekiatsu Dai-Oh.
Appearances: Ninninger Episodes 32-39, 41, 42, 45, 47, Ninnin Girls vs. Boys FINAL WARS

Ao-Rider

Ao-Rider

"Ao-Rider!"

―Ao-Rider's role call^[src]

Ao-Rider (アオライダー, Aoraidā) is the Blue hero of the hybrid Kamen Rider/Super Sentai team Kamen Sentai Gorider. AoNinger was granted this form when Team Ex-Aid prevailed in the Game World's Chou Super Hero Taisen tournament. TV STORY-Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen

Mecha

Castle Doran

Ranger Key

AoNinger Ranger Key

"Ninninger!"

―Mobilates' Gokai Change announcement^[src]

The AoNinger Ranger Key (アオニンジャーレンジャーキー, Ao Ninjā Renjā Kī) is Yakumo's personal Ranger Key released as part of a set of Ninninger Ranger Keys in Premium Bandai. It made its debut in episode 28 of Zyuohger. The AoNinger Ranger Key was mainly used by Joe Gibken (Gokai Blue), who used it to fight as AoNinger.

• Joe used this key as part of a fight against the Zyuohgers, specifically Zyuoh Lion. TV STORY-Ep. 28: The Space Pirates Return

Behind the scenes

Portrayal

Yakumo Katou is portrayed by Gaku Matsumoto (松本 岳, Matsumoto Gaku).

As AoNinger, his suit actor is Yuji Nakata (中田 裕士, Nakata Yuji).

Etymology

Yakumo's family name is based on Katō Danzō, a famed 16th century ninja master during the Sengoku period Japan who was also known as "flying Katō" (飛び加藤, Tobi Katō).

Notes

• AoNinger is the first Blue Ninja Ranger with a standard blue color in a core team. The rest have been either light blue (NinjaBlue and HurricaneBlue) or navy blue (KuwagaRaiger).
• He is the second blue ranger to have the Japanese translation of blue in his name following Aorenger.
• His nickname, Cloud, is a pun of his original first name, Yakumo, from the kanji "Kumo" (雲, "Kumo" lit. "Cloud").
• Yakumo is the second blue ranger in a core team to have a dragon themed main mech, with the first being Ryunosuke Ikenami (Shinken Blue).
• Yakumo is similar to Haruto Soma, the protagonist of Kamen Rider Wizard, who is also a wizard who had to abandon his dream of becoming a pro soccer player to fight monsters.
• Yakumo's magics (as well as the ones that used by other characters) are simply reversed Japanese words. This make him similar to DC Comics superheroine Zatanna, a sorceress whose spells were reversed normal sentences.
• The unnamed magic school in England he attended is most likely a reference to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter franchise.
• Yakumo's use of magic could possibly be a tribute to Mahou Sentai Magiranger, a magic based sentai that aired exactly 10 years prior. Which in turn led to a guest appearance of Yakumo's temporary magic mentor, Tsubasa Ozu/Magi Yellow in one episode.
• Yakumo's use of the Chozetsu Shoubu Changer in episode 44 makes him the only Ninninger other than AkaNinger to assume his Chozetsu form more than once.
  • He is also the first Ninninger to use the Chozetsu Shoubu Changer in both his Ranger Form and his civilian identity.
• AoNinger is the only male and one of only two Ninningers on the main six-man team to never once wield the Gekiatsuto, primarily used by StarNinger, the other being ShiroNinger. Coincidentally, Yakumo and Fuuka are the only Ninningers to have assumed the Chozetsu armor out of suit.
• Yakumo is the first Blue Ranger since Houji Tomasu (Deka Blue) to have a female successor.

Appearances

• Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kyoryuger: The Movie (voice only as AoNinger)
• Shuriken Sentai Ninninger
  • Shinobi 1: We're Ninja!
  • Shinobi 2: Become the Last Ninja!
  • Shinobi 3: Formidable Enemy Gabi Appears!
  • Shinobi 4: It's Here! Paonmaru
  • Shinobi 5: The Space Ninja UFOmaru!
  • Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Vs. Kamen Rider Drive Spring Vacation One-Hour Combining Special
  • Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
  • Shinobi 6: Tengu's Spiriting Away
  • Shinobi 7: Spring Ninja Festival!
  • Shinobi 8: The Nekomata Who Leapt Through Time!
  • Shinobi 9: Ninjutsu vs. Magic, the Great Battle!
  • Shinobi 10: Yee-haw! The Gold StarNinger
  • Shinobi 11: Shinobimaru, Come Back!
  • Shinobi 12: Ultimate Battle! Miracle Combination
  • Shinobi 13: Burning! Ninja Sports Day
  • Shinobi 14: Beware of the 'Help-Me' Scam!
  • Shinobi 15: Youkai, I Never Failed
  • Shinobi 16: The Father Tsumuji Is a Super Ninja!?
  • Shinobi 17: Good Bye, StarNinger!
  • Shinobi 18: The Youkai That Yakumo Loved
  • Shinobi 19: Search For It! The OtomoNin of the Sky
  • Shinobi 20: The Chozetsu! Lion Ha-Oh
  • Shinobi 21: Burn! Ninja Baseball of Dreams
  • Shinobi 22: Super Combination! Ha-Oh Shurikenjin
  • Shinobi 23: It's Summer! Ninja Courage Test
  • Shuriken Sentai Ninninger The Movie: The Dinosaur Lord's Splendid Ninja Scroll!
  • Shinobi 24: It's Summer! The Chilling Arrival of Western Yokai!
  • Shinobi 25: It's Summer! Beware of Dracula
  • Shinobi 26: It's Summer! Last Ninja Race Intermediate Announcement!
  • Shinobi 27: It's Summer! Chozetsu Star is Born!
  • Shinobi 28: Race to It! The Kibaoni Ninja Squad
  • Shinobi 29: Definitive Edition Ninja Sugoroku!
  • Shinobi 30: Targeted Ninja School!
  • Shinobi 31: The Runaway Ninja!
  • Shinobi 32: Extremely Hot Ninja! Acha!
  • Shinobi 33: The Kunoichi That Loved Yakumo
  • Shinobi 34: Enter Jiraiya, Legendary World Ninja!
  • Shinobi 35: Kinji Enters the Yokai Labyrinth!
  • Shinobi 36: Kinji, the Glorious Super Star
  • Shinobi 37: Shuriken Legend ~The Road to Last Ninja~
  • Shinobi 38: The Witch Girl Loves Yakumo?
  • Shinobi 39: Kibaoni's Son, Mangetsu Appears!
  • Shinobi 40: Look Out For Santa Claus!
  • Shinobi 41: The Five Games of the Kibaoni Party!
  • Shinobi 42: OtomoNin Wars! Nekomata Strikes Back
  • Shinobi 43: The Legendary Ninja! Yokai Karuta Tactics
  • File:Icon-tokkyuger.png Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger The Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland
  • Shinobi 44: The Final Battle! The Ordeals of the Last Ninja
  • Shinobi 45: Three Generations of Fathers and Sons! All Ninjas Gathered
  • Shinobi 46: The Last Shuriken Appears!
  • Shinobi Final Chapter: To a Future Without Hiding, Wasshoi!
• Come Back! Shuriken Sentai Ninninger: Ninnin Girls vs. Boys FINAL WARS
• 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
  • Ep. 44: Monarch of the Humans (AoNinger image only)
• Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen
• 4 Week Continuous Special Super Sentai Strongest Battle!!
  • Battle2: The Secretive Armor of Mystery (flashback; archive footage only)

See Also

• Preston Tien - Power Rangers counterpart in Ninja Steel. See comparison page.