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Chousoku Parahero GandD Drama Overview
An overview of the NHK tokusatsu drama Chousoku Parahero GandD, airing June 26. The drama stars Kamen Rider Zi-O‘s So Okuno and Tokusatsu Gagaga‘s Fuka Koshiba.
Synopsis
High school student Daishi Morimiya (So Okuno) dreams of becoming a wheelchair athlete, and Kei Fukai (Fuka Koshiba), a former track-and-field athlete, becomes his coach. One day, a handsome alien, Goo, falls from the sky while Daishi is practicing with Kei. Having escaped from a mass genocide in Earth’s binary star, Goo warns Daishi and his friends that Earth is in danger. Then, a giant lizard-like monster attacks Daishi’s household. Goo’s Mode Shifter begins to emit light and covers Daishi. Still in his wheelchair and his body now transformed by a special protector, Daishi charges at the monster.
>> Opening Music Video [link] <<
Cast/Characters
So Okuno as Daishi Motomiya
A bright and positive 17-year-old high schooler who uses a wheelchair after being in a car accident when he was 8 years old. He’s training for para-athletics to help achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. Daishi is able to transform into GandD thanks to a power granted to him by an alien.
So Okuno played Sougo Tokiwa / Kamen Rider Zi-O in the 2018-2019 series Kamen Rider Zi-O.
Fuka Koshiba as Kei Fukai
A 24-year-old coaching major from the Asahi University of Health and Sport Sciences, Kei used to be a track-and-field athlete, but she chose to pursue reasearch after feeling limited by her innate talent. While she has no experience with para-athletics, a chance encounter with Daishi leads her to become his coach.
Fuka Koshiba played Kano Nakamura, the main character in the Tokusatsu Gagaga drama adaptation in 2019.
Takeshi Tsuruno as Gen Morimiya
Gen Morimiya is an even more positive person than his son Daishi. 44 years old, he runs a small factory “Morimiya Motors” on the outskirts of Tokyo. To help Daishi achieve his dream of become an astronaut, Gen is in the midst of developing a piloted rocket.
Takeshi Tsuruno formerly played Shin Asuka / Ultraman Dyna in 1997-1998’s series Ultraman Dyna.
Karasu Hayashi as Goo (nickname, real name: Foss)
Between 17 to 19 years old, Goo is of the Meden tribe from the planet Alert, Earth’s binary star. He flees to Earth to escape his family’s slaughter at the hands of the Eltron tribe, also from Alert. Goo grants Daishi the ability to transform into GandD, but there are other powers that even Goo isn’t aware of.
Karasu Hayashi also played Shinya Kaburagi in 2020’s Ultraman Z.
Shuri Nakamura as Rio Seina
17 years old and Daishi’s childhood friend, Rio visits the Morimiyas frequently and works part-time making dinners. Her sense of cooking and fashion can seem odd at times, but could she be holding hidden powers?
Sohkoh Wada as Motoo Sakamoto
An instructor at Asahi University and Kei’s academic advisor, 44 years old. He recommended competing in a wheelchair athletics race to Daishi.
Sohkoh Wada played the Humagear Will in the movie Kamen Rider Reiwa the First Generation.
(from left to right)
Sachiko Aoyama as Miki Akagi, Taketo Kubota as Yuuya Wakabayashi, and Breeze as Moumen
This trio works for Morimiya Motors. With their high technical skills and knowledge, they develop GandD’s powered-up wheelchair, the Hyper Wheel.
GandD (suit actor: Wataru Inaniwa)
Using the Mode Shifter (pictured on the left), Daishi can transform into GandD. GandD fights using a plant-based energy developed from technological innovations from the planet Alert. His wheelchair, the Hyper Wheel, uses racing wheelchairs as its base.
Lagert (suit actor: Hironari Okubo)
Standing 12 meters tall, Lagert is a creature tamed and made partially mechanical by the Eltron tribe. It was sent to Earth in pursuit of Goo.
Part of the Eltron tribe, Laroux is also from the planet Alert. Knowing the secret power Goo carries, she follows him to Earth with her monster, Lagert.
Special Guests
Masayuki Higuchi as himself
Masayuki Higuchi holds Japanese national records in 1500m and 5000m para-athletic wheelchair races. He offers coaching advice to Kei.
Para-athletes representing Japan (from left to right): Masayuki Higuchi, Ryota Yoshida, Ken(?) Sato, Rinpei Sasaki, Takumi Sasahara
Staff
Writers: Yukiko Manabe (episodes 1 and 2), Hirotoshi Kobayashi (episode 3)
Theme Song: “Gyakkou” (Backlight), by SymaG (島爺)
Music: Fumio Hara
Para-athletics Supervision: Nobukazu Hanaoka (Japan Para-Athletics), Yoko Mizuno (Nippon Sport Science University)
Character Design: Shinji Nishikawa
Production Team: Naoyuki Shibata (NHK), Takashi Nishimura (NHK Enterprise), Shizaburo (ARATA FG)
Producer: Tomohiro Ogino
Director: Takanori Tsujimoto
Chousoku Parahero GandD will run for three episodes, airing on June 26, July 3, and July 10.
EDIT: The article previously misnamed Lagert’s suit actor. The reading of his name (Hironari Okubo) is now correctly given.
