Chapter 139: Tokusatsu Founder’s Response to Z-Man Ads

Tuesday, December 31, 1991 - Night

Kyotaro Shinomori, a man in his late 40s, was one of the leading figures in TOEI's Tokusatsu department. Despite his age, his heart remained youthful, and he had always been fascinated by the idea of masked heroes saving the day—just like the American superheroes he admired in his youth. This passion had driven him to create some of Japan's most iconic superheroes, including Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and the Super Sentai series. His contributions to Tokusatsu had shaped generations, and he took great pride in his work.

Sitting in his office even at holiday, Kyotaro watched the Z-Man advertisement for what must have been the tenth time that evening. Though he had never played ZEPS himself, he was well aware of the console's soaring popularity. His son, now in middle school, was practically obsessed with it, often raving about its unique gaming experiences. In fact, ZEPS had become such a cultural phenomenon that Kyotaro couldn't ignore it even if he tried. And now, this advertisement for Z-Man has caught his attention like nothing else in recent memory.

He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The Z-Man sentai were unlike any Sentai team he had created before—each character possessed a distinct theme, and the variety of designs were striking. And the Theme song for Z-man are such banger.

"This is really something… A completely new take on the Sentai concept!" Kyotaro murmured, running a hand through his graying hair. "Why didn't I think of this before? A team with such diverse and unique designs… I wonder what kind of story they have?"

There was no trace of jealousy in his voice—only pure admiration. He had seen many attempts at hero-themed media over the years, but something about Z-Man felt special. It wasn't just a simple imitation of the Tokusatsu formula; it was a love letter to the genre, crafted with deep understanding and passion.

Kyotaro leaned back and let out a chuckle. "ZAGE really knows what they're doing. Whoever is behind this must be a true fan of Super Sentai. I wonder if they also admire Ultraman and Kamen Rider?" His mind raced with possibilities. 

He couldn't resist the growing curiosity inside him. He wanted to experience Z-Man firsthand. Perhaps it was finally time for him to try ZEPS himself. With his tight schedule, gaming wasn't something he could indulge in often, but for this? He would make an exception.

"I should definitely play Z-Man when it releases," he decided. "It might even inspire me for future Tokusatsu projects."

But more than that, Kyotaro was interested in the person behind ZAGE—the creative mind who had developed Z-Man. Who was this individual who clearly loved Tokusatsu and Heroes as much as he did?

"I should meet the person responsible for this. I want to talk to them, see what inspires them, and understand their vision," he mused aloud.

Then, an idea struck him. He recalled hearing from his colleague, Kubosawa, that TOEI had negotiated with ZEPS for potential collaborations. If anyone had a connection to ZAGE, it would be Kubosawa.

Without hesitation, Kyotaro picked up the phone and dialed Kubosawa's number.

"Hello, Kubosawa-san?" Kyotaro greeted warmly.

"Ah, Kyotaro-san! What a surprise. What can I do for you?" Kubosawa replied, his tone friendly.

Kyotaro wasted no time. "Do you know who the owner of ZAGE is? The one responsible for that Z-Man advertisement?"

Kubosawa chuckled. "Oh, you mean Zaboru Renkonan? Yes, I know him. He's a young man, but an absolute genius when it comes to game development we've met before"

Kyotaro's eyes widened slightly. "A young man, you say? Fascinating. Do you think I could meet him?"

Kubosawa hummed in thought before responding, "Perhaps, but not today. His company is closed for the holiday, and I doubt he'd be in the office right now. However, I do have his office phone number. You could try reaching him in two days once the holidays are over."

Kyotaro grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "That sounds good, Kubosawa-san. Could you share his number with me?"

"Of course," Kubosawa replied, reciting the number, which Kyotaro quickly jotted down.

"Thanks a lot, Kubosawa-san. I appreciate it," Kyotaro said sincerely.

"No problem! I'd love to hear what you think of Z-Man after you get a chance to play it," Kubosawa added.

Kyotaro chuckled. "I'll let you know. I have a feeling it's going to be something special."

As the call ended, Kyotaro leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He had always loved discovering new talent, and something told him that Zaboru Renkonan was someone worth meeting. If Z-Man was any indication, this young developer had the potential to revolutionize the hero genre in ways no one had ever seen before.

"I'll give him a call tomorrow," Kyotaro murmured to himself. "Or maybe I should wait until after the holidays… Either way, I'm looking forward to it."

With that, he set his phone down and stretched, feeling more excited than he had in years. The world of heroes was evolving, and he was eager to see where it would go next.

To be continued…

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