Act 45: The Impersonator

This article is about an episode in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.

Act 45: The Impersonator
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, Episode 45
Air Date(s)	January 10, 2010
Production Information
Written by	Yasuko Kobayashi
Directed by	Hiroyuki Kato
Episode Guide
Previous	Act 44: The Eighteenth Head of the Shiba House
Next	Act 46: The Showdown Clash

The Impersonator (影武者(かげむしゃ), Kagemusha) is the forty-fifth episode of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. It is the first of Shinkenger's five-part endgame, delving into the revelations around Takeru and Kaoru that were briefly shown in the previous episode, as well as the beginning of the final showdown between Takeru and Juzo Fuwa.

Synopsis

As Kaoru takes her place as the true Shiba Clan head, Takeru is forced to figure out where to go next while his former retainers are forced to adapt to their new leader.

Plot

Finding Takeru wounded from his fight with the now-deceased Ayakashi Yomotsugari, Jii is shocked when Genta and the vassals arrive, demanding answers relating to Kaoru. With Jii not answering, Mako realizes that Takeru is a kagemusha; a decoy designed to help protect the real Shiba head. Kaoru enters and assumes her position as the true 18th head of the Shiba House. Her retainer Tanba explains the full story; Kaoru's father (the previous Shinken Red and the 17th head of the Shiba house) knew that Dokoku would not stay sealed forever and his then-unborn daughter was the key to defeating him forever. However, as Tanba felt that Doukoku may rise before she could master the sealing character, he set up Takeru as a decoy (although he was not of Shiba blood) due to him having a talent in Mojikara. Kaoru was born a Princess, and has now mastered the sealing character and is ready to claim her rightful place as head of the Shiba house, not wishing to hide any longer. Her kuroko take possession of the Inromaru and Takeru's disks, and Tanba orders the vassals to serve Kaoru while throwing Genta out due to him not being a true Samurai. The vassals refuse to serve anyone but Takeru, as he arrives and apologizes to them for all the suffering he caused. Torn by his deception, he expresses that he can no longer fight with his vassals, and tells them to follow Kaoru, then taking his leave. Genta, who cannot stand more of the situation, also takes his leave to search for Takeru. The next day, Kaoru leads the Shinkengers against the Gedoshu and the four are barely able to cope with fighting on without Takeru. Genta finds Takeru who tells him that he has nothing left in his life before he walks away while Genta is not looking.

As Genta calls Jii about his new attitude, Takeru makes his way to his father's grave where Juzo finds him. As he never cared who Takeru was, Juzo demands that they fight. Takeru accepts without hesitation.

Cast

• Takeru Shiba (志葉 丈瑠, Shiba Takeru): Tori Matsuzaka (松坂 桃李, Matsuzaka Tōri)
• Ryuunosuke Ikenami (池波 流ノ介, Ikenami Ryūnosuke): Hiroki Aiba (相葉 裕樹, Aiba Hiroki)
• Mako Shiraishi (白石 茉子, Shiraishi Mako): Rin Takanashi (高梨 臨, Takanashi Rin)
• Chiaki Tani (谷 千明, Tani Chiaki): Shogo Suzuki (鈴木 勝吾, Suzuki Shōgo)
• Kotoha Hanaori (花織 ことは, Hanaori Kotoha): Suzuka Morita (森田 涼花, Morita Suzuka)
• Genta Umemori (梅盛 源太, Umemori Genta): Keisuke Sohma (相馬 圭祐, Sōma Keisuke)
• Kaoru Shiba (志葉 薫, Shiba Kaoru): Runa Natsui (夏居 瑠奈, Natsui Runa)
• Hikoma Kusakabe (日下部 彦馬, Kusakabe Hikoma): Gorou Ibuki (伊吹 吾郎, Ibuki Gorō)
• Toshizo Tanba (丹波歳三, Tanba Toshizō): Kazuyuki Matsuzawa (松澤 一之, Matsuzawa Kazuyuki)
• Secret Lantern DaiGoyou (秘伝提灯ダイゴヨウ, Hiden Chōchin Daigoyō, Voice): Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi)
• Dokoku Chimatsuri (血祭 ドウコク, Chimatsuri Dōkoku, Voice): Rintarō Nishi (西 凛太朗, Nishi Rintarō)
• Dayu Usukawa (薄皮 太夫, Usukawa Dayū, Voice): Romi Park (朴 璐美, Paku Romi)
• Shitari of the Bones (骨のシタリ, Hone no Shitari, Voice): Cho (チョー, Cho)
• Juzo Fuwa (腑破 十臓, Fuwa Jūzō): Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru)

Guest Cast

• Masataka Shiba (志葉 雅貴, Shiba Masataka): Masaya Matsukaze (松風 雅也, Matsukaze Masaya)
• Subordinate: Riichi Seike (清家 利一, Seike Riichi), Tetsuya Aoki (青木哲也, Aoki Tetsuya)
• Masataka Shiba's wife: Miho Kuwabara (桑原美帆, Kuwabara Miho)

Secret Disks

• Shinken Red - N/A
• Princess Shinken Red - Kyoutsuu (Rekka Daizantou), Shishi (Rekka Daizantou), Super, Saishuu Ougi, Samurai Gattai, Hidden Shield, Tora (Tora Origami), Zen Samurai Gattai
• Shinken Blue - Hidden Shield
• Shinken Pink - Hidden Shield
• Shinken Green - Hidden Shield
• Shinken Yellow - Hidden Shield
• Shinken Gold - N/A

Errors

to be added

Notes

• As part of Super Hero Time, this episode aired alongside Kamen Rider W episode 17, Farewell N/Memory Kids.
• Viewership: 5.3%
• Key Title Kanji: 影 (Shadow, referring to Takeru's position as the "shadow leader" of the Shiba in Kaoru's absence)
• Takeru and Genta do not appear transformed in this episode. It is also the only episode where Takeru does not transform.
• This is also the second time since episode 27 where Genta does not transform.

Home video releases

• The third volume of the Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Blu-Ray Box Set comes with episodes 34-49, and was released on June 13th 2014 at a cost of 20,790 yen.

Shinkenger on Blu-ray.

Shinkenger Volume 3, Blu-ray cover

Shinkenger Volume 11, DVD cover

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger DVD Volume 11 features episodes 41-45: Act 41: The Sent Words, Act 42: Two Centuries' Ambition, Act 43: One Last Sword, Act 44: The Eighteenth Head of the Shiba House and Act 45: The Impersonator.

See Also

• Fight Fire with Fire - Power Rangers counterpart in Super Samurai. See comparison page.
• The Great Duel - Power Rangers counterpart in Super Samurai. See comparison page.