In 1958 Senkosha Productions released Japan’s first TV super hero series, GEKKO KAMEN 月光仮面 (MOONLIGHT MASK). Created by Kohan Kawauchi (RAINBOWMAN), this series was very similar to the golden age of American serials of the 30's and 40's (KING OF THE ROCKET MEN, FLASH GORDON). Gekko Kamen battled gangsters and at one point a giant simian-like creature, Mammoth Kong. Armed with two guns and a cool motorcycle, Gekko Kamen, was dressed all in white, with a turban, and some stylin’ shades. Gekko Kamen’s identity was kept a mystery, but a smart audience could figure out he was Detective Juro Iwai played by Koichi Ose who fought for justice and the Japanese way.
The series ran for 130 episodes, split into 5 story arcs. Most notable was Chapter 1, “Skull Kamen“, just for the character design alone, very reminiscent of THE EMBALMER (MONSTER OF VENICE). The third chapter, “Mammoth Kong“, marked the debut of Japan’s first TV giant monster. A sixth chapter continued the story of Gekko Kamen in manga form titled “The Fang of the Dragon” in Shonen Club Magazine.
Gekko Kamen is one of Japan’s most iconic characters, whose popularity is still seen today saluted in J-Pop songs and in well done parodies. The best known version was the 1972 anime series, SEIJI WO AISURA MONO GEKKO KAMEN 正義を愛する人、月光仮面 (THE MAN WHO LOVES JUSTICE, MOONLIGHT MASK), known to Latin audiences as the eternal hero, EL CAPITAN CENTELLA.
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