Thanks toSpider-Man: Into The Spider-VerseandSpider-Man: No Way Home, fans ofSpider-Mancan finally see him teaming up with various versions of himself to stop various forms of multiverse threats. And while both films tackle theMarvelsuperhero in different media, one thing remains the same: where on Earth did theJapanese Spider-Mango?RELATED:The Best Spider-Man Video Games Of All Time, RankedAs fans of the web-slinger know, Japan released its own version ofSpider-Manin the form of a 1978 series, complete with his own rogue’s gallery and even a mecha! However, it’s only until now that Marvel fans finally got to bring Japanese Spider-Man out of obscurity. For newcomers to thetokusatsuversion of theMarvelsuperhero, just what are some must-know things about Japanese Spider-Man?
10Enter Takuya Yamashiro
Unlike most depictions of Spider-Man that involve Peter Parker, the 1978 Japanese Spider-Man is a motocross racer named Takuya Yamashiro. When his father, a space archaeologist, is killed after approaching a mysterious UFO, Takuya swears vengeance upon his killer - Professor Monster, and the leader of the intergalactic Iron Cross Army.
Interestingly enough, the deviation from Peter Parker doesn’t just end with this rather peculiar space story. Takuya didn’t becomeSpider-Man by accident, but rather with a chance encounter with Garia, the last survivor of Planet Spider. Takuya meets Garia in the Marveller, the same ship his father discovered. After Garia injects Takuya with some of his blood, Takuya starts developing spider-like powers.
9Does Whatever A Spider Can
In the popularSpider-Mantheme song, it’s said that Spider-Man can do “whatever a spider can,” but this isn’t necessarily the case with Peter Parker, given that he has other weird sets of abilities unique to him. However, this song line is much more accurate towards Takuya Yamashiro’s version of Spider-Man.
At its core, Takuya has the same core powerset as Spider-Man, such as sticking to walls and climbing up them, generating webs, and even detecting enemieswith his Spider-Sense. However, he now has a sensitivity towards cold, something Spider-Man doesn’t but is something normal spiders have.
8Everything Is Alien With Marveller
When Takuya starts developing spider-powers, he doesn’t make the iconic costume on his own. Interestingly enough, when Garia met Takuya for the first time, he also entrusted Takuya with the mission of continuing his fight against Professor Monster. To do this, Garia also entrusts Takuya with complete control over the Marveller, his ship that may also have been named after Marvel Comics.
Through Garia’s alien tech, Takuya now possesses the Spider Bracelet that summons his costume, the Spider-Protector. The bracelet can also shoot web lines, much like Spider-Man’sweb-shooters, and even summon the Marveller ship.
7Spider-Man Goes Toku In Leopardon
Unlike Marvel’s Spider-Man, the Japanese Spider-Man is regularly seen fighting all sorts of alien threats. Unfortunately for the latter, these alien threats also summon gigantic forms after they’re defeated for the first time. Thankfully, Takuya can summon the Marveller ship with his bracelet and have it transforminto a fighting robotnamed Leopardon.
RELATED:The Best Spider-Man Villains Of All Time, Ranked
This robot-summoning trope is a common theme amongtokusatsushows in Japan, particularly within theSpace Sheriffand theUltramanseries. However, unlike Ultraman that has its host become gigantic on the get-go, or with the Space Sheriffs summoning a robot mostly to provide support, Spider-Man’s Leopardon comes from a single ship and has an active role in episodes.
6Another Spider-Mobile
Fans of Spider-Man know that the web-slinger had at some point a handy vehicle called the Spider-Mobile, akin toBatman’s Batmobile. The original Spider-Mobile was a promotional car lent to Spider-Man, with another prominent version made by Parker Industries but with more features.
Interestingly enough, Japanese Spider-Man also has his own version of the Spider-Mobile, called the Spider Machine GP-7. This is a flying car with missile launchers and a machine gun, which Spider-Man often uses against the Ninders. This car is often stored inside the Marveller.
5Adaptation With A Tokusatsu Spin
A lot of new elements in Japanese Spider-Man come from the fact that it is atokusatsushow, which refers to the genre of Japanese media that heavily uses special effects. With regards to Japanese Spider-Man,tokufans would easily notice a classic 70s to 80stokutrope of Takuya being “a motorcycle-riding herowielding strange powers against an intergalactic threat.”
In the Japanese Spider-Man, the Iron Cross Army is another version of the classictokutrope of alien villains. Moreover, instead of his usual Sinister Six, Takuya’s Spider-Man has enemies in the form of Amazoness, Bella and Rita, the Ninder minions, and monsters of the week in the form of Machine Bem.
4Equally Missing Some Toku Traditions
Oddly enough, despitetokuelements being present in Japanese Spider-Man, the series also lacks some notabletokuelements. One characteristic oftokushows that Japanese Spider-Man lacks is a signature move - something otherpopulartokufranchiseslikeKamen Riderhave, in the form of the classic Rider Kick.
RELATED:The Best Spider-Man Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)
Moreover, it’s also revealed that the Spider-Bracelet doesn’t have any toy versions during the show’s run, unlike othertokushows that often release toys in conjunction with their airing. In fact, even other media and the adaptation eliminated the Spider-Bracelet entirely. A toy version of the Spider-Bracelet would only appear in the “Soul of Chogokin GX-33R Leopardon” set, released in 2020.
3May Have Helped Jumpstart The Entire Super Sentai Series
Japanese Spider-Man’s story isn’t supposedly going to end in his TV series, as a sequel to his story was set to appear inBattle Fever J.Astokufans know,Battle Fever Jis the thirdSuper Sentai(thebasis of thePower Rangers) series and is the first to use the “Super Sentai” moniker. The team’s trump card was the Battle Fever Robo, a mecha designed to eliminate giant monsters.
Interestingly enough, this “giant mecha” trope has come from Japanese Spider-Man, whose Leopardon concept became a hit to fans. Moreover, theBattle Fever Jseries is in fact a collaboration between Marvel and Toei, with Toei having designed suits for a Moon Knight and 3-D Man spinoff but were ultimately canceled. Additionally, Marvel even has a universal designation for Battle Fever J’s world, which the comics declared is set in Earth-79203.
2About That Pose Rumor
While Japanese Spider-Man isn’twidely known in the global market, it certainly made a mark among Japanese audiences who watched it before that also read Marvel comics. Interestingly enough, there appears to be arumoron the Japanese internet that Marvel’s Spider-Man looked at Japanese Spider-Man’s forward-facing pose as an inspiration for one of the character’s iconic spider-poses.
However, the above source also clarified that there’s a statement on Toei’s part revealing that the rumor is false and that the forward-facing pose is something inspired by a frame in an older Spider-Man comic.
1Eventually Makes His Way Into The Spider-Verse
IntheSpider-Versecomics, the Japanese Spider-Man actually appeared more as a cameo, given Marvel’s lack of permission to use the character. In fact, Toei Company initially asked Marvel not to use the Japanese Spider-Man in the comics again, only relenting when they realized the critical acclaim Japanese Spider-Man had to Japanese fans. This fact is all the more exciting, considering Japanese Spider-Man is part of the cast ofAcross The Spider-Verse (Part One).
Interestingly, Peter Parker acknowledges Takuya more than just for his skills. In the comics, Peter Parker said Takuya had a strong sense of being a Spider-Totem, which theSpider-Manlore explains as “avatars” with arachnid powers that Great Totems within the Web of Life and Destiny often use to express their will.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)will premiere on Jun 01, 2025.
