Iron King (TBS) -- The Afterglow of High Growth and the Era of "Regional Heroes" (abstract, 400 words)

Iron King (TBS) -- The Afterglow of High Growth and the Era of "Regional Heroes" (abstract, 400 words)

The Iron King" is a 1972 tokusatsu work, but it remained popular even when it was rebroadcast around 1975, and it is positioned as a work that embodies the characteristics of the tokusatsu of the 1970s. Although not as popular as the giant-brand "Ultra" series, "Iron King" was a typical example of the youth-oriented TV culture of the time, with its clear story of good and evil, giant heroes, monsters with strong local color, and location filming in various parts of Japan. In the background was the feverish aftermath of Japan's rapid economic growth, and while society was modernizing with the growth of bullet trains and highways, there were also concerns such as pollution and urban overcrowding. Tokusatsu heroes distanced themselves from the complexities of the adult world and provided children with a sense of security and justice. In particular, the large number of local filming locations served to bring the scenery of various regions into the home at a time when the nation w
as not yet fully connected, and was proof that television functioned as a device for traveling from home. Although not blockbusters, the accumulation of such medium-scale productions enriched the television culture of the 1970s, and was the reason why the series continued to be popular even during the rebroadcasting period.