Ninja Olympiad (1988)

A classic Japanese tokusatsu adventure where a young ninja dons a legendary suit to battle an ancient evil clan and warriors from around the world.

Ninja Olympiad - Series Information

  • Original Title: 世界忍者戦ジライヤ
  • First Air Year: 1988
  • Last Air Year: 1989
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 1
  • Number of Episodes: 50
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: Japanese
  • Spoken Languages: Japanese
  • First Air Date: January 24, 1988 (Brazil - 10)
  • Networks: tv asahi
  • Alternative Titles: Jiraiya: O Incrível Ninja (BR), Giraya Ninja (FR), Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya (JP), Ninja Olympiad (US)
  • Production Companies: Toei Company
  • Production Countries: Japan

Ninja Olympiad - Plot

The Sorcerers Clan, led by the centuries-old Org Ninja Dokusai, has made its move to retrieve the treasured map of Pako that has been in possession by the Yamaji family for generations. Tetsuzan Yamaji, the 34th grandmaster of the Togakure Ryu Ninpo, entrust his son and daughter, Toha and Mei, to protect the Pako from the forces of the Sorcerers Clan. By donning the Jiraiya Suit inherited from his father, Toha becomes Jiraya, Master of the Togakure School, who must face against the evil Sorcerers Clan, as well as numerous ninjas from different parts of the world.

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Ninja Olympiad - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • Takumi Tsutsui
  • Tomoko Taya
  • Masaaki Hatsumi
  • Megumi Sekiguchi
  • Takumi Hashimoto
  • Shozo Iizuka
  • Hiromi Nohara
  • Ryo Nagamine
  • Issei Hirota
  • Machiko Soga

Writers

  • Susumu Takaku
  • Kunio Fujii
  • Nobuo Ogizawa
  • Kenji Terada
  • Tsuyoshi Koike

Ninja Olympiad - FAQs

What is Ninja Olympiad about?

Ninja Olympiad follows Toha Yamaji, son of a legendary ninja grandmaster, who dons the powerful Jiraiya Suit to become the hero Jiraiya. His mission: protect the ancient Pako map from the centuries-old Org Ninja Dokusai and the Sorcerers Clan, while battling skilled ninjas from across the globe.

Is Ninja Olympiad part of the Metal Hero franchise?

Ninja Olympiad, known in Japan as Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya, is indeed part of Toei's long-running Metal Hero franchise. It aired as the seventh entry in the series, distinguishing itself by centering on ninja combat and a globe-spanning roster of warrior antagonists rather than the franchise's more typical sci-fi robot themes.

Who are the main actors in Ninja Olympiad?

The series stars Takumi Tsutsui as the hero Toha Yamaji / Jiraiya, alongside Tomoko Taya, Masaaki Hatsumi, Megumi Sekiguchi, Takumi Hashimoto, Shozo Iizuka, Hiromi Nohara, Ryo Nagamine, Issei Hirota, and Machiko Soga in key supporting roles.

How many episodes does Ninja Olympiad have?

Ninja Olympiad ran for a single season of 50 episodes. It aired on TV Asahi in Japan from January 1988 through January 1989, with each episode averaging around 24 minutes in runtime.

What makes the villain Dokusai unique in the series?

Dokusai, voiced by Shozo Iizuka, is portrayed as a centuries-old Org Ninja leading the Sorcerers Clan — a shadowy organization with ancient roots. His longevity and mystical power set him apart from typical tokusatsu villains, lending the series a mythological weight that complements its globe-trotting ninja tournament premise.

When did Ninja Olympiad first air?

Ninja Olympiad premiered on January 24, 1988, on TV Asahi in Japan. The series concluded in 1989 after completing its single 50-episode season. It was later broadcast in Brazil and France under different titles.

What are some shows similar to Ninja Olympiad?

Fans of Ninja Olympiad often enjoy other tokusatsu and action-adventure series such as Mobile Cop Jiban, Choudenshi Bioman, Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, and Ultraman 80. For ninja-themed animation, Shuriken School and Ninja Slayer From Animation offer a similar flavor of martial arts excitement.

Is Ninja Olympiad based on a true story or manga?

Ninja Olympiad is an original tokusatsu production by Toei Company and is not based on a manga or true story. However, the series incorporates real ninjutsu traditions — notably the Togakure-ryu school — and Masaaki Hatsumi, who plays the grandmaster Tetsuzan, is himself a real-life ninjutsu grandmaster of that lineage.

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