| “ | Stop being a coward, Igam! The Emperor wants us to die, so it's an honor for us to rest in peace for him! [...] Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Zero! Underground Castle, taking off!! | „ |
| ~ Oyobu's final words before the explosion of the Underground Castle. |
Earth Imperial Ninja Oyobu is a ninja warrior of the Underground Empire Tube serving as the subordinate of Commander Baraba and a supporting antagonist in Hikari Sentai Maskman.
He is portrayed by Yoshinori Okamoto, who also played Adjutant Booba, Bo Gardan, Doctor Ashura and Sargain in the Super Sentai series.
History[]
A ninja of the Buyon Tribe, Oyobu joined the Tube Empire and served under Commander Baraba, acting as his right-hand. Oyobu was present during Emperor Zeba's declaration of war against the surface and took part in the subsequent vanguard attack of the invasion alongside his superior. There Oyobu and the rest of the Tube commanders would encounter the Maskman for the very first time and do battle against them.
Oyobu remained loyal to Baraba even after he fell out of favor with Emperor Zeba and was threatened with execution for his many failed attempts to defeat the Maskmen. When Baraba took the advice of Kiros and went to recover the frozen body of Princess Iyal to use her body to lure Takeru into a trap, Oyobu attempted to stop his master and warn him about the dangers of trusting Kiros. Baraba refused to listen, leading Oyobu to wind up frozen in ice when the two of them accidentally triggered a trap in Ial's chamber while struggling. Oyobu later managed to escape by using his fire powers to melt the ice and joined Baraba after he had been betrayed by Kiros. As Takeru arrived, Kiros ran off with Ial's frozen body, leaving Baraba and Oyobu to face Takeru. Baraba commanded Oyobu to attack Takeru, but Oyobu refused and told him it was his fight, and that he was nothing more than a coward for refusing to face Takeru on his own.
Kiros later attempted to get Oyobu to free Iyal from her frozen prison with his flame powers, but Oyobu refused and opted to attack Kiros instead. He was soon joined by Prince Igam and Fumin along with Jigoku Doggler, who together were able to kill Kiros.
Oyobu went on to participate in Zeba's final plan to raise the Underground Castle to the surface and coat the Earth in Evil Particles. Oyobu manned the controls for the Underground Castle's launch and gave his life to ensure it reached the surface, as Zeba deemed the sacrifice of his subordinates necessary to raise the castle.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Oyobu was Yoshinori Okamoto's fourth consecutive role in the Super Sentai series, after having served as the suit actor for Bio Hunter Silva in Choudenshi Bioman and played Adjutant Booba in Dengeki Sentai Changeman and Bo Gardan in Choushinsei Flashman. He would be followed by Doctor Ashura in Choujuu Sentai Liveman and, many years later, by Sargain in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger.
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 Villains
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Underground Empire Tube | ||