(February 26, 1920 – April 6, 2008), also known as Yasunori Kawauchi, was a Japanese

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

who created various

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...

series, including the first, ''

Moonlight Mask (a.k.a. ''The Moonbeam Man'') is a superhero appearing in Japanese tokusatsu and anime television shows and movies since his TV debut in 1958. The six theatrical films were made (between 1958-1959) in black and white/ToeiScope format. Created by ...

'', in 1958. He was originally from

Hakodate, Hokkaido is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.8 ...

. His series ''

Warrior of Love Rainbowman is a tokusatsu series created by Kōhan Kawauchi. This was the first superhero TV series produced by Toho Company Ltd., and was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from October 6, 1972 to September 18, 1973, with a total of 52 episodes. Mitsuru ...

'' (1972) is considered to be an inspiration for

Go Nagai , better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...

's ''

Cutie Honey is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...

''. Other tokusatsu shows he created include ''

Seven Color Mask is the name and title character of a tokusatsu TV series, later called . It was created by Kōhan Kawauchi, who also created ''Moonlight Mask''. This black-and-white, B&W TV show was the first superhero TV series by Toei Company, Toei Company Ltd ...

'' (1959) and '' Messenger of Allah'' (1960).

Personal life

Kawauchi converted to

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

in 1959. This led to his creation of the

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

series '' Messenger of Allah'' in 1960.

Filmography

Created

* ''

'' (1972) * ''

'' (1959) * '' Messenger of Allah'' (1960)

Writer

* ''Ramayana'' (1943) - first work

References

1920 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Japanese musicians Conservatism in Japan Converts to Islam Japanese lyricists Japanese Muslims People from Hakodate Writers from Hokkaido 20th-century Japanese screenwriters {{Japan-film-bio-stub