It’s meat morphin’ time!
It seems like you can find teams of tights-wearing superheroes based on just about anything and everything in the world of Super Sentai (the franchise Power Rangers is based on). Feel like watching a team of heroes based on ninjas? Then, check out Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā. How about space pirates? Then Kaizoku Sentai Gōkaijā is what you’re looking for. Playing cards? Then, track down J..A.K.Q. Dengekitai. Oh, what? You want a team of heroes inspired by Japanese fast food restaurants? Well, you’re in luck because thanks to a tweet by the Japanese gyūdon (beef and rice bowl) chain Yoshinoya, the world now has Nikurenjā (Meat Ranger).
The story of the Meat Rangers starts off on July 6 when the official Yoshinoya Twitter account tweeted out the following image along with some text expressing their sadness over how impossible it would be to get five Japanese food companies together to create a team of meat-themed heroes.
今週のボツ企画ｗｗ
「肉関連企業を5社集めてニクレンジャーを結成する」
ボツ理由→5社も巻き込むなんて実現不可能。。。お蔵入りさせるのがもったいないから投稿だけしてみた( ˘ω˘ ) pic.twitter.com/QD1DJK9Ydo
— 吉野家 (@yoshinoyagyudon) July 6, 2018
“This week’s rejected idea.
‘Bringing together five meat-related companies and creating Nikurenjā (Meat Ranger).’
Why it was rejected → It would be impossible to get five companies together to make this a reality.’
It seemed like a shame to just shelve this idea, so we decided to post it.”
Yoshinoya’s tweet resulted in the following response from one of Japan’s most popular “family restaurants” Gusto.
面白そうですね😆🎵
レッド貰ってもいいですか？🤣✨— ガスト【公式】 (@gusto_official) July 6, 2018
“Seems interesting. Can we take the red ranger?”
Three days later, Gusto was true to their word and tweeted out what would become the first Meat Ranger.
吉野家(@yoshinoyagyudon)さん！
できましたよ✨お腹いっぱいにして幸せにする！
ガストレッド！参上です！#ニクレンジャー pic.twitter.com/cluENAaeZX— ガスト【公式】 (@gusto_official) July 9, 2018
“Yoshinoya!
We did it!.
He’ll fill your stomach and make you happy! Gusto Red is here!”
No doubt happy to see that Gusto had kept their word and joined in on the fun, Yoshinoya debuted their own hero later that same day. Yoshinoya Orange! And, of course, Yoshinoya Organge appears holding a beef bowl.
ヨシノヤオレンジ！！参上！！！！！
ガスト（@gusto_official）さん合体しましたよｗｗ
ツッコミどころ満載な感じに･･ｗ#ニクレンジャー pic.twitter.com/u0iFNyH7EI— 吉野家 (@yoshinoyagyudon) July 9, 2018
Gusto managed to get other companies to play along and little by little the team of “meaty” heroes began to grow. Kentucky Fried Chicken joined the team soon after with their own character.
おいしさでみんなを幸せに！
ケンタホワイト参上！ガスト（@gusto_official）さんに誘われてのっかってみました～😆✨
どうですかね❓❓
（慣れないことしてﾄﾞｷﾄﾞｷ…💦）#ニクレンジャー pic.twitter.com/EsvVWjI6Uy— ケンタッキーフライドチキン (@KFC_jp) July 10, 2018
“Making people happy with deliciousness!
Kentucky White is here!
We were invited to join by Gusto, so we did.
What do you think?
We’re not used to this sort of thing”
The day after Kentucky White reported for duty the Japanese hamburger chain MOS Burger jumped into the fray with their own ranger.
モスグリーン！！！！！参上！！ #ニクレンジャー にノッテみました！ pic.twitter.com/ekRslGDd5L
— モスバーガー (@mos_burger) July 11, 2018
“MOS Green!!! Is here!”
And finally, fellow beef bowl chain Matsuya joined the team with the somewhat unimpressive-looking Matsuya Yellow… he’s basically just a guy in full body yellow tights.
松屋イエロー‼️ 遅ればせながら登場です✌️
吉野家（@yoshinoyagyudon）さん、お声がけありがとうございます👍
そして、
ガストさん（@gusto_official）
モスバーガーさん(@mos_burger)
ケンタッキーフライドチキンさん(@KFC_jp)
よろしくお願いします‼️#ニクレンジャー pic.twitter.com/hDskQsMlwq— 【公式】松屋 (@matsuya_foods) July 12, 2018
And so, on July 12, Yoshinoya tweeted out the following, expressing their thanks to all those involved in rescuing their rejected idea and marking the official birth of Gaishoku Sentai Nikurenjx (Eating-out Squadron Meat Ranger).
＼外食戦隊 #ニクレンジャー／
全員集合！！！
ボツ企画からTwitterを通じてこんなコラボができるなんて思ってもいなかった(ﾟДﾟ;)
ニクレンジャーのみんなに感謝だし、フォロワーさんたちも盛り上がってくれて嬉しかったよ(●´ω｀●)
これからもよろしくお願いします😊🎶 pic.twitter.com/xtOELm3hHO— 吉野家 (@yoshinoyagyudon) July 12, 2018
Just goes to show that every once in a while Twitter can actually be used for something productive.
Source: Temita
Image: Wikipedia Commons
