To kaiju, this is what judgement day looks like.note
"Tokusatsu" (特撮), often shortened to just "Toku" in the west, is the Japanese catchall term for any live-action sci-fi/fantasy media that makes use of special effects.note Though the overlap is not total, it can, at least casually, be considered the live-action analogue to anime (at least, to the subset of anime best known to casual viewers in the west). It can also be considered a Spiritual Successor of sorts to Kabuki Theatre, inheriting many former kabuki directors and a number of its tropes.
Originally, Toku differentiated itself from its western counterparts by its preference for Practical Effects over visual effects created during editing (at the time of the genre's birth this specifically referred to the stop-motion techniques pioneered by Ray Harryhausen, but it now applies to CGI as well). Modern Toku uses both forms of effect, but Practical Effects are still preferred.
Tokusatsu had two major periods, dubbed the "Monster Boom" and the "Henshin Boom". The Monster Boom was started by Godzilla and famously saw the rise of many daikaiju pictures in the film industry. The Henshin Boom - which continued on from around the height of the initial Monster Boom - was started by the Ultra Series and Kamen Rider, and it greatly influenced how action heroes worked and its effects can still be seen today in the superhero and action-adventure genres, with that influence even percolating westward.
Toku has also been seen from the 2000s with local heroes, a type of hero/team of heroes who represent a country's region or territory. They're usually sponsored/created by local or regional groups or government (and government agencies) to promote its industries or mythologies.
Like Jidaigeki or Anime, Toku is one of those terms that means slightly different things in Japan and the West. While Westerners use it to refer almost exclusively to the Japanese superhero shows and the giant monster movies, in Japan it simply refers to any live-action production which makes extensive use of special effects. This means that, to the Japanese, things like Smallville, Stargate SG-1, Doctor Who, Knight Rider, Red Dwarf, or even James Bond count as Toku. This list also includes shows that use puppetry, like Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation series Thunderbirds and Terrahawks, and even Thomas & Friends. Far and away, the most popular early example of Toku is the Godzilla film franchise, which exemplifies many of the genre's tropes: People in Rubber Suits smashing scale model cities, and an abundance of squibs.
Most of the examples of Toku are actually franchises of the Kaiju, Sentai and Henshin Hero variety, producing many separate but related series.
Toku series and franchises include:
Japanese
- 5 Nen 3 Kumi Mahogumi
- Aikatsu Planet! - Aikatsu!'s only franchise that combines both anime and tokusatsu.
- Aikoku Sentai Dai-Nippon - A parody of Super Sentai.
- Akumaizer 3 is about demons trying to save the world from other demons.
- Its sequel series Choujin Bibyun is about a trio of humans battling Yōkai.
- Ambassador Magma - The first color toku, created by Osamu Tezuka. Aired on American TV as The Space Giants.
- Animal Sentai Jinjyugar
- Assault! Human
was a series of televised stage shows featuring two characters who looked quite a lot like Ultraman fighting Kaiju. This show was co-produced by Toho, famous for their Kaiju Films, and Nippon TV. Unfortunately, the entire series was lost in the 1980s when Nippon TV accidentally overwrote the master tapes. Fortunately, most of the monsters who debuted in Assault! Human later appeared in Toho's Go Godman and Go Greenman. Only a few short clips of Assault! Human have been found, both salvaged from privately-owned VHS and Betamax tapes.
- Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu/Mighty Atom) - The first adaptation of Astro Boy from 1959.
- Atragon
- Attack on Titan (2015) - An adaptation of the popular anime and manga series that uses many techniques found in Toku.
- Bio Planet WoO - By Tsuburaya Productions; based on a prototype to the Ultra Series
- BraveStorm - A Crossover Remake film of Super Robot Red Baron and Silver Kamen.
- Captain Ultra - A loose 24 episode live-action adaption of the Captain Future stories, made as filler before UltraSeven was ready to broadcast.
- Casshern
- Cells at Work! - A 2019 film adaptation of the manga, starring Takeru Satoh.
- Chou Ninja Tai Inazuma
- Choujin Barom 1 - One of Toei's most famous manga-to-live-action adaptations
- Choukou Senshi Changerion - a Toei produced non Metal Hero series that aired on TV Tokyo with merch made by Sega.
- Chou Sei Shin Series - Done by Toho, who made the original Godzilla movies.
- Chousoku Parahero Gundeen - A 3-episode series where the main hero is disabled.
- Cutie Honey: THE LIVE
- Daigoro vs. Goliath - From Tsuburaya Productions; originally meant to be a Godzilla movie
- Daimajin - From the creators of Gamera
- Daimajin Kanon - 2010 remake of above film
- Daitetsujin 17 - Shotaro Ishinomori and Toei's own take on a Giant Robo-type series.
- Death Kappa
- Demon Hunter Mitsurugi - an early-70s Jidaigeki series, about a trio of Ninjas who fight off alien invaders by fusing into a giant warrior. Notable for using Stop Motion puppetry to create its Kaiju and the titular giant warrior, rather than the standard People in Rubber Suits.
- Den Ace - A series of shorts parodying Ultraman
- Dengeki!! Strada 5 - A Sentai-formulated show that predates the Ur-Example by exactly one year.
- Denjin Zaboga
- Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop - Toho's late-80s entry in the genre. Essentially a mix between Metal Heroes and Super Sentai.
- Tsuburaya Dinosaur Trilogy:
- Dinosaur Prince
- Dogengers - A TV series featuring Fukuoka's local heroes joining together to battle an evil group, while Hilarity Ensues. Currently running for six seasons.
- Dogora
- Enban Sensou Bankid - From Toho Studios of Godzilla fame.
- Exit 8 - The Live-Action Adaptation of the Doujin Soft game of the same name.
- Fire Leon
- Fireman - Possibly the first "Giant Hero" made for adults in 1973. From Tsuburaya Productions, the creators of the Ultra Series.
- Frankenstein Conquers the World
- Gamera
- Ganbaron
- Gappa the Triphibian Monster
- Ganbare!! Robocon
- GARO - A comparatively darker take on the genre.
- Gekikou Kamen - An homage-filled manga that hypothesizes what could happen if Toku cosplayers tried to make their media heroes real.
- Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
- Giant Robo - The first mecha tokusatsu that still has influence on both tokusatsu shows and mecha anime alike. Appeared on US TV as Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot.
- Ginormo! - A parody of Showa era-based Toku series full of Stylistic Suck.
- Girl Gun Lady
- Girls x Heroine!
- Idol x Warrior Miracle Tunes!
- Magic x Warrior Magi Majo Pures!
- Secret X Warrior Phantomirage
- Police X Warrior Lovepatrina
- Bittomo X Heroine Kirameki Powers
- RizSta ~ Top Of Artists ~
- Godzilla - The pioneer of the technique
- Gorath
- Go Godman and its sequel series Go Greenman - Two of the first Giant Hero series not related to the Ultra Series. Also created by Toho with a few Godzilla monsters appearing.
- Gridman: The Hyper Agent - By Tsuburaya Productions of Ultraman fame. Adapted in America as Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad, featuring Tim Curry as the voice of the Big Bad.
- Gunhed - Toho movie originally meant to star Godzilla
- House - Surreal horror comedy Toku film created by Toho that uses over the top yet low quality effects that looks like it was made by a child.
- Henshin Ninja Arashi - It's Kamen Rider AS A HORSE-RIDING NINJA! IN FEUDAL JAPAN!
- The High School Heroes - A drama miniseries by Toei that is an homage to Himitsu Sentai Gorenger
- Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger - A Super Sentai parody series made by Toei.
- Himitsu No Piron - Ran for 39 episodes from 1960-61 and is currently presumed missing. Based on the manga Himitsu No Piron by Tezuka.
- Hyouman/Jaguarman - TV pilots by P Productions.
- Inazuman - A character created by Shotaro Ishinomori.
- Iron King
- Japanese Doctor Who - An Affectionate Parody of both the tokusatsu genre and its British equivalent, Doctor Who.
- Jumborg Ace - From Tsuburaya Productions, the creators of the Ultra Series.
- Jungle Prince - A Japanese Tarzan, this show ran for 26 episodes in 1970 and was one of the last toku series produced in black-and-white. It is currently presumed missing.
- Juukou Tokusou Dinnovator
- The Kagestar
- Kaiju Sentai Jyuukaizar
- Kaiketsu Zubat - Take a Super Hero toku show, stir in a helping of New Old West, and then cast Hiroshi Miyauchi, a veteran actor who already had multiple leading roles in toku as the title character.
- Kaiketsu Lion-Maru - '70s Super Hero toku show about a man in feudal Japan who can turn into a swordsman with a lion head. No links with Zubat despite the title.
- Fuun Lion-Maru - Immediate sequel to the previous show.
- Lion Maru G - over 30 years after the last Lion Maru comes this Genre Throwback from the makers of Garo.
- Kamen no Ninja Akakage
- Kamen Norider - A parody of classic Kamen Rider.
- Kamen Rider
- Kankyou Choujin Ecogainder - A series by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and Japanese pay TV channel Kids Station to teach kids Green Aesops. Later gained a sequel called Kankyou Choujin Ecogainder 0-X.
- Kanpai Senshi After V - A show which parodies Super Sentai in a similar vein as Akibaranger, though not produced by Toei. Focuses on the heroes' late nights out rather than their battles with evil, thus action scenes are confined to the opening credits.
- Kikaider - A character created by Shotaro Ishinomori.
- King Kong Escapes
- Kodai Shoujo Dogu-chan, a.k.a. The Ancient Dogoo Girl
- K-tai Investigator 7 - Officially counted as a toku show by its creators, but is more half-toku/half-drama.
- Kure Kure Takora
- Kyodai Ken Byclosser
- Kyuusei Sentai Wakusaver
- Lady Battlecop
- The Last Dinosaur - A dinosaur kaiju film co-produced by Rankin/Bass Productions and Tsuburaya Productions.
- Latitude Zero
- Lightspeed Esper
- Suki! Suki!! Majo Sensei (Love! Love!! Witch Teacher) - Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, aired in 1971. Featured the first ever toku superheroine, Andro Mask.
- Madan Senki Ryukendo
- Majin Bander ran for 13 episodes in 1969. Only three episodes are known to have survived.
- Majin Garon - The 1971 adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's manga is believed to be lost.
- Matango - A Toho horror film using many of the techniques found in Toku.
- Megaloman - From Toho. Basically combining the Giant Hero genre (like the Ultra Series) with the Sentai genre (like the Super Sentai).
- Message from Space
- Message From Space: Galactic Wars - a TV series spinoff of the latter, starring a younger Hiroyuki Sanada as one of the show's leads.
- Messenger of Allah - An early Toei hero show by Yasunori Kawauchi, following Moonlight Mask and Seven-Color Mask. Broadcast in 1960, it is now mostly missing.
- Metal Heroes - And by extension, its Philippine spin-off Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, which was not really positively liked by fans (in fact, the Shaider Next Generation DTV doesn't make said spinoff canon).
- Fight! Mighty Jack - From Tsuburaya Productions.
- Mirrorman - From Tsuburaya Productions, the creators of the Ultra Series
- Monkey - From Tsuburaya Productions.
- Moonlight Mask - The very first Toku show from 1958!
- The Mysterians
- National Kid - One of Toei's earlier series.
- Ninja Captor - A Sentai-esque series that was apparently once classed as part of the Super Sentai franchise.
- Ogon Bat - 1966 film adaptation of the comic book hero.
- ORK - An Independent short film about a frog themed superhero fighting his Anti-Villain counterpart as both struggle to save the women they love.
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon - Notable for being a Live-Action Adaptation of an already immensely popular manga/anime.
- Pro-Wres no Hoshi Azteckaiser - A Professional Wrestling-themed superhero series from the minds of Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa, and produced by Tsuburaya Productions of Ultraman fame.
- Prophecies of Nostradamus
- Redman
- RoboGeisha
- Robot Detective - Take a police drama, throw in Isaac Asimov-style robotics and you've got this series.
- Sasuraido - A series about a sword that can grant powers to certain people, but misfortune to others.
- Symbol of Justice Condorman
- Seiun Kamen Machineman - Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, aired in 1984. Mostly Zorro meets Superman.
- Seven Color Mask - An early Toei hero show by Yasunori Kawauchi, following Moonlight Mask.
- Seven Star Fighting God Guyferd - A fighting series made by Toho and Capcom taking inspirations from many different sources, including Guyver, Kamen Rider, and Street Fighter.
- Shougeki Gouraigan, from the creator of GARO.
- Silver Kamen
- Socialite Belle Panchanne: Wife is a Super Heroine!
- Space Amoeba
- Space Ironmen Kyodain
- Spectreman - Notable for being one of the few non-Ultra Series Giant Hero shows to air on American TV.
- Spider-Man (Japan) - A Japanese adaptation of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man and notable for being the spiritual predecessor to Super Sentai's Humongous Mecha elements.
- Star Fleet - An example of when the Japanese attempt to imitate Supermarionation techniques. Known as X-Bomber in its native Japan, with character and mecha designs from Go Nagai.
- Super Giant - Known as Starman and Spaceman in the west.
- Super Robot Red Baron - An early-70s example of Mecha in toku, intentionally done in the style of Mazinger Z. Its popularity later resulted in a few successor series and a 90s anime revival.
- Super Sentai - Adapted in the United States as Power Rangers.
- Sweet Home (The Mamiya House)
- Tetsujin Tiger Seven
- The Three Treasures
- Thunder Mask - Broadcast from 1972 to 73, only eight episodes of this 26 episode series are known to have survived.
- Toei Fushigi Comedy Series
- Robot 8-chan (1981)
- Batten Robomaru
- Pettonton (1983)
- Dokincho! Nemurin
- Bishoujo Kamen Poitrine
- Morimori Bokkun
- Omoikkiri Tanteidan Hadogumi
- German Tanteidan Maringumi (1988)
- Magical Chinese Girl Paipai! (1989)
- Magical Chinese Girl Ipanema! (1989)
- Mysterious Girl Thutmose of the Nile (1991)
- Utau! Dai Ryugujo
- Yuugen Jikkou Sisters Shushutorian
- Tomei Dori-chan (1978)
- Tomica Hero Rescue Force - A show that focuses on a team that specializes in rescuing rather then fighting. Based on a toyline series.
- TV Obake Telemonja (1985)
- UFO Daisensou: Tatakae! Red Tiger - Broadcast from 1978 to 79, only five episodes of this 39 episode series are known to have survived.
- UFO Kamen Yakisoban
- Ultra Series
- Varan, the Unbelievable
- War God (1976)
- Warning from Space
- Wingman (2024)
- The X From Outer Space
- Yamato Takeru
- Yusei Oji - Known as Prince of Space in the west.
- Zeiram
- Zone Fighter - Created by Toho, and best remembered for having Godzilla as a recurring ally of the title hero.
International
- The Adventures of Galgameth: An American adaptation of Pulgasari.
- Ah Boys to Men: A Singaporean comedy non-superhero military film that uses real guns and pyrotechnics in filming.
- Armor Hero - A Chinese Toku series inspired by Kamen Rider.
- Armor Hero XT
- Armor Hero Lava
- Armor Hero Captor
- Armor Hero Hunter
- Armor Hero Star Ray
- The Aquabats! Super Show! - Not quite in this genre, but takes a lot from it, mixed with the campy aesthetics of old Sid and Marty Krofft Productions shows and Batman (1966).
- The Aquabats! Super Show! in its follow-up Web Video incarnation, by extension.
- Battle Strike Team - China's answer to Super Sentai, made alongside Armor Hero. Mainly choreographed by Sentai veterans. An non-tokusatsu entry that succeeded Rescue Engine premiered in 2020, known as G-Rail, which was produced by the studio Creative Power Entertaining.
- Giant Saver
- Space Deleter
- Rescue Engine
- BIMA Satria Garuda - An Indonesian toku produced by MNC Group, RCTI, and Ishinomori Productions. The title translates to BIMA the Garuda Knight. The show has been successful enough they made a sequel Bima X, video game adaptations and a Bima X Japanese version.
- Satria Heroes Kai A successor to Satria Garuda Bima-X, it is the only entry not to involve MNC Group in production, and was converted into an animated series with no involvement from Ishimori Productions.
- Dragon Ball: Fight for Victory, Son Goku! - 1990 South Korean Live-Action Adaptation of Dragon Ball.
- Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins - 1991 Taiwanese Live-Action Adaptation of Dragon Ball.
- Encantadia - A Filipino fantasy series with two continuities; the original 2005-2006 one, and the 2016-2017 reboot along with its 2025-2026 sequel.
- France Five - A French homage to Super Sentai.
- G-Saviour - Canadian mecha film based off Gundam franchise.
- James Bond - An Actionized Adaptation of the book series of the same name, these Spy Fiction films utilize tokusatsu-esque effects such as gadgets.
- The Super Inframan - Hong Kong imitation of Kamen Rider and Ultraman.
- Kaiju Big Battel - An American Affectionate Parody of this combined with Professional Wrestling.
- Legend Heroes - A Korean Toku produced by Moon Watcher and Synergy Media that adapts various elements of Romance of the Three Kingdoms into a Kamen Rider Gaim Expy that adds in Super Sentai mech combat, too. Had quite the following when it first aired, but sort of faded off as time went on. Officially available with subs on YouTube.
- Mega Powers - A Brazilian Power Rangers knock-off distributed by Vídeo Brinquedo.
- Mighty Moshin' Emo Rangers - A UK-made Power Rangers parody.
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Pretty much all the Japanese films mocked on the show, including several Godzilla and Gamera films. The host segments also use a lot of toku-style effects.
- The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nóg - This show was notable for being an attempt by Saban to introduce American-original tokusatsu to television. Of course, it was also produced to feed off the success of Power Rangers and Beetleborgs.
- Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation - A live-action show made by Saban based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Pacific Rim - An American-produced, original tokusatsu movie made by Guillermo del Toro. Uses CGI, but is heavily inspired by Japanese practical effects.
- PG: Psycho Goreman - A heartwarming, if grotesque, Western toku film about a troubled girl and the alien monster she comes into control of.
- Photon - An American series produced by DiC Entertainment. Partially filmed in Japan using tokusatsu talent and special effects.
- Pulgasari - Despite being a North Korean propaganda film, the involvement of Toho's special effects team (most notably Godzilla suit actor Ken Satsuma) and its plot involving a Kaiju still warrants its mention here.
- ReBoot: The Guardian Code - a rather unusual example, as it serves as a "followup" (we use the term loosely here) to a non-Toku series, the CGI animated series ReBoot.
- Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. - An American action film by the one and only Troma that's more of a parody of superheroes than tokusatsu, but still involves a man (specifically a white American cop) turning into the titular Kabukiman to fight crime.
- Space Monster Wangmagwi - the oldest kaiju movie made in South Korea, beating Yongary by two months.
- Sport Ranger - A Thai production created in the same vein as Super Sentai.
- Star Kid - Taking a lot of inspiration from Guyver and Kikaider, this 1997 film is a rare, non-Saban original American take on the genre. Fortunately, it has since been Vindicated by Cable after it flopped at the box office.
- Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills - One of the first original non-Japanese tokusatsu (and was going to be originally an adaption of Andro Melos). Very cheesy though...
- Transformers film series, based off the toyline of the same name.
- Voltes V: Legacy - A Filipino live action TV Series remake of Voltes V.
- Yongary: Monster from the Deep - Korean copycat of Godzilla (1954) and Giant Monster Gamera.
- Xtreme Vanguard Baatar - Chinese 2025 toku featuring toku legend Koichi Sakamoto among its crew.
Super Sentai, Metal Heroes and Kamen Rider were adapted, with varying degrees of success, by Saban Entertainment to produce the U.S. series Power Rangers, VR Troopers, Big Bad Beetleborgs and Masked Rider. Kamen Rider Ryuki was later adapted into Kamen Rider Dragon Knight. DiC Entertainment adapted Tsubaraya's Gridman as Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad (and produced Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills by themselves) to Follow the Leader. (Tsubaraya had previously collaborated with Rankin/Bass Productions — yes, the people who did all those holiday specials — on several projects in the 1970s that aired in America as tele-films; R/B had previously worked with Toho in the late 1960s for King Kong Escapes.) As for the original Japanese shows, good luck finding official releases outside of Asia.... At least, for the more recent shows from the 90s onward. The older ones, on the other hand, are shown on the Pluto TV channel TokuShoutTsu (for the things licensed by Shout! Factory) and the Toei Tokuworld Official
YouTube channel as of early 2020. In 2025, Kamen Rider ZEZTZ was announced to be the first Kamen Rider series to air simultaniously (and legally!) in North America, Middle East, North Africa and select Asian regions.
Tokusatsu Tropes have their own page.
See the Media Notes page for more information on the history of Toku and its special effects methods.
Names To Know In Tokusatsu:
- Hiroki Aiba (Ryunosuke Ikenami/ShinkenBlue)
- Mitsuo Ando (Played a lot of Big Bads in early Toku including Doctor Over, Professor Gill, Fuhrer Geisel, Black Cross Fuhrer, Professor Monster and Strategist Reider)
- Shintarō Asanuma (Juran and Kenzo Suga)
- Daisuke Ban (Jiro/Kikaider, Goro Watari/Inazuman, Daisuke Izumo/Fire-Stealth Captor 7 and Makoto Jin/Battle Cossack)
- Shigeru Chiba (Schwartz, Dr. Ulshade/Kyoryu Violet I)
- Hiroshi Fujioka (Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1)
- Keiji Fujiwara (Cheeda Nick, Jackpot Striker)
- Makoto Furukawa (Party People No-One)
- Misato Fukuen (Secchan, Hopper1 and various Chemies)
- Jun Fukuyama (Baron Nero)
- Tōru Furuya (AkaRed)
- Tesshō Genda (Yapool, Nue, The MagiPhone, Gorisaki Banana)
- Banjō Ginga (Gekkou of Illusions, Pollution President Batcheed, Pollution President Babatcheed)
- Daiki Hamano (Donblaster and other Donbrothers equipment)
- Keiko Han (Heavenly Saint Snowgel)
- Megumi Han (Kyuemon Izayoi and Luna Kokonoe/MidoNinger)
- Natsuki Hanae (Byun Diesel, Boonboom Controller)
- Tasuku Hatanaka (Ultraman Z)
- Noriko Hidaka (Keiko Nakahara, Miss Gritta)
- Akihiko Hirata (Various roles in Franchise/Godzilla and other kaiju films, most notably Dr. Serizawa, as well as Chief Hanazawa, Dr. Iwamoto, Dr. Yanagawa, Mr. K and Captain Gomez)
- Aya Hisakawa (Madame Noir)
- Nobuyuki Hiyama (Boss Kamikaze, Bomber The Great, Wolf Imagin, Tachibana, Geed Riser)
- Yōko Honna (A kid of the week in both Kamen Rider BLACK and Kamen Rider BLACK RX)
- Hideyuki Hori (Zubaan)
- Ryō Horikawa (Akumaro Sujigarano, General Pain, Juuga Driver)
- Sōichirō Hoshi (Engine Birca)
- Yoshimasa Hosoya (Ageha Yummy, Ultraman Leo, Shotaro Hidari)
- Mao Ichimichi (Luka Millfy/Gokai Yellow, Raptor 283/Washi Pink, Kishiryu Chibigaroo, Marluru)
- Rei Igarashi (Doctor Zora)
- Shōzō Iizuka (Numerous Big Bads and major villains, including Hakaider, Darom and Bosgun in Kamen Rider, General Temujin, Golden Mask, Satan Egos, Fuhrer Hell Saturn, Lost Highness Rakushaasa, Hyde Gene and Great King Mons Drake in Super Sentai and Demon King Psycho, Emperor Kubilai, Satan Goss, General Deathzero, Doranger, Dokusai and Doctor Giba in Metal Heroes, as well as Doruge, Dark General Gaburin, Zodiac and many more)
- Junya Ikeda (Gai Ikari/Gokai Silver)
- Shūichi Ikeda (Sandaaru, Bat Li, Sandaaru Jr.)
- Tetsu Inada (Doggie Kruger/DekaMaster, Shuten, Gachireus, (Mashin) Hakobu)
- Kazuhiko Inoue (Ginis)
- Kikuko Inoue (Insarn)
- Makio Inoue (Xavitan)
- Miyu Irino (Ankh (Lost))
- Mariya Ise (Ribbon)
- Akira Ishida (Bae, Dagded Dujardin)
- Shotaro Ishinomori (The creator of numerous Toku heroes, including Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, Kikaider, Inazuman, Kaiketsu Zubat, Akumaizer 3, Space Ironmen Kyodain and K the Robot Detective)
- Hiroya Ishimaru (Ultraman Taro)
- Unshō Ishizuka (Emperor Lah Deus, Larry)
- Tsutomu Isobe (Isamu Ozu/Heavenly Saint Blagel, XVII, Grantu Risk)
- Miku Itō (Lovekov)
- Hiroaki Iwanaga (Akira Date/Kamen Rider Birth, Eiji Ishiguro, Shu Karasuma/Space Sheriff Shaider II)
- Yūki Kaji (Gaon, Tegasword)
- Akira Kamiya (Black Cross King in Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle)
- Hiroshi Kamiya (Ghost Imagin, Shou Ranpou/Ryu Commander, Charge Team Captain MadRex)
- Kazuki Katō (Daisuke Kazama/Kamen Rider Drake)
- Seizō Katō (Another common choice for Big Bads, including Alien Meflias, General Jark, Star King Bazoo, Emperor Zeba, Vulgyre, Dai Satan, Captain Gregory, Evil Will, as well as the heroic SolBraver)
- Mika Kikuchi (Koume "Umeko" Kodou/DekaPink, (Engine) Tsuki-no-Wa
- Subaru Kimura (The Narrator for Uchu Sentai Kyuranger and Vice)
- Yamato Kinjo (Nobuharo "Nossan" Udo/Kyoryu Blue, Alien Adacic, Takeshi Goutokuji/Kamen Rider Shirowe)
- Ayumi Kinoshita (Marika "Jasmine" Reimon/DekaYellow, Shizuka Shirayama, Yuko Fukui/Kyoryu Cyan II)
- Yuji Kishi (Kyosuke Jinnai/Red Racer)
- Eri Kitamura (young Ryo Yumimura, Madakko)
- Yasuko Kobayashi (writer of several Toku shows such as Kamen Rider Ryuki, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider Den-O, Mirai Sentai Timeranger, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, and Kamen Rider OOO).
- Arisa Komiya (Yoko Usami/Yellow Buster)
- Katsuyuki Konishi (Gosei Knight, Valvaradriver)
- Kane Kosugi (Kenichi Kai/Ultraman Powered, Jiraiya/Ninja Black, Katsunori Kazama, and Azuma/Kamen Rider Daimon)
- Rikiya Koyama (Joe the Haze, Dereputa of the Meteor, Bujin Gaim, Oma Zi-O)
- Tetsuo Kurata (Kohtaro Minami/Kamen Rider BLACK (RX))
- Takeshi Kusao (Smoky, Byon Biao, Pi-Tan)
- Hisako Kyoda (Piccolo, Gon, Witch Mask, Devil Amazon, Atomic Witch, Denzi Dog IC, Pierrot-zuno, Sigh Bohma, Kyubi no Kitsune, Jagul)
- Reuben Langdon (Mac Windy/B-Fighter Yanma)
- Gaku Matsuda (Zack/Kamen Rider Knuckles)
- Masaya Matsukaze (Shun Namiki/MegaBlue, Endolf)
- Dai Matsumoto (Cobrander, Majin Daruga, Emperor Daidas)
- Rica Matsumoto (Arthur G6, Masako Yamada, Boonboom Changer, also sang the opening for Kamen Rider Ryuki)
- Taiki Matsuno (Shurikenger)
- Takashi Matsuyama (Morimichi Sugita, Togo)
- Hikaru Midorikawa (Salamandes, TopGaler, Wyzul, Negataros/Kamen Rider Nega Den-O, Gridman)
- Shin-ichiro Miki (Sieg/Den-O Wing Form, Genesis Driver and Sonic Arrow, Megahex)
- Hiroshi Miyauchi (Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3, Akira Shinmei/Aoranger, Ken Hayakawa/Zubat, Sokichi Banba/Big One, Go Tachibana, Shunsuke Masaki, Chief Naoyuki Miura)
- Toshiyuki Morikawa (Wise God Torin/Kyoryu Silver and Mad Torin)
- Masakazu Morita (Tenjuro Banno)
- Kohei Murakami (Masato Kusaka/Kamen Rider Kaixa, Hiroshi Isana, "Kid"/Genojika Horror and Bud/Zyuoh Bird)
- Ichirō Nagai (Baseball Mask, Master Shafu)
- Takashi Nagasako (Grotch, Tyranno and various Monsters of the Weeks in various Super Sentais)
- Nao Nagasawa (Nanami Nono/Hurricane Blue)
- Kazuya Nakai (Igaroid, Ultraman Max, Land Pollution Vice-Minister Hiramechimedes/Detaramedes/Urameshimedes, Garu/Ookami Blue)
- Haruo Nakajima (The original suit actor for Godzilla along with many other Kaiju)
- Shugo Nakamura (Ultraman Regulos)
- Yūichi Nakamura (Beet J. Stag/StagBuster, Ultraman X, Galza)
- Ryūsei Nakao (Agent Abrella, Jelly Imagin)
- Joji Nakata (Sir Cowler, Great Professor Bias, The Narrator and Birth Driver in Kamen Rider OOO, Rosyuo, Azald, Tankjoh, Boccowaus)
- Daisuke Namikawa (Absolute God N Ma, Engine Speedor, Quervo)
- Gorō Naya (All incarnations of the Great Leader in Kamen Rider, as well as Majin Sai, Doctor Satan, Gulver, and Ultraman Ace)
- Kenji Nomura (Barashitara)
- Sayaka Ohara (Gammaizers, Mother Sphere)
- Kenji Ohba (Shirou Akebono/Battle Kenya, Daigoro Oume/DenziBlue, Retsu Ichijouji/Gavan)
- Tōru Ōhira (The Narrator of J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, Battle Fever J, Denshi Sentai Denziman, Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan, Dai Sentai Goggle Five, Kagaku Sentai Dynaman and Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger)
- Tōru Ōkawa (Deboth, Zein)
- Ryōtarō Okiayu (A Monster of the Week in Mirai Sentai Timeranger and Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger, Hades Warrior God Cyclops, Mangetsu Kibaoni) his human disguise)
- Daisuke Ono (Teddy, Narrator of Ultraman Taiga, Yukiji Bando/Aurora Dopant)
- Ai Orikasa (Luckyuro, along with his human disguise)
- Fumiko Orikasa (Time Robota)
- Akio Ōtsuka (Champ/Oushi Black, Seiken Swordriver, the Wonder Ride Books, and other various equipment in Kamen Rider Saber)
- Ulf Otsuki (L-Banba, Salamander, Professor Hastler, Archbishop Saw, Harley Hendrickson, along with a slew of bit roles in various other films and TV shows)
- Atsushi Ono (General Bacchus, Kamen Rider Jam)
- Yūki Ono (Ultraman Belial and Balance/Tenbin Gold)
- Yukari Oshima (Doll Assassin, Farrah Cat)
- Ryūzaburō Ōtomo (Electro-King Javious, Don Dolnero, Master Gorie Yen, Wizardragon)
- Hōchū Ōtsuka (Signalman, Deneb)
- Romi Park (Dayu Usukawa, Pricious and Eras, Don Doragoku and Torabolt's arsenal)
- Nozomu Sasaki (Robotack)
- Takuya Sato (Vroon)
- Kenpachiro Satsuma (The suit actor for Hedorah, Gigan, and Godzilla in the Heisei series)
- Tomokazu Seki (Prince/Kaiser Buldont, Bibidebi, The Narrator and voice of the Mobirates in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, Kaniros, Every incarnation of the Great Leader following Gorō Naya's passing in 2013, voice of the Ryusoul Changer in Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger, he was also the announcer for the "Super Hero Time" television block while Gokaiger was on the air, Geardalinger, Gerojim)
- Toshihiko Seki (Momotaros)
- Hidekatsu Shibata (General Shadow, Daimaou, Captain Zahab, Rasetsu, Maku, Gyoten'o of the Supernova
- Ryōko Shiraishi (Kleon)
- Machiko Soga (God Iguana, Dr. Kate, Bandora, Queen Hedrian, Queen Pandora, Raraba, Madam Spider, Ball Boy, Arch Saint Magiel)
- Tomokazu Sugita (Kivat-bat II and Kivat-bat III, Demushu, Kamen Rider Ginga, King Oradin)
- Tomomi-Jiena Sumi (Masako Suzuka/Armored Rider Sylphi)
- Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Harbal, Usada Lettuce, GeGe)
- Kenichi Suzumura (Ryutaros/Den-O Gun Form, Mashin Fire)
- Manpei Takagi (Retsu Fukami/GekiBlue)
- Shinpei Takagi (Takuma Tsuzuki/AkibaRed II)
- Yūya Takahashi (writer of several Kamen Rider series, movies, and spinoffs; including Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Zero-One, Kamen Rider Geats, and Kamen Rider Outsiders)
- Atsuko Takahata (Villainesses of The Baroness type, such as Gilza, Maribaron and Reiko Ayanokouji, as well as a Villain of the Week in Tokkei Winspector)
- Masaki Terasoma (Shadow Moon, Kintaros/Den-O Ax Form, Kishiryu Tyramigo)
- Osamu Tezuka (Mentor of Shotaro Ishinomori, Creator of Ambassador Magma)
- Koichi Tochika (Commander Adorocs)
- Haruka Tomatsu (Candelilla)
- Eiji Tsuburaya (Head of special effects for Godzilla, Creator of Ultraman)
- Kenjiro Tsuda (Redyue, Demons Driver, Vail)
- Hiroshi Tsuchida (Saizou/NinjaBlue, Tecchu, HANE2)
- Hiromi Tsuru (A Monster of the Week in Engine Sentai Go-onger and Kamen Rider OOO)
- Maaya Uchida (Hiroyo Hakase)
- Naoya Uchida (Tatsuya Midorikawa/DenjiGreen, Kukuruga)
- Kōki Uchiyama (Desast, Philip)
- Sumire Uesaka (Carmeara)
- Kenji Ushio (Ambassador Hell, Ambassador Darkness, Baron Iron Mask, Commander Hedder, Doctor Q, Doruge Pero, Double Bat, Kozo Itachi, Saburobee Fukuro / Thunder-Stealth Captor 1)
- Norio Wakamoto (The Narrator of Seijuu Sentai Gingaman and Kamen Rider OOO, Arc Kivat and Rey Kivat, A Monster of the Week in Tensou Sentai Goseiger, Sclash Driver, Crocodile Crack Fullbottle, Cross-Z Magma Knuckle, Great Cross-Z Dragon, Prime Rogue Fullbottle, Genius Fullbottle, Cross-ZEvol Fullbottle, Grease Perfect Kingdom)
- Takeshi Watabe (Inazuma Ginga, Don Horror, Aton, Gyodai, God Neros, Taitei Ragorn, Bukkbakk, Shuten Douji, Gaohm)
- Kazuhiro Yamaji (Kei Karasuma, Leo Imagin)
- Kōichi Yamadera (Densuke Hamasaki, Gabutyra, Zeztz Driver)
- Kappei Yamaguchi (Ticket and ToQgers' gear, as well as a Monster of the Week in Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, Tensou Sentai Goseiger and Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger)
- Wakana Yamazaki (Mother Melzard)
- Kiyoyuki Yanada (Boss Tau Zant, Yogostein and Yogoshimacritein, Big Bear, El of the Water, Spider Undead, Bat Imagin)
- Joji Yanami (Gabra, Luar)
- Kazuki Yao (Ninjaman, Doctor Z, as well as a Monster of the Week in Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger)
- Eisuke Yoda (Many a Monster of the Week in Super Sentai, as well as Volcano Mask General Magman, Shine, Fuhrer Taboo, Geludoling, Chuubo and Space Ninja Demost)
- Yukana (Mezool (voice in Greeed form), Tegajune)
- Aoi Yūki (Yurusen)
- Koji Yusa (Urataros and Waruido Spindo, as well as a Monster of the Week in Mahou Sentai Magiranger)
Other Notable Actors who've appeared in Toku
- Edward Albert (Mr. Collins)
- Aria Alistar (Maya Young)
- Karan Ashley (Aisha Campbell)
- Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam Park, Kit Taylor/Kamen Rider Dragon Knight (in the DS game), Gento Hiruma/Ultraman Blazar)
- Sarah Brown (Kaitlin Starr, HeatherThompson)
- Nakia Burrise (Tanya Sloane)
- Erin Cahill (Jennifer Scotts)
- Steve Cardenas (Rocky DeSantos)
- Kathy Christopherson (Michelle Walsh)
- Michael Copon (Lucas Kendall)
- Russell Curry (Zayto)
- Mark Dacascos (Master Eubulon)
- Eka Darville (Scott Truman)
- Jeff Davis (Frank Taylor)
- Katrina Devine (Marah, Cassidy Cornell)
- Jason Faunt (Alex and Wesley Collins)
- Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver)
- Nico Greetham (Calvin Maxwell)
- Brad Hawkins (Ryan Steele, voice of Trey of Triforia)
- Camille Hyde (Shelby Watkins)
- Amy Jo Johnson (Kimberly Ann Hart)
- Walter Emanuel Jones (Zack taylor)
- Gakuto Kajiwara (Ultra D Flasher)
- Adelaide Kane (Tenaya)
- Archie Kao (Kai Chen)
- Daisuke Kishio (Bakuryuu Dimenokodon)
- Wataru Komada (Ultraman Ribut)
- Jūrōta Kosugi (Robogog of the 10-sai)
- Takaya Kuroda (Yami no Yaiba, Eridoron)
- Emma Lahana (Kira Ford)
- Michelle Langstone (Dr. Katherine Manx, Master Guin)
- Patricia Ja Lee (Cassie Chan)
- Nathaniel Lees (Master Mao)
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Vision Driver, Laser Raise Riser, Suel)
- Minori Matsushima (Empress Hysteria)
- Rose McIver (Summer Landsdown)
- Brandon Jay McLaren (Jack Landors)
- Satoshi Mikami (A teacher and waiter in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger and Engine Sentai Go-onger respectively, as well as a Monster of the Week in Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger)
- Suzuko Mimori (RE.M.)
- Kenta Miyake (Quester Gai)
- Yume Miyamoto ((Zenkai) Magine)
- Ayumu Murase (Don Murasame)
- William O'Leary (General Xaviax)
- Melody Perkins (Karone/Astronema)
- Antonia Prebble (Krista, Nova Ranger, Clare Langtree)
- Tessa Rao (Isabella Garcia)
- Britt Robertson (Tammy)
- Zoë Robins (Hayley Foster)
- Chiwa Saitō (Maen)
- Takahiro Sakurai (Monster of the Week Jealousto in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, Orb Ring)
- Hiroyuki Sanada (Katsuya Nakayama, Captain Ayate)
- Takuya Sato ((Zenkai) Vroon)
- Hilary Shepard (Divatox)
- Kōzō Shioya (Bakuryuu Parasarokkiru, Yabasword)
- Dan Southworth (Eric Meyers)
- Austin St. John (Jason Lee Scott)
- Catherine Sutherland (Katherine Hillard)
- Hirotaka Suzuoki (Yugande)
- Fumihiko Tachiki (The Narrator in Kamen Rider Kuuga, N-Gamio-Zeda, The Gaia Memories and Kamen Rider Core)
- Atsuko Tanaka (Hades Wise Goddess Gorgon, Michelle Peng)
- Rie Tanaka (Virgo Zodiarts)
- Olivia Tennet (Dr. K)
- Nobuo Tobita (Brajira of the Messiah)
- Koichi Tochika (Yanma, Vampaira, Jackil)
- Thuy Trang (Trini Kwan)
- Shimba Tsuchiya (Ultraman Ribut in human form)
- Yuji Ueda (A Monster of the Week in Mashin Sentai Kiramager)
- Yūto Uemura (Hikaru Hiwatari)
- Kenji Ushio (Ambassador Hell, his identical twin Ambassador Darkness, Kozo Itachi, Saburoubee Fukuro/Thunder-Stealth Captor 7, Doctor Q)
- Kenji Utsumi (Alien Empera)
- Chris Violette (Sky Tate)
- David Yost (Billy Cranston)
Major Companies producing Tokusatsu:
- Toho (Godzilla, Mothra)
- Daiei (Gamera)
- Tsuburaya Productions (Ultra Series)
- Toei Company (Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, Metal Heroes)
- P Productions (Ambassador Magma, Spectreman)
- Saban Entertainment (Power Rangers 1993-2018)
- Hasbro (Power Rangers 2018-present)
