This is a list of characters for Return of Ultraman, a 1971 tokusatsu which eventually establishes the Ultra Series lore by being a sequel to Ultraman and Ultra Seven.
MAT
The Monster Attack Team (怪獣攻撃部隊, Kaijū Kōgeki Butai), abbreviated as MAT (マット, Matto), is an attack team founded by the Terrestrial Defense Agency (地上防衛庁, Chijō Bōeichō) to investigate and fight against monster attacks. The main headquarters was located in New York and had several branches across the globe, including a particular space station. Despite their good reputation with the society, MAT's position in military was very weak and often being pressured towards disbandment as a result of the upper management's dissatisfaction. MAT was officially disbanded at some point prior to Ultraman Ace, but their documents were accessible for references to future attack teams.
Members
- Japan branch
- Katsuichirō Katō (加藤 勝一郎, Katō Katsuichirō, 1-22): The initial captain of MAT's Japan branch, aged 38-years-old. Impressed by Go's courage to save a young boy during Takkong's attack, Katō hired the aspiring racer into MAT during weekdays after making an agreement with Ken Sakata. After Kaji's death from Bemstar's assault on MAT space station, Katō was promoted to the late officer's position and relinquished MAT's leadership to Ryū Ibuki. He was portrayed by Nobuo Tsukamoto (塚本 信夫, Tsukamoto Nobuo)[1][2]
- Ryū Ibuki (伊吹 竜, Ibuki Ryū, 22-51): The replacement captain of MAT's Japan branch after being transferred from the New York branch. His way of leadership was more stricter than Katō but is still compassionate on several occasions. In addition to being a proficient pilot, Ibuki is also skilled in armed combat against aliens and was acknowledged multiple times for his support towards Ultraman. He has a wife and a daughter, both of which were dragged into an alien assault on two occasions. He is also well aware of Go's double life as an Ultraman and encouraged the young officer after his faith in humanity was left shaken.[3] He was portrayed by Jun Negami (根上 淳, Negami Jun)[2][4]
- Takeshi Minami (南 猛, Minami Takeshi, 1-32, 34-51): The 25-years-old sub-captain from Nagano Prefecture. He is a fifth dan in Kendo and proficient in wielding MAT Guns. Due to his kind personality, he is easy to get along with others and refuse to make judgement from a biased point of view. As he was a bullied victim as a child, Takeshi had distaste for bullies. He is portrayed by Shunsuke Ikeda (池田 駿介, Ikeda Shunsuke).[1][2]
- Fumio Kishida (岸田 文夫, Kishida Fumio, 1-29, 31, 34-51): A 25-years-old weapons development officer with sniping proficiency. Despite his sense of justice, he was also prone to careless mistakes, such as assuming Twin Tail's egg to be a rock. Kishida was born in a family of four with military background and his brother committed suicide after his father was discovered making poison for the imperial army of Japan to use. His uncle is a chief in the Terrestrial Defense Agency. He is portrayed by Ken Nishida (西田 健, Nishida Ken).[1][2]
- Ippei Ueno (上野 一平, Ueno Ippei): A 23-years-old mood-maker and passionate member of MAT and is also a believer of superstitions. As he grew up with no family members, Ueno regarded Dr. Koizumi as a father figure and was once framed for the latter's murder until Go cleared his name. He is portrayed by Kō Mitsui (三井 恒, Mitsui Kō)[1][2]
- Yuriko Oka (丘 ユリ子, Oka Yuriko, 1-32, 34-51): The 20-years-old communication officer. Despite the nature of her job, Yuriko is a 4th dan kendoka and is capable of fighting against brainwashed MAT members with ease. In episode 47, Yuriko briefly fell victim into Femigon's host for possession. She is portrayed by Mika Katsuragi (桂木 美加, Katsuragi Mika).[1][2]
- Hideki Go (郷 秀樹, Gō Hideki): See here
- Other members
- Masaru Kondō (近藤 勝, Kondō Masaru, 9): The chief technician of maintenance for MAT's aircraft. He was portrayed by Masashi Ishibashi (石橋 雅史, Ishibashi Masashi).
- Kaji (梶, 18): The initial captain of MAT Station who had a pregnant wife on Earth. He and the other crew members were killed during Bemstar's consumption of MAT Station. He was portrayed by Hiroshi Minami (南 廣, Minami Hiroshi).
- MAT Radar Communication Officer (MATレーダー通信隊員, Matto Rēdā Tsūshin taiin, 51): An unnamed communication officer that participated in the team's final mission against Alien Bat. He is portrayed by Ultraman Jack's suit actor Eiichi Kikuchi (きくち 英一, Kikuchi Eiichi), who previously portrayed the Kaijinmaru boat steerman in episode 13.
Terrestrial Defense Agency
- Chief Kishida (岸田 長官, Kishida Chōkan, 5, 6, 14): Fumio's uncle and the head of the Terrestrial Defense Agency. Due to his higher authority, Kishida has the right to disband MAT. He was portrayed by Susumu Fujita (藤田 進, Fujita Susumu).[2]
- Staff Officer Satake (佐竹 参謀, Satake Sanbo, 5, 6, 11, 20, 50): An officer who acted as a middleman between MAT and the Terrestrial Defense Agency. He is portrayed by Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二, Sahara Kenji).[2]
Bases, mechas and vehicles
- MAT Arrow 1 (マットアロー1号, Matto Arō Ichigō): MAT's signature VTOL aircraft.[6] Its armaments are vulcan guns, missiles, rocket pods and flamethrower. The captain's aircraft is colored yellow on the nosecone. As of Ultraman Mebius, the aircraft was mass-produced into GUYS Arrow 1 (GUYSアロー1号, Gaizu Arō Ichigō) but most of the machines were destroyed by Alien Empera during his march to Phoenix Nest.
- Space Arrow (スペースアロー, Supēsu Arō): A modified MAT Arrow 1 used for transitioning from MAT Japan branch's headquarters to the MAT Station in outer space.
- MAT Arrow 2 (マットアロー2号, Matto Arō Nigō): An aircraft with circular wings and similar armaments to MAT Arrow 1.
- MAT Gyro (マットジャイロ, Matto Jairo): A tiltrotor combat and transport aircraft built from heat and chemical resistance metal. The aircraft was not built for long-distance travel, but is armed with various weapons. When deploying in multiple units, each were designated with alphabetical letters. The captain's use of MAT Gyro has a yellow line.
- MAT Vehicle (マットビハイクル, Matto Behaikuru): A Mazda Cosmo used for patrolling purposes.[7]
- MAT Jeep (マットジープ, Matto Jīpu): A pair of jeeps used for off-road purposes.
- MAT Sub (マットサブ, Matto Sabu): A submarine used for combat against underwater monsters.
- MAT Station (MATステーション, Matto Sutēshon): A space station commandeered by Captain Kaji. After its destruction by Bemstar and Kaji's death, a new station was built and Katō was promoted as its new captain
- MAT Observation Station: An unnamed space station that the space monster Yadokarin used as a hermit shell.
- Space Station V1 (宇宙ステーションV1, Uchū Sutēshon Bui Wan): A space station that Alien Nackle destroyed after Jack's death.
- MAT Radar Base (MATレーダー基地, Matto Rēdā Kichi): A radar base that appeared in episode 44.
Ultra Brothers
Prior to Ultraman Ace, the collective team of Ultra Warriors were only considered as residents of the Planet Ultra, until Alien Bat acknowledged the team when he announced his Ultra Annihilation Plan. The Ultra Brothers (ウルトラ兄弟, Urutora Kyōdai) would eventually become prominent in most of the succeeding Ultra Series media, starting from Ultraman Ace.
Ultraman (Ultraman Jack)
Others
- Zoffy (ゾフィー, Zofī): An unseen member of the Ultra Brothers that debuted in the final episode of Ultraman. He was mentioned by Alien Bat as one of his targets and according to the 2003 magazine, he was responsible for Jack's descent to Earth after acknowledging his skills.[8]
- Ultraman (ウルトラマン, Urutoraman, 38, 51): See here
- Ultraseven (ウルトラセブン, Urutorasebun, 18, 38): See here
Antagonists
Alien Nackle
Assassin Alien Alien Nackle (暗殺宇宙人 ナックル星人, Ansatsu Uchūjin Nakkuru Seijin, 37, 38) are a group of invaders aiming to defeat Jack and conquer the Earth.[9] In human forms, they operated in Space Radio Wave Research Institute (宇宙電波研究所, Uchū Denpa Kenkyūjo) led by a director. After reviving Bemstar and Seagorath as test subjects, the Nackles stole Saturn Z bomb from MAT and murdered the older Sakato siblings, Ken and Aki, to diminish Go's spirit.[10][11] Once Jack was killed and put to crucifixion on their home world, the Nackles disable MAT's aircraft and brainwashed them (saved for Yuriko) in their failed attempt to bust into the Research Institute. After being rescued by the original Ultraman and Seven, Jack decimated the invading fleets and engaged in the fight against the monster and alien pair. In his dying moments, the Nackle leader pridefully gloated over MAT's helplessness from stopping the Saturn Z bomb, despite them proving otherwise afterwards.
- Re-Seagorath (再生シーゴラス, Saisei Shīgorasu) and Re-Bemstar (再生ベムスター, Saisei Bemusutā) (37): A pair of deceased monster revived by Alien Nackle to test Jack's strength. Re-Seagorath was killed when Jack fired his Specium Ray at his horn, while Re-Bemstar was sliced by the Ultra Spark in the same way as its original self.
- Bodyguard Monster Black King (用心棒怪獣 ブラックキング, Yōjinbō Kaijū Burakku Kingu, 37, 38):[9] A monster from the same planet as the Nackles, it was used as a bait to divert MAT's attention while its alien masters stole the Saturn Z bomb. Black King and the Alien Nackle leader managed to defeat Jack in the first battle, partly due to Go's emotional dilemma. When Jack returned to Earth, Black King was summoned again, but instead was decapitated, leaving its master to fend for himself.
The Alien Nackle leader was portrayed by Masahiko Naruse (成瀬 昌彦, Naruse Masahiko) (human form) and voiced by Ritsuo Sawa (沢 りつお, Sawa Ritsuo). The other two subordinates on the other hand were portrayed by Ko Hayami (速水 鴻, Hayami Kō) and Mitsuru Sawa (沢 美鶴, Sawa Mitsuru).
Alien Bat
Antenna Alien Alien Bat (触覚宇宙人 バット星人, Shokkaku Uchūjin Batto Seijin, 51) is the final antagonist of The Return of Ultraman. By assembling an invasion fleet named Planet Bat Federal Army (バット星連合部隊, Batto Sei Rengō Butai), they put the Ultra Annihilation Project (ウルトラ抹殺計画, Urutora Massatsu Keikaku) into motion by invading the Planet Ultra as part of their campaign against the Ultra Warriors while a lone operative was sent to Earth to deal with the recent member of the Ultra Brothers, Jack. This particular Alien Bat held Jirō and Rumiko as his hostage while using a revived Zetton in his campaign against Ultraman Jack and stripping MAT of their assets while they were busy fighting his monster. At 5:00 pm, he challenged the entire team again and was killed after Jack impaled him with the Ultra Cross.
As revealed in The Ultraman Mebius novel, the Alien Bat's reason of invading the Planet Ultra was due to its inhabitants' refusal to share their life preservation technology that was developed by Ultraman Hikari. The Inter-Galactic Defense Force (including the Ultra Brothers members and a rookie Mebius) managed to counter the invasion but the battle ended with huge losses on both sides.
- Space Dinosaur Zetton II (宇宙恐竜 ゼットン二代目, Uchū Kyōryū Zetton Nidaime, 51): A different breed of the namesake monster from episode 39 of Ultraman, this one has the ability to shoot Zetton Napalm (ゼットンナパーム, Zetton Napāmu) from its hands. Zetton II was sent as Alien Bat's biological weapon against Jack due to its previous infamy for killing the original Ultraman in 1967. Zetton II was first deployed as a distraction for MAT while Alien Bat invaded their headquarters and destroy their supply of weaponry. MAT fought the two again in their limited assets and this time joined by Ultraman Jack. Both monster and alien had an upper hand against Jack, but the support from MAT members gave the Ultra a second wind by first killing its master and then disabling Zetton by throwing the monster airborne before firing his Specium Ray.
Alien Bat is voiced by Osamu Saka (阪 脩, Saka Osamu).
Other characters
Sakata Auto Repair Shop
The Sakata Auto Repair Shop (坂田自動車修理工場, Sakata Jidōsha Shūri Kōjō) is an automobile workshop managed by Ken Sakata. Go was its sole employee even before his recruitment into MAT, maintaining his employment during weekends. After the death of Ken and Aki Sakata, the workshop was disbanded.
- Ken Sakata (坂田 健, Sakata Ken, 1-37): The 28-years-old founder of the workshop and its main employer. Ken was originally a racer five years prior to the series but was forced to retire as a result of an accident that injured his left leg. Although he became an engineer after that, Ken's talents were recognized by MAT members as he also lent a hand in improving their vehicles. As revealed in episode 6, Ken and his mother were survivors of an air raid back in his childhood (3 years old). He was killed by the Alien Nackle alongside Aki as part of their plan in weakening Go's spirit.[11] He was portrayed by Shin Kishida (岸田 森, Kishida Shin).[1][2]
- Aki Sakata (坂田 アキ, Sakata Aki, 1-37): The 18-years-old elder sister and Go's girlfriend, working at a clothing store. Alongside Ken, she was killed by Alien Nackle.[11] The Superior 8 Ultraman Brothers revealed that an alternate universe counterpart of Aki was married to Go and had a daughter named Megu. She is portrayed by Rumi Sakakibara (榊原 るみ, Sakakibara Rumi).[1][2] Aki's death by Alien Nackle was written due to her actress had a scheduling conflict with another television series at that point of time.[10]
- Jirō Sakata (坂田 次郎, Sakata Jirō): The youngest brother of the siblings, aged 11-years-old. Jirō looked up to Go as an older brother figure and aspired to join MAT in the future. After losing his older siblings to Alien Nackle, Jirō lived with Rumiko and discovered Go's relation to Jack in the final episode. As Jack was forced to return to the Land of Light, Jirō recited the 5 Ultra Oaths as a token of his respect. Jirō made a returning appearance in episode 10 of Ultraman Ace and as revealed in Ultraman Mebius to have shared the 5 Ultra Oaths to Kazuya Serizawa.[12] He is portrayed by Hideki Kawaguchi (川口 英樹, Kawaguchi Hideki).[1][2]
Minor characters
- Shizuka Ushiyama (牛山 静香, Ushiyama Shizuka, 12): The daughter of a painter named Takeshi, Shizuka was the subject of his paintings back in her childhood. After she suffered from waist paralysis as a result of a vehicular accident, the family pair moved to the Mt. Shirakami where Takeshi helped his daughter in walking again until his death. Shizuka lived there for the rest of her life until the mountain becomes a battlefield between MAT members and the monster Shugaron. She was killed when trying to save her father's painting as Go and the MAT members buried her next to Takeshi's grave. She is portrayed by Yuka Kumari (久万里 由香, Kumari Yuka).
- Captain Takamura (高村船長, Takamura senchō, 13, 14): The captain of the Kaijinmaru transport ship until Seamons attack it to devour the gems. Ever since that incident, he was rendered catatonic until he regain his senses from Seagorath and Seamons' thunderstorm. After the two monsters return to the ocean, Takamura returned to his job as a sailor with his new crew members. He was portrayed by Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji), known for the role of Captain Muramatsu in Ultraman.
- Yoko Takamura (高村 陽子, Takamura Yōko, 13, 14): Captain Takamura's daughter. She is portrayed by Keiko Nishiyama (西山 恵子, Nishiyama Keiko).
- Shiro Odagiri (小田切 史郎, Odagiri Shirō, 15): A young boy who lives in an impoverished neighborhood alongside his grandfather. After losing his mother, Shiro became attached to his train driver father who worked for a train company ran by Captain Katō's brother. His father died a year before the series due to Eledortus, but his death was classified as the train driver's fault while Shiro's claim of Eledortus' fault was dismissed by many. Ever since then, he constantly bullied the captain's nephew, Susumu while observing the monster Eledortus on a nightly basis. During Eledortus' attack on a train, the boy was accused by Minami for instigating the incident, but his testimony was proven when Eledortus attacked a power station. He is portrayed by Hiroyuki Takano (高野 浩幸, Takano Hiroyuki), who had various cameo appearances in Return of Ultraman as Jirō's unnamed friend.
- Saburo Matsumoto (松本 三郎, Matsumoto Saburō, 16-17): A man who's jealous of his lover Yukiko being taken by Hiroshi. He attempts to sabotage Hiroshi's boat party, but Terochilus' attacked foiled his murderous intent despite being arrested nonetheless. After escaping the police, Saburo strapped a few dynamites to himself and kidnapped a blind Yukiko into Terochilus' nest. He was killed after sustaining police gunshots for a very long time. He is portrayed by Shoji Ishibashi (石橋 正次, Ishibashi Shōji).
- Yukiko Ono (小野 由起子, Ono Yukiko, 16-17): Aki Sakata's friend and fiancée of Hiroshi. She was blinded after being exposed to Terochilus' sulfur when combined with Go's exhaust gas emissions and kidnapped by Saburo into Terochilus' nest. She is portrayed by Taeko Hattori (服部 妙子, Hattori Taeko).
- Hiroshi Yokogawa (横川 浩, Yokogawa Hiroshi, 16-17): Yukiko's fiancé. During a celebration, Terochilus attacked the boat due to the noise made from the party and exploded due to Saburo's part. When Yukiko was kidnapped, Hiroshi decided to forsake her out of his own safety when Terochilus made its nest on Tokyo. He is portrayed by Mitsunori Marumo (丸茂 光紀, Marumo Mitsunori).
- Akio Takada (高田 明夫, Takada Akio, 24): A young boy with fanaticism for monsters. He managed to salvage a remaining piece of Kupukupu and inadvertently responsible for the birth of Kingstron. He is portrayed by Hiroyuki Kawase (川瀬 裕之, Kawase Hiroyuki).
- Saburō Higashi (東 三郎, Higashi Saburō, 27): A boxer who was taught of the Ultra Kick attack by Go in order to win a boxing competition against Tadashi Sawamura. He is portrayed by Hiroshi Yamanami (山波 ひろし, Yamanami Hiroshi).
- Minako Ibuki (伊吹 美奈子, Ibuki Minako, 31): Captain Ibuki's daughter. He is portrayed by Tomoko Ōki (大木 智子, Ōki Tomoko).
- Tarō Nohara (野原 太郎, Nohara Tarō, 32): A young boy who's adopted by Sakuta Nohara after his biological father died in a mining accident back when he was a newborn. Sakuta took care of the boy to honor his late friend, but their relationship became strained after Tarō learned the real fate of his late father. After Kingmaimai's death, the two reconciled and finally making peace with Taro's late father. He is portrayed by Kazuhito Matsubara (松原 和仁, Matsubara Kazuhito).
- Ryō Sakuma (佐久間 良, Sakuma Ryō, 33): An orphan accused by the townspeople as an alien due to his constant attempts at digging the Alien Mates' spaceship. A year prior, he was discovered and taken care by the ill Alien Mates, with Sakuma likewise saw him as a father figure. When Sakuma was about to be executed by the anti-alien sentiment group, the Alien Mates took the bullet for him. Following Muruchi's death, Sakuma continuously dig underground to claim the hidden spaceship, wanting to leave Earth while still under the impression that Mates had returned to his home planet. In Ultraman Mebius, Sakuma was revealed to have died at some point of time. His story and exploits were recounted by a nursery school director, allowing Mates' son Bio to bury his grudges and calling off his attempt in revenge.[13] Sakuma was portrayed by Hideya Nihei (二瓶 秀哉, Nihei Hideya) in Return and by child actors Tetsuya Kamachi (蒲地 竜也, Kamachi Tetsuya) and Taiju Nakane (中根 大樹, Nakane Taiju) in Mebius. He was named after a common surname of the Ainu people living in Hokkaidō.[14]
- In Anderes Horizont, the alternate retelling novel of Mebius, Sakuma was revealed to have been taken care by an orphanage after that incident but he constantly fled to dig up Mates' spaceship until the boy actually disappeared at some point of time. Sakuma was implied to have been aged as an unnamed old man and encountered the son of a kind baker he met as a child.
- Ichirō Mizuno (水野 一郎, Mizuno Ichirō, 34): Go's childhood friend and the current owner of his late father's laboratory. In order to create the ultimate life form, Mizuno combined the DNA of a plant and animal to create Leogon. While assisting MAT in defeating his gigantic creation, Mizuno was killed during an attempt to reach out for his creation. He is portrayed by Mikio Shimizu (清水 幹生, Shimizu Mikio).
- Rumiko Murano (村野 ルミ子, Murano Rumiko, 38-41, 44, 49, 51): A college student who lived with her mother in an apartment next to Go's room. She became Jirō's caretaker after the deaths of the Sakata elder siblings and providing the young boy with moral support. She also harbored an affection for Go and learned of her crush's double life as an Ultraman in the final episode. Alongside Jirō, Rumiko returned in episode 10 of Ultraman Ace.[12] She is portrayed by Kazuko Iwasaki (岩崎 和子, Iwasaki Kazuko).