Sentai facts for kids
Sentai (pronounced sen-tie) is a Japanese word. It means "squadron," "task force," or "group." You might know it best from exciting live-action TV shows. In these shows, young heroes wear colorful suits and use martial arts to fight monsters.
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Sentai in World War II
During World War II, the word "sentai" was used by the military of Japan. It described certain military units.
Air Force Sentai
Both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy had air forces. Their "sentai" units were like a "group" or "wing" in other countries' air forces. These units were made up of many airplanes.
In the Japanese Navy, a "sentai" could also mean a group of ships. For example, four battleships or cruisers might form a sentai. Japanese submarines were also organized into these groups.
Power Rangers and Super Sentai
The popular American TV show, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, first appeared in 1993. This show is based on a Japanese series called Super Sentai.
What is Super Sentai?
In Japan, "sentai" in this context means "group fighters." The idea of color-coded heroes fighting together has been popular in Japan for a long time. The first Super Sentai show, GoRanger (Five Rangers), came out in 1975. The Power Rangers shows continue this tradition, bringing the exciting team battles to audiences around the world.
