Hirohisa Soda (曽田 博久 soda hirohisa) is a Japanese writer who has worked on television, radio and video games. Soda has a long history in the tokusatsu genre, starting with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー), the first in the Super Sentai franchise.
Career
Soda's television writing career started in 1972 with his work on Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
Super Sentai
In 1975 Soda was attached to Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, writing 19 episodes overall in a two year run. He also wrote one episode for the less popular sequel, J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, which replaced the Kaiju with crime lords. From 1979 to 1981 Soda wrote thirty one episodes for Super Sentai on Battle Fever J, Denshi Sentai Denziman and Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan. From 1982's Dai Sentai Goggle V through to the end of Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman in 1991 Soda was the franchise's designated Head Writer (throughout the Showa Era). Following Fiveman he continued to write for the franchise, though at a lower rate, with his final episode being "The Persistently, Wacky Gekisou Chase!" towards the end of Gekisou Sentai Carranger in 1997. In total, Soda contributed 399 screenplays to the franchise before his departure.[1]
Other TV series
He was also a notable writer of other live action franchises reaching from Android Kikaider 01 through the Metal Hero franchise, such as Tokusou Robo Janperson and Blue SWAT. Outside tokusatsu, he had written for many anime, including the three original Gatchaman series and was main writer for Future Police Urashiman.
Flagship
In 1997 Soda was offered a job by Flagship, a writing company founded by Yoshiki Okamoto and Noboru Sugimura, who succeeded him as Super Sentai's head writer for several years.
Soda worked on BIO HAZARD DRAMA ALBUM ~The Doomed Raccoon City~ VOL.1. Released in early 1998, this was a prequel story to Resident Evil 2 acted out as an audio drama. Soda worked on this under Sugimura in a team also consisting of writers Shōzō Uehara; Jun'ichi Miyashita and Susumu Takaku. He later worked on VOL.3, released later that year, with Sugimura and Takaku. His last contribution to the drama CDs was BIOHAZARD 2 Drama Album ~The Female Spy Ada Lives~ (1999), alongside Sugimura, Miyashita and Kishiko Miyagi. Soda's only contribution to the Resident Evil games is Resident Evil CODE:Veronica which he worked on alongside Sugimura and Miyashita.
Works
- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (秘密戦隊ゴレンジャー Himitsu Sentai Gorenjā), 19 episodes (1975–77)
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (ジャッカー電撃隊 Jakkā Dengekitai), 1 episode (1977)
- Battle Fever J (バトルフィーバーJ Batoru Fībā Jei), 8 episodes (1979)
- Denshi Sentai Denziman (電子戦隊デンジマン Denshi Sentai Denjiman), 11 episodes (1980)
- Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan (太陽戦隊サンバルカン Taiyō Sentai San Barukan), 12 episodes (1981)
- Dai Sentai Goggle V (大戦隊ゴーグルファイブ Dai Sentai Gōguru Faibu), 29 episodes (1982–83); main writer
- Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (科学戦隊ダイナマン Kagaku Sentai Dainaman), 31 episodes (1983–94); main writer
- Choudenshi Bioman (超電子バイオマン Chōdenshi Baioman), 39 episodes (1984–85); main writer
- Dengeki Sentai Changeman (電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman), 39 episodes (1985–86); main writer
- Choushinsei Flashman (超新星フラッシュマン Chōshinsei Furasshuman), 36 episodes (1986–87); main writer
- Hikari Sentai Maskman (光戦隊マスクマン Hikari Sentai Masukuman) (1987–88); main writer
- Choujuu Sentai Liveman (超獣戦隊ライブマン Chōjū Sentai Raibuman), 37 episodes (1988–89); main writer
- Kousoku Sentai Turboranger (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā) (main writer)
- Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman (地球戦隊ファイブマン Chikyū Sentai Faibuman), 33 episodes (1990–91); main writer
- Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー Ninja Sentai Kakurenjā), 12 episodes (1994–95)
- Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (超力戦隊オーレンジャー Chōriki Sentai Ōrenjā), 12 episodes (1995–96)
- Gekisou Sentai Carranger (激走戦隊カーレンジャー Gekisō Sentai Kārenjā), 6 episodes (1996–97)