The Dark Side of Power Rangers: How the Show Turned 1 of Its Stars Into a Criminal

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Millions of people enjoyed Power Rangers because it combined exciting action with compelling stories. Many longtime fans know this, but it might surprise others to learn that the actors filmed their close-up scenes in California, while the fight scenes were originally created for the Japanese show Super Sentai.

The popular series was made by combining many different shots. Years later, one of the Japanese stunt performers who played the Green Ranger gained attention for something unexpected, changing how people viewed his work on the original Super Sentai series in Japan.

A Stuntman Who Played the Green Ranger Was Once Arrested for Burglary

Yasutomo Ihara was a Japanese performer who specialized in stunts and wearing special suits for TV shows. He was a key part of bringing action and fight scenes to life in series that would eventually become Power Rangers. Performers like Ihara actually did the stunts and choreography in these shows before they were shown to audiences in Western countries.

While Ihara is best known as the Green Ranger, he actually performed all the action stunts while wearing the full suit. He did incredible acrobatics and stunts that were used in the show’s fight scenes, making him a vital part of the Power Rangers franchise.

I was so shocked to learn that after years of incredible success, Ihara’s life took a really dark turn between 2013 and 2014. He ended up getting arrested in 2014 for a string of burglaries! What’s even more unbelievable is that he said the very skills that made him such an amazing stunt performer actually helped him commit those crimes. It’s just… hard to wrap my head around.

Yasutomo Ihara Used His Training To Get Into 43 Homes in Japan

Yasutomo Ihara stole from at least 43 homes in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, before being caught. He told police his skills as a stuntman helped him climb walls and balconies to break into upper floors, leading Japanese media to nickname him the “Spider-Man Thief.”

He admitted to committing the crimes because he was facing financial hardship. A knee injury in 2009 had forced him to stop working as a stuntman, and he couldn’t find a reliable way to earn money. He later said he committed the burglaries hoping to raise funds for drama school and get back into the entertainment business.

The items he stole were worth around 8.2 million yen – about $77,000 at the time – and in 2020, he received a five-year prison sentence. His case is particularly noteworthy because it sparked conversations about mental health, financial hardship, and the need to support people who are struggling.

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2026-01-11 01:58