STORAGE (Special Tactical Operations Regimental Airborne and Ground Equipment)

STORAGE
Data
Members	Shota Hebikura Haruki Natsukawa Yoko Nakashima Yuka Ohta Kojiro Inaba Several others
Designations	Countering monster attacks and disaster relief team
Affiliation	GAFJ (Parent organization)
First Appearance	Ultraman Z episode 1 "Chant My Name!"
Latest Appearance	TBA

Anti-Monster Robot Unit STORAGE (対怪獣ロボット部隊 ストレイジ Tai Kaijū Robotto Butai Sutoreiji) is a unit that deals with the use of robot mechas in order to combat daily monster attacks and participate in rescue missions. The team's name, "STORAGE" is an acronym for Special Tactical Operations Regimental Airborne and Ground Equipment (対怪獣特殊空挺機甲隊 Tai Kaijū Tokushu Kūtei Kikō-tai).

The reason for STORAGE's development in Japan is due to a slogan, "If you're speaking about Japan, then it's robots" (日本と言えばロボットだろ Nihon to ieba robotto daro). They are the only branch of GAF in the world that uses giant robots, with other branches only using enhanced vehicles.

History

Ultraman Z

At some point, the Global Allied Forces Japan Branch decided to approve the construction of giant robots called Special Airborne Armor (特空機 Tokkūki lit. Special Aircraft, abbreviated SC) to fight against monsters, being the only GAF branch in the world to approve of such a plan. Thus, the special team STORAGE was formed and put in charge of the robots. The data of Grigio Raiden was used to build the first SC unit, Sevenger. Sevenger was later joined by Windom and King Joe STORAGE Custom, the latter being reverse engineered from a King Joe brought to Earth by the first Alien Barossa.

STORAGE is berated by members of GAF, including Kuriyama, for ignoring orders given by GAF General Command, specifically to fire the D4 Ray at invading Kelbims. For these infractions, STORAGE was immediately disbanded. While Haruki and Yoko are deeply disturbed by this statement, Hebikura can only scoff at it. ^D4 After STORAGE was disbanded, GAFJ took over its operations and set up the 1st Special Airborne and Armored Group (第一特殊空挺機甲群 Dai-Ichi Tokushu Kūtei Kikō-gun) in its place, and development on Ultroid Zero had started. The previous members of STORAGE had either left for their own paths, or were reassigned to different departments. ^{Individual Tomorrows}

Following the defeat of Ultraman Z at the hands of Destrudos, STORAGE was officially reactivated by GAF to spearhead the attempts at stopping the chimeric monster. ^{The Game to Extinction}

Base

STORAGE Headquarters

The STORAGE Joint Base (ストレイジ統合基地 Sutoreiji Tōgō Kichi) is a six-story warehouse-like building. It has an underground garage that houses the mecha that they use. The mecha are able to be deployed via an elevator shaft and through the fourth gate on the roof.

Members

Attack Team

• Hebikura
• Haruki
• Yoko
• Yuka

Shota Hebikura

Main article: Jugglus Juggler

Shota Hebikura (蛇倉（ヘビクラ） 正太（ショウタ） Hebikura Shōta) is the 34-year-old captain of STORAGE. He is very athletic and acts as a reliable older brother figure to the team. Hebikura usually puts Haruki through intensive drills in the training room.

In episode 5, it is revealed that "Hebikura" is actually Jugglus Juggler's alter ego.

Shota Hebikura is portrayed by Takaya Aoyagi (青柳 尊哉 Aoyagi Takaya), reprising his role as Jugglus Juggler from Ultraman Orb.

Shota Hebikura's badge

Haruki Natsukawa

Main article: Haruki Natsukawa

Haruki Natsukawa (夏川（ナツカワ） 遥輝（ハルキ） Natsukawa Haruki) is the 23-year-old rookie member, who is assigned to pilot the Special Airborne Armors. He later becomes the human host of Ultraman Z. Despite being a newcomer to the team, Haruki is a natural-born athlete and a master of Karate.

Haruki Natsukawa is portrayed by Koshu Hirano (平野 宏周 Hirano Kōshū).

Haruki Natsukawa's badge

Yoko Nakashima

Main article: Yoko Nakashima

Yoko Nakashima (中島（ナカシマ） 洋子（ヨウコ） Nakashima Yōko) is a 24-year-old ace pilot and Haruki's inspiration. Although she has a cheerful and determined personality, she also has a girly side and likes older men, including Ultraman Z. When asked out by an admirer, she challenges them to an arm-wrestling match that Yoko usually wins. Nearing the finale, she was possessed by Celebro.

Yoko Nakashima is portrayed by Rima Matsuda (松田 リマ Matsuda Rima).

Yoko Nakashima's badge

Yuka Ohta

Main article: Yuka Ohta

Yuka Ohta (大田（オオタ） 結花（ユカ） Ōta Yuka) is a 22-year-old lead scientist in STORAGE. A monster enthusiast, Yuka's knowledge in biology and historic legends frequently helps her in analysis. In addition to giving a hand in creating the anti-monster combat robots, she joined STORAGE as an opportunity to work closer with monsters. She often makes a questionable juice mix for nutrients and offers it to others, despite the mysterious nature of its ingredients.

Yuka Ohta is portrayed by Hikari Kuroki (黒木 ひかり Kuroki Hikari).

Yuka Ohta's badge

Mechanics Team

• Kojiro
• Satoshi
• Seiji
• Hiroshi

Kojiro Inaba

Main article: Kojiro Inaba

Kojiro Inaba (稲葉（イナバ） 虎二郎（コジロー） Inaba Kojirō) is the 59-year-old leader of the mechanics in overseeing the maintenance of Sevenger and the other Special Airborne Armor robots. His nickname is Mr. Bako (バコさん Bako-san) and the members of the maintenance crew trust him deeply. He's a quiet man who gives off an old-fashioned Showa atmosphere and sometimes displays an unexpected skill, but his past in shrouded in mystery.

Kojiro Inaba is portrayed by Jun Hashizume (橋爪 淳 Hashizume Jun).

Kojiro Inaba's badge

Satoshi (サトシ, Satoshi) is one of Inaba's maintenance crew members. His family name is Watahiki (seen on his name tag), but is yet to be revealed for its Japanese rendition of the name. He is also one of Yoko's admirers, but loses to her in an arm-wrestling match.

Due to STORAGE's disbandment and re-establishment as SAAG, Satoshi was one of the many staff members to quit GAFJ entirely out of protest.

Satoshi is portrayed by Reo Satou (佐藤 玲央 Satō Reo).

Seiji Siose (シオセ セイジ Shiose Seiji) is one of Inaba's maintenance crew members.

Seiji is portrayed by Fuuma Kakuda (角田 楓馬 Kakuda Fūma).

Hiroshi Irizuki (イリヅキ ヒロシ Irizuki Hiroshi) is one of Inaba's maintenance crew members.

He is portrayed by Daichi Takaoka (高岡 大地 Takaoka Daichi).

Gear

Attack team uniform

Mechanics uniform

Vest

Arsenal

Equipment

• Beam Rifle (ビームライフル Bīmu Raifuru): A customized firearm that shoots energy-like projectiles.
• Thermographic Camera: A handheld device that are used to find heat sources.
• Stun Grenade: An explosive device used to temporarily disorient enemies.
• Jet Pack: Stored in SC units.

Mechas and vehicles

• STEGG (ステッグ Suteggu): A patrol car.
• Drone: Used to carry monsters and large items.
• Anti-Monster Specialized Airborne Mechanical Armor (対怪獣特殊空挺機甲 Tai Kaijū Tokushu Kūtei Kikō): Often shortened to just Special Airborne Armor (特空機 Tokkūki lit. Special Aircraft, abbreviated SC), are giant robots utilized by STORAGE to assist them in against monster attacks and disaster relief missions. Yuka was their creator, whereas Inaba lead his mechanics to perform maintenance after their return from missions. Only two robots were produced due to budget restraints, though additional units are being considered. According to Kuriyama, some of the reason of the delayed developments are due to said funding being used to pay collateral damages from the conflict between STORAGE and the daily monster attacks. The machines were built using a decade-worth of studying Grigio Raiden's cybernetic parts in Yamanashi Prefecture.
  1. Sevenger
  2. Windom
  3. King Joe STORAGE Custom
  4. Ultroid Zero

Gallery

Miscellaneous

STORAGE badge

STORAGE's team logo

Inaba and the three maintenance group members.

Trivia

The Tamagawa Sanitation Association facility, used as the basis for STORAGE's HQ.

• STORAGE, and by extension its parent organization Global Allied Forces Japan is the first attack team since Xio from Ultraman X to actively take part in the fight against monsters while having an Ultra Host being part of their ranks.
• STORAGE HQ in real life, is actually a water treatment facility named "Tamagawa Sanitation Association" located in Omaru, Inagi, Japan. Several aspects of the building were changed during post-production; for example, a large chimney on the facility roughly corresponds to the location of the HQ's control tower.
  • This is acknowledged by the mayor of Inagi, Katsuhiro Takahashi, in his Twitter account.
• The STORAGE helmets are repaints of motorcycle helmets manufactured by OSBE Helmets Italy.
• In the Ultraman Series' Twitter site, weekly reports of STORAGE's exploits were uploaded and claimed to be written by Sosuke Yoshida (ヨシダ ソウスケ Yoshida Sōsuke), an unseen member of the team's public relations officer. His position is similar to Sera of UGM from Ultraman 80.

References

Defense Teams
Showa Defense Teams	SSSP | TDF (UG, MAT, TAC, ZAT, MAC, UGM) | Science Guard Party
Heisei Defense Teams	UMA | WINR | HEART | Mydo | TPC (GUTS, Super GUTS, Black Buster Corps, Neo Super GUTS) | GUARD (XIG) | EYES | TLT | DASH | GUYS | DEUS | ZAP SPACY | Team U | UPG | Xio | VTL | AIB
Reiwa Defense Teams	EGIS | GAF (STORAGE) | TPU (GUTS-Select)
Other Defense Teams	Inter Galactic Defense Force | Space Patrol | MIGHTY JACK | SGM | Team Mouri | SAT | SAF | PAT | Koseidon Corps | SWORD | USP