Kamen Rider
Encyclopedia
, is a weekly science fiction
story created by Japanese manga artist
Shotaro Ishinomori
. It debuted as a tokusatsu
television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System
and NET TV (now TV Asahi
). A manga
adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine
around the same period. The series has spawned many sequels and evolved into a franchise
. The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura
naming two minor planet
s in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka
, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka
, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1
, and 12796 Kamenrider
, after the series itself.
organization. To further its plans for world domination
, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant
cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escaped just before the final brainwashing. With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Hongo battled Shocker's minions as the grasshopper-themed superhero
Kamen Rider
. Another of Shocker's victims, freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji, had also been given cyborg implants, but was saved by Kamen Rider from the brainwashing process to become Kamen Rider #2
. Assisted by motorcycle race team manager Tobei Tachibana
and FBI agent Kazuya Taki, the Kamen Riders fought in both solo and partnered missions against both Shocker and its successor organization Gel-Shocker.
based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only the following few were penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself:
The original manga published in 1971 diverged from the plot of the television series in several ways. In the manga, Hongo was outnumbered by twelve Shocker Riders (as opposed to six in the television series) and was subsequently killed. Hayato Ichimonji, one of the twelve Shocker Riders, received a head injury during the fight and regained his conscience as a result. He then turned against Shocker and succeeded Hongo's role as Kamen Rider. However, Hongo was resurrected near the end of the manga story.
Allies - Hongo's racing mentor and confidant. He is often called "Master" by other members of his racing club. (episodes 11, 13-98) - An FBI agent assigned to investigate Shocker activities in Japan. While not himself a cyborg, Taki was skilled in martial arts, and often used them alongside both Kamen Riders to battle the foot-soldiers who invariably accompanied a Shocker agent. - A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Shocker agent Spider Man. (episodes 1-13) - The daughter of Prof. Midorikawa, she initially blames Hongo for her father's death, but eventually learns the truth and becomes his ally. In episode 14, it is revealed that she accompanied Hongo on a quest to defeat Shocker activities in Europe.: Ruriko's friend, who works as a waitress at Snack Amigo.
manga making references to the group's support by the Badan Empire.
Ruthless and merciless, Shocker would often kidnap prominent scientists and force them to work for the organization, then kill them when their usefulness was at an end (or if they attempted to escape). However, on one occasion, the decision to kidnap and modify the young college prodigy Takeshi Hongo proved to be their undoing. Modifying him into a grasshopper-human hybrid, he was intended to be another of Shocker's powerful cyborg warriors, but escaped and opposed them as Kamen Rider #1
. A later attempt to create a second, more powerful Kamen Rider backfired when the intended victim, Hayato Ichimonji, was rescued by the original Rider before he was brainwashed and became known as Kamen Rider #2
. The pair became known as the Double Riders who managed to put an end to Shocker with what remained of the group forming into Gel-Shocker.
However, in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
, it is revealed that Shocker obtained a Core Medal and modified it into the Shocker Medal. Though they were originally unable to use it within the original timeline, Ankh's appearance in their time enabled the organization to obtain one of his Cell Medals and create the Shocker Greeed. This altered time so that Shocker defeated the Double Riders and managed to conquer of Japan and eventually the world, setting up an union with many of the other organizations that originally appeared after Shocker's destruction.
Gel-Shocker was led by and , a commander originally from Geldam's Africa branch who had a monstrous leech
/chameleon
hybrid form.
The Shocker Organization sends two of its Inhumanoids to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into Tokageron, a lizard Inhumanoid capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant.
has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidōji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.
Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Hell tells Kamen Rider #1 and Taki that Shocker is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions.
During a motocross practice, Keisuke Jin is ambushed by two Myth Cyborgs created by a secret organization that's attempting to control Japan, G.O.D. He transforms into Kamen Rider X, but little does he know that his battle is recorded and analyzed by King Dark, G.O.D.'s commander, to create a super cyborg. Other G.O.D. cyborgs are attacking all over Tokyo and, in the middle of the crisis, the original four Riders return to Japan from different countries around the world. The five Riders unite to lead a counter attack against G.O.D.
Hiroshi Fujioka and Takeshi Sasaki reprised their roles as Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in this movie, before going on to be absent from the films of the franchise until Let's Go Kamen Riders, almost 36 years later. This movie also marks, even today, the last film appearance of the original Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji in their human forms, although it was done by reusing footage from earlier features.
Premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in a 21st-century setting.
Premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.
Released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series
, featuring the cast and characters of the original Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Den-O
, Kamen Rider OOO
and other characters from past iterations of the franchise.
Hero Saga stories illustrated by S.I.C. figure dioramas portray stories featuring the characters from Shotaro Ishinomori series. Kamen Rider has had three different stories: Missing Link, , and . Missing Link ran in the July to October 2002 issues, From Here to Eternity was featured in the special issue HOBBY JAPAN MOOK S.I.C. OFFICIAL DIORAMA STORY S.I.C. HERO SAGA vol.1 Kakioroshi, and Special Episode: Escape was featured in the October 2006 issue of Hobby Japan.
New characters introduced during the Missing Link story are the twelve and the .
Missing Link chapter titles
Ending themes
s which remain in production today. Several Kamen Rider
series were aired in Japan after the first Kamen Rider finished. After Kamen Rider Black RX
ended production in 1989, the series was put on hold.
There were three movie released as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO
and Kamen Rider J
. After original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death, the Kamen Rider franchise was continued in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga
. Since then Kamen Rider has become popular again and has a strong fanbase across Asia in countries such as Taiwan
, China
, Hong Kong
, Brazil
, Indonesia
, Malaysia, the Philippines
, and Thailand
. As of 2011, twenty-two Kamen Rider series have been made, the current series being Kamen Rider Fourze
(which premiered on September 4, 2011).
As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
story created by Japanese manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Shotaro Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
. It debuted as a tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
and NET TV (now TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
). A manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine
Weekly Shonen Magazine
, also known as Shōnen Magazine, is a shōnen manga magazine published by Kodansha, first published on 17 March 1959. Despite some unusual censorship policies , it's mainly read by an older audience, with a large portion of its readership falling under the male high school or college...
around the same period. The series has spawned many sequels and evolved into a franchise
Kamen Rider Series
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
. The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura
Akimasa Nakamura
is a Japanese astronomer.He is a prolific discoverer of asteroids. He has worked extensively at the Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory near Kuma, Ehime Prefecture, where he remains a staff member...
naming two minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
s in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka
12408 Fujioka
12408 Fujioka is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 20, 1995 by Akimasa Nakamura at Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory. It is named in honor of Hiroshi Fujioka, who is known in Japan for his portrayal of the character Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1 in Kamen Rider and following series.-...
, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka
Hiroshi Fujioka
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor known for playing the hero Takeshi Hongo in the tokusatsu superhero series Kamen Rider, and later the Sega Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro. Fujioka is a cultural icon in Japan, even having the minor planet 12408 Fujioka, discovered by Akimasa...
, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1
Kamen Rider 1
is a fictional character and main superhero or henshin character featured in Japanese tokusatsu. He first appeared in the television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. The primary protagonist of the series, Kamen Rider 1 is a motorcycle-riding...
, and 12796 Kamenrider
12796 Kamenrider
12796 Kamenrider is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 16, 1995 by Akimasa Nakamura at Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory. Its name is in honor of Shotaro Ishinomori's Kamen Rider Series, particularly the first series Kamen Rider....
, after the series itself.
Story
The story took place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious terroristTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization. To further its plans for world domination
Hegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escaped just before the final brainwashing. With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Hongo battled Shocker's minions as the grasshopper-themed superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider 1
is a fictional character and main superhero or henshin character featured in Japanese tokusatsu. He first appeared in the television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. The primary protagonist of the series, Kamen Rider 1 is a motorcycle-riding...
. Another of Shocker's victims, freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji, had also been given cyborg implants, but was saved by Kamen Rider from the brainwashing process to become Kamen Rider #2
Kamen Rider 2
is a fictional character and secondary protagonist from the Japanese tokusatsu television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. Like Kamen Rider 1, he is a motorcycle-riding superhero modelled upon a grasshopper. In the original series, he is...
. Assisted by motorcycle race team manager Tobei Tachibana
Tobei Tachibana
is a fictional character who appears in the Shōwa Kamen Rider Series from Kamen Rider to Stronger and in Kamen Rider SD, acting as a confidant to the various Kamen Riders and supplying them with their motorcycles and other equipment. He was portrayed by Akiji Kobayashi until his death in 1996...
and FBI agent Kazuya Taki, the Kamen Riders fought in both solo and partnered missions against both Shocker and its successor organization Gel-Shocker.
Manga
Many mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only the following few were penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself:
- 1971: Kamen Rider
- 1971: Kamen Rider - a remake
- 1979: Kamen Rider (Storyboard)
The original manga published in 1971 diverged from the plot of the television series in several ways. In the manga, Hongo was outnumbered by twelve Shocker Riders (as opposed to six in the television series) and was subsequently killed. Hayato Ichimonji, one of the twelve Shocker Riders, received a head injury during the fight and regained his conscience as a result. He then turned against Shocker and succeeded Hongo's role as Kamen Rider. However, Hongo was resurrected near the end of the manga story.
Main characters
Riders - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98. He is a biochemist at Jounan University, who also races motorcycles as part of the Tachibana Racing team. - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98Allies - Hongo's racing mentor and confidant. He is often called "Master" by other members of his racing club. (episodes 11, 13-98) - An FBI agent assigned to investigate Shocker activities in Japan. While not himself a cyborg, Taki was skilled in martial arts, and often used them alongside both Kamen Riders to battle the foot-soldiers who invariably accompanied a Shocker agent. - A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Shocker agent Spider Man. (episodes 1-13) - The daughter of Prof. Midorikawa, she initially blames Hongo for her father's death, but eventually learns the truth and becomes his ally. In episode 14, it is revealed that she accompanied Hongo on a quest to defeat Shocker activities in Europe.: Ruriko's friend, who works as a waitress at Snack Amigo.
- Kishimori (episodes 2, etc.) - Hongo's fellow biochemist at Jounan University.
- Snack Amigo - a small caféCaféA café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
where Hongo and other members of Tachibana's racing club gather, in early episodes. Its employees include the waitress Yumi and the bartender Shiro, who occasionally assist Hongo in countering Shocker's plans. - Mari, Yuri, and Michi (episodes 14- ) - Female members of the Tachibana Racing Club, who join after Hongo's departure. Michi is a small-displacement rider, Yuri is a martial artist, and Mari has experience in fencing.
- Goro (episodes 14- ) - Yuri's kid brother, and a junior member of the racing club.
Shocker
is a terrorist organization, it's name an anagram for the Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm as revealed in the movie reboot. Shocker's goal is to turn humans into superhuman beings through their scientists surgically altering people with animal DNA to produce cyborgs as part of their plan to conquer the world (in the original manga is showed that Shocker had some influences over the governments of the world), with virtually all of its members modified in some way. The founders had mostly Nazi ties, with the Kamen Rider SpiritsKamen Rider Spirits
is an ongoing manga adaptation of the popular Kamen Rider franchise by Kenichi Muraeda. The focus of the story is on the original ten Kamen Riders with shifting focus on main characters...
manga making references to the group's support by the Badan Empire.
Ruthless and merciless, Shocker would often kidnap prominent scientists and force them to work for the organization, then kill them when their usefulness was at an end (or if they attempted to escape). However, on one occasion, the decision to kidnap and modify the young college prodigy Takeshi Hongo proved to be their undoing. Modifying him into a grasshopper-human hybrid, he was intended to be another of Shocker's powerful cyborg warriors, but escaped and opposed them as Kamen Rider #1
Kamen Rider 1
is a fictional character and main superhero or henshin character featured in Japanese tokusatsu. He first appeared in the television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. The primary protagonist of the series, Kamen Rider 1 is a motorcycle-riding...
. A later attempt to create a second, more powerful Kamen Rider backfired when the intended victim, Hayato Ichimonji, was rescued by the original Rider before he was brainwashed and became known as Kamen Rider #2
Kamen Rider 2
is a fictional character and secondary protagonist from the Japanese tokusatsu television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. Like Kamen Rider 1, he is a motorcycle-riding superhero modelled upon a grasshopper. In the original series, he is...
. The pair became known as the Double Riders who managed to put an end to Shocker with what remained of the group forming into Gel-Shocker.
However, in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
is a film released on April 1, 2011, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series. The catchphrase for the movie is . While the film will feature all of the franchise's protagonists, the main heroes of the original Kamen Rider , Kamen Rider Den-O, and Kamen Rider OOO will be the...
, it is revealed that Shocker obtained a Core Medal and modified it into the Shocker Medal. Though they were originally unable to use it within the original timeline, Ankh's appearance in their time enabled the organization to obtain one of his Cell Medals and create the Shocker Greeed. This altered time so that Shocker defeated the Double Riders and managed to conquer of Japan and eventually the world, setting up an union with many of the other organizations that originally appeared after Shocker's destruction.
- The high ruler of the organisation and main antagonist of the series. He appears for the first time in a short video footage shown in episode 33, although his appearance there is mostly hidden by shadows. He talks with his followers through speakers on Shocker's emblems in the multiple outposts. The Great Leader is a cruel being who does not have qualms in sacrificing his minions during moments of crisis or failure. He takes various forms at different points in the series, his first being a Cyclopean medusa in crimson robes, but his true form is known as the . (a.k.a. ): From Shocker's German branch, his true form was a wolfGray WolfThe gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
monster. He was also a disguise specialist, able to mimic Taki's appearance almost perfectly using only make up during his debut. His personal mark, worn by the soldiers of his own Shocker outpost and used in his official correspondence, was the Shocker emblem, but with the bird's head replaced by a wolf's. He confronted Kamen Rider #2 himself in episode 39 and after a lengthy fight was toppled off a cliff by Kamen Rider #2's Rider Punch, destroying him. Gold Werewolf briefly appeared in Kamen Rider vs Shocker among the members of the resurrected monster army. In Kamen Rider V3Kamen Rider V3is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the second installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series, and the direct sequel to the original Kamen Rider...
', episode 27, Colonel Zol is resurrected alongside the other 3 great Shocker and Gel-Shocker commanders from the original TV series by Destron. He has ambitions to become a Destron commander, replacing Doctor G, but his ambitions did not last long. In episode 28, after Kamen Rider V3 escaped from Destron's base, a self destruction sequence was activated, and Colonel Zol was unable to escape, dying again with it.: From Shocker's branch in Switzerland, he took over Japan's command after Zol's death until Ambassador Hell appeared. However, he returned to Japan in episode 61, working together with Ambassador Hell and also attempting his own plans. He had a cold and calculating behavior. In episode 68, he captured Tobei Tachibana to help training him for his battle with Kamen Rider #1, but that only resulted in Tachibana learning about his weakness. Discarding his cape when he faced Hongo for the last time, Shinigami assumed the form of Ikadevil to fight Rider #1 with his tentacle whip, while Ichimonji was held off by the Shocker Combatmen. With Tobei's guidance, Rider #1 managed to overpower Ikadevil and weaken him with a Rider Chop before sending Ikadevil falling to his death with his Rider Tailspin Shoot. Ikadevil tried to rise once more, only to fall down and explode. Doctor Shinigami was resurrected by Destron in Kamen Rider V3, episode 27, and speculated about how he had been brought back to replace Doctor G, only to learn that he was there just for a new operation. Shortly afterwards, in episode 28, he died when Destron's base accidentally self destructed.: Summoned from Shocker's branch in West Coast USA, he took command of the organization in Japan. His true name was Damon according to Kamen Rider SpiritsKamen Rider Spiritsis an ongoing manga adaptation of the popular Kamen Rider franchise by Kenichi Muraeda. The focus of the story is on the original ten Kamen Riders with shifting focus on main characters...
. He used a whip as his weapon. In episode 79, after capturing the Riders' friends, he called Hongo out as he assumed his monster form, able to burrow underground and use his whip arm as a weapon. Rider #1 battled Garagaranda while Taki freed Tachibana and the others, managing to use his Rider Kick on the monster. Reverting to his normal mode, Hell cursed the Riders and screamed to Shocker's perseverance before he died, exploding. Afterwards, the Great Leader destroyed the original Shocker. In spite of his failure, Ambassador Hell was resurrected by Destron in Kamen Rider V3Kamen Rider V3is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the second installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series, and the direct sequel to the original Kamen Rider...
episode 27. In episode 28, his sneaky behavior ended up leading to the prisoner V3 capturing him and escaping from the Destron base. Soon afterwards, Ambassador Hell returned to the base, only to die in its self destruction. In Kamen Rider ZXKamen Rider ZXis the tenth fictional superhero in the Kamen Rider franchise to bear the eponymous title. ZX holds the distinction of being the first Rider who did not star in his own television series. The character debuted in an eponymous manga series which began serialization on the July 1982 issue of the...
, Ambassador Darkness, Ambassador Hell's brother, appeared as a Badan Empire leader.: Black uniformed grunts, some which have skeleton markings on their torsos. They are normally easily defeated by the Riders, often without even needing to transform. Their trademark is a high pitched scream. They also appear in the Kamen Rider Decade series and movies, along with the upcoming Let's Go Kamen Riders movie. Episodes 27 and 28 of Kamen Rider OOOKamen Rider OOOis a 2010-2011 Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the twelfth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-first overall. It began airing on September 5, 2010, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider W, joining Tensou Sentai Goseiger and then Kaizoku...
(which were incidentally the 999th and 1,000th Kamen Rider episodes) featured a former Shocker grunt, whose desire to beat the Kamen Riders was used by Kazari to create the Ika-Jaguar Yummy. The grunt's desire for strength in numbers allowed the Yummy to duplicate itself into a small army of various Showa-era grunts, but he became disillusioned upon discovering that these were merely made of medals.: He appears only in Ishinomori's original Kamen Rider manga. Big Machine is a high ranking member of Shocker who leads a plan involving in using a super computer to brainwash the population of the city. He slightly resembles the Starmen from EarthboundEarthBound (series)EarthBound, known in Japan as Mother, is a role-playing game series created by Shigesato Itoi for Nintendo. The series started in 1989 with the Japan-only release of Mother for the Famicom, and was then followed up by a sequel, released in North America as EarthBound for the Super NES in 1995, and...
.
Gel-Shocker
was formed after the destruction of Shocker, with the remnants of the organization absorbing another organization called Geldam. After Ambassador Hell's defeat, The Great Leader reorganized the organization from the ground up, destroying all remaining secret bases and even liquidating the remaining troop contingent in a bloody forest massacre witnessed by unfortunate campers. Gel-Shocker troopers wore bright purple and yellow costumes, were capable of traveling from one to place to another by transforming into sheets that would drop down onto unsuspecting victims, and were capable of taking more blunt violent abuse than their predecessorsGel-Shocker was led by and , a commander originally from Geldam's Africa branch who had a monstrous leech
Leech
Leeches are segmented worms that belong to the phylum Annelida and comprise the subclass Hirudinea. Like other oligochaetes such as earthworms, leeches share a clitellum and are hermaphrodites. Nevertheless, they differ from other oligochaetes in significant ways...
/chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
hybrid form.
Episode list
Films
- 1971: - movie version of Episode 13
The Shocker Organization sends two of its Inhumanoids to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into Tokageron, a lizard Inhumanoid capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant.
- 1972:
has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidōji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.
- 1972:
Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Hell tells Kamen Rider #1 and Taki that Shocker is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions.
- 1975:
During a motocross practice, Keisuke Jin is ambushed by two Myth Cyborgs created by a secret organization that's attempting to control Japan, G.O.D. He transforms into Kamen Rider X, but little does he know that his battle is recorded and analyzed by King Dark, G.O.D.'s commander, to create a super cyborg. Other G.O.D. cyborgs are attacking all over Tokyo and, in the middle of the crisis, the original four Riders return to Japan from different countries around the world. The five Riders unite to lead a counter attack against G.O.D.
Hiroshi Fujioka and Takeshi Sasaki reprised their roles as Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in this movie, before going on to be absent from the films of the franchise until Let's Go Kamen Riders, almost 36 years later. This movie also marks, even today, the last film appearance of the original Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji in their human forms, although it was done by reusing footage from earlier features.
- 2005: Kamen Rider The FirstKamen Rider the Firstis a 2005 Japanese tokusatsu film. The film is an adaptation of the television series Kamen Rider, though there are many differences between the film and the original programme; some of these, however, are due to a closer reliance on the original Kamen Rider manga by Shotaro Ishinomori...
Premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in a 21st-century setting.
- 2007: Kamen Rider The NextKamen Rider The Nextis a 2007 Japanese tokusatsu film directed by Ryuta Tasaki and written by Toshiki Inoue. The film was released on October 27, 2007. The film borrows elements from the Kamen Rider V3 television series and is a sequel to the Kamen Rider The First movie...
Premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.
- 2011:
Released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series
Kamen Rider Series
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
, featuring the cast and characters of the original Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Den-O
Kamen Rider Den-O
is the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008...
, Kamen Rider OOO
Kamen Rider OOO
is a 2010-2011 Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the twelfth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-first overall. It began airing on September 5, 2010, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider W, joining Tensou Sentai Goseiger and then Kaizoku...
and other characters from past iterations of the franchise.
S.I.C. Hero Saga
Published in Monthly Hobby Japan, the S.I.C.Super Imaginative Chogokin
Super Imaginative Chogokin is one of Bandai's popular line-up based on the Kamen Rider franchise and other characters created by Shotaro Ishinomori and his production company. The figures are usually modified and differ from its counterpart as seen in the series...
Hero Saga stories illustrated by S.I.C. figure dioramas portray stories featuring the characters from Shotaro Ishinomori series. Kamen Rider has had three different stories: Missing Link, , and . Missing Link ran in the July to October 2002 issues, From Here to Eternity was featured in the special issue HOBBY JAPAN MOOK S.I.C. OFFICIAL DIORAMA STORY S.I.C. HERO SAGA vol.1 Kakioroshi, and Special Episode: Escape was featured in the October 2006 issue of Hobby Japan.
New characters introduced during the Missing Link story are the twelve and the .
Missing Link chapter titles
Cast
: : : : : : (Played as Eisei Amamoto): : : (Played as ): : : : : : : (Played as ): : (Played as ): : : : : :Crew
- Creator: Shotaro IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Scriptwriters: Masaru Igami, Shin'ichi Ichikawa, Masayuki Shimada, Mari Takizawa, Hisashi Yamazaki, Takao Ikuo, Masashi Tsukada, Takeo Oono, Shiro Ishimori, Seirou Suzuki, Takayuki Hasegawa, Kimio Hirayama, Minoru Yamada, Gorou Okeya, Shotaro IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Directors: Hirokazu Takemoto, Itaru Orita, Hidetoshi Kitamura, Minoru Yamada, Kazukuri Uchida, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Masashi Tsukada, Shotaro IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
, Atsuo Kumanaka - Photographer: Osamigi Yamamoto
- Illumination: Kouosamu Oota
- Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Mokuo Mikami
- Editing: Ayaki Sugeno (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
- Recording: Mari Fujinami
- Assistant Director: Masashi Tsukada
- Costume Designer: Tokyo Designs
- Action Choreographer: Kazutoshi Takahashi
- Line Chief: Teruo Itou
- Production Manager: Okusouhei Matono
- Sound Recording: Katsushi Ota (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
- Development: Toei Laboratories
- Cooperation: Muromachi Racing Group
Songs
Opening themes-
- Lyrics: Shōtarō IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Hiroshi FujiokaHiroshi Fujioka, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor known for playing the hero Takeshi Hongo in the tokusatsu superhero series Kamen Rider, and later the Sega Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro. Fujioka is a cultural icon in Japan, even having the minor planet 12408 Fujioka, discovered by Akimasa...
with - Episodes: 1-13
- Lyrics: Shōtarō IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Masato ShimonMasato Shimonis a retired Japanese vocalist from Meguro, Tokyo. He is most known for his contributions to the theme songs of various anime and tokusatsu series. In his career, he has sung under the names and . "Masato Shimon" is also his recording name, as he was born with the name...
(as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony - Episodes: 14-88
- Lyrics: Shōtarō IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Masato Shimon
- Episodes: 89–98
- Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
Ending themes
-
- Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
- Episodes: 1–71
- Lyrics: Shōtarō IshinomoriShotaro Ishinomoriwas a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Masato Shimon
- Episodes: 72–88
- Lyrics: Mamoru Tanaka
- Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
- Artist: Masato Shimon
- Episodes: 89–98
Legacy
The Kamen Rider original series produced a great number of spin-offSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
s which remain in production today. Several Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider (franchise)
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
series were aired in Japan after the first Kamen Rider finished. After Kamen Rider Black RX
Kamen Rider BLACK RX
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series produced as part of the Kamen Rider Series. The ninth show in the franchise, it was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October...
ended production in 1989, the series was put on hold.
There were three movie released as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO
Kamen Rider ZO
, translated as Masked Rider ZO, is a 1993 Japanese tokusatsu movie produced by Toei Company, part of their Kamen Rider Series. Directed by Keita Amemiya, the film was the first joint production between Toei Company Limited and Bandai....
and Kamen Rider J
Kamen Rider J
, translated as Masked Rider J, is a 1994 Japanese tokusatsu movie produced by Toei Company, loosely based on their Kamen Rider Series.As part of the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series, J was shown on Toei's pay-per-view channel during September 2011...
. After original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death, the Kamen Rider franchise was continued in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga
Kamen Rider Kuuga
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the tenth installment of the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows and the first of the series to air entirely in the Heisei period. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and was shown on TV Asahi from January...
. Since then Kamen Rider has become popular again and has a strong fanbase across Asia in countries such as Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. As of 2011, twenty-two Kamen Rider series have been made, the current series being Kamen Rider Fourze
Kamen Rider Fourze
is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider OOO, joining Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger in the Super Hero Time...
(which premiered on September 4, 2011).
As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First
Kamen Rider the First
is a 2005 Japanese tokusatsu film. The film is an adaptation of the television series Kamen Rider, though there are many differences between the film and the original programme; some of these, however, are due to a closer reliance on the original Kamen Rider manga by Shotaro Ishinomori...
.
External links
- Ishimori@Style - Shotaro Ishinomori on Ishimori ProductionsIshimori Productionsor is a Japanese production company that develops works created by the late manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. Such works include Cyborg 009, Kikaider, Inazuman, Skull Man, Ganbare!! Robocon, Voicelugger, the Toei Fushigi Comedy Series, and the Kamen Rider Series....
official website - Kamen Rider series on Region 2 DVD - A complete list of all official releases to date.
- Toei Kyoto Studio Park - A theme park with official events, exhibitions and shops related to the Kamen Rider.