By Ayumi

Kamen Rider is by far my favorite tokusatsu series ever. I love it so much that I NEEDED to do something to celebrate Kamen Rider Decade, so I decided I’m going to write a four part mini history of the Kamen Rider TV Series to share with all my friends at HJU! Let’s get ready to take a trip down memory lane.

Kamen Rider

An evil terrorist organization named Shocker is plotting world domination. In order to build an army, they kidnap people, turn them into mutant cyborgs and brainwash them to do Shocker’s bidding. Unfortunately for them, Takeshi Hongo is rescued right before the brainwashing. He then assumes the identity of the grasshopper cyborg super hero Kamen Rider. In retaliation, Shocker captures freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji and attempt to turn him into cyborg and brainwash him. But just in the nick of time, Kamen Rider appears and saves him before the brainwashing. They then become known as Kamen Rider 1 (Kamen Rider Ichi-Go) and Kamen Rider 2 (Kamen Rider Ni-Go).

The original Kamen Rider aired April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973 on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV (TV Asahi).

Kamen Rider V3

When Shiro Kazami witnesses a murder of a man, he becomes the target of an evil organization called Destron. He saves a girl who has also been targeted by Destron because she found the location of their secret base. The girl, named Junko Tama, is taken to Kazami’s home after she faints. However, Destron finds Kazami’s home and kill his mother, father and little sister. When Kazami returns home he finds not only his dead family, but a Destron agent out to kill him. He is rescued by his chemistry teacher, Takeshi Hongo, when he transforms into Kamen Rider 1. Shortly afterwards, Kamen Rider 2 shows up to help Kamen Rider 1. Filled with feelings of anger and revenge, Kazami begs the riders to turn him into a cyborg as well. The refuse telling him that it’s a hard life living as a Rider.

The Riders enter Destron’s base but become trapped. Kazami locates the base and rescues them, however mortally wounding himself in the process. The Riders decide that the only way to save his life is to turn him into a cyborg. Thus, Kamen Rider V3 is born.

Kamen Rider V3 aired February 17, 1973 to February 9, 1974 on NET TV (TV Asahi)
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Kamen Rider X

Keitaro Jin is a robotics scientist with a son named Keisuke. They are attacked by the evil organization known as The Government of Darkness or “GOD” and Jin’s research is stolen. Before Jin dies, he uses the last of his strength and technology to turn his son into a cyborg. In order to avenge his father’s death, he becomes Kamen Rider X and carries his powerful weapon named “Ridol”, which can be used as a spear among many other things.

Kamen Rider X aired February 16, 1974 to October 12, 1974 on NET TV (TV Asahi).

Kamen Rider Amazon

There is a plane crash in the Amazon rainforest and there only survivor is young Daisuke Yamamoto. Adopted by a near by tribe, he lives his life in the jungle roaming free with nature. Unfortunately, Gorgos the Ten Faced Demon murders the entire village and he is the sole survivor. Gorgos is searching for the legendary “GiGi Bracelet”, a bracelet that gives is bearer incredibe power. Sensing trouble, a witch doctor retrieves the bracelet and gives it to Daisuke to look after it. He then uses his magic and Incan science to turn Daisuke into Kamen Rider Amazon.

Kamen Rider Amazon aired October 19, 1974 to March 29, 1975 on Mainichi Broadcasting System.

[Part II will be up soon!]