Takatora Kureshima

"Those who own power and privilege have a duty they must fulfill. That's what Noblesse Oblige means. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty in order to do that."

- Takatora explaining his importance to Mitsuzane

Takatora Kureshima (呉島 貴虎) is the older brother of Mitsuzane Kureshima, and the Yggdrasill Corporation Research and Development project leader and overseer.

Referred to as the The White Armored Rider (白いのアーマードライダー) in his initial appearances, Takatora's alter egos are named as Zangetsu (斬月) and Zangetsu Shin (斬月 真) through the Sengoku Driver and Genesis Driver, respectively.

Character History
Growing up under the Kureshima family as a first-born, Takatora was placed with a heavy burden to be successful and powerful like his father, Amagi Kureshima. Takatora also learned of Helheim's existence and started to develop Sengoku Drivers alongside Ryoma Sengoku. Though a finalized Sengoku Driver was complete, Takatora was scarred from the dangers it posed. As a result, Takatora raised his younger brother, Mitsuzane Kureshima in hopes that Mitsuzane would be led down a different path unaware of Helheim.

Takatora is seen as the mediator of the Helheim Forest, destroying numerous Inves to protect his R&D researchers and allowing them to continue their research. Takatora clashes toe to toe against Kouta Kazuraba and reveals to him the cruelty of the world. Takatora would later defeat all of the Sengoku Driver users in a different encounter to prevent them for lurking within the Helheim Forest, accidentally destroying a Sengoku Driver in the process. Takatora learns that Mitsuzane was a Sengoku Driver user and the two forge a bond to oversee humanity's safety.

Afterwards, Takatora gains the Genesis Driver, a transformation device that is stronger than the Sengoku Driver. While meeting Kouta once more in Helheim, he decides to show him the ruins left behind in Helheim and later starts to doubt himself. During this time, he faces against Kamen Rider Idun, an unknown Armored Rider who has incapacitated Sid and Yoko Minato. Takatora reunites with a childhood friend Touka Akatsuki, who was the former Kureshima housemaid. It had seemed so strange to him that Touka appeared at the same time the unknown Armored Rider started attacking. It led to Takatora deducing that it might have had something to do with his father. He visited an old Yggdrasill laboratory that once belonged to his father. It was there that he is horrified on what his father had done to most of the children as Yggdrasill's guinea pigs, then was attacked by Idun and he discovers her identity as Touka, who is Amagi's guinea pig. She reveals that she is doing this as an act of revenge, where Amagi Kureshima experimented on her and on numerous other children to be potential future Yggdrasill members. Since then, she vowed to erase all traces of Kureshima blood off the face of the Earth. However, after a fierce battle with Takatora, he defeats her, sparing her life in the process. However unknown to him, she was later killed by Ryoma Sengoku.

In a later confrontation with Kouta, he crushes the boy's spirit when the two clash once more by revealing that Kouta killed his best friend without realizing it. Though his attempts to push Kouta away from the Helheim conspiracy fails, Takatora is later met with resistance by Kouta as he annihilates an armada of Kurokage Troopers with Dandeliners and destroys the Scalar System, a failsafe that will destroy Zawame City in the event that Inves overrun it.

Takatora eventually learns the truth that Helheim does have sentient beings, prompting him to hold off Project Ark in favor of attempting to negotiate and potentially saving everyone instead of one billion people. However, his new forged alliance with Kouta causes Ryoma to enact his coup d'etat, forcefully throwing Takatora off a cliff in Helheim and erasing his existence from within Yggdrasill's database. Takatora is saved by Rosyuo, the leader of the Over Lords who explains to him Helheim's goal and the Forbidden Fruit that Ryoma is seeking. However, Rosyuo does not care for humanity and kills Sid when the latter attempts to challenge the Over Lord King for the Forbidden Fruit.

After Sid's death and Rosyuo's ignorance of preventing Helheim from overtaking Earth, Takatora returns back to Zawame, learning that his younger brother, Mitsuzane Kureshima has taken the mantle of Zangetsu Shin and realizes that the way he raised Mitsuzane has made the latter nothing more than his shadow. Takatora regains his original Sengoku Driver and Melon Lockseed, but is ultimately defeated with his Driver and Lockseed both destroyed in a clash against his brother. Takatora is rendered brain damaged and is left in a coma where he is found by boats outside of Zawame City.

A version of Takatora appears in front of Mitsuzane, being the complete opposite of Takatora, taunting his younger brother as the latter attempts to get out of his brother's "shadow".

Takatora eventually awakens from his coma when Kouta heals him and resumes trying to amend for his sins alongside restoring Zawame and helping Mitsuzane recover from his own experiences. As a precaution, he confiscates and destroys all of the remaining mass-produced Sengoku Drivers and Lockseeds, except for one in case of emergencies. Though the last Sengoku Driver is destroyed during Kougane's invasion of Zawame City, Takatora receives another Sengoku Driver stolen from a Mecha Kurokage during Megahex's invasion on Earth. With Mai able to give Takatora a Melon Lockseed via a Helheim plant left in the Team Gaim Garage, Takatora and Mitsuzane head out to stop Megahex's invasion together.

In an encounter with the revived Ryoma, Takatora defeats his former friend and uses the latter's Genesis Driver with his own Melon Energy Lockseed to become Zangetsu Shin once again. Takatora would later steal the Kiwami Lockseed and helps revive Kouta, allowing him, Kouta, and Mitsuzane to defeat Megahex. However unknown to them, Megahex is simply an avatar and there are thousands more to fight against.

Takatora would soon be aided by a Red Warrior and the recently revived Kaito Kumon to fight against ZZZ Megahex, an empowered Megahex that absorbed the inactive Cyberoid ZZZ body. While Kouta and Shinnosuke head off to fight Megahex, he, Mitsuzane, and Kaito battle an army of artificial Inves and Roidmudes with help from Roidmudes Heart, Brain, and Chase. In the aftermath of the battle, Takatora and company manage to catch up with Kouta and Mai and ask them to give a proper farewell to their friends in Zawame City before they return to their planet.

The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
Takatora was alerted about the existence of another world and followed the other Armored Riders into that world. He unintentionally helps a red-colored version of Gaim to defeat Kamen Rider Bujin Double, and retrieves the Joker Gaia Memory, which was later passed to Ryugen allowing him to access Double Arms. Takatora also retrieved the Rocket Astroswitch belonging to Kamen Rider Bujin Fourze, allowing him to become Zangetsu Fourze Arms during the final battle.

At the end of the movie, Takatora tests out the newly created Genesis Driver made by Ryoma Sengoku.

Kamen Rider Taisen
In the movie event prequel show Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kamen Rider Gaim, he was informed by his little brother that a multiple monster organization called the Badan Empire is attacking Zawame, also feels concerned why there wasn't any data about them in Yggdrasill's record. Takatora was called by some citizens about there being a giant Lion Inves attacking the city and battling a giant robot (a Ressha Gattai ToQ-Oh piloted by ToQgers), he disbelieves that Inves can grow large and of a giant robot however, he wasn't aware that the giant Inves and the robot did fight in front of Yggdrasill Tower in a few minutes disappeared before Takatora turned around. Upon doing so, he sees nothing outside the window. Upon getting an info of the unknown crack that isn't Helheim related comes out of nowhere in Zawame territory, he would call his troops for investigation, but his younger brother, Mitsuzane would do it instead.

Takatora and Mitsuzane transform to aid Kouta and Kaito against the Badan monsters. He was defeated by Kamen Rider Fifteen, turning him into an unseen Lockseed. However, he was revealed to be in the Helheim Forest, and showed up to defeat some of the monsters along with Baron and Ryugen in the climax. Afterwards, Mitsuzane reported to him that all of these events have nothing to do with the Helheim Forest.

The Golden Fruit Cup Event
In this world, the Inves Invasion is no longer present. This Takatora is married with a sick wife, paralleling him with Rosyuo and his queen. Takatora becomes influenced to destroy the other Riders and after learning of Sid's betrayal, slashes him off an elevator pit. He later fights Armored Rider Bravo and Baron with Takatora and Oren both dying in the fight. He is brought back to life by Kouta who shoots down Mars' horse and joins the other Riders to defeat Armored Rider Mars.

Hyper Battle DVD
Sometime before the Lockseed Gathering games, Takatora enters the Helheim Forest to test New Arms, comedically calling Ichigo Arms too cute for him and disregards Budou Arms as he prefers katanas instead of guns. He eventually settles to test out Mango Arms. Sacrificing his defenses and agility granted by the Melon Lockseed in favor for pure strength, Takatora finds himself wide open numerous times to Kouta's attacks and eventually is defeated when he activates a Fresh Orange Sparking on him, knocking him out in disbelief that he was defeated.

Movie War Full Throttle
While on the job restoring Zawame, he and his construction crew bears witness of Megahex's invasion onto Earth, and Kazuraba's valiant efforts in preventing the robotic assimilator from getting his servos on Earth, only to die in a explosive manner. Megahex lands near Takatora, Kiwami Lockseed in hand, and divulges his plan to Takatora, who is helpless to even sway Megahex's opinion.

Later, he is seen treating Mitsuzane's injuries from fighting a revived Ryoma Sengoku. Being reminded of what Kouta said on his dreams when he is still in coma, Takatora then decides to help Mitsuzane defend the city from Megahex. Luckily for him, Mitsuzane had retrieved a working Sengoku Driver from a Mecha Kurokage that he defeated earlier and he decides to give the Driver to his brother, with Mai giving them a Helheim fruit that turns into a Melon Lockseed, allowing Takatora to transform into Zangetsu once again.

In the next day, the Kureshima brothers returns to fight back, with Takatora confronting and successfully defeating Ryoma. As he is about to get attacked by Megahex, Mitsuzane and Mai returns and Mitsuzane gives him back the Melon Energy Lockseed, which Takatora uses it to become Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin using the Genesis Driver he obtained from Ryoma's body.

Gaim Gaiden: Duke
Takatora and Ryoma investigate the reappearances of Kugai Kudo, a former researcher of Yggdrasill who was killed during an early test for the Sengoku Driver. As Takatora saves Ryoma from a group of suicide bombers under Kugai's control, both of them recall their past and how they met together in the first place.

Chou Super Hero Taisen
An iteration of Zangetsu-Shin from the Game World was part of a Sentai-Rider team which was led by Kiriya Kujo/Kamen Rider Lazer.

Personality
Though a ruthless realist, Takatora still loves his family and spoils his younger brother, and especially cares about Mitsuzane's education. He is the most experienced and most powerful Armored Rider to date. In order to teach Gaim a lesson, who entered the Forest without his permission, without knowing that he's only looking for his friend, he brutally attacks him despite Kouta having no intention to fight him to make his point - that power given by the Lockseeds and Sengoku Driver is no game, letting Kouta go after clearly being the winner.

Despite his sense of realism, he can show signs of arrogance and his wealthy upbringing has mildly affected his view of the world. He sometimes refers to the other Armored Riders as "street trash" that are beneath him and not worthy of his attention, the exception being if they directly interfere with his plans.

He also seems to have a bit of a temper when pressured, as seen when Kurokage provokes him while he was trying to reach his staff to rescue them from the Inves swarm. This caused him to have an angry outburst and unintentionally damage Ryoji's Sengoku Driver with a furious blow of sword slashes.

As stated by him back when he first encountered Gaim, he knows the Lockseeds carry a dangerous disease, which is also seen when he tries to warn Hase not to eat the immature fruit.

Under his ruthless realist personality shows that Takatora does have hidden feelings, grieving that he is only able to save about a billion of the Earth's population. More of this side is shown when he takes care of Oren after Oren takes a hit that disrupts his transformation as he falls into his arms. In addition, he finally lightens up, handshaking Kouta and thanking him for giving him an alternative means to save humanity rather than culling the world's population through Project Ark.

His ruthless realist personality was in fact used under the influence of Ryoma when he realized his own friend had been using him all along prior to his betrayal. It is actually start in Gaiden, when he finds out his father's dark secret on experimented a young children as a slave to work Yggdrasill, this cause Takatora realize and feared that he might ended up being as ruthless as his father was in a darkest secret, especially when he finally uncover Touka's identity as Idunn and defeat her, but spared her, reminds him of Kouta's word about his way to save humanity without sacrifice and try to find away to cure the victim from the Helheim infections, thus Takatora trying to restart finding a way to save humanity, following a bit of Kouta's heroic path.

Like his former archenemy Kouta, Takatora can easily feel guilty of himself when witnessing the trouble that he faces that was all of his previous doing. Like Mitsuzane in his first betrayal against Kouta, he was also unable to defeat his own brother due to the happier times they had. When finding out Idunn's identity as his former friend Touka, while attempting to finish her, Takatora was reminded what Kouta said about killing a poor victim who has a tragic life and needs help, especially after Hase's death.

Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis
to be added

Arms
Like the other Armored and New Generation Riders, Kamen Rider Zangetsu/Zangetsu Shin's forms are called Arms (アームズ). His personal Lockseeds are styled in pure Japanese. All of Takatora's Japanese Samurai-themed Arms' helmets share the title Kabuto (カブト), while his visors share the title Eye (アイ).

As Armored Rider Zangetsu, Takatora's Sengoku Driver plays Japanese horagai music and announces "Soiya" (ソイヤ) (or in Gaim Gaiden 2, it announces "Iyo" (いよ)) before every transformation. By pressing the Sengoku Driver's Cutting Blade down on the Lockseed after transforming from one to three times, he can activate one of three finishing moves based on his current Arms form: Squash (スカッシュ), Au Lait (オーレ), or Sparking (スパーキング). In addition to the Sengoku Driver's finishing moves, Zangetsu can perform a Fruits Charge (フルーツチャージ) finishing attack by inserting a Lockseed into the Drive Launch of his Musou Saber.

As New Generation Rider Zangetsu Shin, Takatora's Genesis Driver announces "Soda" (ソーダ) before every transformation. By pushing the Genesis Driver's Seaboll Compressor into the Energy Lockseed after transforming from one to two times, he can activate one of two finishing moves based on his current Arms form: Squash (スカッシュ) or Sparking (スパーキング). In addition to the Genesis Driver's finishing moves, Zangetsu Shin can perform a Sonic Volley (ソニックボレー) finishing attack by inserting an Energy Lockseed into the Energy Drive Bay of his Sonic Arrow.

Devices

 * Transformation devices:
 * Sengoku Driver - As Zangetsu, destroyed by Zangetsu Shin II. Obtains a new one to use, given to him by Mitsuzane having recovered it from a Mecha Kurokage created by Megahex.
 * Genesis Driver - As Zangetsu Shin (taken by Mitsuzane to transform into Zangetsu Shin, later disabled by Professor Ryoma's self-destruct fail-safe). Obtains a new one to use, recovered from Mecha Ryoma Sengoku.
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Zangetsu/Zangetsu Shin's Arms changes, depending on which lock is used
 * Musou Saber Holster - Carrier strap for Zangetsu's Musou Saber

Weapons

 * Zangetsu:
 * Musou Saber - Zangetsu's side weapon in every single one of his forms
 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms, besides the Musou Saber:
 * Melon Defender - Zangetsu Melon Arms' personal weapon
 * Ichigo Kunai - Zangetsu Ichigo Arms' personal weapons
 * Budou Ryuhou - Zangetsu Budou Arms' personal weapon
 * Mango Punisher - Zangetsu Mango Arms' personal weapon
 * Watermelon Gatling Gun - Zangetsu Watermelon Arms' personal weapon
 * Rocket Module - Zangetsu Fourze Arms' personal weapon
 * Kabuto Kunai Gun - Zangetsu Kabuto Arms' personal weapon
 * Ride Booker - Zangetsu Decade Arms' personal weapon
 * Zangetsu Shin:
 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms:
 * Sonic Arrow - Zangetsu Shin Melon Energy Arms' personal weapon
 * Melon Defender - Temporary weapon loaned by Gaim Kiwami Arms
 * Storm Halberd - One of Zangetsu Shin Agito Arms' personal weapons
 * Flame Saber - One of Zangetsu Shin Agito Arms' personal weapons

Vehicles

 * Lock Vehicles - Vehicles that unfold from special Lockseeds:
 * Sakura Hurricane - Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin's main Rider Machine in Kamen Rider: Battride War II and Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis.

Lockseed
Zangetsu Lockseed (斬月ロックシード): Allows the user to transform into Zangetsu Arms. The core image depicts Zangetsu's Sengoku Driver in Melon Arms while the lid backside image depicts the Melon Lockseed. Uniquely-styled Lockseed.
 * Transformation: Zangetsu Arms: Melon Gomen!
 * Squash: Mujin Kick (無刃キック)
 * Au Lait: Melon Defender (メロンディフェンダー)
 * Sparking: Melou Blast (メロウブラスト)

Portrayal
Takatora Kureshima is portrayed by Yuki Kubota (久保田 悠来), who would later go on to play in . He previously portrayed in . He also had a cameo in Kamen Rider The Next.

As Kamen Rider Zangetsu (Shin), his suit actor is Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳), who was previously the suit actor for Kamen Rider Beast, Phoenix and White Wizard in Kamen Rider Wizard.

Legend Rider Lockseeds

 * The following Legend Rider Lockseeds are styled for Zangetsu, as well as Mars/Jam:
 * Stronger - "Aku wo Taoese to Ore wo yo Bu!"
 * ZO - "Daijizen Neo Seimeitai!"
 * Agito - "Mezamero, Sono Tamashii!"
 * Ryuki - "Tatakawanakereba Ikinokorenai!"
 * Hibiki - "Tatakikome Kiyome no Oto!"
 * Den-O - "Iza Climax!"
 * Den-O Climax Form - "Denkamori Climax!"
 * Momotaros - "Ore Sanjou!"
 * Fourze Cosmic States - "Minna no Kizuna de Uchu wo Tsukamu!"

Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 2, 4-24, 26-29, 31, 32, 34-36, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale
 * Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai
 * Ressha Sentai ToQger Vs. Kamen Rider Gaim Spring Vacation Combining Special
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Zangetsu
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Duke
 * Icon-kr.png Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen