Emu Hojo

"I'll clear this with No Continues!"

- Ex-Aid's proclamation before the battle

Emu Hojo (宝生 永夢) is one of the main characters and the main protagonist of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. He is a trainee in pediatrics working at Seito University Hospital and a genius video gamer who goes by the alias M. He was given a Gamer Driver and the Mighty Action X Gashat by Asuna Karino to become Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (仮面ライダーエグゼイド) and destroy the Bugster viruses, to save his patient's life.

Past
When he was only eight years old, Emu was involved in an accident, leaving him critically injured. After receiving emergency surgery, Emu was given an handheld video game device by one of the doctors as a reward for hanging on. This event would inspire Emu to become a doctor and help children like the one who saved him.

Emu would later on win numerous gaming tournaments under the gaming alias of M, earning the interest of Asuna Karino as a potential candidate for using the Gamer Driver.

Becoming Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
Emu went on to become a pediatrics intern at Seito University Hospital. One of his patients, Sota Suyama, refused to be treated for his unknown illness and attempted to escape. While trying to catch Sota, Emu ran into Asuna, who was bringing the Gamer Driver while searching for M. When Sota suddenly collapsed, Emu and Asuna noticed unusual lumps emerging from the boy's neck. Not explaining Sota's condition to Emu, Asuna had the latter bring Sota with her to CR. Much to Emu's surprise, the hospital director Haima Kagami was there as well, ordering the intern to stay out. However, Emu disobeyed, hoping to make Sota feel better by bringing him to the release of the Mighty Action X game. Asuna ran into Emu and Sota at the game (believing that M would be at the press release), much to her frustration. However, when she tried to bring Sota back, he suddenly howled in pain and transformed into a monster. Emu finally got Asuna to explain Sota's condition: he was infected by Bugster a computer virus threatening humanity, which could only be stopped by someone capable of using the Gamer Driver and destroying the virus. Determined to save his patient, Emu took the driver (and the accompanying Mighty Action X Gashat) without permission. Much to Asuna's surprise, not only was Emu able to become a Kamen Rider and extract the Salty Bugster from Sota, but he was, in fact, the gamer she was looking for. After transforming into Level 2, Emu defeated the Bugster, saving Sota's life. After checking on the boy, Asuna finally allowed Emu to access CR, and revealed her identity as Kamen Rider navigator, Poppi Pipopapo. She christened Emu as Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, and stated that he must become the super doctor to save humanity from Bugster.

The Rival and The New Rider, Brave
Shortly after getting acquainted with CR and reaquainted with Kagami, Emu met Hiiro Kagami, Kagami's son and a genius surgeon, who was working at a prestigious American hospital before being called back to the fight the Bugster as Kamen Rider Brave. Hiiro wasted no time in patronizing and antagonizing Emu, saying the latter's presence was a "No thank you". This caused Emu to doubt his worth to CR. Emu's inexperience became apparent while handling the next patient, Rensuke Natori. Emu went to Level 2 immediately, not realizing he needed to be in Level 1 to extract the Bugster. The Aranbura Bugster was quickly extracted by Brave, but both Ex-Aid and Brave were attacked by the mysterious Kamen Rider Genm, allowing the Bugster to escape and leaving Rensuke in critical condition. Emu was bewildered and disgusted by Hiiro's callous approach to patients: seeing them as just things to fix, and was more concerned with eating cake than Rensuke's well-being.

Hoping to buy time by reducing Rensuke's stress, Emu went to Rensuke's ex-fiancé, Asami, to find out why she called off the wedding. Their discussion led them to the church planned for the ceremony, where they were attacked by the Bugster. Emu transformed into Ex-Aid Level 1, but the Aranbura Bugster threatened to kill Asami if he changed to Level 2. Ex-Aid and Asami were saved by Brave's interference, and the two Riders managed to defeat the Bugster (Brave finished off the Aranbura Bugster). Emu's actions helped Rensuke and Asami restore their engagement. The incident prompted Emu to stay in CR, as he wasn't willing to leave patients in the hands of a doctor who didn't care about them.

Team-Up with Ghost
Searching for the Shakariki Sports Gashat which he needed to save the world, Ex-Aid arrived to fight a pack of Bugster Viruses which were being fought by Kamen Rider Ghost in defense of Ayumu, the mysterious boy who held the Gashat. Mistaken for an enemy by Ghost, whose friends had been attacked by his doppelganger, Ex-Aid found himself attacked but was quickly able to reason with his fellow Rider as he explained that he wished to save lives - the most important thing of all - by changing fate, a sentiment which was respected by Ghost. Alongside Ghost, Ex-Aid tended to Ayumu as they were attacked by his doppelganger, Kamen Rider Genm, who took the Gashat before leaving as soon as he came. Ghost apologized but Ex-Aid assured him that it was alright for now as Ayumu was safe. After defeating a further horde of Bugster Viruses together, Ex-Aid predicted to Takeru that they would meet again soon before leaving him an Ex-Aid Ghost Eyecon as a gift as he took his leave, with Takeru noting that he had connected to another person's feelings.

Personality
Emu Hojo is a very clumsy and yet a serious doctor to take on his job. However, his thirst for playing video games has a problem of Emu being absentminded at times. An example of this is he sometimes fails to remember his work schedule properly and it makes the nurses scold him.

As "M", his alias that he uses when playing video games, he shows a completely different side of himself. He displays a focused, calmer, and more confident demeanor. His Grammatical person also changes from 僕 into 俺, proving to be extremely skillful at video games, to the point where he has come to be known as the "genius gamer" who never leaves any game unfinished. This carries over to his battles as Ex-Aid, as his knowledge of video games has proven to be a definite advantage in his battles.

As a doctor, Emu invests himself in the well-being of his patient, hoping to help them both physically and personally. This helps Emu to understand the reason for his patient infection, but also hinders him if the enemy is smart enough to threat the patient life.

Abilities

 * Skilled Gamer: Emu is a masterful gamer, particularly in terms of platform gaming.

Devices

 * Gamer Driver - Transformation device.
 * Rider Gashat - Transformation trinkets.
 * Kimewaza Slot Holder - Carrier strap for the Rider Gashats.
 * Robots Gamer - Ex-Aid's Support Robot.

Weaopns

 * Gashacon Breaker - Standard sidearm weapon, can be a hammer or a sword.
 * Gashacon Key Slasher - Double Action Gamer Level X(X)'s personal weapon.

Vehicles

 * Kamen Rider Lazer Bike Gamer Level 2 - Lazer's Rider Machine Mode that Ex-Aid can use to ride.

Ghost Eyecon
This Eyecon makes an appearance in the finale of Kamen Rider Ghost.

Portrayal
Emu Hojo is portrayed by Hiroki Iijima (飯島 寛騎). As a child, Emu is portrayed by Rai Takahashi (髙橋 來). As Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, his suit actor is Satoshi Fujita (藤田 慧) in Level 1 and Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二) in Level 2.

Appearances

 * Icon-ghost.png Kamen Rider Ghost
 * Kamen Rider Ghost the Movie: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost's Fateful Moment
 * Episode 50/Finale: Final Story (Special Edition): Future! Connected Thoughts!
 * Icon-exaid.png Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
 * Episode 1: I'm a Kamen Rider!
 * Episode 2: Another Prodigy with No Thank You?
 * Episode 3: BANG, That Jerk is Coming!
 * Episode 4: An Operation Called Dash!
 * Episode 5: Everyone Gathers for a Clashing Crash!
 * Episode 6: A Hollow Beating in the Heart!
 * Kamen Rider Ex-Aid "Tricks": Virtual Operations
 * Episode 1: Ex-Aid Chapter
 * Icon-ghost.png Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider