Taiga Hanaya

Taiga Hanaya (花家 大我) is Kamen Rider Snipe (仮面ライダースナイプ). He is an unlicensed doctor, who was once a member of the radiology department at the Seito University Hospital and the original Kamen Rider for CR. Losing his medical license after failing to save a patient, Taiga now collects Rider Gashats to became the rumored "Super Doctor". He is also known as the "Doctor of Darkness" (闇のドクター).

Past
Taiga was originally a radiologist for the Seito University Hospital. At the time of Zero Day, he was chosen to be a Kamen Rider for CR. Over time, Taiga became obsessed with the power of the Gashats. Taiga fell from grace after failing to defeat Graphite, a Bugster that spawned from Saki Momose. Taiga's defeat cost Saki her life, and cost Taiga his medical license. Saki's boyfriend, Hiiro Kagami, held a grudge against Taiga, blaming him for Saki's death.

Second Bugster Outbreak
Taiga observed Ex-Aid's first fight against the Bugster from afar, using a rifle scope as a telescope. He then mimicked shooting Ex-Aid.

He purchased his own Gamer Driver and Bang Bang Shooting Gashat from the Genm Corp. with large piles of cash. When complimented by Kuroto Dan, he simply said that Dan need a large amount of money to make new games.

Debut As Snipe
Sometime later, Taiga was confronted by Graphite. Before Taiga could transform to fight, Parad appeared, warning Graphite against doing something rash and making a bet with Taiga.

By chance, Taiga overheard Emu trying to confront one of his patients, a boy named Yuki who was infected with Bugster. Taiga's presence aggravated Yuki due to the latter's iatrophobia, activating the giant Bugster. Taiga transformed into Snipe Level 1 and quickly extracted the Bugster, Revolve, from Yuki before proceeding to fight the virus. However, Yuki's fear of doctors was only heightened, and Revolve's strength multiplied. Despite Ex-Aid's protest, Snipe continued fighting. After finishing off more of Revolve's troops, Taiga confronted Emu, noticing his personality change as Ex-Aid and saying that they'll play again.

Emu found Taiga in an abandoned hospital, the latter expecting the former. Taiga refused to stay out of Yuki's case, saying he would do what he wanted to do, and his only concern was to collect all 10 Gashats to gain the power to destroy Bugster permanently. Taiga proposed a wager: the two would fight to see who could defeat Revolve first, the prize being the other Rider's Gashat.

As Taiga expected, the Bugsters breached the hospital trying to get him and Emu. Taiga handled several Busgters bare-handed before transforming into Snipe Level 2, beginning the challenge between him and Ex-Aid. However, Brave intervened by attacking Snipe. Their fight stopped momentarily when Ex-Aid and Brave reminds them of Revolve, the priority target.

Snipe is able to avoid getting damaged, but Brave and Ex-Aid are brought to almost Game Over by Revolve clones generated by the stronger Revolve. Nevertheless, Taiga remains calm, finishing the Real Revolve using Bang Bang Critical Finish after Ex-Aid defeats the clones.

After the battle, Taiga claims the Mighty Action X Gashat, telling Emu mockingly that he's open for a rematch if he wants it back, that is, if he can transform.

Soon after, Taiga was approached in his hospital by coroner Kiriya Kujo, the latter asking about a duel. Kiriya brought him to the latest Bugster patient, Yoshitaka Nishiwaki, who was being monitored by CR, and was quickly overtaken by the Motors Bugster. Agreeing to duel for each others Gashat, Taiga and Kiriya transformed into Snipe and Lazer Level 1, respectively, and began fighting the Bugster.

Eventually, they were able to extract the Bugster. However, Brave entered the fight and kept Snipe from chasing after the Bugster, which allowed Lazer to steal the Mighty Action X Gashat for Emu. Brave and Snipe continued to fight until they were interrupted by the black Ex-Aid, who depleted their health bars using the Sports Gamer before disappearing. Taiga admitted his curiosity before stumbling away.

The Stolen Gashats
Kuroto consulted Taiga and Kiriya (behind CR's back) after the four new Gashats were stolen, giving them the special stethoscopes to aid them. Taiga agreed to take back the Gashats, but warned the CEO that he would be keeping any Gashats he found for himself.

He eventually found the Gekitotsu Robots Gashat and Collabos Bugster at a university, requesting a fight with the other three Riders for the Gashat. The black Ex-Aid appeared again, this time in Level 3, promising to take out all the Riders. Brave and Snipe transformed to fight the Bugster, while Lazer went after the black Ex-Aid. Despite their best efforts, the Riders were overwhelmed, although Snipe was able to keep fighting.

Personality
Taiga is a bitter man with an arrogant and very selfish personality due of the incident on Zero Day. He holds no concern for victims of the Bugsters or protecting them: he cares only for collecting Gashats. He'll use anything to win, as shown as when he personally bought his Gamer Driver & Bang Bang Shooting Gashat back from Kuroto Dan & took Emu's Mighty Action X Gashat after the battle with the Revolve Bugster. He will take any opportunity possible to obtain additional Gashats.

Taiga's end goal is to gain all ten Gashats to eradicate the Bugster and finish what he started on Zero Day. He especially holds a grudge against Graphite, who cost him his medical license and his credibility as a doctor. His hatred of the Bugster overshadows any concern for a patient's well-being. For him, the battles are competitions with his fellow Riders. (Ex. Escalating a child's fear of doctors by continuing to battle despite Emu's pleas not to scare him.)

He seems to be well-informed, as shown when he approached Kuroto Dan to buy a Driver and Gashat because he knows Kuroto needs funding for his new games. He also has a tendency to monitor the situation using a rifle scope (Hence his rider name, Snipe).

Despite willing to use dirty tactics to win, Taiga does have a sense of fair play as he did not try to take Emu's Gashat by force, nor did he think that Kiriya Kujo would take the Mighty Action X Gashat from him before even winning their bet.

Abilites

 * Hand-to-Hand Combat: Taiga has shown himself to be a skilled fighter, being able to easily take on Bugster viruses as a civilian.
 * Marksmanship: Taiga had a huge proficiency while using his Gashacon Magnum, able to shoot the well-hidden Revolve.

Devices

 * Gamer Driver - Transformation device
 * Rider Gashat - Transformation trinkets
 * Kimewaza Slot Holder - Carrier strap for the Rider Gashats
 * Combat Gamer - Snipe's Support Robot
 * Hunter Gamer - Snipe's Level 4 and Level 5's support robot.

Weapons

 * Gashacon Magnum - Standard sidearm weapon.

Portrayal
Taiga Hanaya is portrayed by Ukyo Matsumoto (松本 享恭). As Kamen Rider Snipe, his suit actor is Satoshi Fujita (藤田 慧) in Level 1 and Eitoku (永徳) in Level 2.