Takatora Kureshima

"Yggdrasill holds the fate of the world in its hands. I will secure humanity's future."

- Takatora explaining his importance

Takatora Kureshima (呉島 貴虎) is Kamen Rider Zangetsu (仮面ライダー斬月 [ザンゲツ]) later Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin (仮面ライダー斬月 真 [ザンゲツ シン]).

He is Mitsuzane Kureshima's older brother, who is a project leader in the Research and Development branch the Yggdrasill Corporation owned by his father.

Origin
At some point prior to the beginning of the story, he was given the Melon Lockseed and a Sengoku Driver, enabling him to transform into Zangetsu.

Helheim Forest Investigation
Takatora was first seen as Zangetsu, rescuing his men from the a bunch of Elementary Inves during their investigation in the Helheim Forest. He later appears in his normal identity in a company limo watching the broadcast about Armored Rider Gaim before taking out his Melon Lockseed while issuing the order to investigate Helheim Forest.

His brother education
As Mitsuzane secretly walked towards his room, Takatora asked him why he came home late. Mitsuzane replied that his cram school was doing extra sessions. Both of them have a conversation as Takatora reminds Mitsuzane to cast away any distraction that may disturb his education. Mitsuzane replied to his brother that his life is nothing but a distraction much to Takatora's surprise. As Mitsuzane went to his room, Takatora receives a call about the two Armored Riders in Helheim Forest.

Attack On Gaim
He appeared as Zangetsu in the forest by throwing a Lockseed, which is eaten by a Elementary Inves. The Inves then transform into Shika Inves. After Shika Inves defeated by Gaim, Takatora attacks him mercilessly, convincing Gaim of the true nature of the Armored Rider battles and mocking him by asking him that his Sengoku Driver was no good to evil.

Revealing his secret


Mitsuzane walks across the hallway and sees Takatora's Sengoku Driver and two other lockseeds. Takatora then calls Mitsuzane for a conversation about his education. Takatora then leaves to take a phone call. Once he finishes he realizes he is in a hurry and goes to work, not knowing that Mitsuzane knows more than he realizes. It's not until when Gaim uses the Suika Lockseed that Takatora realizes that he was missing it. Sid suspects Mitsuzane, but Takatora thinks it is impossible. Later, he goes to a factory to exterminate some Inves. He also sends his troops to burn the the place, due to there is some Helheim Forest's plants were growing in the factory. Unknown to him, Kota and Mitch already saw what they already done and Mitch suspects the white Armored Rider is his brother, due to the Rider's faceplate. Takatora then meets Ryoma to talks about the new model. Though Ryoma said that the new model would be dangerous, Takatora said he would use the new model as he and Yggdrasill Corporation is holding humanity's future.

Attack On Armored Riders
Takatora then receives a message that Armored Riders are entering the Helheim Forest in bulk, which got him mad about Sid giving them all access to Lockvehicles. He then goes to the floor where there is the portal to the Helheim Forest. Takatora then transforms into Zangetsu and gets ready for battle.

Before entering, Ryoma tells Zangetsu not to damage the Sengoku Driver, while fighting the Armored Riders. In the forest, he have fought almost all Armored Riders, even Ryugen without knowing that Ryugen is Mitsuzane. After he manage to defeat the Armored Riders, Zangetsu ordered his troops to sent the defeated Riders back to the real world. While fighting Kurokage, he accidentally damages his Sengoku Driver and tries to contact his troops. As Takatora returns to the real world, the researchers thought that he fought the Inveses in the real world.

Inves Outbreak Part 2, Testing the Genesis Driver
Takatora tests the Genesis Driver in a simulation and easily defeats the Kurokage troopers. After the testing, Ryoma enters the room and tells him the features of the new belt. He then asks Takatora about the Inves Game, which he reply that he will teach the Beat Riders a lesson and show them reality.

While Takatora and his subordinates are having trouble with the citizens will blame Yggdrasill for the events, so they are planning to close the Beat Rider staging and frame the Beat Riders. Takatora goes to the Charmant to hire Oren, when he realizes that Oren is really useful in actuality to be Yggdrasill's rightful enforcer, such as capturing Gaim and Baron. He is soon fighting an Azure Dragon Inves whose Kouta and Kaito looking for at the industrial site, and tells them he will deal with them later once he destroy the evolved Inves. Upon getting ready to battle Gaim and Baron, Hase appears and eats the premature Lockseed due blinded for having more power, which change him into an Inves, having the three Riders shocked.

Possible Future
In a possible future, Zangetsu, with Ryugen by his side and his army of Inves and Suika Arms Armored Riders behind him, watched the battle between Gaim and Baron's armies.

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, brutally attacks him despite Kota having no intention to fight him to make his point - that power given by the Lockseeds and Sengoku Driver is no game, letting Kota go after clearly being the winner.

Arms
Like the other Armored Riders, Kamen Rider Zangetsu/Zangetsu-Shin's forms are called Arms (アームズ).

Equipment

 * Transformation devices:
 * Sengoku Driver - As Zangetsu
 * Genesis Driver - As Zangetsu Shin
 * Side weapons:
 * Musou Saber - As Zangetsu
 * Sonic Arrow - As Zangetsu Shin
 * Lockseed-exclusive weapons:
 * Melon Defender - Zangetsu Melon Arms' personal weapon
 * Rocket Module - Zangetsu Fourze Arms' personal weapon
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Zangetsu/Zangetsu Shin's form changes, depending on which arm the lock is

Quotes

 * "Those layabout street rats contribute nothing meaningful to society" - Takatora on the other Riders.
 * "My own brother?! It can't be!... No... it's impossible!" - Takatora shocks hearing from Sid that his brother is the one who stole his Suika Lockseed to Gaim, but disbelieved it.
 * "I can't believe that trash saved my employees" - Takatora after he had exited Helheim Forest and finding out that Gaim had saved his employees from the Inves invasion.

List of Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 2, 4-12
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale

Portrayal
Takatora Kureshima is portrayed by Yuki Kubota (久保田 悠来), who previously portrayed Kakashi in Garo: Soukoku no Maryu.

As Kamen Rider Zangetsu, 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.