Shiro Kazami (reboot)


 * For the original version, see Shiro Kazami

Shiro Kazami (風見 志郎), who appears in the reboot movie Kamen Rider The Next (2007), sequel to Kamen Rider The First (2005), is an alternate version of the original Shiro Kazami from the original Kamen Rider V3 TV series.



Biography
In the movie Kamen Rider The Next, Kazami is rewritten as the former president of the rising IT enterprise ExaStream, being among those in the building to be infected by the nanobots designed by Shocker to turn any infected person into a cyborg. Being one of the two surviving members, Kazami is enticed by the promise of power, code named Hopper Version 3. Unlike Riders 1 and 2, V3's body was modeled around using the nano-technology that grants greater abilities that far surpass the original Hopper design. Eventually, Shiro becomes so deeply corrupted by his new power to the point he has forgotten Chiharu. He encounters Takeshi Hongo when he and his student Kotomi Kikuma were investigating the disappearance of Chiharu, learning of his ties to Shocker after revealing the horrible events relating to his sister.

Though at a ceasefire, Kazami realizes that Chiharu was used also exposed to the nano-tech and suffered intense dibilitating side effects that led to her supposed suicide, with her "ghost" murdering everyone who hears her final song "Plantium Smile" as those trying to cover up her death. Deciding to honor his sister's wish for her fate not to be anyone else's, Kazami joins the Riders as V3 to stop Shocker's plans to remodel all of Japan using nanomachines. But once he destorys the nanbots, Kazami encounters his sister Chiharu, who through a combination of the nanomachines and severe damage from a attempted suicide has mutated into a horrific monster. Ultimately, as the process she underwent is irreversible, he has no choice but to free her from her pain, using his V3 Punch to end her life. Soon after, Shiro decides to start his life fresh like Hongo has.

Portrayal
This version of Shiro Kazami was portrayed by Kazuki Kato (加藤 和樹). Kazuki Kato previously played Daisuke Kazama/Kamen Rider Drake in Kamen Rider Kabuto. Interestingly, both V3 and Drake follow dragonfly motifs. As Kamen Rider V3, his suit actor was Makoto Ito (伊藤 慎).