Kamen Rider

, translated as Masked Rider, is a weekly sci-fi story created by renowned Japanese mangaka. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV (now TV Asahi). A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine around the same period. The series has spawned many sequels and evolved into a franchise which is still going after 3 decades. The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura naming two minor planets in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1, and 12796 Kamenrider, after the series, itself.

Synopsis
(in episodes 14~52, the name Takeshi Hongo was replaced by Hayato Ichimonji).

The story took place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious terrorist organization. To assist its plan in world domination, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning them into mutant Cyborgs and, ultimately, Brainwashing them. However, one of the victims was rescued just before the final step, and his name was. With his sanity and moral conscience remaining intact, Hongo assumed the identity of the grasshopper-looking superhero Kamen Rider and battled Shocker with his newly acquired powers.

Films

 * 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider - movie version of Episode 13

The Shocker Organization sends two of its cyborg freaks to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into a lizard kaijin capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant.


 * 1972: Kamen Rider versus Shocker

has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, the Shocker Organization wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidōji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.


 * 1972: Kamen Rider versus Ambassador Hell

Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Eminent Chief Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Jigoku tells Kamen Rider 1 and Taki that the Shocker Organization is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions.


 * 2005: Kamen Rider The First - premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2 in a 21st Century setting.


 * 2007: Kamen Rider The Next - premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.

Manga
Many manga based on the original Masked Rider series have been published, but only the following few were penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself:


 * 1971: Masked Rider
 * 1971: Masked Rider - a remake
 * 1979: Masked Rider (Storyboard)

The original manga published in 1971 diverged from the plot of the television series in several ways. In the manga, Hongo was outnumbered by twelve Shocker Riders (as opposed to six in the television series) and was subsequently killed. Hayato Ichimonji, one of the twelve Shocker Riders, received a head injury during the fight and regained his conscience as a result. He then turned against Shocker and succeeded Hongo's role as Kamen Rider. However, Hongo was resurrected near the end of the manga story.

Main characters
Riders
 * - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98
 * - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98

Allies
 * - mentor
 * - FBI agent

Cast

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Crew

 * Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Scriptwriters: Masaru Igami, Moriichi Ichikawa, Masayuki Shimada, Mari Takizawa, Hisashi Yamazaki, Takao Chouseki, Masashi Tsukada, Takeo Oono, Fumio Ishimori, Seirou Suzuki, Takayuki Hasegawa, Kimio Hirayama, Minoru Yamada, Gorou Okeya, Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Directors: Hirokazu Takemoto, Itaru Orita, Hidetoshi Kitamura, Minoru Yamada, Kazukuri Uchida, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Masashi Tsukada, Shotaro Ishinomori, Atsuo Kumanaka
 * Photographer: Osamigi Yamamoto
 * Illumination: Kouosamu Oota
 * Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Mokuo Mikami
 * Editing: Ayaki Sugeno (Onkyou Teruhiro)
 * Recording: Mari Fujinami
 * Assistant Director: Masashi Tsukada
 * Costume Designer: Tokyo Designs
 * Technician: Kazutoshi Takahashi
 * Line Chief: Teruo Itou
 * Production Charge: Okusouhei Matono
 * Sound Recording: Katsushi Ota (Onkyou Teruhiro)
 * Development: Toei Chemistry
 * Cooperation: Muromachi Racing Group

Songs

 * Opening themes
 * Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Hiroshi Fujioka with
 * Episodes: 1-13
 * Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
 * Episodes: 14-88
 * Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon
 * Episodes: 89–98
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon
 * Episodes: 89–98


 * Ending themes
 * Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
 * Episodes: 1–71
 * Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon
 * Episodes: 72–88
 * Lyrics: Mamoru Tanaka
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon
 * Episodes: 89–98
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Masato Shimon
 * Episodes: 89–98

Legacy
The Kamen Rider original series produced a great number of spin-offs which remain in production today. Several Kamen Rider (franchise) series were aired in Japan after the first Kamen Rider finished. After Kamen Rider BLACK ended production in 1989, the series was put on hold. There were occasional releases of Riders such as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J. After original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death, the Kamen Rider franchise was restarted in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga. Since then Kamen Rider has become popular again and has a strong fanbase across Asia in countries such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. As of 2008, eighteen Kamen Rider series have been made, with the latest series, Kamen Rider Kiva airing since January 27.

As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First.