Shinnosuke Tomari

"My brain cells are in Top Gear!"

- Shinnosuke's main catchphrase when he starts becoming focused

"Let's go for a ride!"

- Shinnosuke's declaration as a Kamen Rider before his fight

Shinnosuke Tomari (泊 進ノ介) is a former elite police officer and detective who lost all his motivation after he accidentally injured his partner during the catastrophic Global Freeze. Recent events, however, have slowly started to put his life back together again after he's placed into the Tokyo Special Unit.

After finding his resolve, Shinnosuke alongside Mr. Belt, his partner/manager Kiriko Shijima, and the Shift Cars, he fights against the Roidmudes as the warrior Drive (ドライブ). Once he hears of his predecessor's legacy as a Kamen Rider, he embraces the name Kamen Rider Drive (仮面ライダードライブ).

Pre-series
Shinnosuke's 24th birthday is stated to be on Christmas Eve 2014; placing his date of birth as 24th December 1990. His father was a police officer and explained to Shinnosuke the hardships of working as a cop.

Global Freeze
Six months prior to the series, during the "Global Freeze" incident, Shinnosuke and his partner Hayase were tracking criminals known as Neo-Shade. Earlier, he had a dream of what would happened in the future but never get himself to understand it. During that day, the public had received a hostage message from Neo-Shade demanding a large amount of money. With careful deduction, Shinnosuke had found out about the true criminal, the Copycat Pirate. The two are able to find his location and they confront him. The man is revealed to a talk show host, Koya Nishinori. Shinnosuke was about to arrest him before a sudden appearance of Roidmude 005. Nishinori runs, and unbeknownst to Shinnosuke, was captured and horrified by the monster. Shinnosuke finds and arrests Nishimori.

After receiving reports of Neo-Shade stationing themselves in a building while taking hostages, the two rushed to that building. During the evacuation, he ran passed through a policewoman that he would met months later. During Global Freeze, Shinnosuke and Hayase were chasing down a couple of criminals, the Neo-Shade. Hayase was cornered in between a flammable generator and one of the two criminals. Panicking, Shinnosuke pulled out his gun and tried to aim at the criminal, but due to the Slowdown effect, he accidentally shot the generator, causing it to explode and in the process, causing some pipes to collapse. As he tried to save Hayase from the falling pipes, the Slowdown effect happened once again, causing him to be unable to save his partner from being crushed. Shinnosuke thus lost his motivation as a police officer, and was transferred to a special investigations unit.

Inheriting the Kamen Rider Name
A slack-off police officer, Shinnosuke is sent to investigate a "Heavy Acceleration" case involving Roidmude 029. Shinnosuke realizes he's fighting a monster, so the Drive Driver gives him the ability to transform into Drive. By utilizing his Tire Exchanges, he defeats Roidmude 029. With the sudden return of Roidmude 029, Shinnosuke theorizes that his powers are connected to the Roidmudes. Visiting his injured partner Hayase, Shinnosuke receives encouragement from the latter and realizes the truth of the victims left behind by Roidmude 029. As Drive, he destroyed Roidmude 029 permanently with the latter calling him a "Kamen Rider". In a heated discussion with Kiriko and Shinnosuke in the background, Mr. Belt approves of the naming scheme of Kamen Rider, thus dubbing Drive as "Kamen Rider Drive".

The Arrival of Reaper and Kiriko's Past
Later on, Shinnosuke in a case about humans turning into data to be applied onto paintings, he learns that Kiriko was traumatized like him during Global Freeze. He also learns of the previous Drive before him, Proto-Drive, who saved Kiriko from the Roidmude who attempted to turn her into data. Shinnosuke destroys Roidmude 084 and has a confrontation against Mashin Chaser, before retreating. Roidmude 010 is later destroyed by Driver's new armament, the Handle-Ken alongside the Shift Car: Dream Vegas.

Learning What a Warrior Has to Fight for and the Birth of Type Wild
Afterwards, Roidmudes start to attack food trucks, led by the Crush Roidmude. Shinnosuke tries to fight them with Rumble Dump, but the incompatibility with Type Speed prevents him from finishing them off. Shinnosuke continues the investigation, feeling good about the Special Unit's recognition as well as his status as a Kamen Rider. He vows to protect the food trucks and their drivers from getting hurt, especially to Font-R. However, he is constantly interrupted by Mashin Chaser, who says he is a fool and that mankind is evil after gaining knowledge. This is proven later on when, during a confrontation with Chaser, he finds out Font-R has been smuggling explosives. Discouraged by this revelation, he is unable to transform into Type Wild, and is thus beaten by Crush and Chase, and then poisoned by Brain.

Shinnosuke somehow escapes and survives with the help of the Shift Car: Mad Doctor, granting him the ability to sustain himself from the poison's power. When the Special Unit is shut down, Shinnosuke learns that the Superintendent shut it down to cover his tracks as well as being paid to remove further investigation on the Font-R President. Shinnosuke manages to reveal this treason and confronts both Mashin Chaser and Crush. Shinnosuke reveals that he fights people not in the name of justice, but simply to protect others. Using Type Wild and the Shift Car Rumble Dump, he easily defeats Chase and also destroys Crush. He also learns that Rinna is the technician behind Drive's armaments.

Reuniting The Separated Bond of the Depressed Photographer
Shinnosuke found himself followed by Kenta Takasugi, a news reporter/photographer whom seek the Special Investigation Unit's help, believing that he would also get Drive's help. As he revealed, several under construction buildings created by Kaishima City Construction company had been mysteriously collapsed. His friend, Kusaka, took photos of these and witnessing Scooper Roidmude, the one whom responsible for this. As stated by him, a year ago, both him and Kusaka were gathering evidences of Kaishima City Constructions company for their shoddy constructions. But their report was accused for fraud and their mentor quit the newspaper office to ensure their innocence. Knowing which building he would stationing next and the next one to be demolished, the three tracked Kusaka and the Roidmude. Drive managed to overpower Scooper but Chase interferes with Kiriko saving Shinnosuke from nearly died of his attack. Shinnosuke quickly raced to Scooper and Kusaka's next target, the International Sports Stadium. He was stopped midway again by Chase but managed to escaped thanks to the freshly made Door-Ju. Using that same weapon, he outmatched Scooper and finally killing him.

The Mysterious Fire Case and the Cool Technic
Shinnosuke is introduced with the new three Shift Cars. One of them is Technic for accessing Type Technic. Krim states that to perform Type Technic, Shinnosuke has to be cool. However, Shinnosuke mistakes about being cool by acting cool, rendering him to become Type Technic.

The Past of Krim Steinbelt
Shinnosuke soon engage again in the Dark Christmas Eve. When he searched for the non-finished novel, Chase appears to challenge him for his secret goal to obtain his memory. However, Heart interrupts, forcing the cower Krim to order for Shinnosuke to retreat. Depressed, Shinnosuke asks why. And soon, Krim tells him his past.

The Non-ending Unholy Night, Chaser's Number, and the New General, Medic
Shinnosuke faces Heart while on the way to back to the base. Due to his recklessness, he is injured badly. By the help of Genma, he finally able to search for the revived Volt. In the end, he finishes Volt with SpeedDrop, but without his notice, Volt's other plan is not just for Dark Eve, but also to revive the sealed Roidmude, Medic.

The Arrival of the New White Rider, Kiriko's Brother?!
A new case which mysteriously caused by the human, even though there is a Heaviness. During investigation, Shinnosuke is countered by a non-stop stunt acting young man, claiming himself to be a freelance photographer and challenges Shinnosuke to capture the Roidmude first. Soon, Shinnosuke learns the Roidmude, only to have his battle interrupted by the young man. He transforms into a Kamen Rider, introducing himself as Kamen Rider Mach. After the battle end, he is revealed to be Go Shijima, Kiriko's brother.

As a Kamen Rider, Go's movements are stated to be not noble by Shinnosuke, until he learns the truth. In the end, Shinnosuke reconciles with Go and accepted the "big brother" title given to him.

The Truth of The Proto-Drive's Fate
Shinnosuke receives a job to guard a model who is bullied by a Roidmude who calls a truce with the stalker of the model. During the job, Chase intervenes but with his non usual emotions for his sake to search for his lost memory. Soon, Chase, Shinnosuke, Go, and Kiriko are shocked to learn the truth of Chase that he is the first Kamen Rider Drive after Chase is shocked to learn that his machine is able to combine with Go's machine out of his will. This truth also gives Chase more shock. Soon, after continuing the case, Shinnosuke become hesitate to defeat Chase after he was rebooted by Medic.

Marriage scam incidents and wrath of Dead Heat
When investigating a marriage scam incident and battling Voice Roidmude and his minions, Shinnosuke found Go beaten by a newly healed Heart. Having no choice, he forced himself to use the unfinished Shift Dead Heat and defeated Heart along with killing two of Voice's lackeys. With the Drive system gone haywire, Drive pleads with Go to stop him.

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
After Lupin sent a challenge letter to the police, Shinnosuke as Drive must defeat him quickly, after the thief was discovered to be Krim's abandoned Roidmude body, Cyberoid ZZZ. He teamed up with Gaim afterwards to defeat ZZZ Megahex.

Super Hero Taisen GP
Due to a timeline alteration by Shocker in 1973, Shinnosuke, the Special Unit Police Force, along with most of the Riders who were heroes become brainwashed villains into doing Shocker's dirty work into capturing the Rider resistance, which only leaves Blade in being captured, Kotaro still being BLACK and resisting Shocker's reign. Yuto and Go are still the same prior to the timeline alteration, and the alteration results in the existence of Kamen Rider 3.

Personality
Shinnosuke was once an elite officer within the force with his partner Hayase, known for his great police work. He inherited his sense of justice from his father, who said police officers have the heaviest burden of all: protecting the people. Ironically, during this time, he had a problem of being TOO passionate with his work, often getting dangerously close to pummeling criminals to a pulp unnecessarily.

However, after accidentally injuring his partner, he turned into the very opposite of his former self: Constantly running off to laze around, and more often seen eating milk balls than actually working. Because of this, even after assuming the guise of Drive, he has yet to fully recover back into what he refers to as "top gear", remaining aloof and takes situations and other matters lightly.

Under his aloof attitude and lazy facade is a man who holds a strong bearing of justice. Shinnosuke refuses to see people around him be hurt and shifts himself and his brain into "high gear", reverting to his former self. His appearance while under this attitude is often shown with him straightening his tie. However, this attitude adjustment is temporary and he will revert back to his normal lazy self. If he feels particularly demotivated, his tie will mysteriously undo itself for him.

He would often say "I'm done thinking about it!" whenever he's come to a conclusion. Whether these conclusions are helpful (throwing away his hesitation to help people) or not (forgetting his problems to continue lazing around) is a matter of luck.

As Drive, Shinnosuke has the archetype of a proud, snarky superhero, creating puns or bantering his opponent when he has the opportunity, apparently toying with his opponents. Similar to Faiz, he would often close his right hand and flick it open as a hand gesture.

When particularly spirited to fight a Roidmude, he will lean on one leg and say "Let's go for a ride!" (ひとっ走り付き合えよ！)

Types
Kamen Rider Drive's forms are called Types (タイプ). Some Shift Cars alter the suit based on a certain attribute, whereas other Shift Cars arm Drive with a certain element or weapon, by changing the tire on Drive's suit for a Tire Exchange (タイヤ交換). These two types of Shift Cars can be used in conjunction with each other, but some Tires can only work with certain body Types.

After turning the Advanced Ignition on the Drive Driver, Drive can perform one of two actions in each Type: Lifting the Shift Car placed within the Shift Brace between one and three times initiates either a special ability or an attack, while pressing the Igniter on the Shift Brace and lifting the Shift Car once unleashes the Type's Full Throttle (フルスロットル) finishing move.

Kamen Rider Drive's ending theme is entitled "Don't lose your mind".

Equipment

 * Core Driviars - Main power source for Drive's gear

Devices

 * Drive Driver - Belt-based transformation device
 * Shift Brace - Bracelet-based transformation device
 * Shift Cars - Gives access to Drive's forms and powers, depending on which car is used. They also allow Shinnosuke/Drive to move normally during a Slowdown.

Weapons

 * Handle-Ken - Drive's sword weapon
 * Door-Ju - Drive's gun weapon
 * Trailer Cannon - Drive Type Formula's personal weapon
 * Tire Specific Items - Weapons that come from certain Shift Cars:
 * Justice Cage - Drive's jail cell-based item via the Justice Hunter Tire
 * Drum Shields - Drive's slot machine wheel-based items via the Dream Vegas Tire
 * Monster - Drive's car boot-based items via the Massive Monster Tire
 * Rumble Smasher - Drive's drill-based item via the Rumble Dump Tire
 * Cure Quicker - Drive's first aid kit-based item via the Mad Doctor Tire
 * Capture Hook - Drive's winch-based item via the Hooking Wrecker Tire
 * Ladder Expander - Drive's ladder-based item via the Fire Braver Tire
 * 10-ton Weight - Drive's weight-based item via the Rolling Gravity Tire
 * Frostreamer - Drive's disc-based item via the Road Winter Tire.
 * Musou Saber - One of Drive Type Fruits' personal weapons
 * Daidaimaru - One of Drive Type Fruits' personal weapons

Vehicles

 * Tridoron - Drive's Rider Machine

Portrayal
Shinnosuke Tomari is portrayed by Ryoma Takeuchi (竹内 涼真)

As Kamen Rider Drive, his suit actor is Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二) who has been the suit actor for the majority of leading Heisei Kamen Riders (except Kuuga and Hibiki).

Rider No.
As the leading Rider protagonist of Kamen Rider Drive, Drive is labeled Kamen Rider #31 (仮面ライダー31号) and Heisei Rider #16 (平成ライダー16号).

As noted by producer Shinichiro Shirakura in the run-up to the release of Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai, with the 15 Showa Riders and then 15 Heisei Riders facing off being "the point in which Heisei has finally aligned with Showa and in which both are equal", Drive, as the Rider following Gaim, marks the point where "Heisei Rider history will actually surpass Showa, making it a massive turning point for the whole franchise's history".