Ryoji Hase

"I am Armored Rider Kurokage."

- Hase as he named his Armored Rider name

"Armored Rider Kurokage! I swear to be victorious in this duel and be at the top of the rankings."

- Hase swears in his words that he will win in a Christmas Game.

Ryoji Hase (初瀬 亮二), more commonly referred to by his last name, was the leader of Team Raid Wild and used the Matsubokkuri Lockseed to become Kamen Rider Kurokage (仮面ライダー黒影 [クロカゲ]).

Beat Riders Saga
Ryoji Hase, a young man in the Inves Game challenges Kaito Kumon to gain territory for Team Raid Wild, however he is swiftly defeated by Kaito's three summoned Inves. Later, Hase along with Hideyasu Jonouchi join Kaito's team alliance, with Kaito being their Lockseed supplier. However, Hase and Jonouchi quickly realize that they're Kaito's pawn and break off the alliance after revealing the fact that they received a Sengoku Driver. Hase, now known as Armored Rider Kurokage backstabs Armored Rider Baron, defeating him in duo with Armored Rider Gridon. Though their victory is short-lived as Gaim manages to gain the upper hand against Kurokage. Ultimately, Hase loses and loses his Matsubokkuri Lockseed. Gaining another Matsubokkuri Lockseed, he trains with Jonouchi to become stronger, while enacting tactical strategies against a dummy. However, this training is proven useless as Oren Pierre Alfonzo challenges the two, defeating them without breaking a sweat.

Hase and Jonouchi become promotional sellers, having no income due to their losing streak in the Inves games. Suddenly, Hase gets a call from Kouta to participate in a new event that Team Gaim is hosting. The next day, Hase enters the Helheim Forest during the event and clashes with the "White Armored Rider", losing to him after the latter erupts in a rage due to Hase's persistant interference. As a result, Hase's Driver is damaged.

Yggdrasill Saga
"Why, why am I afraid, I just want my power back!"

- Hase as he received hallucinations of Inves, Zangetsu, and Bravo.

"Give me power once more!"

- Hase's last human moments before becoming the Hekija Inves.

After the Helheim Forest event, Hase attempts to return to normal, but discovers his Driver no longer works. After suffering a defeat to Kaito and losing the respect of his team members, Hase begins to feel powerless and paranoid, and starts to suffer from paranoid hallucinations of several Inves, Zangetsu, and Bravo. The paranoid Hase runs from these hallucinations before reaching the inside of a construction site. There, Hase happens upon a battle between Armored Riders Zangetsu-Shin, Gaim, Baron, and an Inves, which evolved after consuming one of the fruits nearby. Seeing the power the Inves gained after consuming the fruit of Helheim, he is drawn to the dangerous flora. Desperate for the power he once had, Hase bites into the fruit and painfully transforms into the Hekija Inves.

Hase's fate would have been swift if not for the intervention of Kouta Kazuraba, who stopped New-Generation Rider Zangetsu-Shin from putting the now-Inves Hase down. Hase ultimately becomes feral, however; after assuming his human form after a talk with Kouta, Hase charges into Drupers, and tries to satiate his now-ravenous appetite. Characteristic to all Inves, the fruit of Earth now taste appalling, and Hase goes on a rampage, injuring Team Gaim member Rat in the process. He eventually re-assumes his Inves form, and Kouta decides to put Hase out of his misery, but cannot bring himself to kill someone he still sees as human. Yggdrasill decides to make the decision for Kouta, and Hase meets his end at the hands of the man who gave him his first taste of power - Sid, A.K.A. New Generation Rider Sigurd.

Legacy
His legacy, along with Yuya's becomes a reference by most of the casts. Three months after the Earth is saved from Helheim invasion, his picture is soon stapled by Jonouchi, on the wall where the Yggdrasill Tower was being demolished, along with the pictures of Yggdrasill's casualties. His Kurokage form is soon used by Jonouchi to honor his death four months after.

Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!
Hase is revived through Lapis altering the world to be free of the Inves Invasion. However, Hase, Peko, and Zack end up dying when their minds are tempted to kill other Riders. His death prompts Oren to declare war on Yggdrasill, who he believes is the culprit behind their deaths. Hase returns when Kouta shoots Mars' horse, reviving the deceased Riders, joining up with him to defeat Kougane. However in the aftermath of the battle, the world is returned to normal, meaning Hase meets his original fate once more.

Personality
Unlike his former ally Jonouchi, Hase was much more hot-headed. This was shown when he battles Team Gaim, despite having no chance to win and almost declining Team Baron's offer for an alliance, with only Jonouchi stopping him.

However, in battle as Kurokage, Hase was much more confident and experienced than Jonouchi. However, he made rash decisions in battle like using Gridon as a human shield and pushing him toward the opponent to make an opening. Hase also had a bad habit of fighting whoever he saw, regardless of their fighting prowess (which ultimately caused the loss of his powers)

Hase also had some selfish traits; he gave Gridon his name (much to Jonouchi's irritation, who stated that he wanted a cooler one) and often abuses Jonouchi with his combat strategies. Although, Hase revealed that he wanted Jonouchi to be more confident in battle, showing that he did care somewhat about Jonouchi as a friend.

Upon his dance team abandoning him after his belt was destroyed by Zangetsu, Hase went insane, having hallucinations created by his fear and a delusional lust to regain the power he lost. He then decided the only way to regain his power was to eat one of the Lockseeds, resulting in his mutation into an Inves.

Arms
Like with the other Armored Riders, Kamen Rider Kurokage's forms are called Arms (アームズ). His Sengoku Driver plays Japanese horagai music and announces "Soiya" (ソイヤ) before every transformation, while his personal Lockseeds are styled with a mix of Japanese words and English words.

By pressing the Sengoku Driver's Cutting Blade down on the Lockseed after transforming from one to three times, Kurokage can activate one of three finishing moves based on his current Arms form: Squash (スカッシュ), Au Lait (オーレ), or Sparking (スパーキング).

Devices

 * Sengoku Driver - Transformation device, destroyed by Zangetsu
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Kurokage's Arms changes, depending on which lock is used

Weapons

 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms:
 * Kagematsu - Kurokage Matsubokkuri Arms' personal weapon
 * Donkachi - Kurokage Donguri Arms' personal weapon
 * Kurumi Bombers - Kurokage Kurumi Arms' personal weapons
 * Blay Rouzer - Kurokage Blade Arms' personal weapon

Vehicles

 * Lock Vehicles - Vehicles that unfold from special Lockseeds:
 * Sakura Hurricane - Kamen Rider Kurokage's Rider Machine

List of Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 2-7, 10-14, 37
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!

Portrayal
Ryoji Hase is portrayed by Atsushi Shiramata (白又 敦).

As Hekija Inves, he was voiced by Yuki Anai (穴井 勇輝).

As Kamen Rider Kurokage, his suit actor is Yasuhiko Imai (今井 靖彦), who is also the suit actor for Kamen Rider Bravo.

Legend Rider Lockseeds

 * The following Legend Rider Lockseeds are styled for Kurokage, as well as Gaim, Bujin Gaim, and Kamuro:
 * 1 - "Waza no Ichigō, Let's go!"
 * 2 - "Chikara no Nigō, Let's go!"
 * Riderman - "Kagakusha Met On!"
 * ZX - "Jūgō Cyborg Ninja!
 * Black - "Seiki Oh Black Sun!"
 * Shin - "Kaizou Heishi Level 3!"
 * J - "Shingeki Jumbo Formation!"
 * Shocker - "Jigoku no gundan on Parade! Eeeee!"
 * Great Leader - "Shihaisha of the World!"
 * Shocker Rider Number 1 - "Nise no Hero, Dead Go!"
 * Kabuto - "Ten no Michi My Way!"
 * Den-O - "Iza Climax!"
 * Den-O Climax Form - "Denkamori Climax!"
 * Decade - "Hakaisha on the Road!"
 * Skull - "Otoko-michi Hardboiled!"
 * Fourze - "Seishun Switch On!" (Despite being canonically used by Zangetsu)
 * Wizard - "Shabadoobi Showtime!"
 * Wizard Infinity Style - "Kirakira Infinity!"
 * Gaim - "Fruits Gaim/Yoroi Musha on Parade!"
 * Drive - "Hitotsu Hashiri Iza Together!"