Thread:Gokyr586/@comment-4762852-20161026232313

While reading a book, I found something interesting. I wrote it down, so here's what I have. From the book Japanese Animation From Painted Scrolls to Pokemon by Brigitte Koyama-Richard, page 95.

B.K.R: The book that retraces your career opens with the creation of Kamen Rider, in 1970.

Watanabe Yoshinori: Yes, we needed to find a program for the Saturday 7:30pm to 8pm slot that would attract a large number of viewers, so we created this series. I suggested using heroes on motorbikes and having them wear this grasshopper mask. We asked Ishinomori Shotaro, who to my mind was one of the greatest mangaka. He could draw anything, in very different genres, which is extremely rare indeed.

B.K-R: In your opinion, what was new about this series and what sparked the craze we have known in both Japan and abroad.

W. Y.: I would say that is the way the characters metamorphose. It was the first time a hero could be transformed. I had the idea when looking at books on a shelf. Kafka’s work, Metamorphosis, caught my eye and I realized that this would be the perfect solution. I then thought that to make the metamorphosis more spectacular, the heroes would need some kind of gesture that would stick in people’s minds. I therefore suggested styling this on gestures of a kabuki actor when he comes onstage after crossing the hanamichi (flower way). He performs what is known as “roppo”, which is a kind of dance, by making large movements with his arms and legs. For greater impact, I asked the actors to shout out “Henshin!” when they carried out these actions. 