Kouta Kazuraba

"Yuya..I'm going to move forward! So please, watch over me!"

- Kouta's resolve after receiving the Kachidoki Lockseed

Kouta Kazuraba (葛葉 紘汰), also known as Kota Kazuraba in different publications, is one of the main characters and the main protagonist as well as the titular character of the Kamen Rider Series installment, Kamen Rider Gaim. When he accidentally found the Sengoku Driver and a pair of Lockseeds (Orange and Ichigo), he gained the ability to transform into Armored Rider Gaim (アーマードライダー鎧武 [ガイム]). But by doing so, he was labeled Test Subject 01 by Ryoma Sengoku. During the events of Neverending Story, he inherits the name of Kamen Rider, naming himself Kamen Rider Gaim (仮面ライダー鎧武 [ガイム]).

Beat Riders Saga
When Kouta is called by Team Gaim's leader Yuya Sumii, who wants to show him something to help their team out. But finding Yuya no where while finding his old friend and former teammate Mai, Kouta instead finds a portal to a mysterious forest. There, Kouta finds a mysterious belt and ends up using it with a freshly ripened Lock Seed to fight an Inves that followed him and Mai to their reality. Learning the belt is a Sengoku Driver that Yuya bought from the mysterious Lock Seed Dealer Sid, using it to destroy the attacking Inves, Kouta attempts to figure out a means to best use his new ability. It is only after an Inves Game between him and Team Baron's Kaito Kumon ends badly with his summoned Inves going on a rampage that Kouta sees his purpose and transforms into Kamen Rider Gaim to stop the monster. This event spreads across the city, earning Kouta the name of "Armored Rider Gaim" as he decides to help Team Gaim as an official member in Yuya's stead. However, Kouta finds more five more Armored Riders appearing in Zawame with his Team Gaim team mate Mitsuzane becoming their group's primary Armored Rider Ryugen so he would not focus his life around them.

Kouta appears during the Kamen Rider Wizard Finale. Summoned by Haruto and assuming the Orange Arms, Gaim helps Kamen Rider Wizard and Haruto against Amadum's minions. Later, he is summoned once more by Haruto, this time, joining forces with all his other titular predecessors and inheriting the name of Kamen Rider Gaim. After this event, the Beat Riders have a dance off in a stadium filled with tons of fans, competing against each other. However, the Nephenthes Inhumanoid attacks, causing Ryugen, Baron, and Gaim to follow it into a Crack. Realizing that they are in a different world, Kouta and Mitsuzane are recruited by Ieyasu, becoming his replacement "Bujins" after his Bujin Wizard died. However, Ryugen was swallowed and "killed" by the Nephenthes Inhumanoid. Meeting up with Haruto, he recognizes Kouta from the events of the Wizard finale. Kouta has a showdown with Baron due to Kaito's unwillingness to aid the remaining Riders to stop Bujin Gaim. Gaim, Baron, Wizard, and Zangetsu damage the Nephenthes Inhumanoid and frees Mitsuzane and Kosuke. Gaim then sees the Mysterious Girl, creating a path of Helheim fruits behind her. He plucks the fruit, resonating with the Wizard Flame Ring, creating the Wizard Lockseed. Using the power of the Wizard Lockseed, Gaim and Wizard attack Bujin Gaim. In the core of the tree, the two are met by all the Bujin Riders, giving them an increased power as Gaim and Wizard then destroys Bujin Gaim. In the aftermath, the group goes home, leaving the Sengoku Period World and the Heilheim Forest, resuming their tournament.

Eventually, Kouta and Mitsuzane set up a new Inves Games that takes place within the Inves' home called, Helheim Forest. During this event, Kouta and Mitsuzane manage to persuade the other Armored Rider teams to participate as a distraction (unknown to them) so that Kouta can investigate the humans present in the forest and the "White Armored Rider". From the games, Kouta learns that the Armored Riders are guinea pigs for the Yggdrasill Corporation and that the Sengoku Drivers feedback data to Yggdrasill. Learning that Sid has been using Kouta and the other Armored Riders, Kouta tells Sid that he isn't a rat in their maze. Kouta, along with Team Gaim later dance off during their Christmas event with Kouta reminiscing about being an adult and that one doesn't become one because they want to, but rather it just happens.

Yggdrasill Saga
Kouta finds himself along with the Beat Riders becoming scapegoats as more and more Inves naturally find their way to Zawame City. Kouta sees one of these rampant Inves and chases after it, but he is stopped by Armored Rider Bravo. After a scuffle with Armored Rider Bravo, Kaito comes to the aid of Kouta and they both manage to defeat him. Kouta and Kaito finds the Inves being overpowered by "New Generation Rider Zangetsu Shin" and sees the Inves defeated without the Rider breaking a sweat. Hase, in the area, eats an immature fruit, causing him to turn into an Inves. Kouta chases after Hase, trying to help Hase reclaim his humanity before Hase is destroyed by Sid, now under the alias "New Generation Rider Sigurd," despite Kouta's pleas for him to spare Hase.

Kouta and Kaito, stripped of their Sengoku Drivers, meet its creator, Ryoma Sengoku. However, In Kouta's cell, Kouta finds himself receiving a Lemon Energy Lock Seed and a Genesis Core from DJ Sagara. Later, due to his status as a Beat Rider, he is unable to find a job until the Beat Riders' public reputation restored. Kouta then faces off against Armored Rider Bravo after realizing that Yggdrasill has pinned his sister as a target in hopes of reclaiming his Sengoku Driver once more. Kouta, now assuming Jimber Lemon Arms, is able to overpower Bravo and faces off against "New Generation Rider Malika". In the aftermath of the fight, Kouta along with a majority of the Beat Riders, have a dance show and officially drop the Inves Games to get their image back. Kouta protects the Beat Riders when Oren comes to sabotage it. However, after defeating Oren, Kouta is attacked by New Generation Rider Duke and is easily defeated, despite the two both utilizing the Lemon Energy Lockseed.

After his match against Duke, Kouta, along with Kaito infiltrate the forest once more and battles against Zangetsu Shin who easily defeats him. As Takatora shows Kouta the truth of Helheim, he finds himself questioning what he should do. It isn't until Sid reveals that Yggdrasill plans to cull humanity does Kouta realize that he must stop Yggdrasill, defeating Sigurd and taking his Cherry Energy Lock Seed.

After learning about Project Ark from Ryoma Sengoku, Kouta swipes Yoko's Peach Energy Lockseed, running off in his Lock Vehicle, combating dozens of Kurokage Troopers. Making it through the crack, Kouta invades the Yggdrasill headquarters from inside, clashing with Takatora physically and figuratively has a struggle between ideals. However, Kouta is stopped by Takatora who proceeds to break the boy's spirit by revealing that the first Inves he killed was actually Yuya.

Helheim Saga
While he is still trying to figure out what to do with the relevation that he killed Yuya, DJ Sagara approaches him and tells him his new purpose should be in destroying the cruel, iron rule of the world that the Yggdrasill Corporation is following in order to change the world for the better, rather than allow them to cull humanity. To achieve this goal, DJ Sagara creates the Kachidoki Lock Seed and gives it to Kouta. Kouta, donning the Kachidoki Arms is able to take on an armada of Kurokage Troopers, trade blows with Zangetsu Shin, and is able to destroy the Scalar Weapons that threaten Zawame City.

Kouta, now aware of the Overlords' existence, seeks to find them. As Kouta enters the Helheim Civilization Ruins, he is confronted by the two Overlords. The latter only views Kouta as a toy after centuries of boredom, despite Kouta's intention to talk to them to prevent the invasion of his world. Later after the confrontation with the Overlords, Kouta reveals to Mai the burden he has to carry, endangering Mai as she puts herself on the front lines to reveal Yggdrasill's secret.

In another attempt to seek the Overlords in hopes of convincing them to stop the invasion of Helheim, Kouta breaks up the deadlock battle between Deemushu and an Lemon-Energy Arms Baron. While arguing with Kaito about fighting the Overlords and how humanity could be saved or destroyed. Kouta, as Gaim, activates the Kachidoki Lockseed intending to stop Kaito, however, Kouta is intercepted by a shot from Ryugen before the Kachidoki Armor Part can drop down and shield him from any incoming attacks. Later after awakening in a tree, Kouta teams up with a lost Oren and later Takatora against an enraged Deemushu. Deemushu escapes, but Kouta finally befriends Takatora as the latter views this as another way to save humanity than do Project Ark.

At this point, Kouta is hired by Bando as the defender of the city as an occupation. Later lured to a delivery to a construction site, he is attacked by Zangetsu Shin. Kaito aids Kouta, but Kouta, erupts in anger, stopping the two from fighting by assuming the Kachidoki Arms, throwing down his Kachidoki Bata in anger at "Takatora's" betrayal. Kouta in a fit of rage, mercilessly over kills an Inves summoned by Zangetsu Shin with a Kachidoki Charge. In a rematch against Zangetsu Shin, he is aided by Baron and Deemushu unexpectedly, causing a free for all battle between Baron, Sigurd, Gaim, Zangetsu Shin, and Deemushu. The battles ensues causing, Gaim, Baron, and Deemushu to attack Zangetsu Shin, then later switching targets to Sigurd and so forth. The battle ends when Deemushu jumps into a crack leading to Zawame.

Other Appearances
Kouta appears in the Spring Break special with Ressha Sentai ToQger. Kouta joins forces with the ToQgers and sends Mai off with them so that she will be safe and away from Zawame City. This special serves as the prelude to the Kamen Rider Taisen film. Timeline-wise, this event takes place between after Kouta receives the Kachidoki Lockseed, but before Kouta's first encounter with the Overlords.

Kamen Rider Batton-Line
to be added

Kamen Rider Travelers Record
Gaim appears with the rest of the Primary and Secondary Neo Heisei Riders.

Kamen Rider: Battride War II
Gaim is set to appear with Kachidoki Arms as his final form in the new Battride War. Gaku Sano returns to voice his character in the game.

Personality
Kouta is a cheerful person who concerns himself with helping and protecting everyone and due to this, "protecting people" is his very reason in fighting when it comes to his duty as a Armored Rider. This is shown when he rescues the Yggdrasill Corporation scientists from a horde of Elementary Inves despite holding a grudge against them for using the Beat Riders dance crews and their Inves Games as tests and lab rats (this also includes the Armored Riders).

Still learning to live as an adult, his world view is very limited and as such, he is very naive and can be oblivious to consequences and the price that comes with having great power. He does not have any interest in battling other Riders, or anyone if he can avoid it for the matter and decides that he and other Riders should use their powers to save humanity.

Initially due to his inexperience and naivete, he foolishly and recklessly used the power of Gaim for his own personal gain such as using it for his part-time jobs (and failed spectacularly to boot) and battling at the Inves Games. As such back then, he regarded himself as nothing more than being lucky to have found the Sengoku Driver and saw the whole thing as little more than a game. But after a short encounter with Zangetsu, Kouta felt stressed and traumatized but recovered and realized the price that comes with such power.

However, during the course of the series, Kouta undergoes numerous changes, becoming a lot more assertive and serious when it comes to innocent lives being taken. Although his naivete has yet to change, he views himself more than what he was before. Because of this confidence in him, he resolves to become stronger and stronger. When he clashes ideals against Takatora during their second encounter, his resolve and beliefs overpower Takatora, however, Kouta undergoes a breakdown after realizing Yuya died by his hands destroying his beliefs along with him.

However, Kouta isn't without dark moments. After defeating Sid in a fit of rage realizing that Yggdrasill intends to cull humanity, he intended to take Sid out after his transformation was canceled if it were not for Ryugen summoning an Inves to save Sid. However, since the realization of Yuya's death, Kouta resolves not to kill and not to have unnecessary bloodshed. This is most evident when he had multiple opportunities to kill Sid when trying to find the Overlords along with killing Yoko Minato after he canceled out her transformation when he was in Kachidoki Arms. In both scenarios, he showed restraint and moved on to more important matters at hand. Along this fact, he tried to cancel the fight between Deemushu and Baron and later the fight between Zangetsu Shin (Mitsuzane) and Lemon Energy Arms Baron (Kaito).

Arms
Like his fellow Lockseed-using Armored Riders, Kamen Rider Gaim's forms are called Arms (アームズ). With the exception of Suika Arms, all of his Japanese Samurai, Ninja, and Shogun-themed Arms' helmets share the title Kabuto (カブト), while his visors are called Pulp Eye (パルプアイ).

Devices

 * Sengoku Driver - Transformation device
 * Removable slots for additional Lockseeds:
 * Genesis Core - Essential to access a Jimber Arms
 * Senyo/Gunyo Joint - Essential to access Kiwami Arms
 * Musou Saber - Side weapon
 * Arms Weapons:
 * Daidaimaru - Gaim Orange Arms and Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Pine Iron - Gaim Pine Arms' personal weapon
 * Ichigo Kunai - Gaim Ichigo Arms' personal weapons
 * Suika Sojinto - Gaim Suika Arms' personal weapon in Yoroi Mode
 * Banaspear - Gaim Banana Arms and Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Sonic Arrow - Gaim's personal weapon in a Jimber Arms and Kiwami Arms
 * DJ Gun - Gaim Kachidoki Arms and Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Mango Punisher - Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Budou Ryuhou - Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Donkachi - Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Kagematsu - Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapon
 * Duri Noko - Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * WizarSwordGun - Gaim Wizard Arms' personal weapon
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Gaim's form changes, depending on which arm the lock is

Vehicles

 * Sakura Hurricane - Gaim's Rider Machine
 * Dandeliner - Gaim's second Rider Machine, loses it during the the battle against Bujin Gaim. Receives another one from DJ Sagara.
 * Tulip Hopper - Gaim's third Rider Machine.

List of Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 1-28
 * Kamen Rider Wizard
 * Episode 52: The Kamen Rider Rings (debut)
 * Episode 53: Neverending Story
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale
 * Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai
 * Ressha Sentai ToQger Vs. Kamen Rider Gaim Spring Vacation Combining Special

Portrayal
Kouta Kazuraba is portrayed by Gaku Sano (佐野 岳), 2011 Junon Super Boy Contest Grand Prix winner. Sano said that he grew up wishing he could be the character from Kamen Rider Kuuga, and now that he will portray Kamen Rider Gaim which he hopes that he will inspire a new generation of boys.

As Kamen Rider Gaim, 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).

Behind the scenes

 * Kouta is the first Primary Rider since Tsukasa Kadoya who does not make his debut as a cameo appearance in the Summer Movie of his predecessor, instead debuting in the final episodes of that series.
 * Kouta's name in publications is both Kota and Kouta. As of recent publications, his name is now written as Kouta, while in earlier publications, he was written as Kota.
 * It's sort of amusing how Kazuraba has a set of Lockseed Arms associated with the strawberry, with the fruit's name in Japanese being "Ichigo".
 * "Ichigo" can be read as "Number 1" when the "go" kana is given an elongation, the name of the very first Kamen Rider, Takeshi Hongo.
 * Gaim would face off against #1 in Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai, and also using the Showa Rider Lockseed to assume an Arms based on Rider #1. Thus, Gaim has two Ichigo Arms; "Strawberry Arms" and "#1 Arms". Coincidentally, Gaim also assumes the Strawberry Ichigo Arms during the movie.
 * Splitting the two words "Ichi" and "Go" lead to the numbers "1" and "5", as in 15; Kazuraba is the main Rider of the 15th Kamen Rider Heisei Series since the revival with Kamen Rider Kuuga.
 * Additionally, the Ichigo Lockseed was first seen in episode 1, while Ichigo Arms made its debut in the episode 5.
 * Adding the numbers together also yields its LS number, 06.
 * As the fifteenth leading Heisei Rider, the Heisei era now equals the Showa era in main Riders, as Kamen Rider J is officially considered the 15th Showa-Era Kamen Rider. Thus, Gaim is also the 30th main Rider overall.
 * While Suika Arms resembles a Musha Gundam, it's single red optic is more reminiscent of Zeon mobile suits.
 * In a similar vein, Kachidoki Arms' design resembles a lot like Sengoku Astray Gundam, as they have a similar head and shoulder armor design.
 * Gaim's Sengoku Jidai motif mirrors, the Samurai who was actually born and raised during the Warring States Period in , Gaim's first Super Hero Time partner.
 * Before him, there was the Shinkengers, who appeared in the World of Shinkenger in a crossover two-episode arc with Kamen Rider Decade, although their motif was just traditional samurai, not a specific part of Japan's history.
 * The Ichigo Arms is similar to that of a ninja, making it the first explicit ninja Rider motif since Kamen Rider ZX.
 * The back of Kouta's Team Gaim jacket has a picture which consists of a samurai that resembles Kamen Rider Gaim's Orange Arms.
 * His suit design is similar to Kotaro Nogami/Kamen Rider New Den-O.
 * Gaim's transformation, along with the other Riders' transformations is similar to the Kamen Rider Den-O series' Riders in that his basic form is briefly glimpsed before the armor forms.
 * Kouta's first transformation occurs without him saying "Henshin" first, similar to Yusuke Godai when he willingly transformed into Kuuga Growing Form for the first time.
 * Kouta is the first Neo-Heisei Kamen Rider to reveal his transformation to someone close to him; in this case, his sister.
 * Kouta's birthday is revealed to be January 30. Like Kaito, he is 20 years old. With a text message placing the first episode as having taken place on its airdate, October 6th 2013, Kouta's birth year would be 1993.
 * In real life, Kouta's actor, Gaku Sano was born on April 3rd, 1992.
 * Gaim's Jimber Arms serve the same purpose as Kamen Rider Kuuga's Rising Forms and Kamen Rider Wizard's Dragon Styles, as upgrades for the base form. Also, each of the Jimber Arms' abilities and finishers share a visual similarity to a past Rider:
 * Jimber Lemon Arms' Sonic Volley finisher is visually similar to Kamen Rider Blade King Form's Royal Straight Flush and Kamen Rider Decade's Dimension Shoot.
 * The start up of Jimber Lemon Arms' Burai Kick is also similar to Kamen Rider Chalice's Spinning Dance.
 * Jimber Cherry Arms' super speed ability is visually similar to Kamen Rider Faiz Axel Form's Start Up and Kamen Rider Kabuto's Clock Up.
 * Jimber Peach Arms' enhanced hearing ability is visually similar to Kamen Rider Kuuga Pegasus Form.
 * The evolution of Gaim's Super Form (Kachidoki Arms) to Final Form (Kiwami Arms) is similar to Kamen Rider Agito who assumed his Super Form (Burning Form) before evolving it into his Final Form, Shining Form.
 * Gaim's Kachidoki Arms' battle catchphrase "Iza, shutsujin!" is similar to the battle catchphrase "Iza, mairu!"  from , as both catchprases are references to battlecries used by the ancient Feudal samurai to lead their armies to the battlefield.

Legend Rider Lockseeds

 * In addition to the Wizard Lockseed, the following toyline-exclusive Legend Rider Lockseeds are also styled for Gaim, as well as Kurokage:
 * #1
 * #2
 * Riderman
 * ZX
 * Black
 * Shin
 * J
 * Shocker
 * Kabuto
 * Den-O
 * Den-O Climax Form
 * Decade
 * Fourze (Despite being canonically used by Zangetsu)
 * Gaim