Haruto Soma

Haruto Soma (操真 晴人), alternatively spelt Haruto Souma, is a former professional soccer player who was subjected to The Sabbath and became Wizard (ウィザード) after holding on to his inner Phantom. Throughout his time as Wizard, he was called Ringed Magician (指輪の魔法使い) and Magician of Hope (希望の魔法使い), but later inherited the name Kamen Rider Wizard (仮面ライダーウィザード) after meeting his predecessors.

Biography
During his childhood, Haruto's parents were badly injured during a car crash. In this event, he made a promise to keep his hope alive, saving his own life as an adolescent when he was one of the first few Gates sacrificed during a solar eclipse. Subjected to the Sabbath, pro-soccer player Haruto manages to keep his inner phantom WizarDragon from emerging by facing despair head on. As a result, he obtains magical powers. Being the only one to survive the eclipse, The White Wizard entrusted Koyomi to Haruto and receives a WizarDriver and the Flame Ring. Haruto then hunts down Phantoms as Wizard, seeking to prevent others from falling into despair, and to protect his and their hope.

Haruto later comes to the aid of Kamen Riders Fourze and Meteor. It is during that battle that he inherits the name of Kamen Rider, naming himself Kamen Rider Wizard.

Along his journey, Haruto becomes allies with amateur magician Shunpei Nara, police officer Rinko Daimon, and Yu Kamimura. Helping to stop the Phantom outbreaks with his friends, he learns to tap more into his mana pool and more of WizarDragon's power, allowing him to assume improved forms of his normal ones called Dragon Styles of either the Fire, Water, Wind, or Earth elements. Creating the Drago Timer from his raw mana, Haruto is able generate three copies of himself, all assuming the upgraded Wizard Dragon Style Forms at the expense of draining his mana. Later he meets mayonnaise-lover Kamen Rider Beast, Kosuke Nitoh, which they form an alliance and prevent outbreaks together. Haruto then later learns how to tap into his power in it's purest form rather than channeling it through the rings supplied to him by Sou Fueki. From his own tears, he creates the Infinity Wizard Ring, allowing him to access his final form, Infinity Style.

Haruto later finds Koyomi kidnapped by a Golden wizard, Sorcerer, who uses Koyomi as a catalyst to rewrite the world. Arriving at the new world, it is inhabited by not users of technology, but rather users of magic, using mana as an equivalent to currency. Haruto, through a long tedious process, gains the support of this world's counterparts of Wajima, Rinko, and Shunpei, who all can access the form Kamen Rider Mage, and defeats Sorcerer in a one-on-one match, sending both Haruto and Koyomi home.

Later finding out the true purpose of The Sabbath (to revive Koyomi), Haruto resolves to stop The Sabbath from occurring once again. Clashing with The White Wizard, Sou Fueki, the two enter a deadlock, fighting over Koyomi. However, Koyomi and Sou are both killed by Gremlin. Later defeating Gremlin, Haruto travels the world alone with Koyomi's entity becoming one with the Hope Wizard Ring.

Finding himself coming to someone's cry for help, he is sent to the World within the Magic Stone, aiding the other Kamen Riders, and the alternate Haruto. Teaming up with Gaim, he is able to stop this world's crisis. He gives the young boy his Infinity Wizard Ring, allowing the alternate Haruto to summon him into his world whenever he needs him.

Later, Haruto faces the Ogre Phantom, creating a copy of Koyomi from his Hope Wizard Ring, armed with the White Wizard's power. Calming the copy of Koyomi, she is allowed to rest in peace. However, Ogre uses Legion's attack to slash through Haruto and enters his Underworld (causing him to fall into despair). Through Shunpei's Chichin Pui Pui Wizard Ring, Haruto is able manifest his will (Rider form) outside of his physical body. Traveling into his own Underworld, he manages to overpower the Phantom. When questioned how he is so strong, Haruto refers to himself as the Wizard of Hope (希望の魔法使い). After defeating the Ogre Phantom, Haruto gives the Hope Ring to the Koyomi that resides in his Underworld. In the aftermath, Kosuke is absorbed by the Nepenthes Monster who runs through a Crack. Arriving in the Sengoku Period World, Haruto inherits the Infinity Wizard Ring from Ieyasu, which originally belonged to Kamen Rider Bujin Wizard. Teaming up with the Armored Riders, they defeat Bujin Gaim. After the fight between Bujin Gaim and the Nepenthes Monster, Kosuke and Haruto return back to the main world.

Kamen Rider Taisen
"Stop this! Using my own lingering attachment for her, Koyomi was brought back as an evil wizard."

- Haruto pleads for Takumi to let go of his desire to bring Kusaka back. Wizard is one of the surviving Riders in the battle between Heisei and Showa. He fights Riderman, defeating each other at the same time and transforming into their Lockseeds. Gaim is soon left as the last Rider standing before Ambassador Darkness of the Badan Empire reveals himself to be Ryo Murasame (Kamen Rider ZX). Together, they restore the other Riders and all 30 Kamen Riders defeat the Badan Empire. After battling the Badan Empire, Hongo stated that their battle wasn't over as the Rider War continues. However the Showa Riders admit their defeat after seeing Gaim protecting a flower as they would congratulate the young Riders. Sometime later, Haruto was seen somewhere eating his plain sugar donut.

Due to the timeline alteration caused by Shocker, Haruto became one of the brainwashed Riders in that timeline, donning the name of Shocker Rider Wizard. Wizard was one of several Shocker Riders who volunteered in the Rider Grand Prix under Shocker Rider 3, who had been personally challenged by Kamen Rider Drive. Just ahead of Drive's Tridoron, Wizard used the Big Wizard Ring to enlarge his hand and flick at Drive, followed by the Bind Ring to constrict him, only for Drive to break through with his Shift Tires and surpass Wizard. Wizard was ultimately knocked out of the race alongside Shouichi Tsugami as his Machinewinger was struck by missiles fired by Rider 3's TriCyclone. Though Wizard himself was retrieved by the Mad Doctor Shift Tire brought forth by the heroic Drive, he fell short of the Top 2 in which Drive prevailed over Rider 3.

Once Rider 3 was integrated into the Great Leader of Shocker's Rider Robo form, Wizard was among the Riders who attacked the trio of Black RX, Faiz and Mach. Ultimately, the Double Riders 1 and 2 made their appearance having survived their apparent demise from within the Rider Robo, and broke Shocker's brainwashing on the fallen Riders, enabling all Riders to unite in a final battle against Shocker.

Surviving the onslaught of the History Modifying Machine, Wizard fought and destroyed Shocker's Phantom Phoenix with the Flame Kick Strike shortly before the Rider Robo was destroyed along with the machine by. Among the remaining Riders who witnessed the farewell of Kyoichiro Kuroi as the perversion of history was reversed, Wizard's place in history was restored.

Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider
Haruto approached the Next Genome Institute after teleporting Shinnosuke Tomari and his officers away from surrounding their base, claiming to be a party interested in joining them. Later, however, he led Drive, Ghost, and Ex-Aid straight to them, having only feigned an alliance to let the Riders in, Gaim arriving soon after. Appropriately engaging the dragon-motifed Doral Bugster, Wizard eventually defeated him through an an advancing succession of his Styles culminating in Infinity. Taking his leave after the destruction of Genomes brought about the fall of the Institute, Haruto resumed his travels, eating his usual plain sugar donuts on the way.

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid "Tricks": Kamen Rider Genm
Despite not appearing in the web-exclusive series, Wizard and 13 Heisei Riders were the projections of the Ganbarizing Critical Strike.

Chou Super Hero Taisen
Wizard Water Style fights as part of the Kamen Riders' Blue Warrior Team.

Kamen Rider Build: Be The One
Among the first 18 Heisei Riders, Wizard fought against numerous monsters in a melee briefly witnessed by Sento Kiryu before being caught in the crossfire as Kamen Rider Zi-O BuildArmor used his Vortex Time Break to wipe out his enemies.

Another Wizard
Haruto was briefly seen in Kamen Rider Zi-O. At some point the past, Haruto obtains the blank Ridewatch from Geiz which he later gave the device to Nitoh.

All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation 2
Haruto appears as Wizard Flame Style only. He can only be unlocked by password.

Kamen Rider: Super Climax Heroes
Haruto appears as the main characters selection of this game. He has three modes for fight: using all his Styles (exclude Dragon), using Flame Dragon only, and Flame Style only with the unique move available. He only has Flame and Hurricane Dragon. Hurricane Dragon only can be accessed while teamed up with another rider.

Kamen Rider Battride War
Kamen Rider Wizard appears as a Main Rider in the video game Kamen Rider: Battride War, which unites the riders of the Heisei era from Kuuga to Wizard.

Wizard functions as the protagonist of the game, being the first Rider to escape imprisonment and thus the one to begin the process of freeing the others. In game, Wizard has access to his Flame, Water, Hurricane, and Land Styles, with the Dragon styles of each appearing only as a powerful finishing move unlocked after leveling up. His Super Mode is All Dragon, which uses the abilities of the four Dragon Styles in its attacks. Unlike the other gun type riders (including their forms), Wizard's gun attacks can hit any other bosses.

Wizard's special attacks are: Wizard's Infinity Style also appears in the game, available as DLC. However, he is treated as a separate character with no connection to the default Wizard. He is still voiced by Shunya Shiraishi.
 * Flame Style: Big, Strike Wizard, Dragon Breath (as Flame Dragon)
 * Water Style: Bind, Light, Blizzard (as Water Dragon)
 * Hurricane Style: Extend, Slash Strike, Thunder (as Hurricane Dragon)
 * Land Style: Defend, Drill, Gravity (as Land Dragon)
 * All Dragon: All Dragon Wild, Dragon Dance, Blizzard, Thunder, Gravity
 * Infinity Style (separate DLC): Dragon Shining

His gameplay also similar to Devil May Cry's Dante, such as aerial attacks are rapid tap gun fire for original Wizard, and Million Slash (Million Stab like moves) for Wizard Infinity Style.

Kamen Rider Battride War II
Kamen Rider Wizard reappears in Kamen Rider: Battride War II, summoned by Cinema along with the other Neo-Heisei Riders in order to create the "ultimate movie". Wizard's stages are based off of Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land, with Kamen Rider Sorcerer as his main enemy; he also plays a role in Gaim's stages, which are based off of Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle and feature Bujin Gaim as the main antagonist.

In this game, Wizard is fully-integrated, whereas in the original Infinity Style was a separate DLC character. The player can choose whether to use All Dragon or Infinity as Wizard's Strongest Form, which also determines his Ultimate Form: if All Dragon is chosen, Wizard uses Special Rush from Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum, while choosing Infinity Style instead uses Infinity Dragon Gold.

Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis
Kamen Rider Wizard reappeared in Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis

Personality
"Plain Sugar!"

- His answer when asked what doughnut he wants to order. Haruto hides his true self under a lighter, easily-amused persona. While not showing much emotion on his face, he is far from stoic. He is quick to make deadpan snarks, mostly at the expense of Kosuke. Rarely, he can be seen swayed by a pretty girl.

He is greatly influenced the word "hope" ever since The White Wizard told him to become the wizard of hope. developing an optimistic personality and tends to never give in despair even in worst case scenarios.

His favorite food is plain sugar donuts and only eats them rather than other flavors, much to the manager's annoyance. He seems to take well to company as he doesn't have any complaints with Rinko and Shunpei joining them in their mission. Haruto believes stead-fastly that everyone deserves to be saved. He also refuses to give up hope no matter how dire the situation. This is most likely because of his parents last words to him to hold onto hope.

He's driven by near compulsion to stop the Phantoms and prevent anyone from falling into despair. He seems to be suffering from an acute case of survivor's guilt resulting from his parents car crash and his surviving the Sabbath. This further motivates his actions. Haruto doesn't seem to be able to forgive himself easily. He also prefers ignoring his past before becoming Wizard. Both are evident by his guilt over his friend's accident in soccer.

He however also shows a rather friendly side and will help out a fellow hero, Rider or not, as shown with the battle against Space Shocker he greatly admired the and formed a strong friendship with their leader,. He also fought alongside and.

Powers and Abilities

 * Football Proficiency: Prior becoming the infamous Wizard, Haruto was a professional soccer player, so he has an extent knowledge of soccer. Though he doesn't rely much on this skill due to a trauma from an unfortunate accident.


 * Phantom-Mana Channeling: After suppressing the WizarDragon in his body, Haruto can use magic to produce various phenomenons by utilizing the WizarDriver and Wizard Rings to an extent.

Weakness

 * WizarDragon: As an enslaved Phantom who acts as the source of Haruto's mana, WizarDragon also holds Haruto's lifeline, as its existence can greatly influence Haruto (or vice versa) depending on the abnormalities in it. When Haruto succumbs into despair again, WizarDragon can resurface as a free Phantom, killing Haruto in process. Or if WizarDragon's existence is eradicated within Haruto, he cannot use magic anymore.

Styles
Kamen Rider Wizard's forms are called Styles (スタイル). In any Style, Wizard uses a fighting style that mostly deals with a saber (Chinese dao), kicking, and acrobatics seen in Xtreme Martial Arts. This is to avoid punching so he wouldn't hurt himself due to his Wizard Rings.

After Haruto transforms into Kamen Rider Wizard, he says "Now, it's showtime!" (さあ、ショータイムだ!) And when Wizard executes one of his finishers, he says "The finale!" (フィナーレだ!).

Equipment

 * Mana - Main power source for Wizard's gear

Devices

 * WizarDriver - Transformation device
 * Wizard Rings - Gives access to Wizard's form changes and spells, depending on which style the ring is
 * Wizard Ring Holder - Carrier strap for Wizard's rings
 * Wizard Ring Box - Carrier chest for Wizard's rings
 * PlaMonsters - Wizard's familiars
 * Drago Timer - Wizard's wristwatch device

Weapons

 * WizarSwordGun - Wizard's primary weapon
 * AxCalibur - Wizard Infinity Style's weapon

Vehicles

 * Machinewinger - Wizard's Rider Machine

Portrayal
Haruto Soma is portrayed by Shunya Shiraishi (白石 隼也). As a child, Haruto is portrayed by Kaito Nakashima (中島 凱斗).

As Kamen Rider Wizard, 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). He has also been the suit actor of several including, ironically concerning Wizard,  of . His suit actor for extreme martial arts is Hideki Sugiguchi (杉口 秀樹). In Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle and Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai, his suit actor was Kazuya Okada (岡田 和也).

Rider No.
As the leading Rider protagonist of Kamen Rider Wizard, Haruto Soma (Kamen Rider Wizard) is labeled Kamen Rider #29 (仮面ライダー29号) and Heisei Rider #14 (平成ライダー14号).

Allusions

 * Haruto also has some similarities to Harry Dresden, protagonist of the Dresden Files series of urban fantasy novels by Jim Butcher. Both characters are magic-users with slick, somewhat smug personalities who protect innocent mortals in secret. Both men wear trenchcoats, primarily use fire-elemental magic, wield magic rings, and have a fondness for doughnuts. Likewise, both characters work with a no-nonsense policewoman (Rinko Daimon and Karrin Murphy) and have enthusiastic young apprentices (Shunpei Nara and Molly Carpenter).

Appearances

 * Icon-build.png Kamen Rider Build: Be The One
 * Icon-zi-o.png Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FOREVER