Kouta Kazuraba

"This power exists to protect those who can't fight!"

- Kouta's unwavering resolve to stop Demushu

"It doesn't matter who's on my side! I'm still protecting the same people! Even if I completely change in the end!"

- Kouta talks to Redyue

Kouta Kazuraba (葛葉 紘汰), also written 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 finds the Sengoku Driver, he accidentally converts the Fruits of Helheim into a pair of Lockseeds  (Orange and Ichigo) and gains the ability to transform into Armored Rider Gaim (アーマードライダー鎧武 [ガイム]), a name given to him by DJ Sagara due to his affiliation with Team Gaim (チーム鎧武). By doing so, he was labeled Test Subject 01 by Ryoma Sengoku.

Later helping out the fourteen previous Kamen Riders, he inherits the name of Kamen Rider, becoming Kamen Rider Gaim (仮面ライダー鎧武 [ガイム]). However, it isn't until the Showa Rider vs Heisei Rider conflict does Kamen Rider 1 acknowledge him as a true Kamen Rider. For a short period, Kouta becomes Kouta-Yami (紘汰-闇) after being corrupted by Kougane.

In episode 40, after escaping from Redyue's illusion, his Over Lord powers from part of the Forbidden Fruit's power in Kiwami Arms are awakened. After accepting the Forbidden Fruit, he evolves into a new form, referred to by DJ Sagara as the Man of the Beginning (始まりの男).

Beat Riders Saga
'The following contains Kouta's history during the Beat Riders Saga. Click the expand button and read at your own risk.'

"Looking back on it, that was when the gears were just starting to turn. But, we didn't realize anything at all. We didn't know that our fates were already written in stone. We just wanted the power to reach our dreams. We thought that help shape us. That's what we all believed. In the endless war that was yet to come. We would discover that for ourselves."

- Kouta looking back on his actions and looking back at all of his friends and rivals

Kouta, a young adult, was called by Team Gaim's leader, Yuya Sumii, who wants to show him something that can help their team. However, Kouta is unable to find his old friend and is pulled into a mysterious forest with his former teammate, Mai. There, Kouta finds a mysterious belt and using it with a freshly ripened Lockseed to fight an Inves that targets him and Mai. Quickly, Kouta realizes that the Sengoku Driver is not a toy after his near-death experience with Zangetsu. Trying to find a means to put the belt to its best use, Kouta uses his newfound powers to battle Inves in the Inves Games, earning Kouta the name of "Armored Rider Gaim" as he becomes Team Gaim's official member in Yuya's stead.

 

Eventually, Kouta and Mitsuzane set up a new Inves Game that takes place within the Helheim Forest to lure out the puppet master behind the Sengoku Drivers and to uncover the identity and intentions of the White Armored Rider. 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 & Helheim Saga
'The following contains Kouta's history during the Yggdrasill Saga and the Helheim Saga. Click the expand button and read at your own risk.'

"What good is a future bought with the lives of that many innocent people? Don't be stupid! You can't bring hope in exchange for that kind of sacrifice! You'll just bring them despair instead!"

- Kouta clashes ideals with Takatora

Kouta finds himself along with his fellow Beat Riders as scapegoats for the rampant Inves attacks as they naturally find their way to Zawame City. Kouta is unable to save those who are injured by these Inves and struggles with killing a human-turned Inves and former rival, Ryoji Hase. Stripped of his Sengoku Driver alongside Kaito, he meets Ryoma Sengoku, the belt's creator. Later in Kouta's cell, Kouta receives the recognition and admiration of DJ Sagara and is granted the Lemon Energy Lockseed and Genesis Core. While combating Yggdrasill's efforts to take back the Prototype Sengoku Driver.

  

Kouta helps restore the Beat Riders' name by assuming his newfound powers, Jimber Arms, and learns the truth of the Helheim Forest and what Yggdrasill has in store for Zawame City. As Kouta wins and steals the Cherry Energy and the Peach Energy Lockseeds, he finds himself clashing with Zangetsu Shin and has a struggle between ideals of what's best for humanity. However, Takatora reveals to Kouta that his ideals are a contradiction as Kouta discovers that when he discovered the Sengoku Driver, he killed the friend he was looking for, Yuya Sumii, a human-turned Inves.

   

"I...I've been fighting because I couldn't live with what Yggdrasill was doing. But I did exactly the same thing. I claimed I was protecting people, but I had to sacrifice others to do it. Then what am I fighting for? Just to decide who would be saved and who would have to go? Can you call that protecting at all?"

- Kouta's conversation with DJ Sagara who reveals himself in Kouta's time of need

While he is still trying to figure out what to do with the revelation that he killed Yuya, Kouta's spirit is shattered along with the ideals borrowed from both Mai. Entrusted by DJ Sagara, Kouta receives the Kachidoki Lockseed along with a new purpose, to destroy the iron rule of the world. Through his newfound purpose, Kouta annihilates an armada of Kurokage Troopers and is able to trade blows with Zangetsu Shin. He ultimately destroys the Scalar Weapons that threaten Zawame City.

Later he is forced to reveal what he has been hiding from Mai, thinking he no longer has the right to be near Team Gaim and his friends. However to his shock, Mai comforts Kouta, telling him that he doesn't need to keep the burden to himself and that she's there for him. Gaining a job at Drupers, Mai does his shifts for him as the two start to spend more time with each other. In one of these times spent together, the two find a robot by the name of Jiro. Kouta lets Jiro stay at his apartment showing Jiro that they need to protect people. However, Jiro is overwhelmed by two conflicting processes and wishes to protect those he cares about and wants to regain his lost memories. Kouta reboots Jiro, allowing Jiro to regain his lost memories and become Kikaider, and the two gang up against Hakaider (Ryoma). In the aftermath, Kouta bids his farewell to Jiro, the latter unable to recognize Kouta, which saddens him.

 

Over Lord Saga
"Right now, I need more power! Kaito...and the rest are still fighting. I can't just leave everything to them! Whether it's enough or not...can't be known. Right now...all I can do...is think about what I can do, right now!"

- Kouta's explanation to DJ Sagara while struggling to obtain Kiwami Lockseed

Aware of the Over Lord's existence, Kouta seeks out to find them, only to realize that they have become disillusioned after centuries of boredom. As the Over Lords view the human race as apes, Kouta struggles to gain their attention to stop the invasion of the forest. However, Kouta's journey to gain the Over Lord's support runs dry as he stops the fight between Demushu and Baron. Kouta teams up with Oren as the two aid Yggdrasill from Demushu's rampage, and Kouta's unwavering resolve allows Takatora to realize that the Over Lords are the key to saving humanity rather than culling humanity through Project Ark.

 

Through a long chain of events to encourage the Over Lords to stop their invasion of Helheim, Kouta is faced to battle Zangetsu Shin numerous times, who in reality is Mitsuzane masquerading as Takatora to destroy their newfound friendship and trust. When a battle breaks out in the Helheim Forest with Baron, Zangetsu Shin, Sigurd, and Over Lord Demushu. Demushu escapes into the city and starts to wreck Zawame. Kouta and Kaito enter the city to stop him, but the two are overpowered and Kouta is gravely injured in the ensuing battle through Marika and the Kurokage Trooper's interference. With the help of Kaito, Kouta makes his way back to Team Gaim's garage where he listens to Kaito's reasoning for wanting to be strong before Kouta collapses due to heavy injuries and exhaustion. Coming to his time of need is DJ Sagara, prepared to give Kouta the means to become stronger with the key-like Lockseed created from the Forbidden Fruit. However, even though he heals Kouta's wounds with his abilities, he still tests Kouta to see if he really wants the power. Kouta struggles to surpass Sagara's otherworldly abilities and obtains the new Lockseed, the Kiwami Lockseed, and thus joining Baron, Knuckle, Marika, Bravo and Gridon in fighting an Enchanted Form Demushu. Kouta transforms into Kiwami Arms in battling Demushu overpowering him with ease and destroys Demushu.

   

Forbidden Fruit Saga
With Zawame in tatters, the remaining Riders form a group that constantly patrols the outskirts of Zawame. Kouta comes to learn Yoko's allegience and realizes that he doesn't know what he will do after the Inves Invasion. He eventually fights Zangetsu Shin once more and helps destroy Dyudyuonshu and learns that Zangetsu Shin is an imposter. While trying to figure a way to save the remaining survivors of Zawame, he loses his sister as she gets captured with the remaining survivors. Kouta and Kaito defeat Grinsha after witnessing the powers granted by the Forbidden Fruit as Rosyuo redirects warhead missiles aimed at Zawame.

 

Kouta eventually learns that Mitsuzane envies his optimistic, naïve nature and that he has found him unworthy of being with Mai before promptly attacking him. When Takatora stops Mitsuzane, Kouta learns that the two are siblings and Takatora later explains to Kouta that if Kouta was his brother in place of him, Mitsuzane wouldn't have become the person he is now. Kouta later tries to stop the siblings from fighting, but is interrupted by the Grasshopper Monster, a being from the future as Kouta witnesses through a Crack: his own future and his Over Lord counterpart, Lapis. When Kouta arrives at the pier, he sees Takatora's Sengoku Driver destroyed alongside the Melon Lockseed. Returning back to the Garage, he faces off against Ryoma Sengoku and appears to be on equal footing with the Professor, indicating Kouta's strength compared to their last encounter.

  

In a short conversation with Mai and Kaito about what they plan on doing after the Inves Invasion is over, Kouta reveals that he doesn't know what's in store for his future. This hesitation along with the fact that he cannot accept Mitsuzane as the person he currently is now allows the latter to defeat Kouta and Kaito in their next encounter when Mai is kidnapped and Peko is brutally beaten. Though, Kouta and the rest of the Armored Riders break into the Yggdrasill Tower through a secret passageway, the remainder of the Armored Riders are left behind as decoys to allow Kouta to gain entry into the tower. Kouta and Ryoma are the last ones left and the two are able to defeat Shinmugurun. The two rush to the site where the kidnapped citizens' life energy are being drained. Kouta and Ryoma encounters Redyue, but Ryoma abandons Kouta when the latter is thrown in a hallucination where Yuya's role as an Inves and Kouta's role as a Rider are reversed. In this hallucination, it reveals that the world will reject Kouta and his newfound power because he's no longer "human". Kouta, however, reveals to Redyue that he will fight, even if he's alone, for the future that he desires. Breaking through the hallucination, Kouta unintentionally generates Helheim flora around him, now finding his resolve and clearing his doubts.

  

Once he meets up with Kaito, the two face off against Rosyuo, who tests their abilities and their resolve. Though, Kouta is able to prove his resolve to Rosyuo, his Kachidoki Lockseed is destroyed. Rosyuo is then backstabbed by Redyue and is brutally murdered by her when she discovers that he no longer bears the second Golden Fruit. Kouta, in a fit of rage of witnessing Rosyuo's death, rejuvenates the Kachidoki Lockseed and transforms into Kiwami Arms, utilizing the power to control Helheim's flora against Redyue and kills her with an Orange Charge with the DJ Gun. Kouta later fights off against Mitsuzane, unable to injure Mitsuzane due to their past friendship. Kouta resolves to not fight against his former friend and gets himself impaled while breaking the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed. Kouta forgives Mitsuzane once more before collapsing, supposedly dying from his wounds. His body was found by Chucky and Peko as the two went to take him back to the garage. He then had a vision of Mai as the Woman of the Beginning, who told Kouta that she is no longer human and about Kaito planning to change the future once he gains the Forbidden Fruit.

  

Revived, he heads out to face Kaito, who in turn transforms into Lord Baron and fights Gaim Kiwami Arms. Kouta is defeated due to his wound not being fully healed, but an ally-turning Zack tells him to run, having him to be curious about his plan. After Kouta's wound has been fully healed, he would eat one of the Helheim's fruits and told Akira that he would help others despite of him losing his humanity until the rescue team arrives. Taking his sister to the team, Kouta decides to remain in Zawame to confront Kaito. Before that, Mai appears to him and having Kouta realize his future to fight for his friends. Arriving at where Kaito was, he told Kouta that he wants a world where the weak are never trampled. He would protest about it, seeing that many people have fought to protect their world as Kaito believes that it leads them to death. Kouta reiterates that true stength is not based on power alone and engages Kaito in an all out war between the two Inves factions. In the outcome in the alternate and main timelines, Kouta defeats Kaito and accepts the Golden Fruit from Mai, evolving into a new form with blonde-hair and dons Kiwami Arms-esque armor. Kouta reveals his intent to Sagara that he plans on eliminating the Inves and the Helheim invasion by relocating them to a different world, far from Earth. By doing so, he grants Kaito's wish of creating a world where the weak must suffer to become strong. Kouta, along with Mai and Sagara, departs to a new world.

"I told you before. You're only gold on the surface."

- Kouta rebutts Kougane's claims of being the Golden Fruit

Now as a Man of the Beginning, Kouta has the ability to speak to others through their dreams. He intercepts Takatora's dream to wake up from his coma, before talking with him about supporting Mitsuzane's future and redemption from now on. Kouta appears before Mitsuzane four months later to aid him against Kougane and frees the girl from Kougane's control. The two kill Kougane with a double Rider Kick. After a brief talk with Mitsuzane, he then leaves Earth. Kouta watches Mai talk to Kaito one last time before the two depart to their new world, which has been terraformed and resembles Earth.

   

Kamen Rider Wizard Finale & Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
Kouta later appears in the World within the Magic Stone. Summoned by Haruto and assuming 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 Nepenthes Monster attacks, causing Ryugen, Baron, and Gaim to follow it via a Crack into the Sengoku Period World. Kouta and Mitsuzane become Ieyasu's replacement Bujins. With the "death" of Mitsuzane, Kouta finds himself broken, resolving to never fight again. However, he is confronted by Mai and Haruto Soma that to fight also means to protect something you care about. Taking these words to heart, Kouta uses this as his newfound inspiration to fight, gaining the resolve to beat Baron and earn his allegiance in defeating Bujin Gaim and the Nepenthes Monster. Freeing Mitsuzane from the Nepenthes Monster and Bujin Gaim, Kouta teams up with the other Armored Riders, Wizard, and Beast, destroying the two villains. In the aftermath, the group returns to Zawame, leaving the Sengoku Period World, and Helheim Forest, resuming their tournament.

Kamen Rider Gaim Hyper Battle DVD: Fresh Orange Arms is Born!
During the Hyper Battle Video, Kouta's Lockseeds become rusted. Going through a great effort to revitalize the Lockseeds with Kaito and Mai, his Orange Lockseed eventually becomes fresh. Kouta uses the Fresh Orange Arms against Ryugen Pine Arms - defeating him with a Fresh Orange Squash (Rider Kick). He also defeats Baron Kiwi Arms with a Fresh Orange Au Lait (Rider Slash) and even manages to gain the upper hand against Zangetsu Mango Arms, defeating the unrivaled White Armored Rider with a Fresh Orange Sparking (Rider Slash), shocking the latter and marks the first time Kouta defeats Takatora. In the aftermath, he reveals that his Pine Lockseed also turned fresh, despite that it was Kaito who finally has a fresh smile, a nod to the fact that Kaito's first Fruit Lockseed was Pine, not Banana.

ToQger Vs. Kamen Rider Gaim & Kamen Rider Taisen
Kouta attempts to send Mai away with the ToQgers, but she is captured by the Badan Underground Empire. He successfully saves her. During the events of Kamen Rider Taisen, he joins Mai into an abandoned construction site and meet a boy named Shu, who has otherworldly powers. The boy is targeted by both Badan and the Showa Riders, causing Kouta to watch over the boy. Eventually he faces off against the boy's father, Ren Aoi, who uses the Fifteen Lockseed and Heisei Rider Lockseed to transform into Kamen Rider Fifteen. Kouta also joins forces with the remainder of the Heisei Riders against the Showa Riders. With just Gaim and ZX left as the only two riders, ZX obtains all the Rider Lockseeds and flings them at Gaim, causing Gaim to surge with power and summon the defeated Riders causing the Showa and Heisei Riders to team up against Badan. Kouta uses the 1 Arms from the Showa Rider Lockseed to defeat Fifteen. Despite defeating Badan, Kamen Rider 1 still believed that the hate between the Showa and Heisei Riders are real. The two sides commence battle once more, but the battle ends when 1 admit defeat after seeing Gaim protecting a lone flower in the battlefield, acknowledging Gaim's will to protect life as true strength, and Gaim as a real Kamen Rider. The Riders call truce and the Showa Riders congratulate the young Riders.


 * An alternate ending to this film exists where Kouta admits defeat to Hongo, realizing that Hongo had been holding back the entire fight. The battle ends, and Kouta learns from it that real strength is kindness. He is then recognized by Kamen Rider 1 as a true Kamen Rider.

The Golden Fruit Cup Event
Kouta fights against numerous Inves in Zawame City alone and notices Lapis (his Over Lord equivalent), teaching him the ways of soccer and how it is a means of demonstrating your strength without losing your life. Afterwards, Kouta notices that the boy is missing and hears a crowd chanting for Team Gaim. Kouta slowly walks into a stadium, noticing that the stadium is no longer destroyed and is dragged into a soccer match by Mai for them to win a soccer tournament. Learning that in this world, Yuya is alive, he participates in the soccer tournament. Swiftly defeating Team Baron, he finds Lapis who has seemingly made the world better. However, when the other Riders start to go berserk and kill each other, Kouta attempts to reach the now destroyed Zawame. However, he is intercepted by Yuya. Questioning why Yuya is trying to stop him, he also questions why Yuya has a gold Lockseed. Learning that he isn't Yuya, but rather the embodiment of an artificial Golden Fruit named Kougane. Kougane transforms into Armored Riders Mars. Kouta transforms into Gaim to fight him, getting thrown into the city where the Lockseeds of Kaito alongside the late Jonouchi and Oren reside. Taking the Lockseeds of his former allies, Kouta uses them to fight against Kougane and later transforms into Jimber Lemon Arms, but is corrupted by locusts. Instead of being destroyed, he is converted into a more sadistic version of himself known as Kouta-Yami. Kouta-Yami then locates Mai, Lapis and Mitsuzane, intending to take them both out. However, Mitsuzane defends Lapis and Mai until Yoko Minato appears. Minato reveals that she saved Kaito from being killed and the two face off against Kouta-Yami. Kouta later regains control of his body by fighting Kouta-Yami in his consciousness while realizing that the Over Lords and the humans aren't that different after all. Kouta breaks free of his brainwashing and reverts back to his Gaim Orange Arms. He later transforms into Kachidoki Arms to fight Mars. Lapis uses his bracelet to create a horse for Gaim as he transforms into Kiwami Arms. After Kougane becomes a firey horse, Kouta destroys the horse with the DJ Gun and is able to retrieve all of his allies (Ryoma and Sid are revived, but is not seen and does not participate in the final battle). Giving back the revived Riders their Lockseeds, Lapis himself also receives a Sengoku Driver and the Silver RIngo Lockseed from DJ Sagara. The remaining Riders transform, creating the team of: Kurokage, Gridon, Bravo, Marika, Baron, Gaim, Kamuro, Ryugen, Zangetsu Shin, Knuckle, and Kurokage Shin. Together, they defeat Mars Kouta would later then accept Ryoma Sengoku's plan to infiltrate the Yggdrasill Tower to save Mai.

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
'The following contains spoilers. Click the expand button and read at your own risk.'

Set after Kouta's last visit to Earth, Kouta and Mai's planet are attacked by a mysterious enemy known as Megahex, who assimilates Mai and defeats Kouta, robbing him of his Man of the Beginning form. Kouta is later killed after losing the Kiwami Lockseed.

When Takatora manages to obtain the Kiwami Lockseed, the Lockseed's secondary function activates, bringing forth a copy, or rather - a 'backup' of Kouta, allowing this Kouta to fight alongside the Kureshima brothers against Megahex. Afterwards, Kouta joins forces alongside Shinnosuke Tomari against Megahex, who has now merged with the Roidmude ZZZ to become Megahex ZZZ. However, the combined forces of the Riders prove to be no match against the latter. Kouta halves his own omnipotent power transforming him and Shinnosuke into Type Fruits Drive and Gaim Drive Arms to even the playing field. Together, they are able to destroy Megahex ZZZ. Kouta later returns alongside Mai back to his planet.

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 appears in the game with his Standard Arms, Jimber (Lemon) Arms, and Kachidoki Arms. Kiwami Arms has been released as a separate DLC character. Gaku Sano voices all variations of 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 naïve 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 naiveté, 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 naiveté 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.

Even after recovering from this breakdown, Kouta's naïve concerns of protecting others allows him to become a wild card in DJ Sagara's plans as he knows that Kouta's act can be almost unpredictable and Kouta himself has no ulterior motive compared to his fellow Armored Riders and New Generation Riders. Despite this unwavering resolve, Yoko asks Kouta what will become of him after he protects everyone to which he has no real way of responding to that.

Despite Kouta wanting to protect people and stop unnecessary bloodshed, Kouta himself isn't without his dark moments. After defeating Sid in a fit of rage realizing that Yggdrasill intends to destroy Zawame City if they ever found out about the Helheim Forest, 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 Over Lords along with the opportunity to kill 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 Demushu and Baron and later the fight between Zangetsu Shin (Mitsuzane) and Lemon Energy Arms Baron (Kaito). However, his inner darkness overtakes him during Golden Fruits Cup! where he ruthlessly attacks Mitsuzane, Kaito, and Yoko in his "Black Jimber Arms" with his personality inverted compared to how he normally is.

In his final battle against Kaito, however, he is forced to kill the latter as the latter threatens to destroy the world by obtaining the Golden Fruit, thus making Kaito the only person Kouta kills intentionally.

In his final appearance in the series as the Man of the Beginning, Kouta's friendly, pacifist personality remains the same, but his bearing has changed to that of a ruler, with a constant aura of dignity, power and authority surrounding him. He is more soft-spoken and more mature, able to reassure the doubts of the Kureshima brothers after the events of the final battle strained their relationship.

During battle, he would announce, "This is my stage now!" (ここからは俺のステージだ！)

Powers and Abilities

 * Imagination
 * Being one of the few adults possessing imagination, he can see the Ressha of the ToQgers.


 * Will of the True Kamen Rider
 * According to Takeshi Hongo/#1 from Ryo Murasame/ZX, Kouta's heroic potential as a true Kamen Rider is much powerful than other primary Riders, due to being one of them from their own story tolds. This ability is shown when he released most of the sealed Riders from Lockseeds' seals, turning him into a living magnet and absorbs the Lockseeds by unsealing the Riders who were sealed within Helheim, thanks ZX's Micro Chain assist into breaking the glasses where the Rider Lockseeds were held.


 * Over Lord Powers
 * Being affected by the Forbidden Fruit's powers, Kouta gains some of the Over Lords' abilities, which are then further increased when he eats the Fruit of Helheim:


 * Helheim Plant Generation
 * He has shown the ability to turn an empty lot into a field of Helheim plants.


 * Helheim Plant Control
 * He can freely control Helheim flora, and even override other Over Lords' manipulation over the flora.


 * Fruit Transmutation
 * He can turn a broken Lockseed back into its fruit form, before restoring its intact state.


 * Healing Factor
 * He has increased health regeneration, allowing him to take lethal damage and still able to recover shortly afterwards.


 * Crack Creating
 * He can open countless cracks to summon Inves from the Helheim Forest. Kouta gains this ability when he eats the Fruit of Helheim to stop Kaito's rampage.


 * God-like Powers
 * After eating the Forbidden Fruit, Kouta gains God-like powers, which can reimagine the world at will.
 * Enhanced Crack Creating


 * He can open a huge crack which leads to a planet at the edge of the universe.


 * Reality Manipulation


 * He can globally control any number of objects, bypasses all physical laws. He used this power to drag all Inves and Helheim flora around the world to the huge crack.


 * Dream Walking


 * He can penetrate anyone's dreams to communicate with them, even through Kouta himself currently is at the edge of the universe.


 * Healing


 * He can heal someone from serious brain damage, even through Kouta himself currently is at the edge of the universe.


 * Teleport


 * He can turn himself into energy and travel to another planet via his huge crack.


 * Exorcism
 * He can remove Kougane from his human host effortlessly.


 * Transformation


 * He can transform into Kiwami Arms directly without the need of a Sengoku Driver or having the Lockseeds on hand. The Driver with attached Lockseeds appear on his waist though, with full functionality.


 * Attack Cancellation


 * He effortlessly stopped and cancelled a Darkness Squash from Kamen Rider Jam.


 * Telepathy
 * He can read other people's thoughts and telepathically communicate with them.


 * Mediumship
 * He can see and presumably communicate with souls.


 * Appearance Changing
 * Is able to change his form to match what he looked like before becoming the Man of the Beginning.

Arms
Like his fellow Lockseed-using Armored Riders, Kamen Rider Gaim'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, except when he transforms into Kiwami Arms, while his personal Lockseeds are styled with a mix of Japanese words and English words. With the exception of Suika Arms, all of Gaim's 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).

By pressing the Sengoku Driver's Cutting Blade down on the Lockseed after transforming from one to three times, Gaim 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). In addition to the Sengoku Driver's finishing moves, Gaim can perform either a Fruits Charge (フルーツチャージ) or Sonic Volley (ソニックボレー) finishing attack by inserting a Lockseed into the attachment slot of either his Musou Saber, Sonic Arrow, or DJ Gun.

Devices

 * Sengoku Driver - Transformation device
 * Removable slots for additional Lockseeds:
 * Genesis Core - Essential to access a Jimber Arms
 * Senyo Joint - Essential to access Kiwami Arms
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Gaim's Arms changes, depending on which lock is used

Weapons

 * Musou Saber - Gaim's side weapon in every single one of his forms
 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms, besides the Musou Saber:
 * Gaim:
 * Daidaimaru - Gaim Orange Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Pine Iron - Gaim Pine Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Ichigo Kunai - Gaim Ichigo Arms' personal weapons and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Suika Sojinto - Gaim Suika Arms' personal weapon in Yoroi Mode and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Banaspear - Gaim Banana Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Donkachi - Gaim Donguri Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Duri Noko - Gaim Durian Arms' personal weapons and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Sonic Arrow - Gaim Jimber Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * DJ Gun - Gaim Kachidoki Arms' personal weapon and one of Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Mango Punisher - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Budou Ryuhou - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Kiwi Gekirin - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Melon Defender - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Kagematsu - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Kagematsu Shin - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Kurumi Bombers - One of Gaim Kiwami Arms' personal weapons
 * Rosyuo's greatsword - A weapon Gaim Kiwami Arms briefly used during his battle with Redyue.
 * WizarSwordGun - Gaim Wizard Arms' personal weapon
 * Handle-Ken - Gaim Drive Arms' personal weapon
 * Drag Saber - Gaim Ryuki Arms' personal weapon
 * DenGasher Sword Mode - Gaim Den-O Arms' personal weapon
 * Ride Booker - Gaim Decade Arms' personal weapon
 * Trigger Magnum - Gaim Double Arms' personal weapon
 * Medajalibur - Gaim OOO Arms' personal weapon
 * Rocket Module - Gaim Fourze Arms' personal weapon
 * Gaim Yami:
 * Musou Saber - Gaim Yami Black Jimber Arms' personal weapon

Vehicles

 * Lock Vehicles - Vehicles that unfold from special Lockseeds:
 * Sakura Hurricane - Gaim's main Rider Machine. It is lost during the final battle against Kaito Kumon.
 * Dandeliner - Gaim's second Rider Machine. Loses it during the the battle against Bujin Gaim, but later receives another one from DJ Sagara. It is lost during the final battle against Kaito Kumon to an evolved Seiryu Inves
 * Tulip Hopper - Gaim's third Rider Machine
 * Rose Attacker - Gaim's unused Rider Machine, which is given to Decade to get Shu Aoi escape with him while Gaim prevents Fifteen from taking his son away from the lighthouse where Saki Aoi is.

List of Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Wizard
 * Episode 52: The Kamen Rider Rings (debut)
 * Episode 53: Neverending Story
 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 1-47
 * 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
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Hyper Battle DVD: Fresh Orange Arms is Born!
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden

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).

Rider No.
As the leading Rider protagonist of Kamen Rider Gaim, Kouta Kazuraba (Kamen Rider Gaim) is labeled Kamen Rider #30 (仮面ライダー30号) and Heisei Rider #15 (平成ライダー15号).

Popular Culture
In the live action of Hell Teacher Nube (地獄先生 ぬーべー), a student named Shuichi Shirato claims that they ate the Fruit of Wisdom. Coincidentally, Shirato is played by Gaku Sano, who also played Kouta.

Legend Rider Lockseeds

 * The following Legend Rider Lockseeds are styled for Gaim, as well as Kurokage, 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 - "Hitoppashiri iza Together!"