Takatora Kureshima

"Those who own power and privilege have a duty they must fulfill. That's what Noblesse Oblige means. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty in order to do that."

- Takatora explaining his importance to Mitsuzane

Takatora Kureshima (呉島 貴虎) is the Yggdrasill Corporation Research and Development project leader and overseer. Stationed in Zawame City alongside his younger brother Mitsuzane Kureshima, Takatora aims to further Yggdrasill's plans to save humanity through what appears to be a grim plan. As the Prototype Sengoku Driver's first user, Takatora is Kamen Rider Zangetsu (仮面ライダー斬月 [ザンゲツ]) through the use of the Melon Lockseed. As Zangetsu, Takatora dwelled within the Helheim Forest in hopes of finding a way to hasten Project Ark and deals with any unwanted Inves that find their way to Zawame City.

With the Sengoku Driver data of all seven prototype users, Takatora receives the Genesis Driver, an upgraded device that uses Energy Lockseeds instead of regular Lockseeds. Takatora assumes the form of Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin (仮面ライダー斬月 真 [ザンゲツ シン]), a separate form drawing a similar appearance to the original Zangetsu. Takatora loses the Genesis Driver and Melon Energy Lockseed when Ryoma initiates his coup d'etat, robbing Takatora of his leadership of the Yggdrasill Corporation and leaving him for dead inside Helheim. Afterwards, Takatora regains his original Sengoku Driver to combat his successor and younger brother, Mitsuzane Kureshima, who has taken up the mantle of Zangetsu Shin. The battle between the brothers results into Takatora receiving brain damage and throws him into a coma with his Prototype Sengoku Driver and Melon Lockseed destroyed.

After his recovery, Takatora regains leadership of the Yggdrasill Corporation and is able to transform into both Zangetsu and Zangetsu Shin during Megahex's invasion.

Character History
Growing up under the Kureshima family as a first-born, Takatora was placed with a heavy burden to be successful and powerful as his father, Amagi Kureshima. Takatora also learned of Helheim's existence and started to develop the Sengoku Driver alongside Ryoma Sengoku. Though a finalized Sengoku Driver was complete, Takatora was scarred from the dangers it posed. As a result, Takatora raised his younger brother, Mitsuzane Kureshima in hopes that Mitsuzane would be led down a different path unaware of Helheim.

Takatora is seen as the mediator of the Helheim Forest, destroying numerous Inves to protect his R&D researchers and allowing them to continue their research. Takatora clashes toe to toe against Kouta Kazuraba and reveals to him the cruelty of the world. Takatora would later defeat all of the Sengoku Driver users in a different encounter to prevent them for lurking within the Helheim Forest, accidentally destroying a Sengoku Driver in the process. Takatora learns that Mitsuzane was a Sengoku Driver user and the two forge a bond to oversee humanity's safety.

Afterwards, Takatora gains the Genesis Driver, a transformation device that is stronger than the Sengoku Driver. While meeting Kouta once more in Helheim, he decides to show him the ruins left behind in Helheim and later crushes the boy's spirit when the two clash once more by revealing that Kouta killed his best friend without realizing it. Though his attempts to push Kouta away from the Helheim conspiracy fails, Takatora is later met with resistance by Kouta as he annihilates an armada of Kurokage Troopers with Dandeliners and destroys the Scalar System, a failsafe that will destroy Zawame City in the event that Inves overrun it.

Takatora eventually learns the truth that Helheim does have sentient beings, prompting him to hold Project Ark in favor of saving everyone instead of one billion people. However, his new forged alliance with Kouta causes Ryoma to enact his coup d'etat, forcefully throwing Takatora off a cliff in Helheim and erasing his existence from within Yggdrasill's database. Takatora is saved by Rosyuo, the leader of the Over Lords who explains to him Helheim's goal and the Forbidden Fruit that Ryoma is seeking. However, Rosyuo does not care for humanity and kills Sid when the latter attempts to challenge the Over Lord King for the Forbidden Fruit.



After Sid's death and Rosyuo's ignorance of preventing Heilheim from overtaking Earth, Takatora returns back to Zawame, learning that his younger brother, Mitsuzane Kureshima has taken the mantle of Zangetsu Shin and realizes that the way he raised Mitsuzane has made the latter nothing more than his shadow. Takatora regains his original Sengoku Driver and Melon Lockseed, but is ultimately defeated with his Driver and Lockseed both destroyed in a clash against his brother. Takatora is rendered brain damaged and is left in a coma where he is found by boats outside of Zawame City.

A version of Takatora appears in front of Mitsuzane, being the complete opposite of Takatora, taunting his younger brother as the latter attempts to get out of his brother's "shadow".

Takatora eventually awakens from his coma when Kouta heals him and resumes trying to amend for his sins alongside fixing Yggdrasill to never allow it to harm people by destroying all of the Sengoku Driver and Lockseeds except for one. Though the last Sengoku Driver is destroyed during Kougane's attack on Zawame City, Takatora manages to obtain one more during the events of Megahex's Invasion and modifies it to have Zangetsu's appearance. Afterwards, he is forced to fight with his former friend, Ryoma Sengoku and successfully manages to defeat him and take the former's Genesis Driver and his original Melon Energy Lockseed, allowing him to become Zangetsu Shin once more.

Kamen Rider Taisen
Takatora and Mitsuzane transform to aid Kouta and Kaito against the Badan kajins. He was defeated by Kamen Rider Fifteen, turning him into an unseen Lockseed. However, he was revealed to be in the Helheim Forest, and showed up to defeat some of the monsters along with Baron and Ryugen in the climax. Afterwards, Mitsuzane reported to him that all of these events have nothing to do with the Helheim Forest.

The Golden Fruit Cup Event
In this world, the Inves Invasion is no longer present. This Takatora is married with a sick wife, paralleling him with Rosyuo and his queen. Takatora becomes influenced to destroy the other Riders and after learning of Sid's betrayal, slashes him off an elevator pit. He later fights Armored Rider Bravo and Baron with Takatora and Oren both dying in the fight. He is brought back to life by Kouta who shoots down Mars' horse and joins the other Riders to defeat Armored Rider Mars.

Hyper Battle DVD
Sometime before the Lockseed Gathering games, Takatora enters the Helheim Forest to test New Arms, comedically calling Ichigo Arms too cute for him and disregards Budou Arms as he prefers katanas instead of guns. He eventually settles to test out Mango Arms. Sacrificing his defenses and agility granted by the Melon Lockseed in favor for pure strength, Takatora finds himself wide open numerous times to Kouta's attacks and eventually is defeated when he activates a Fresh Orange Sparking on him, knocking him out in disbelief that he was defeated.

Movie War: Full Throttle
Having finally reconciled with Mitsuzane, Takatora has lived in peace following Jam's attempt to take over Zawame. However, in the light of Megahex's invasion and Ryoma's return which threatens the peace, Takatora got a Sengoku Driver from a defeated Mecha Kurokage clone by Mitsuzane, and becomes Zangetsu once again, fighting alongside his brother to protect the city.

In the final portion of Movie War, Takatora transforms as Zangetsu Shin after Ryoma's second demise and teams up with Gaim, Ryugen, the returning Baron and Drive to battle Megahex ZZZ and the remaining Roimudes and Inves.

Personality
Though a ruthless realist, Takatora still loves his family and spoils his younger brother, and especially cares about Mitsuzane's education. He is the most experienced and most powerful Armored Rider to date. In order to teach Gaim a lesson, who entered the Forest without his permission, without knowing that he's only looking for his friend, he brutally attacks him despite Kouta having no intention to fight him to make his point - that power given by the Lockseeds and Sengoku Driver is no game, letting Kouta go after clearly being the winner.

Despite his sense of realism, he can show signs of arrogance and his wealthy upbringing has mildly affected his view of the world. He sometimes refers to the other Armored Riders as "street trash" that are beneath him and not worthy of his attention, the exception being if they directly interfere with his plans.

He also seems to have a bit of a temper when pressured, as seen when Kurokage provokes him while he was trying to reach his staff to rescue them from the Inves swarm. This caused him to have an angry outburst and unintentionally damage Ryoji's Sengoku Driver with a furious blow of sword slashes.

As stated by him back when he first encountered Gaim, he knows the Lockseeds carry a dangerous disease, which is also seen when he tries to warn Hase not to eat the immature fruit.

Under his ruthless realist personality shows that Takatora does have hidden feelings, grieving that he is only able to save about a billion of the Earth's population. More of this side is shown when he takes care of Oren after Oren takes a hit that disrupts his transformation as he falls into his arms. In addition, he finally lightens up, handshaking Kouta and thanking him for giving him an alternative means to save humanity rather than culling the world's population through Project Ark.

His ruthless realist personality was in fact used under the influence of Ryoma when he realized his own friend had been using him all along prior to his betrayal.

Like his former archenemy Kouta, Takatora can easily feel guilty of himself when witnessing the trouble that he faces that was all of his previous doing. Like Mitsuzane in his first betrayal against Kouta, he was also unable to defeat his own brother due to the happier times they had.

Arms
Like the other Armored and New Generation Riders, Kamen Rider Zangetsu/Zangetsu Shin's forms are called Arms (アームズ). His personal Lockseeds are styled in pure Japanese. All of Takatora's Japanese Samurai-themed Arms' helmets share the title Kabuto (カブト), while his visors share the title Eye (アイ).

As Armored Rider Zangetsu, Takatora's Sengoku Driver plays Japanese horagai music and announces "Soiya" (ソイヤ) before every transformation. By pressing the Sengoku Driver's Cutting Blade down on the Lockseed after transforming from one to three times, he 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, Zangetsu can perform a Fruits Charge (フルーツチャージ) finishing attack by inserting a Lockseed into the Drive Launch of his Musou Saber.

As New Generation Rider Zangetsu Shin, Takatora's Genesis Driver announces "Soda" (ソーダ) before every transformation. By pushing the Genesis Driver's Seaboll Compressor into the Energy Lockseed after transforming from one to two times, he can activate one of two finishing moves based on his current Arms form: Squash (スカッシュ) or Sparking (スパーキング). In addition to the Genesis Driver's finishing moves, Zangetsu Shin can perform a Sonic Volley (ソニックボレー) finishing attack by inserting an Energy Lockseed into the Energy Drive Bay of his Sonic Arrow.

Devices

 * Transformation devices:
 * Sengoku Driver - As Zangetsu, destroyed by Zangetsu Shin II. Obtains a new one to use, given to him by Mitsuzane having recovered it from a Mecha Kurokage created by Megahex
 * Genesis Driver - As Zangetsu Shin (taken by Mitsuzane to transform into Zangetsu Shin, later disabled by Professor Ryoma's self-destruct fail-safe). Obtains a new one to use, recovered from Mecha Ryoma Sengoku.
 * Lockseeds - Gives access to Zangetsu/Zangetsu Shin's Arms changes, depending on which lock is used

Weapons

 * Zangetsu:
 * Musou Saber - Zangetsu's side weapon in every single one of his forms
 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms, besides the Musou Saber:
 * Melon Defender - Zangetsu Melon Arms' personal weapon
 * Ichigo Kunai - Zangetsu Ichigo Arms' personal weapons
 * Budou Ryuhou - Zangetsu Budou Arms' personal weapon
 * Mango Punisher - Zangetsu Mango Arms' personal weapon
 * Rocket Module - Zangetsu Fourze Arms' personal weapon
 * Kabuto Kunai Gun - Zangetsu Kabuto Arms' personal weapon
 * Ride Booker - Zangetsu Decade Arms' personal weapon
 * Zangetsu Shin:
 * Arms Weapons - Weapons that come with the Arms:
 * Sonic Arrow - Zangetsu Shin Melon Energy Arms' personal weapon
 * Storm Halberd - One of Zangetsu Shin Agito Arms' personal weapons
 * Flame Saber - One of Zangetsu Shin Agito Arms' personal weapons

Vehicles

 * Lock Vehicles - Vehicles that unfold from special Lockseeds:
 * Sakura Hurricane - Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin's main Rider Machine in Kamen Rider: Battride War II.

List of Appearances

 * Kamen Rider Gaim
 * 2, 4-24, 26-29, 31, 32, 34-36, 38, 39, 41, 42, 45-47
 * Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale
 * 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 × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
 * Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden

Portrayal
Takatora Kureshima is portrayed by Yuki Kubota (久保田 悠来), who previously portrayed Kakashi in Garo: Soukoku no Maryu. He also had a cameo in Kamen Rider The Next.

As Kamen Rider Zangetsu, his suit actor is Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳), who was previously the suit actor for Kamen Rider Beast, Phoenix and White Wizard in Kamen Rider Wizard.

Legend Rider Lockseeds

 * The following Legend Rider Lockseeds are styled for Zangetsu, as well as Mars/Jam:
 * Stronger - "Aku wo Taoese to Ore wo yo Bu!"
 * ZO - "Daijizen Neo Seimeitai!"
 * Agito - "Mezamero, Sono Tamashii!"
 * Ryuki - "Tatakawanakereba Ikinokorenai!"
 * Hibiki - "Tatakikome Kiyome no Oto!"
 * Momotaros - "Ore Sanjou!"
 * Fourze Cosmic States - "Minna no Kizuna de Uchu wo Tsukamu!"