Henshin

This article is about a common trend in the Kamen Rider Series.

"Henshin!" (変身, "Henshin!") is the Japanese word for "transformation/transform" meaning "to change or transform the body" or "equip". In the Kamen Rider Series, it is a common transformation call for what a Rider shouts when they are about to transform. It is said to have been the suggestion of producer Toru Hirayama, based on the Japanese title of Franz Kafka's novella Metamorphosis. The protagonist of the novella is transformed into an inhuman, bug-like creature against his will, a recurring theme of the Kamen Rider Series.

The first use of the phrase was by Kamen Rider 2, as the original Kamen Rider did not have a transformation call before that. It has since become an integral aspect rooted within the Kamen Rider series.

Generally, most Kamen Riders call out "Henshin!" during their transformation sequences. Variations of this phrase have been used by various Riders, either when transforming or switching between forms. These include:

• Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider Dark Ghost: "Rider Henshin!" (ライダー変身!, Raidā Henshin!)
• Kamen Rider V3: "Henshin...V3!" (変身...V3!, "Henshin...V3!")
• Kamen Rider X: "Dai Henshin" (大変身, "Dai Henshin" lit. "Great Transformation")
• Kamen Rider Stronger: "Henshin...Stronger!" (変身...ストロンガー!, Henshin...Sutorongā!)
• Skyrider: "Sky Henshin" (スカイ変身, Sukai Henshin)
• Kamen Rider Kuuga: "Chō Henshin" (超変身, "Chō Henshin" lit. "Super Transformation") (when changing forms)
• Kamen Rider Mach: "Let's... Henshin!" (レッツ... 変身!, Rettsu... Henshin!)
• Kamen Rider Ex-Aid: "Dai Henshin" (大変身, "Dai Henshin" lit. "Great Transformation") (Level 2, varies with each higher level up to Level XX), "Max Dai Henshin" (マックス大変身, Makkusu Dai Henshin) (Level 99), "Hyper Dai Henshin" (ハイパー大変身, Haipā Dai Henshin) (Muteki Gamer)
• Kamen Rider Para-DX: "Dai Henshin" (大変身, "Dai Henshin" lit. "Great Transformation") (when switching between his Level 50 forms), "Max Dai Henshin" (マックス大変身, Makkusu Dai Henshin) (Level 99)
• Jyamato Rider and Kamen Rider Jyamato Gazer: "Jurapira... Henshin" (ジュラピラ…変身。, "Jurapira... Henshin")

Other than "Henshin" and variations of the phrase, some Riders have used different catchphrases in a similar fashion when transforming or switching between forms:

• Kamen Rider X: "Set up!" (セットアップ, Setto Appu)
• Kamen Rider Amazon: "A~ma~zon!"
• Masked Rider: "Ectophase Activate!"
• Kamen Rider G3-X: "G3-X Equip!" (G3-X 装着!, G3-X Sōchaku!)
• Kabuki, Touki, Nishiki, Habataki, and Kirameki: Calling out their respective Oni names.
• Dragon Knight Riders: "Kamen Rider!"
• Kamen Rider Amazon Omega, Alpha, Sigma, Neo, Neo Alpha, and the Crow Amazon: "Amazon."
• Kamen Rider Build: "Build Up!" (ビルドアップ, Birudo Appu) (when changing forms)
• Kamen Rider Grease: "Dekiteruyo." (できてるよ。, "Dekiteruyo." lit. "I'm ready.") (before first transformation into Grease Blizzard)
• Kamen Rider Zi-O: "Armor Time!" (アーマータイム, Āmā Taimu) (only in Be The One when transforming into BuildArmor)
• Kamen Rider Demons: "Come On!" (カモン, Kamon) (used exclusively by George Karizaki)

Rider-like characters sometimes have their own unique transformation phrases:

• Apollogeist: ''Apollo Change'' (アポロチェンジ, Aporo Chenji)
• Electronic Wave Humanoid Tackle: Ei, ya, to! (エイ、ヤー、トォー!, Ei, yā, tō!)
• Graphite & Lovelica Bugster: "Baiyō" (培養, "Baiyō" lit. "Cultivate")
• Trigger Dopant & Ride-Player Nico: "Game Start!" (ゲームスタート, Gēmu Sutāto)
• Night Rogue & Blood Stalk: "Jōketsu" (蒸血, "Jōketsu" lit. "Steam Blood")
• Kaiser & Kaiser Reverse: "Kaiser!" (カイザー, Kaizā)
  • Bikaiser: "Bikaiser" (バイカイザー, Baikaizā)
• Engine Bro's & Remocon Bro's/Hell Bro's: "Jundō" (潤動, "Jundō" lit. "Lubricate")
• Dodo Magia: "Ansatsu" (暗殺, "Ansatsu" lit. "Assassinate")
• Fighting Jackal Raider, Invading Horseshoe Crab Raiders, Dire Wolf Sold Magia & Serval Tiger Sold Magia : "Jissō" (実装, "Jissō" lit. "Equip")
• Valvarad: "Tekkō" (鉄鋼, "Tekkō" lit. "Ferrous steel")
• Clotho Rebis: "Kokusō" (黒装, "Kokusō" lit. "Dark equip")

There are some Kamen Riders who do not call out any phrase during their transformation. These include:

• Kamen Rider 1 (during his initial transformation in the first 13 episodes of the original series)
• Riderman
• Kamen Rider Shin
• Kamen Riders from Kamen Rider The First and Kamen Rider The Next
• Kamen Rider G3 (before upgrade to G3-X)
• All of the Riders in Kamen Rider Hibiki
• Kamen Rider Vail (in Revice Legacy: Kamen Rider Vail) (prior to Vail Episode 5)
• Kamen Rider Blood Vade
• Kamen Rider (in Shin Kamen Rider)