 This article is about a villain in Kamen Rider Build.
|
- "Let me show you what true war is."
- ―Namba's declaration of war to Touto[src]
Juzaburo Namba (難波 重三郎, Nanba Jūzaburō) was a benefactor of Faust and the CEO of Namba Heavy Industries Ltd. After Seito lost against Touto in the proxy duel to end the war, Namba assassinated and took on the identity of Masakuni Mido, and orchestrated an all out war against Touto until Evolto's betrayal.
History[]
Background[]
Juzaburo Namba was the CEO of Namba Heavy Industries Ltd. and had operated for many decades prior to the Sky Wall Tragedy. Over the years, Namba took in numerous orphans such as Nariaki Utsumi, Sawa Takigawa, Fu and Rai Washio. While this act was ostensibly benevolent, these youths were raised to pledge allegiance to Namba Heavy Industries, becoming the "Namba Children". Namba also became a benefactor of the organization called Faust as they sought to weaponize the Pandora Box and Nebula Gas, even sending down Soichi Isurugi to assist Gentoku Himuro and his cabal of scientists.
Prelude to the War[]
Namba appeared in a bathhouse to meet with Gentoku Himuro for a status update on whether Prime Minister Taizan Himuro was interested in his weapons manufacturing plans of the Rider System. Gentoku regretted to inform him that Prime Minister Himuro was still not interested. Namba reminded Gentoku how much of his company's money he invested in Faust and that he wants the Rider System to be his so he can corner the weapons manufacturing market in a way that will reshape the status quo of global military power structure with Touto in the lead. If no deal comes, he will reveal the Rider System plans to Hokuto and Seito's governments to make a profit elsewhere. Namba urges Gentoku to convince the Prime Minister on a weapons deal with his company soon, as he is running out of patience and growing tired of Gentoku's excuses.
After Gentoku became the interim Prime Minister of Touto after his father's hospitalization, Namba gives him the idea to have the government shut down Faust's operations. He convinces Nariaki Utsumi to cooperate in a plan to act as Night Rogue, serving as a decoy in a staged operation by Touto to take down Faust.
Namba eventually found a new parter with Blood Stalk as he was able to expand his horizons more than ever. Namba initially sought to weaponize the Pandora Box by reverse engineering its power source and give his company the undisputed lead in weapons manufacturing, creating arms far more powerful than any nuclear weapons used by foreign nations.
The Japanese Civil War[]
As new Hazard Smash were starting to surface despite Faust's apparent dissolution, the starving nation of Hokuto declared war on Touto by sending an army of forces to secure the Pandora Box. After that, while providing technology such as the Sclash Driver and the Hard Smash to Hokuto, behind the scenes, while it seems that he was actually putting his shoulders on Hokuto, Namba secretly gave his support to Prime Minister Masakuni Mido of Seito, his preferred choice to inherit Japan to whom he would spare all expenses to support.
Taking advantage of Hokuto's advance into Touto, the initially neutral Seito quickly seized the vulnerable Hokuto before declaring war on Touto. Working on Nanba's behalf, Nariaki Utsumi updated the Kaiser System originally developed by Kaisei Mogami to create Remocon and Engine Bro's, soldiers of Seito alongside Kamen Rider Rogue, a new Rider system used by Gentoku Himuro.
Namba posing as Seito Minister Mido.
In the final stage of the war between Seito and Touto, an arrangement was reached by both governments where the two nations would pit their Kamen Riders against Seito's forces. After the final round ended with Rogue defeated by Build, while Mido accepted his defeat, he would be killed by Blook Stalk and Namba replaced him by taking up his appearance. He would continue to act as Mido in order to continue Seito's invasion and also expressed desires to take over the world.
Death[]
Namba dies in his office.
After refusing Evolto's ultimatum for him to give up his leadership of Namba Heavy Industries, Namba was later assaulted by him in his new Evol Black Hole form. Seemingly spared by him after begging for his life, Evolto commented on how he liked the way humans were so cowardly, especially a man like Namba, disintegrating his body in a purple mist.
Post-mortem[]
His death was mourned by Utsumi, who pretended to join Evolto in order to obtain revenge. Despite not showing in the new world, it is highly implied that Juzaburo was also revived too as he still had a foundation with his name. But no longer as a soldier and weaponary factory but as iron factory.
Personality[]
Juzaburo was a war profiteer who collaborated with Faust to instigate a war between the three warring nations to see which of them are determined enough to unify Japan. Based on his desires outside of profit, it seems Namba is somewhat nationalistic, as he plans to make the reunified Japan into a world superpower capable of defeating other nations with superior weapons to overcome potential world wars and repel invasions.
He also has abducted children, training and indoctrinating them into becoming loyal soldiers, spies and scientists for his causes, showing a manipulative and controlling facet to him akin to a dictator. He was also visibly frustrated after Sawa's defection and bid him farewell. In his elderly appearance, Juzaburo is calm, composed, and passive who watches the war from the sidelines. Once he impersonates Masakuni Mido after the latter is killed by Stalk, his personality mixes that of his and Mido's, solidifying himself as a power-hungry dictator.
Different than any higher-ups, Juzaburo will do any mean to obtain his goal, going as far as to break any deals/promises of only rider to be involved in a duel to settle the Pandora Box' ownership. Despite his ruthlessness and greed, Juzaburo is clearly seen to be a coward incapable of defending himself, making sure his pawns fight to the death while he watches from a secure place.
While Namba was more suspicious than the other warring leaders about Evolto's motivations, he ultimately repeated their mistakes by severely underestimating Evolto and believing he could take the energy of the Pandora Box for himself.
Namba appeared rather fond of taiyaki, as he was seen eating it frequently.
Behind the Scenes[]
Portrayal[]
Juzaburo Nanba is portrayed by Akira Hamada (浜田 晃, Hamada Akira), who previously portrayed Mr. Titan in Kamen Rider Stronger. When his appearance is changed to that of Masakuni Mido, he is portrayed by Norimasa Fuke (冨家 規政, Fuke Norimasa).
Notes[]
- Like most villains in Build, Juzaburo died an ironic death. He takes Masakuni Mido's identity by allowing Evolto to kill the latter. When Evolto betrays Namba and having killed off the Washio brothers, Juzaburo is left begging for mercy before he is dissolved into nothingness by Evolto and their deaths left them being covered by their respective flags - Seito's flag for Mido, and the Namba Heavy Industries' flag for Namba.
Appearances[]
Kamen Rider Build
- ROGUE
- Prologue: NIGHT ROGUE RISES (mentioned only)
- Episode 9: The Trap of Project Build
- Episode 12: Theory of Conspiracy
- Episode 13: Who Takes Off The Veil?
- Episode 14: The False Kamen Rider
- Episode 23: The Phantom of the West
- Episode 24: A Man Called Rogue (mentioned only)
- Episode 25: The Idol Awakens
- Episode 26: The Treacherous Deathmatch
- Episode 27: The Counterattack Hero
- Episode 28: The Genius Arrives With a Tank
- Episode 29: The Opening Bell Rings
- Episode 30: The Truth of the Pandora Box
- Episode 32: Programmed Tragedy
- Episode 34: The Severing Best Match
- Episode 35: Tower of Destruction
- Episode 36: Evolto Hunts Planets
- Episode 37: The Ultimate Phase
- Episode 38: Mad World (death)
- Episode 39: The Unstoppable Genius (flashback; archive footage only)
- Episode 40: The Final Revolution (mentioned only)
- ROGUE