Kohtaro Minami

This article is about a rider in Kamen Rider Black and Kamen Rider Black RX.

Kotaro Minami
Kamen Rider BLACK (Former) Kamen Rider BLACK RX (Current)
Gender	Male
Motif	Black Grasshopper
Homeworld	Earth (Black/Black RX World)
First Appearance	Black!! Transformation (As Batta Man/Black) Child of the Sun! RX (As RX)
Latest Appearance	Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z
Number of Episode Appearances	98 (2 seasons) Full list of appearances

For the A.R. World versions, see Kotaro Minami (A.R. World) and Kotaro Minami (A.R. World 2).

"Kamen Rider! BLACK!"

―announcing his transformation to BLACK^[src]

"I am the child of the sun! Kamen Rider! BLACK! RX!"

― announcing his transformation to RX^[src]

Kotaro Minami (南 光太郎, Minami Kōtarō) is the main character of Kamen Rider BLACK and Kamen Rider BLACK RX. He has appeared as the title character in both series. Starting with Kamen Rider Decade and continuing onto the later crossover movies, there are two Kotaro Minamis who are independently BLACK and RX.

Biography

BLACK

Kotaro was born on the day of a solar eclipse, along with his stepbrother Nobuhiko Akizuki, within the same hospital. Gorgom noticed this, and both brothers were entitled heirs to their leader, the Creation King's throne. After Kotaro's parents both died as a result of an apparent accident, Prof. Akizuki then adopted Kotaro alongside Nobuhiko as if they were brothers. On the night of their 19th birthday, they were captured by Gorgom and were remade into cyborgs and infused with Kingstones. Kotaro received the "Stone of the Sun" to become Century King Black Sun (世紀王ブラックサン, Seikiō Burakku San). However before the final brainwashing Soichiro Akizuki interrupted the final stage of the process with Kotaro barely escaping.

Having been pursued by Gorgom after his escape, Kotaro discovers his newfound ability to turn into the a grasshopper humanoid as a result of their surgery, along with his newfound super strength and cyborg abilities.

After receiving a letter from Soichiro, Kotaro secretly meets with his foster father and learns the truth about his childhood. Soichiro reveals to Kotaro that he agreed to join Gorgom in order to receive funding for his archaeological research in exchange for Kotaro and Nobuhiko to be operated on during their 19th birthdays. When Kotaro's father had refused to join the organization, Gorgom had he and Kotaro's mother assassinated. After Prof. Akizuki is killed by five of Gorgom's Spider Mutants, Kotaro transforms once again and takes the title of "Kamen Rider BLACK." He then vows vengeance against Gorgom and seeks to rescue Nobuhiko from their clutches. As BLACK, Kotaro gains support from Nobuhiko's younger sister, Kyoko, as well as Nobuhiko's girlfriend Katsumi. He would often be found working part-time with the two girls at the Capitola café. He would also gain allies in fight against Gorgom, such as Interpol officer Ryusuke Taki and Gorgom's own Whale Mutant.

Eventually Kotaro reunites with Nobuhiko; however, Nobuhiko was converted into the perfected Century King, Shadow Moon. In their fight, BLACK was killed and his family had to evacuate from Gorgom's reign over Japan. Eventually BLACK was resurrected and fought his way through hordes of monsters until fighting Shadow Moon and presumably killing him.

Using the Satan Sabre used by Shadow Moon, BLACK fought against the Creation King of Gorgom and destroys him. With the Gorgom defeated, Kotaro visits the Capitola bar before leaving for unknown parts.

RX

"I am the child of the sun! Kamen Rider BLACK! RX!"

―announcing his transformation to BLACK RX^[src]

Kotaro in RX

Half a year after the defeat of Gorgom, Kotaro is left homeless until he is adopted into the Sahara family. He became a helicopter pilot for his new family's business due to their connections, beginning a new life for himself. Unfortunately, five years later Kotaro was abducted into the Crisis Empire mothership. The Crisis Empire was aware of his identity as BLACK and gave him an offer to join them. Kotaro refused and fought back but was incapacitated with the Kingstone damaged. He was ejected into space floating aimlessly until the sun's radiation altered his Kingstone. When his pod entered Earth's atmosphere, Kotaro miraculously survived and had gained a new power. His rider form evolved into Kamen Rider BLACK RX. With his new form and power he fought against the Crisis Empire.

When his adoptive sister Hitomi is kidnapped by Maribaron to assume the identity of the Crisis Empire's only living heir, Kotaro uses Deathgaron to enter the Desert of Death after them. By the time he finds Hitomi, Kotaro falls into a trap set up by Maribaron to do away with him and Deathgaron. When it looked as if Death Gron had actually killed Hitomi, RX was in a state of sorrow and sadness over the death of Hitomi invokes a new power, RoboRider. Using his power, RoboRider fatally wounds Deathgaron before learning that the Hitomi killed was a fake and the real one was being taken to the Miraculous Valley. On his way, he meets Joe the Haze who is under the control of Nexticker, freeing him before they and Shigeru are captured by Maribaron and the Princess Karuoriya. It was after they break free that Kotaro realizes the princess is Hitomi, who was abducted to replace the real princess who died and was force grown by the nearby waterfall. When he attempts to restore Hitomi's memory, Kotaro is forced to surrender when the Triplon captured Shigeru and Joe. Kotaro was then placed into a room for a hole designed to counter his abilities as both RX and RoboRider for a slow painful death. His rage to save those he love invokes another new form, Bio Rider. After killing Triplon, with Shigeru's help, Kotaro succeeded in having Hitomi regain his memory as she and the others are return to their original ages by the people who originally resided in the valley. With only Joe and Shigeru knowing his identity, Kotaro returns to Earth.

During the middle of the series, Shadow Moon mysteriously returns to seek revenge against him, shortly after, Shadow Moon was finally defeated when RX thrusted the Revolcane through Shadow Moon's Kingstone, effectively turning him good shortly before he died and finally reverting to Nobuhiko. In the finale, he was helped by the 10 veteran Kamen Riders to destroy the Crisis Empire.

Kamen Rider: Run All Over the World

File:Kotaro Minami x4.jpg

to be added

Kamen Rider World

Black & Black RX with Bio Rider & Robo Rider in Kamen Rider World

Kamen Rider Decade

File:2kotaros.jpg

The two alternate Kotaros from the World of Black RX and Black respectively.

Kotaro Minami as he appeared in All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker.

In Kamen Rider Decade, a two episode arc features two different Kotaro Minamis - one from a world where he is Black RX, and one where he remains Black. The two even encounter each other. In Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, Black and Black RX appear together again, both portrayed by Tetsuo Kurata. After the battle, RX is one of the few past Riders shown to demorph into his human form, looking identical to the Kotaro Minami from the World of Black RX; Black never appears in his civilian form in the film. Official material related to the movie, like the pamphlet distributed alongside its theatrical showing, make it clear that Black RX is the original character, but Black is another Kotaro Minami who never became Black RX.

In the manga adaptation of All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, based on the original script when the movie was planned to be the original ending of the TV series, Black, with V3 and Super-1 fight Decade, Diend and Kuuga in the final round of the Rider Battle as in the movie. When defeated BLACK, V3, and Super-1 expresses sadness that he "erased the Riders and can't meet them any more."

Later, also like in the movie, All Riders return to fight Dai-Shocker. Bishum/Sayo Kadoya zaps Yuusuke into Kamen Rider Kuuga Rising Ultimate and he fights Decade. The other Riders stand back and BLACK says Decade needs to fight this one alone. After Tsukasa gets through to Sayo, Black RX comes to save her from Nobuhiko Tsukikage/Shadow Moon and it is he who destroys the Stone of the Earth. Shadow Moon knows who Black RX is.

After this appearance, all following crossovers which featured All Riders would go on to feature Black and Black RX as separate independent characters, even while both continue to be the original Kotaro Minami, with the difference that one seemingly didn't go through the events of Black RX, without giving any specific explanation regarding it, not even in official extra materials.

Let's Go Kamen Riders

Black as seen in Let's Go Kamen Riders.

RX as seen in Let's Go Kamen Riders.

A mishap caused by the Greeed Ankh unintentionally altered the timeline which enabled Shocker to utilize the Core Medal to create the Shocker Greeed which defeated the Double Riders and seemingly erased the legacy of the Kamen Riders from history. In 2011, after Kamen Rider New Den-O's attempt to repair the damage, he along with Kamen Rider OOO and M-Ankh awaited execution. However, it was revealed the Double Riders had their brainwashing removed by a Shocker scientist.

The Double Riders joined with New Den-O and OOO to fight Shocker's forces, but were eventually defeated. When the order was given to kill everyone, V3 suddenly appeared, asserting that there were more than four riders. V3 was soon followed by all the other revived riders that came after him, including Black and RX, as even though Rider history was changed, the people's memories haven't changed.

After the riders were united, they faced off against Shocker's Great Leader. Later, when joined by a force of extra riders, Black and most other riders got on their motorcycles and performed the "All Rider Break", while RX hopped into his Ridron, together all Riders rammed into the Rock Great Leader and defeating it once and for all with the All Rider Break. ^{[OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders]}

Super Hero Taisen

"Please stop, Nobuhiko-san!"

―BLACK saving RedMask from a fatal blow from Shadow Moon^[src]

Black with Maskman.

Kamen Rider Black appeared in a flashback where he was part of the group of Riders defeated by GokaiRed along with Hibiki, G3-X, Knight, Zolda, and Gatack. Both Black and RX, as separate heroes, were among the "All Rider" force during the "Super Hero Taisen" incident which resulted in the Kamen Riders and Super Sentai joining forces to defeat both Dai-Shocker and Dai-Zangyack. During the battle, Black RX is shown defeating a Gormin. Afterwards, a separate Kamen Rider Black joined forces with the Hikari Sentai Maskman, as they protected Earth in the same year, and launched an attack against the revived Shadow Moon and General Jark. ^{[Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen]}

Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z

File:Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff- Super Hero Taisen Z-002.jpg

to be added ^{[Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z]}

Rider Forms

File:Kotaro Minami x4.jpg

Kotaro's four rider forms from left to right: Black, Bio Rider, Robo Rider, and RX.

After being transformed into a cyborg and having the holy Kingstone called the "Stone of the Sun" implanted into him, Kotaro became Kamen Rider Black who used the power of the Kingstone to transform and charge his attacks.

After being ejected into space by the Crisis Empire, Kotaro's Kingstone evolved giving him the power to use the more powerful and versatile BLACK RX form.

• Batta Man
• BLACK
• BLACK RX

Batta Man

File:Kamen Rider Black (green version).jpg

SIC Kamen Rider Black (Green Ver.)

In the first episode, Kotaro briefly transformed into this grasshopper themed monster called the Batta Man (バッタ男) before he became BLACK. He usually transforms to this form first before transitioning into his standard BLACK battle form.

File:BLACK TransformationSequence BattaMan.jpg

Transformation from Batta Man to BLACK

File:Kamen Rider Black picture.jpg

Kamen Rider Black

Stats

• Height :197cm
• Weight : 87kg
• Jump : 30m
• Punch : 15ton
• Kick : 30.5ton

Equipment

• Kingstone - transformation device
• Alert Point(アラートポイント, Arāto Pointo): A red device on the forehead that sends an alert when there are monsters nearby or an incoming attack
• Strengthened Skin - Riplasform(強化皮膚・リプラスフォーム, Kyōka Hifu Ripurasufōmu): The grashopper-like exoskeleton that protects Kamen Rider BLACK's body from attack
• Strengthened Muscle - Filbron(強化筋肉・フィルブローン, Kyōka Kin'niku Firuburōn): As the result of the cyborg surgery, the brown muscles under the Strengthened Skin, gives Kamen Rider BLACK 30 times the strength of a human.

Rider Machines

• Battle Hopper
• Road Sector

Combat Techniques and Other Body Parts

• Rider Punch and Rider Kick: The primary killer moves in the entire series were the Rider Punch and Rider Kick which is charged with Kingstone Energy at the right fist and the right foot. After delivering either one or both moves to any monsters, they would be engulfed in flames before finally destroyed. Kamen Rider BLACK discovered his weakness when he was fighting a Crab monster. His Rider Punch had no effect on the monster due to its strong shell. To increase his capabilities, Kamen Rider BLACK trained himself to find a new killer move to destroy the monster. While training, he discovered a new Rider Punch which was more effective and more deadly. These stronger variations of Rider Punch & Rider Kick gave out stronger force of light and were more blinding. The difference between the new and the old moves were that the new ones required Kamen Rider BLACK to touch his knees before hitting his enemies.
• Rider Chop: This move was very rarely executed and did not have enough power to destroy a monster.
• Multi-Eye: His eyes glow allowing him to see monsters' movements in the dark and detect their weaknesses.
• Sensoring Ears: The triangular structures on both sides of his head would glow purple and enhance his hearing to super-human levels.
• Rider Sensor: Kamen Rider BLACK's antennaes would move to detect monsters which were moving too fast to be seen.
• Power Stripes: Black's striped bands on his neck and wrists would glow to repel any monsters' sticky fluids or goo on his body.
• Dragon Shoot: A move only seen in episode 16. The Dragon Shoot was taught by the Interpol Agent, Ryusuke Taki. Ryusuke threw the Ultra Quartz (a wanted object in the episode) towards Kamen Rider BLACK where he quickly jumped and kicked it with one foot.
• Kingstone Flash: Perhaps the most powerful technique. By shouting out "Kingstone Flash", Kamen Rider BLACK could fire a burst of energy from his belt. It worked every time to fend off the villains; whether it's the High Priests or even the powerful Shadow Moon.

• BLACK RX
• Robo Rider
• Bio Rider

File:Kamen Rider Black RX.jpg

Kamen Rider Black RX

• Height : 198 cm
• Weight : 88 kg
• Punch  : 30 ton
• Kick  : 45 ton
• Jump  : 60 m
• Speed  : 100/5 s

BLACK RX is the current Kamen Rider form of Kotaro Minami, a photosynthetic warrior as well as the evolved form of BLACK, using the sun as his main energy source. His Sunriser has the two pieces of Kotaro's shattered Kingstone. His signature weapon is the Revolcane sword and can perform the RX Kick dropkick.

Equipment

• Sunriser - The Sunriser is BLACK RX's transformation belt that is actually the Kingstone. The Kingstone was split in half in response to BLACK's evolution, and allows for more powerful transformations. The belt design changes in response of BLACK RX's Form changing.

File:Sunbask.png

Sun Bask

• Sun Bask - The Sun Bask (サンバスク, Sanbasuku) is a system on the abdomen to collect and store sunlight energy. The collected sunlight and the power of Kingstone will become the hybrid energy of BLACK RX. The Sun Bask also allow BLACK RX to recover from injury instantly under sunlight. As sunlight is main energy source of BLACK RX, when Sun Bask is damaged, BLACK RX will lose his power. (Although it can be repaired by the power of Kingstone and sunlight)

File:Revolcane.jpg

Revolcane

• Revolcane - The Revolcane (リボルケイン, Riborukien) is BLACK RX's sword comes out from his Sunriser belt. It has a light saber-like mode that executes the Revolcrash thrust finishing attack, where BLACK RX thrusts with the Revolcane, sending an unlimited surge of energy into the enemy. However, BLACK RX has a fatal weakness that when he is generating the Revolcane, the Kingstone will become vulnerable.

• Wrist Communicator-the watch-like device on the left wrist of BLACK RX to call for his vehicles.

File:B.jpeg

Acrobatter

• Acrobatter - The Acrobatter is the revived version of BLACK's old motorcycle, the Battle Hopper. It is now capable of speaking coherent Japanese, and often has conversations with Kotaro. Whenever BLACK RX transforms into any of his two other forms, it does the same.

Ridron

• Ridron - High-speed car.

Combat Techniques and Other Body Parts

• Revolcrash
• RX Kick - Unlike BLACK's Rider Kick, the RX Kick is a double-foot attack which is twice more powerful than Rider Kick.
• RX Punch - The BLACK RX version of Rider Punch with twice more power.
• Marco-Eye - Ability to see objects behind obstacle and inside the enemies' body

Releases the light from Sun Riser

• King Stone Flash - Similar to BLACK, it is used to daunt the enemies and break the illusion of enemies. King Stone Flash is not always effective to Crisis Empire. When BLACK RX perform King Stone Flash in front of Gedoll Ridoll, It give the enemy a chance to absorb all the power of King Stone. BLACK RX has another similar trick to disturb the enemies, which is to releases the light from Sun Riser.

File:Lmesvjx1.jpg

RX Robo Rider

• Height : 198 cm
• Weight : 120 kg
• Punch  : 60 ton
• Kick  : 30 ton
• Jump  : 25 m
• Speed  : 100 m/8 s

Robo Rider is a form where BLACK RX 's armor becomes bulky and more robotic-like, with black and yellow coloring and his Sunriser resembles a gearbox. During his duration as the "Prince of Sadness", both his strength and defense are enhanced. He is also unharmed by explosions or projectile weapons. The only downsides are that he moves slower than BLACK RX as well as possessing semi-robotic movement, slowing his reaction time. His weapon is the Vortech Shooter, an energy firing pistol.

Equipment

Vortech Shooter

• Vortech Shooter- Robo Rider's signature weapon is the Vortech Shooter pistol that shoots a powerful energy blast that can destroy an enemy in one blow. According to material, this gun ranges limitless and never misses the target.

File:Roboizer.jpg

Roboizer

• Roboizer - Acrobatter transforms into Roboizer when RX becomes Robo Rider. This form of Acrobatter has two blasters mounted at its rear.

File:4876395900 c7163d2404.jpg

RX Bio Rider

• Height : 198 cm
• Weight : 85 kg
• Punch  : 45 ton
• Kick  : 75 ton
• Jump  : 90 m
• Speed  : 100 m/ 2 s

Bio Rider is a form where BLACK RX's armor becomes much sleeker, blue and silver all over and his Sunriser belt resembles a single Kingstone belt. During his duration as the "Prince of Anger", his speed is enhanced. He can also transform with the speed of up to 1000m into gel for escaping traps or attacking enemies while not getting hurt in the process (gel form is invincible). His weapon is the unbreakable sword, Bio Blade.

Equipment

File:Bio Blade.jpg

Bio Blade

• Bio Blade-Bio Rider's signature weapon is the Bio Blade katana. Like the Revolcane, Bio Blade has also a light saber mode that can slash his enemy in one blow.

File:Mackjabber.jpg

Mack Jabber

• Mach Jabber - Acrobatter transforms into Mach Jabber when RX becomes Bio Rider.

Kamen Ride Cards

Black

File:Kamen Ride Black.jpg

Kamen Ride Black

Kamen Ride Black (カメンライドBLACK, Kamen Raido Burakku) is the Kamen Ride Card which contains the power of Black. In BLACK×BLACK RX, Diend snatches the card from Decade following its awakening in the World of Black RX, claiming that Tsukasa can't use it yet, then used the card to summon the Kotaro Minami from the World of BLACK. In All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, Decade Complete Form Jumbo Formation performed the Final Dimension Kick, a variation of the Dimension Kick, transforming the Shōwa Riders, including Black, and Heisei Riders into Kamen Ride cards for Decade to travel through as opposed to Final Attack Ride cards before hitting the target.

In theory, this card would allow Kamen Rider Decade to transform into Black.

Black RX

File:Kamen Ride Black RX.jpg

Kamen Ride Black RX

Kamen Ride Black RX (カメンライドBLACK RX, Kamen Raido Burakku Āru Ekkusu) is the Kamen Ride Card which contains the power of RX.

Kamen Rider Diend first used the card in the World of Decade, summoning Agito alongside Super-1 and Agito to fight Doctor Shinigami and the Dai-Shocker Soldiers in the 7-Eleven promotional campaign.

In All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, Decade Complete Form Jumbo Formation performed the Final Dimension Kick, a variation of the Dimension Kick, transforming the Shōwa Riders, including RX, and Heisei Riders into Kamen Ride cards for Decade to travel through as opposed to Final Attack Ride cards before hitting the target.

In theory, this card would allow Kamen Rider Decade to transform into RX.

Appearances in other media

Kamen Rider SD (OVA)

Main article: Kamen Rider Black RX (SD)

Black RX: The newest Kamen Rider and star of the animated short Kamen Rider SD: Strange!? Kumo Otoko. Black RX is still new to being a Kamen Rider and often leaps before he looks. In the movie, he has fallen in love with an instructor at a local sports club, which GranShocker kidnaps in a plan to destroy the Kamen Riders once and for all. He has been paired up in a team with Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider ZX, the latter of which has taken a liking to teasing the young Rider. His finishing move is slashing his enemies with his Revolcane sword. He rides in a modified version of the Acrobatter motorcycle.

Video Games

Super Tokusatsu Taisen 2001

Kotaro Minami/Black/Black RX is a playable character in the Sony PlayStation crossover strategy game Super Tokusatsu Taisen 2001 along with Takeshi Hongo, Hayato Ichimonji, Shiro Kazami, and Joji Yuki.

Kamen Rider: The Bike Race

Black RX appears riding the Acro Batter (Kamen Rider Black is absent) in Kamen Rider: The Bike Race, a racing game featuring the majority of Kamen Riders and Rider Machines up to Kamen Rider Agito.

Kamen Rider: Seigi no Keifu

"To be added"

Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbaride

"To be added"

All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation 1 & 2

"To be added"

Climax Heroes series

"To be added"

Stage Shows

Maskman Stage Show at 3 Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Maskman are seen fighting usual foes, Armored Army, and Gorgom show up and wind up defeating them. Kamen Rider Black & Metalder arrive to assist the Maskman.

Maskman Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where maskman are seen fighting Underground Empire Tube, Kamen Rider Black, Metalder, Speilban, Shaider, Red Flash, Blue Flash, Change Dragon, Change Phoenix, Green Two, & Dyna Black arrive to assist the Maskman.

Liveman Stage Show at 3 Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Liveman are seen fighting their usual foes, the sorcerers clan show up and wind up defeating them. Jiraiya & Kamen Rider Black arrive to assist the Liveman.

Liveman Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Liveman are seen fighting the usual foes, Great Star League Gozma, Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess, Underground Empire Tube, Armored Army, & The Sorcerers Clan show up and wind up defeating them. Kamen Rider Black, Kamen Rider Black RX, Jiraiya, Princess Ninja Emiha, Red Mask, Pink Mask, Metalder, Red Flash, Yellow Flash, & Change Dragon arrive to assist the Liveman.

Turboranger Stage Show at 3 Heroes Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Turborangers are seen fighting Hundred Boma Tribes, Kamen Rider Black RX & Jiban arrive to assist the Turborangers.

Turboranger Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Turborangers are seen fighting Hundred Boma Tribes, Kamen Rider Black, Kamen Rider Black RX, Jiban, Jiraiya, Red Falcon, Yellow Lion, Red Mask, Pink Mask, Green Flash & Change Dragon assist the Turborangers.

Fivemen Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Fivemen are seen fighting Silver Imperial Army Zone, Fire, Bycle, Walter, Kamen Rider Black RX, Red Turbo, Pink Turbo, Red Falcon, Blue Dolphin, & Red Mask arrive to assist the Fivemen.

Jetman Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Jetman are seen fighting Dimensional War Party Vyram, SolBraver, Knight Fire, Kamen Rider Black RX, Five Red, Five Blue, Red Turbo, Pink Turbo, Yellow Lion, & Red Mask arrive to assist the Jetman.

Dairanger Stage Show at Super Hero Korakuen Yuenchi

In a stage show where the Dairangers are seeing fighting their usual foes, the Bandora Gang, Dimensional War Party Vyram, & Takewaki Kanzern show up and wind up defeating them. Janperson, Kamen Rider Black RX, Kiba Ranger, Tyranno Ranger, Dragon Ranger, Red Hawk & Black Condor arrive to assist the Dairangers.

Behind the scenes

Portrayal and Casting

Kotaro Minami is played by Tetsuo Kurata (倉田 てつを, Kurata Tetsuo). Kurata auditioned for the role of Kotaro Minami in January 1987, when he had just graduated from high school. In a 2006 interview, Kurata had stated that, during the audition, he hadn't been able to portray the character appropriately, and did not think he would get the role. To his surprise, he was chosen by Shōtarō Ishinomori himself to play the lead role, beating some 8,000 other contestants. During this period, Kurata underwent intense training that included stage combat techniques, physical exercise sessions and acting and singing lessons.

On October 4, 1987, Kamen Rider BLACK premiered on TBS to public and critical acclaim. The success of the series, which ran for 51 episodes, generated enough interest from Toei Company executives to persuade them to produce a sequel, something unprecedented in the Kamen Rider Series franchise. After finishing his work on BLACK, Kurata was approached by Toei and renewed his contract for one more year in exchange for a salary raise to work on BLACK's sequel, Kamen Rider BLACK RX, this resulted in him becoming the only actor to be the star of two shows in the Kamen Rider Series. In a 1989 magazine interview, Kurata said he preferred BLACK over BLACK RX, quoting the comedy from the latter as "excessive". It is rumored that Kurata declined later invitations to reprise his role as Kotaro in fear of being typecasted, but such rumors were never confirmed.

As Kamen Rider BLACK, his suit actor was Jiro Okamoto (岡元 次郎, Okamoto Jirō) who also did work for RX along with Robo Rider and Bio Rider. Other suit actors were Tokio Iwata (岩田 時男, Iwata Tokio), who did Robo Rider and Bio Rider, and Toshiyuki Kikuchi (菊地 寿幸, Kikuchi Toshiyuki) who did work for Robo Rider.

Tetsuo came back to voice Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider BLACK in Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu. In 2009, Kurata returned as Kotaro Minami in Kamen Rider Decade where he played both his BLACK and BLACK RX incarnations at the same time. The alternate RX appeared first appeared in episode 26, RX! Dai-Shocker Attack, then joining forces with the A.R. BLACK in the next, BLACK × BLACK RX. That same year, he had a cameo as the original Kotaro Minami, untransformed from BLACK RX, in the movie, Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker. In All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker, Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳, Watanabe Jun) did suitwork for RX, Robo Rider, and Bio Rider while Jiro Okamoto also did work for RX and BLACK.

In OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders, Kamen Rider BLACK was voiced by Ibuki (勇吹輝, Ibuki) while Jiro Okamoto acted as suit actor for RX.

In Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen, Jiro Okamoto again acted as suit actor for RX, while Hirofumi Tanaka (田中 大文, Tanaka Hirofumi) provided the voice for Kamen Rider BLACK.

Two Kotaro Minamis

• There have been five instances where Kamen Rider Black and Kamen Rider Black RX have existed independently from each other.
  • The first was in Kamen Rider: Run All Over the World where a time warp causes Kotaro to meet his past self. He also meets himself in his other forms, Robo Rider and Bio Rider, who also arrived due to a time warp.
  • The second was in the two episode arc (RX! Dai-Shocker Attack/Black × Black RX) of Kamen Rider Decade, in which the World of Black and the World of Black RX were treated as separate dimensions.
  • The third was in Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker. All returning Riders in this movie were stated to be the originals by the producers and assorted official material, like official site bios, but two Kotaro Minamis still coexisted, both portrayed by Tetsuo Kurata, similarly to the Decade TV show appearance, meaning one or both of them could have been the Kotaro Minamis from either the World of Black or World of Black RX.
  • The fourth was in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders, where there wasn't a proper explanation for their combined appearance. However it can be assumed that they are both Kotaro from different points in time similar to the aforementioned Run All Over the World.
  • The fifth was Super Hero Taisen, which yet again features both side by side, but only in the final battle, without any specific explanation for their combined appearance. The movie pamphlet distributed alongside theatrical showings of the movie references how Black's destined battle against Shadow Moon continues even 25 years later. However, since Kamen Rider Decade is involved, it can be assumed that the Kamen Rider Black in the movie is the one from the World of Black, where Kotaro never lost his powers.

Dub names

• Kotaro is renamed as Robert Akizuki in the Filipino dub and as Isamu in Brazil.

Rider notes

• Kotaro is the only Rider to be the leading protagonist of two shows in the Kamen Rider Series. Because of this he also has these distinctions.
  • Kotaro currently holds the record of the Rider with the most appearances.
  • Kotaro is currently the only Rider to get a completely new set of powers at the cost of his old ones. This would happen several times in the early seasons of Power Rangers, the American franchise which is adapted from the Super Sentai series. Ironically, as only Black RX was adapted into Saban's Masked Rider, Masked Rider's first form was RX (along with Super Gold (Robo Rider) and Super Blue (Bio Rider)), while the original Kamen Rider Black costume was never used in the series.
• As Black RX's Bio Rider form, Kotaro is the first Kamen Rider who has the ability to turn into liquid via an alternate form, this power would be repeated by future Kamen Riders OOO and Wizard who can become liquid via Shauta Combo and Water Style respectively.
• Both Black and RX are homaged by Leona Heidern, a character from SNK's King of Fighters series of video games. Her Rebel Spark desperation move is almost an exact copy of the Revolcrash, including the leaping stab, shower of sparks, and elaborate pose before the opponent explodes. However, Leona performs the move with her bare hands, and the explosion is caused by her planting an explosive on her opponent. Additionally, Leona's jumping Strike Attack (Hard Punch + Hard Kick together) is identical to Black's Rider Kick, even featuring a red energy aura around her feet.
• Black RX's Revolcane and Bio Blade is similar to the Lightsabers from the original Star Wars trilogy as the movies were popular in Japan during the 1980s.
• Kotaro is the only Rider to get a new name upon Form Changing (going from Kamen Rider Black RX to just Robo Rider/Bio Rider).

See Also

• Dex Stewart - Kotaro Minami's American counterpart in Saban's Masked Rider.