This article is about an ally in Kamen Rider Drive. |
Kenta Imai (今井 健太, Imai Kenta), more commonly known as Kyu Saijo (西城 究, Saijō Kyū) is a writer and the network researcher of the Special Investigation Unit.
History[]
Kenta Imai, well known by his pen name Kyu Saijo, is a digital expert and he is talented at information-gathering. He is also is a popular writer in the otaku community having written a bestselling novel, Hurray! Internet Life. Kyu was hired as the Special Investigation Unit's network researcher, however his approach towards cases is sometimes frowned upon by the whole unit.
Kyu is noted to be a fan of the anime, Murmur Mansion and mostly assists the team with clues regarding the culprit while trying to get information on the mysterious Kamen Rider. Despite his overwhelming passion with his occult hobbies, he remained a valuable asset to the Special Investigation Unit as he was able to provide Shinnosuke and Kiriko clues to lead them in their cases.
One night, he came across Roidmude 072 and begged to watch the final episode of Murmur Mansion before the Roidmude kills him. While the Roidmude decided to honor his final wish, he ended up not going through his mission after connecting with Kyu. Kyu let 072 live with him at his place and even letting the Roidmude take his place in the Special Investigation Unit on certain occasions. The copy was killed by Medic after he was unmasked. Kyu was deeply saddened by 072's death after he was told that his friend went berserk and killed by Kamen Rider Drive. In reality, 072 requested Drive to lie about his death as it would deeply sadden Kyu. Despite 072's loss, Kyu found an alternative way to detect Roidmudes by tracing their data patterns.
During the plight of the Sword Roidmude, Kyu was sent by Shinnosuke to keep an eye on Kiriko Shijima because of her suspicious behavior at the time. He tailed Kiriko in the woods where he discovered her with Chase. While he was frieghtened by Chase, he understood Kiriko that not all Roidmudes were not evil as he could relate. Kyu and Lt. Otta would finally learn Shinnosuke Tomari was Kamen Rider Drive after seeing him transform to save Akira Hayase. After the fight ended, they also learn Kiriko's brother Go being Kamen Rider Mach. Kyu and Otta were brought to the Drive Pit for the first time where the Special Investigation Unit are now offfically part of the Kamen Riders' activities, with Kyu further providing him with clues regarding later Roidmude related incidents.
Eventually, the Special Investigation Unit have accomplished their mission of shutting down the 108 Roidmudes and ending Tenjuro Banno's reign of terror. With their mission complete, Krim locked himself and all Core Driviar equipments beneath the wrecked Drive Pit. After several parting words, Mr. Belt prepares the lockdown and all of the Unit members saluted for him. Following this, Kyu went on to become a popular network researcher and author once more. His latest novel, Mechanical Friendship became a best seller.
Other Events[]
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle[]
The entire Special Investigations Unit become involved with the "Ultimate Lupin" case concerning the thief being actually a Roidmude. While Shinnosuke procceeded to investigate the case, he discovers that there is a mole amoungst the Special Investigations Unit. After gathering Kiriko, Rinna, Sanjo, Lt. Otta, and Chief Honganji, Shinnosuke exposed Kiriko to be Lupin undercover.
Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3[]
In the altered timeline created by Shocker's History Modifying Machine, Rinna and Kyu are still members of the Special Investigation Unit which as a police force serves Shocker which rules the world. They are later wanted by Shocker after they witnessed Jun Honganji's murder by Genpachiro Otta, who had been remodeled into the Shocker cyborg Cheetahkatatsumuri. Disguising themselves, they appear as spectators at the Rider Grand Prix where they cheer on the freed Kamen Rider, Drive. Their alternate lives in this world are unwritten when the destruction of the History Modifying Machine restores the timeline, returning them to their proper place in history.
Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future[]
When Kamen Rider Drive was engaging in a battle against a Giant Roidmude, he apparently fled the scene after the Trailer-Hou malfunctioned. This forced the Metropolitan Police Department to issue a nationwide manhunt for Shinnosuke, while the rest of the Special Investigations Unit were pleading his innocence. Upon discovering that the entire events have been orchestrated by Roidmude 108, the Special Investigations Unit convince the Metropolitan Police to assist Kamen Rider Drive to prevent the Eternal Global Freeze.
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie Wars Genesis[]
While Kyu was notably absent during the Special Investigation Unit and Daitenku Temple's battle against the Renaissance Gamma, he appeared once more attending the wedding of Shinnosuke and Kiriko along with the rest of the former Special Investigation Unit as well as the Mysterious Phenomenon Institute team.
Kamen Rider Drive Saga 2[]
Two years after defeating the Roidmudes, Kyu cooperated with Go and Rinna in their quest to ressurect Chase. They attempt an an experiment to revive their comrade by using a newly built Proto Body and a blank Drive System, but ends up reviving Heart, Brain, and Medic instead. As Roidmude 5886 began targetting human templates of previous Roidmudes, Kyu was placed into protective custody until Kamen Rider Heart eventually defeated it. Kyu, Rinna, and Otta would later spy on Go after he had finally gotten together with Reiko Nishihori.
Personality[]
Kyu is the stereotypical "nerd", specifically into cartoons and the occult. Kyu likes watching the anime Murmur Mansion to the point where he often wears the show's official T-shirt and owns dolls of its characters. Kyu often portrays comical tendencies and will try to lecture anyone who would offend his interests. According to Roidmude 072, Kyu may seem happy at all times, but he can be easily saddened.
Behind the scenes[]
Portrayal[]
Kyu Saijo is portrayed by Kenta Hamano (浜野 謙太, Hamano Kenta).
Etymology[]
His net name Kyu Saijo (西城 究, Saijō Kyu) is a homonym of the Japanese phrase The Highest Level (最上級, Saijō Kyu). For his profile in a network group.
His real name Kenta Imai (今井 健太, Imai Kenta) is likely taken from his actor's name, Kenta Hamano (浜野 謙太, Hamano Kenta)
Appearances[]
- Kamen Rider Drive
- Episode 1: Why Did My Time Stop?
- Episode 2: What is a Kamen Rider?
- Episode 3: Who Stole the Woman's Smile?
- Episode 4: What is That Prideful Chaser Thinking?
- Secret Mission Type TV-KUN: Hunter & Monster! Chase the Mystery of the Super Thief!
- Episode 5: What Are the Steel Robbers After?
- Episode 6: Who Does the Warrior Fight For?
- Episode 7: How Was That Decisive Moment Captured?
- Episode 8: What is the Secret That Dwells in the Heart?
- Episode 9: How Can I Get Used to the Cool Body?
- Kamen Rider Drive: The Challenge from Lupin
- Episode 10: What is in the Belt's Past?
- Episode 11: Who Can Prevent the Dark Christmas Eve?
- Episode 12: Where Did That White Kamen Rider Come From?
- Episode 13: Why Won't My Little Brother Put On the Brakes? (doppelganger only)
- Secret Mission Type HIGH SPEED! The True Power! Type High Speed is Born!
- Episode 14: Who Is the Black Shadow Chasing Her?
- Episode 15: When Will These Feelings Reach You?
- Episode 16: Why is Rinna Sawagami Nervous? (doppelganger only)
- Episode 17: Who Will Control Deadheat? (doppelganger only)
- Episode 19: What Can Judge the Police?
- Episode 20: When Did Kyu Saijo Become a Roidmude?
- Episode 21: What Can Be Spoken About the Irregular Dead?
- Episode 22: How Can I Use the F1 Body to Fight?
- Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Vs. Kamen Rider Drive Spring Vacation One-Hour Combining Special
- Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
- Episode 23: Who Can Stop the Hoax Smile?
- Episode 24: What Can Keep Mach Running?
- Secret Mission Type TOKUJO
- Episode 1: How Were the Special Investigation Unit Selected?
- Episode 2: Just What is the Anima System?
- Episode 3: Who Killed Professor Odagiri?
- Episode 4: Why Was Professor Banno Targeted during the Global Freeze?
- Episode 25: Why Has a New Battle Started?
- Episode 26: Where is Chaser Going?
- Episode 27: What's Go Shijima's Reason to Fight?
- Episode 28: Why Were the Families Targeted?
- Episode 29: What Really Happened in the Robbery?
- Episode 30: Who Reveals the Real Criminal?
- Episode 31: Why Did the Important Memories Disappear?
- Episode 32: What is Waiting At the End of Evolution?
- Episode 33: Who Claimed the Life of Shinnosuke Tomari?
- Episode 35: Why Did the Siege Happen?
- Episode 37: Who is Aiming for the Ultimate Taste?
- Episode 39: When Will the Whirlwind Kidnapper Attack?
- Episode 40: Why Are the Two Genius Scientists Having a Conflict?
- Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future
- Episode 41: How is the Golden Drive Born?
- Episode 42: Where is the Truth About the Goddess?
- Episode 43: When Will the Second Global Freeze Start?
- Episode 44: Who Loves Heart the Most?
- Episode 45: What is a Roidmude's Last Dream?
- Episode 46: Why Must They Fight?
- Episode 47: Who Will You Entrust the Future to, My Friend?
- Episode 48: Final Story (Special Edition): The Case of Ghost
- Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie Wars Genesis
- Kamen Rider Drive Saga 2