Kyu Saijo

This article is about an ally in Kamen Rider Drive.

Template:AllyInfoComplex Kenta Imai (今井 健太, Imai Kenta), more commonly known as Kyu Saijo (西城 究, Saijō Kyū), The Special Investigation Unit's network researcher. Outside the team, he is also a successful writer, well-known in the otaku community.

History

Kenta Imai/Kyu Saijo is a popular writer in the otaku community. He was hired as the Special Investigation Unit's network researcher, his approach to cases can sometimes get him into trouble with the team. Kyu mostly assists the team with clues regarding the culprit while trying to get information on the mysterious Kamen Rider.

In episode 20, it was revealed that he had a Roidmude imposter, Roidmude 072, different from other Roidmudes in that he wanted to live a normal life among humans. In certain occasions, 072 would take Kyu's place in the Special Investigation Unit and help them in tracking Roidmude culprits. The copy was killed by Medic after he was unmasked. Kyu was deeply saddened by 072's death after he was reported to have become berserk and killed by Drive but quickly comforted by his teammates. In reality, 072 requested Drive to lie about his death as it would deeply affect Kyu.

Despite 072's loss, Kyu was able to find an alternative way to detect Roidmudes by tracing their data patterns. ^{[What Can Be Spoken About the Irregular Dead?]}

Discovery of the Kamen Riders' identities

After a case where Hajime Taga bonded with Roidmude 007 to form Sword Roidmude, Kyu was sent by Shinnosuke to spy on Kiriko because of her suspicious behavior at the time. He tailed Kiriko in the woods, where she talked to Chase and revealed himself to support Kiriko's claims that not all Roidmudes were not evil after all, as he could relate.

He finally witnessed Shinnosuke transforming into Kamen Rider Drive after being forced to save Tomari's former partner Hayase from Hajime. After the fight ended, he and Genpachiro discover Kiriko's little brother Go's identity as Kamen Rider Mach. At the end of the day, both him and Gen were brought to the Drive Pit for the first time, bringing deep excitement to Kyu. ^{[Why Has a New Battle Started?]}

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 possesses a doll of one 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 (最上级, Saijō Kyu). For his profile in a network group.

Appearances

• Kamen Rider Drive