 This article is about a Rider in Kamen Rider Gavv.
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- "My name is Rakia Amarga. With your Dark Snacks... you murdered my brother, Comel Amarga!"
- ―Rakia confronting Glotta[src]
- "How dull. (だる。, Daru.)"
- ―Rakia's catchphrase[src]
- "How tiresome. (だるい。, Darui.)"
- ―Rakia's alternate catchphrase[src]
Rakia Amarga (ラキア・アマルガ, Rakia Amaruga), also known by his part-timer codename, Granute Lage Nine (グラニュート・ラーゲ9, Guranyūto Rāge Nain), is a Granute who infiltrated Stomach Inc. in order to find his brother's killer. He is given a "secret mission" by Nyelv Stomach and granted the means to transform into Kamen Rider Vram (仮面ライダーヴラム, Kamen Raidā Vuramu).
History
Background
Rakia Amarga was once an ordinary miner who provided for himself and his little brother, Comel Amarga. Unfortunately, Comel became addicted to Dark Snacks from Stomach Inc. unbeknownst to Rakia, to the point where he stole Rakia's savings to buy more. Rakia caught Comel red-handed after he noticed the money was running out. It was then that Rakia had heard of Dark Snacks but their quarrel drove Comel to run away from home. Rakia for a while posted numerous missing posters looking for Comel. Unfortunately, most bystanders ignored his pleads.
A year before the series began, Comel returned home after being fatally wounded by another Granute, and passed away in Rakia's arms after showing remorse for what he's done. This event deeply traumatized Rakia and he developed a hatred for both Stomach Inc. and their Dark Snacks with a passion ever since.
Infiltrating Stomach Inc.
To gain access to the upper echelons of Stomach Inc for his revenge, Rakia posed as a broke Dark Snack addict who attempted to steal from the Stomach Inc. vendors, before he was dragged off by one of Lango's Agents for causing a commotion. Gaining the attention of Lango, he was hired as a part-timer and underwent remodeling by Nyelv. Given the codename Lage Nine, he was brought to Earth and began using his abilities to gather large amounts of Human Press in short time. His exploits in the courtroom and movie theater earned him Dark Snacks, which he did not eat.
Becoming a Rider and Sudden Facade Dropped
After a successful run of part-timing, Rakia was approached by Nyelv with a secret job offer of fighting the "Granute hunters" Kamen Rider Gavv and Valen, using the Vrastumgear and Doppudding Gochizo. Rakia originally responded againast Gavv and Valen with immense firepower, ultimately injuring Hanto. During his last fight against Gavv, Rakia spares him after learning that he was not whom he was told he was and that he only received his powers 4 months ago.
Break-In to the Dark Snacks Factory with Shoma
As a sign of sincerity, Rakia and Shoma breaks into the Dark Snack Factory and successfully takes away lot of human press, including those Rakia collects earlier, suddenly Glotta appears. Rakia blames Stomach Inc. for killing his younger brother, Comel Amarga. Glotta doesn't know nor care about Rakia's younger brother, enraging Rakia and immediately transform to attack Glotta, allowing Shoma to take all the human press away.
New Life in the Human World
After returning to Human World to hide again, Rakia's identity as Vram was being exposed and he was fired from the Company, no longer able to make contact with other workers and Agents of the Stomach Inc. Rakia later noticed the appearance of Dark Shoma, fighting him a few times for being an imposter as well as he hope to finding clues about Comel, he also goes to Suga's lab for information, but receives nothing related. He was soon forced to live astray as he was out of money, he was then found by Shoma and Sachika, who offers him to work in Hapipare. Rakia reluctantly accepts the offer despite having low motivation to do so.
Personality
Initially, Rakia appeared as a Granute who would go for drastic measures to get a hold of some Dark Snacks, but in reality, he has shown no interest in them, even outright despising the treat due to the illicit treat ensnaring his younger brother into a self-destructive spiral until his death.
Rakia is shown to be two-faced, as he keeps a hard-working, humble facade whenever he's with members of Stomach Inc. (except Nyelv, after the latter requested that Lage Nine show his true personality between both of them) in hopes of gaining ranks in their hierarchy. Due to his hatred towards Stomach Inc. Rakia was livid when Hanto accused him of being a part of the Stomach Family.
Beneath the humble facade, he has an aloof, laid-back personality and has shown a dislike towards doing any difficult actions (deeming them "dull") but will do it to keep infiltrating the inner circle of Stomach Inc. and take revenge for the death of his late brother, Comel. Fortunately, meeting with Shoma had a positive impact on Rakia, as he starts to show his kindness to the latter, though he still dislikes doing boring/tiresome works, as he showed low motivation when working in Hapipare for the first time, despite having enough strength and stamina to lift and move furniture.
A comedic side of Rakia is shown when he ate a rock in front of Shoma & Sachika, stating that it's the normal meal for pure Granutes like him, much to the duo's bewilderment.
Forms
- Statistics[1]
- Height: 193.9 cm
- Weight: 79.9 kg
- Abilities
- Human Disguise: After being modified by Nyelv Stomach, Lage Nine gained the ability to adopt a human form by inserting a Mimic Key into his gavv. He is able to return to his original form by removing the Mimic Key.
- Human Press Transformation: After being modified by Nyelv, Lage Nine can turn humans into Human Presses by grabbing them with the tongue of his gavv. This can be accomplished in either his original form or human disguise.
- Neurotoxin: Lage Nine can generate countless blue energy tentacles from his hands. When one of these tentacles pierces a human, it injects a toxin that temporarily makes them euphoric and oblivious to their surroundings. This allows him to quickly acquire a large amount of high-quality Human Presses without resistance and regardless of the targets' prior emotions. These Tentacles can be used offensively to attack opponents as well.
Pudding Custom
- "Pudding Vram System!"
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
- Rider Height: 199.3 cm
- Rider Weight: 87.8 kg
- Ability Parameters[2]
- Punching Power: 1.7 t
- Kicking Power: 2.4 t
- Maximum Jump Height: 5.1 m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100 m per 7.4 seconds
Pudding Custom (プリンカスタム, Purin Kasutamu) is Vram's caramel pudding-based primary form accessed by using a Doppudding Gochizo in the Vrastumgear. Its sound effect is a caramel-and-yellow pudding-styled "Purun" (ぷるん), an onomatopoeia used for soft, jellylike things and jiggling.
Vram's stats exceed those of Gavv and Valen's standard forms. Lage Nine's original Granute abilities are enhanced as Vram, allowing him to incorporate tentacles with his attacks. Additionally, the impacts of each of his kicks distribute shockwaves to the target. He is shown to be highly dexterous in combat, including having the capability to redirect close-range attacks back at the attacker with ease.
Pudding Custom consists of the following parts:
- Rameltex Top (ラメルテクストップ, Ramerutekusu Toppu): The head.
- Sertpoon (ザートプーン, Zātopūn): The communication device. It transmits operation log data in real time.
- Meltinger (メルティンガー, Merutingā): The front of the head. The biological tissue generated by using Doppudding Gochizo makes repairs by quickly permeating damaged areas.
- Stard Eye (スタードアイ, Sutādo Ai): The eyes. The transformation enhances the person's eyesight, especially their ability to see dynamic movements.
- Caranal (カラナル, Karanaru): The recording organ. It manages the recording of operation log data.
- Puritexrusher (プリテクスラッシャー, Puritekusurasshā): The mouth. Energy is constantly supplied by the Vram System, so there is no need to eat while transformed.
- Vranbady (ヴランバディ, Vuranbadi): The body. The transformer's body boasts outstanding physical abilities, and by adding the characteristics of Gochizo, Vram can transform and change in various ways, exhibiting a variety of abilities.
- Puddistum Jacket (プディスタムジャケット, Pudisutamu Jaketto): The chest. The biological tissue generated by using Doppudding Gochizo is extremely flexible, but hardens upon receiving heat or impacts, allowing for a mixture of hard and soft defenses. It has the function of transmitting the impacts it receives to the limbs.
- Pudditex Arm (プディテクスアーム, Puditekusu Āmu): The arms. The transformation enhances the original abilities of the person transformed, greatly increasing their combat abilities. They can also release the impacts transmitted from the chest to the outside.
- Pudditex Leg (プディテクスレッグ, Puditekusu Reggu): The legs. The transformation enhances the original abilities of the person transformed, greatly increasing their combat abilities. The impact range is expanded by dispersing a shockwave at the same time as strikes.
This form has the following finishers:
- Vrastumgear finisher:
- Pudding Crash (プディングクラッシュ, Pudingu Kurasshu): Vram summons a caramel pudding that drops on top of his opponents to trap them. He charges his fist with his own tentacles and delivers a shock-inducing punch.
- Vrambreaker finisher:
- Vram Shooting (ヴラムシューティング, Vuramu Shūtingu):
- Doppuding: Vram draws the Break String on the Vrambreaker, generating a wall of orange hexagonal tiles that changes into multiple energy arrows. He releases it and fires all the arrows simultaneously at the opponent.
- Vram Slash (ヴラムスラッシュ, Vuramu Surasshu): TBA
- Vram Shooting (ヴラムシューティング, Vuramu Shūtingu):
Jelly Custom
- "Jelly Vram System!"
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
- Rider Height: 199.3 cm
- Rider Weight: 86.4 kg
- Ability Parameters[3]
- Punching Power: 1.3 t
- Kicking Power: 1.8 t
- Maximum Jump Height: 3.8 m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100 m per 7.7 seconds
Jelly Custom (ゼリーカスタム, Zerī Kasutamu) is Vram's cherry jelly-based form accessed by using a Purujelly Gochizo in the Vrastumgear.
While its stats are lower than Pudding Custom, Jelly Custom allows Vram to make himself invisible by becoming transparent, which extends to the entire Vram System. Vram can stealthily attack opponents from the shadows, but his heart stops beating as a cost of turning transparent and prolonged use may lead to death. "Invisible Jelly" also gives Vram excruciating heart pain after the invisibility time is over.
Jelly Custom consists of the following parts:
- Gelytex Top (ゼリテクストップ, Zeritekusu Toppu): The head.
- Sertpoon (ザートプーン, Zātopūn): The communication device. It transmits operation log data in real time.
- Soldinger (ゾルディンガー, Zorudingā): The front of the head. The biological tissue generated by using Purujelly Gochizo makes repairs by quickly permeating damaged areas.
- Colla Eye (コラーアイ, Korā Ai): The eyes. The transformation enhances the person's eyesight, especially their ability to detect heat patterns.
- Gelnal (ゲルナル, Gerunaru): The recording organ. It manages the recording of operation log data.
- Gelatexrusher (ゼラテクスラッシャー, Zeratekusurasshā): The mouth. Energy is constantly supplied by the Vram System, so there is no need to eat while transformed.
- Vranbady (ヴランバディ, Vuranbadi): The body. The transformer's body boasts outstanding physical abilities, and by adding the characteristics of Gochizo, Vram can transform and change in various ways, exhibiting a variety of abilities.
- Gelystum Jacket (ゼリスタムジャケット, Zerisutamu Jaketto): The chest. The biological tissue generated by using Purujelly Gochizo, in conjunction with Vrastumgear, can make the entire body transparent, at the cost of putting a tremendous strain on the organs responsible for life support. This load increases exponentially over time, and there is no guarantee of life after prolonged use.
- Rantex Arm (ラーンテクスアーム, Rāntekusu Āmu): The arms. The large shields on both shoulders and forearms absorb shock. It also transmits transparency to the Vrambreaker, a weapon synchronized with the Vram System.
- Rantex Leg (ラーンテクスレッグ, Rāntekusu Reggu): The legs. The transformation enhances the original abilities of the person transformed, greatly increasing their combat abilities. When becoming invisible, it increases stealth by eliminating sound pattern occlusion and shadows.
This form has the following finishers:
- Vrastumgear finisher:
- Invisible Jelly (インビジブルゼリー, Inbijiburu Zerī): The Vrastumgear ejects a pair of energy thorned vines that puncture Vram and squeeze on his heart to stop it from beating, making him temporarily invisible.
- Vrambreaker finisher:
- Vram Shooting (ヴラムシューティング, Vuramu Shūtingu):
- Purujelly: TBA
- Vram Slash (ヴラムスラッシュ, Vuramu Surasshu):
- Purujelly: Vram draws the Break String on the Vrambreaker thrice and charges the Oxidanzer to deliver an orange energy buzz slash at the opponent.
- Vram Shooting (ヴラムシューティング, Vuramu Shūtingu):
Equipment
Devices
- Vrastumgear - Transformation device
- Gochizo - Transformation trinkets
- Mimic Key - Transformation device, inserted into his gavv to take human form.
- Gavvphone - Personal smartphone
Weapons
- Vrambreaker - Vram's personal weapon
Relationships
Family
(Younger brother; deceased)
- Comel Amarga: Rakia and his younger brother Comel took great care of one another despite their circumstance. However, their peaceful life was upended after Comel became addicted to Dark Snacks and later passed away from a Granute attack. Comel's untimely demise became Rakia's main motivation to infiltrate Stomach Inc. and get his revenge.
Allies
- Shoma/Kamen Rider Gavv: Initially, Rakia thought of Shoma as a Granute Hunter who worked under Stomach Inc. to dispose of the rogue Granutes, including his little brother, Comel. However, Shoma was not the one who disposed of Comel, as Shoma explained that he only gained his powers as Gavv four months ago, lamenting that he too, also lost a family to the Stomach family before persuading Rakia to use his new power for good and turn it against the Stomach Inc, pointing that kidnapping innocent people into Human Presses will only served to make the Stomach Inc. more powerful. Rakia then later decided to ally himself with Shoma after the latter showed how much sorrow and pain Rakia had caused to the family of the humans he had kidnapped, akin to the same way Rakia himself grieved over the loss of Comel. with Rakia repenting his actions by teaming with Shoma before raiding the Dark Snacks factory right at the heart of the Stomach Inc. fighting alongside each other against Agents and Glotta Stomach, eventually succeeding in rescue and freeing the kidnapped humans before they could be processed into Dark Snacks.
- Sachika Amane: His current boss & new ally. Sachika accepts him for being a Granute & for being Shoma's new friend. Though Rakia accepts Sachika's offer to work at Hapipare, he's shown low motivation when working, starting to nap when his job is not finished, much to Sachika's annoyance.
Enemies
- Stomach Inc./Stomach Family
- Lango Stomach: TBA
- Nyelv Stomach: Nyelv is the one who modified Rakia and gave him Vratsumgear that allows the latter to become Kamen Rider Vram. Unlike the other Stomach Family members, Nyelv is aware of Rakia's true personality, and encourages Rakia to drop the facade around him.
- Glotta Stomach: TBA
- Jiip Stomach: TBA
- Kenzo Suga: TBA
- Dark Shoma/Kamen Rider Bitter Gavv: Rakia finds Bitter Gavv as a fake version of Shoma due to the black gavv he has on his chest.
Others
- Hanto Karakida/Kamen Rider Valen: Rakia and Hanto fought due to him being a Granute in his eyes, Thinking of him as part of Stomach Inc. Hanto accuses Rakia wrongly, enraging the latter. Ironically, it was Rakia who helped Hanto (albeit indirectly) to think rationally after Glotta nonchalantly revealed Shoma's true identity as a member of the Stomach Family. And when Bitter Gavv surfaced, he made Hanto wake up in seeing that it isn't Shoma after discovering his gavv isn't his.
- Dente Stomach: Rakia feels hatred towards Dente when he knows Dente was one of the creators of Dark Snacks, though he hopes to kill him to fulfill his revenge, seeing Dente's acceptance of his death as a way atone his sins and his request for Rakia to help Shoma, Rakia spares him for the moment till his time comes.
- Koji Minamoto: Rakia was initially assigned by Sachika to escort Koji to meet Kabuto Danshi, who turned out to be a Granute. Koji's character reminds Rakia of his younger brother, Comel Amarga, who died because he was killed by another Granute. After some motivation and for vowing to saving Koji's VTube & reputation, Rakia starts eating human sweets full time.
Behind the Scenes
Portrayal
- Rakia Amarga/Granute Lage Nine is portrayed by Kohei Shoji (庄司 浩平, Shōji Kōhei), who previously portrayed Takamichi Crystaria
/Kiramai Silver in Mashin Sentai Kiramager. During his audition, Shoji consulted with other Rider actors from his agency, Hiroki Iijima (Ex-Aid} and So Okuno (Zi-O), on what to expect. In getting cast for the role, Shoji noted that his Kiramger co-stars Mio Kudo and Atomu Mizuishi were in Kamen Rider before their time, and delightfully joked that his cast had a profound connection to the series.[4] Speaking on his role, Shoji addressed his previous fans from Kiramager and wanted to showcase how his acting skills have grown and improved since. For newer fans of Kamen Rider and the children, he wanted to make a lasting "cool" first impression for a character who starts off as scary.[5] - As Lage Nine and Kamen Rider Vram, his primary suit actor is Eitoku (永徳), who previously suit-acted as Kamen Rider Gotchard.
- In his debut appearance as Lage Nine in Episode 12, his suit actor was Takahiro Yoneoka (米岡 孝弘, Yoneoka Takahiro).
- In Episode 22, his suit actor was Yuya Nawata (縄田 雄哉, Nawata Yūya).
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Etymology
- The code name Lage Nine is an anagram of the Japanese word for jellyfish (クラゲ, kurage), with "ku" moved to the end of the word, then "ra" is given a chōonpu. "Ku" is replaced with the number 9, as it can be pronounced the same way in the Go-on reading of "9" (九, Ku).
- Vram's name is derived from shortening the word "frustum" (フラスタム, Furasutamu), a type of shape. This references pudding and jelly containers that are often shaped into a conical frustum. The kana fu (フ) is replaced with vu (ヴ), which is also found in the names of Gavv and Valen.[6]
- Rakia's surname, Amarga, is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word for "bitter".[7]
Notes
- Lage Nine's torso and upper arms are recolored and modified from Granute Otake, while his lower half is reused from Granute Hound.
Appearances
- Kamen Rider Gavv
- Episode 12: A Bond Connected by Doughnuts
- Episode 13: Promised Homemade Cake
- Episode 15: Escaped Granute!
- Episode 16: The Gift of Noël
- Episode 17: Caramel Tentacles Taste Like Happiness
- Episode 18: Extremely Strong! The Pudding Bodyguard
- Episode 19: The Secret Bittersweet Flavor of Pudding
- Episode 20: Break In! To the Dark Snacks Factory!
- Kamen Rider Gavv: Transformation Lessons
- Episode 21: Too Bitter Gavv
- Episode 22: The Truth Is Sweet and Bitter
- Episode 23: Broken Sweets
- Episode 24: A Spoonful of Revival Ice Cream
- Episode 25: Virtual Happiness, The Taste of Nectar
- Episode 26: Angry Pudding
- Episode 27: Sour and Sweet to the Point of Burning
References
- ↑ "TV Asahi's page for Granute Lage Nine". https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/gavv/enemy/?index=0012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "TV Asahi's page for Vram Pudding Custom". https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/gavv/rider/vram/pudding/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "TV Asahi's page for Vram Jelly Custom". https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/gavv/rider/vram/jelly/.
- ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0d8bb0498fccfa31aad500a9b5deb0ca7f2df789?page=2
- ↑ https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/gavv/news/0017/
- ↑ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gf9zpx7bgAAFE8s?format=jpg&name=large
- ↑ https://www.kamen-rider-official.com/gavv/20/