 This article is about a rider in Kamen Rider Ryuki.
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- For the A. R. World version, see Ren Haguro.
Ren Akiyama (秋山 蓮, Akiyama Ren) is Kamen Rider Knight (仮面ライダーナイト, Kamen Raidā Naito, Masked Rider Knight), a character in the tokusatsu production Kamen Rider Ryuki. He is one of the main protagonists and the first of the 13 Kamen Riders the story revolves around.
History
TV Series
He is a cold loner who fights constantly and is frequently unemployed. He received his Advent Deck before the start of the series. He accepted Kanzaki's offer to join the Rider war to give his fiancée, Eri Ogawa, a full recovery, who has been in a mysterious coma ever since an encounter with Darkwing. Ren later contracted with Darkwing and became Kamen Rider Knight.
Knight in Survive fights Ouja.
After Shinji Kido, he would still persist to fight any and all Riders. But the ordeal of his memory loss had him leave the Tea Atori to clear his head. Meeting Miyuki Tezuka, who reveals himself as Raia, while pointing out that though he accepted his fate as a Kamen Rider, Ren had doubts in his heart if he could actually take a life. He later inherited the Survive Shippu Card from Tezuka. Over time he eventually softened up and slowly came to return Shinji's constant offers of friendship. Throughout the series they formed a somewhat of a rivalry, which Ren took more seriously than Shinji because of the Rider War.
Ren beside a dying Shinji.
Ren dies after he finally revives his fiancée, Eri.
Shiro eventually declares him as the last Rider. All the other Riders had died, but it was Shinji's death in Episode 49 that devastated him, as he had finally accepted Shinji as his best friend. Ironically enough however, Shinji's dying words galvanized Ren into bringing the war to an end. Shiro Kanzaki brought him to fight the remaining Rider, Kamen Rider Odin. As Ren was about to lose, Shiro Kanzaki was tormented by his sister Yui Kanzaki's words, and self-destroyed Odin, thus making Ren the final Rider. The wish appeared, and Ren used it to save Eri's life as he had originally intended. Returning to the hospital where Eri laid, she wakes up to see Ren's engagement ring on her finger, and a loyal Ren, lying against the wall. Unbeknownst to her at the time, the battle with Odin had proved too much, and Ren died. After Shiro restored time to its proper course after Yui's death, Shinji (and also Ren) were revived with no memory of being Riders, thus they are unable to recognize each other in one of the final scenes of the series. It can also be noted that his fiancée, Eri still lives as of she was put into coma in the first place due to Darkwing.
13 Riders
In the 13 Riders TV Special (alternate story), he sees Shinji taking over the Ryuki deck after its last owner dies, and demands the deck be returned, until he sees the list of names. He warns Shinji, but later after setting Shinji up as plotted with the other Riders (in a form of a truce between the Riders) he couldn't bring himself to finish Shinji off, with their friendship developing. In the end, he pushed Ryuki out of the way and took the blow of Kamen Rider Verde's Death Vanish Final Vent. He shook the damage long enough to kill Verde with his Hishouzan Final Vent (similar to how Miyuki Tezuka died in the series, pushing Ryuki out of the way to receive Kamen Rider Ohja's Veno Crash Final Vent). Shortly afterwards, he died in Shinji's arms after giving him the Knight deck, making Shinji Kido the second character to be two separate Riders in the same series.
Episode Final
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Ryuki and Knight as seen in the movie's ending scene.
In the movie, Ren, together with the remaining fighters fought one another. He too, like Miho Kirishima had mistook Shinji as Kamen Rider Ryuga from a battle he witnessed (Ryuga and Femme were fighting with each other) and in his case thought that Shinji had realised the meaning of the Rider War and demanded they battle, until he saw the real Shinji absorbed into Ryuga he understood and battled Ryuga as well. Later seeing Yui dead, as Shinji and Ryuga battle, he witnesses Shinji finishing Ryuga off, after which he confesses his friendship to Shinji. However he marks his words that he must win, which Shinji promises to fight with, where Ren also agrees to Shinji's terms not to die before the fight with the Hydragoons. They then together as Kamen Rider Knight Survive and Kamen Rider Ryuki Survive battle the horde of Hydragoons as the film ends.
S.I.C. Hero Saga
Ren appears in two S.I.C. Hero Saga which is Kamen Rider Ryuki: Advent Calendar and in Kamen Rider Ryuki: World of If.
In the Advent Calendar, with the Rider War is reaching it's final, Ryuki, Knight, Ouja, Zolda and Odin are the surviving Riders left. While Ouja fought Knight he causes Knight to buried under some rubbles. Ryuki shows up and challenges Ouja into a fight as he stole Knight's Survive Card and and transformed into Ouja Survive with Venosnaker evolves into Venoviper. He then uses his new Unite Vent card with all the contracted monsters' cards he's gathered up till now from the Riders he defeated with Darkwing card which he also stole from Knight. All of his monsters, as well as Dragreder which just happened to be nearby, combine to form the Genosurvivor.
Kitaoka shows up and transforms into Zolda and summons Magnugiga and uses End of World, blowing everything away. Ryuki sees the rubble with Knight in it blown away too and with his love, anger and all of his sorrow his body possessed by the spirit of his late order brother, Shinichi Kido. Looking at the dead body of Ouja and Zolda (who also died after caught in the explosion of his own attack), Yui says he did it, and when doing so he and Dragreder had turned black means that now he is Ryuga. Ren shows up revealing that he was never here, the Knight that Ouja defeated was a copy made with Trick Vent. He and Shinji are the last two Riders remaining (Odin works as the Rider who only granting wish rather than fighting) and have to fight. With Shinichi emerge as the victor, Odin was summoned while granting a wish which is to reviving all of the victims of the Rider War.
In the World of If, after Eri Ogawa died in the hospital, Ren himself quits being a Kamen Rider while throwing away Knight's Advent Deck. While wandering at the streets, Shiro Kanzaki shows up and give him an Advent Deck and turned him into Odin's puppet. Ouja, as the final Rider, stands before Odin. His wish is for the Rider War to continue for all eternity. While in the middle of the battle, Alternative Zero jumps in and join forces with Ouja in order to fight Odin. Ouja activates his Final Vent; Venoviper transforms into a bike and charges at Odin, spitting poison along the way. A moment before it his him, though, he activates his Time Vent and vanishes, then reappears on Venoviper's seat, behind Ouja and strikes him quickly.
Right before he dies, Asakura sees Odin's face, through the hole in his helmet melted through by Venoviper's poison, revealing Ren's face. The mask completely crumbles away and Ren comes back to his senses. He looks down at his body and realized what happened. With a full anger, he yells by the name of Shiro Kanzaki as he appears and laughing in glee. Now that Odin is the victor of the Rider Battle, and now he can finally grant Yui a new life. Ren notices that the Alternative Zero and has a weird feeling about him as he heads over and yanks out the deck. Turns out it was Yui all along. She revealed that she borrowed it from Kagawa to stop Shiro, and reaches out to him. But he has no body, and can't grasp her hand. Yui faints while dies as Shiro failed to grant her a new life and mourning her death.
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
Kamen Rider Knight was part of a group of reinforcement riders led by Akira Date/Kamen Rider Birth to aid the primary riders in defeating the Rock Great Leader. All the Kamen Riders got on their bikes and performed the All Rider Break attack which destroyed the Great Leader. [OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders]
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
Ren (as Knight, behind Hibiki) as seen in Super Hero Taisen
Knight is one of the Rider Team which consist of Black, G3, Zolda, Hibiki and Gatack that fought against Gokai Red only to be defeated by his Gokai Sabre Slash. It's unknown if he reappeared or not during the final battle.
Chou Super Hero Taisen
Video Game appearances
Kamen Rider: Battride War
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Knight as he appears in the game.
Kamen Rider Knight appears as a Second Rider in the video game Kamen Rider: Battride War.
Kamen Rider: Battride War II
Kamen Rider Knight appears as a Second Rider in the video game Kamen Rider: Battride War II.
Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis
Kamen Rider Knight in Battride War Genesis.
Kamen Rider Knight made his playable debut in the video game Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis, with Satoshi Matsuda reprises his role.
In all forms, Knight can still be able to summon his Advent Monster, unlike Ryuki whose Advent Monster summoning is very limited for his default form Base Mode only. Knight is considered as an aerial combat-based character.
Fighting Style
Knight is essentially a close range fighter. His primary weapon is his rapier, Dark Visor as well as his powerful Sword Vent. These weapons make Knight suited to close-range, but make him weak at long-range. To compensate, his other Advent Cards are centered on disorientation (Nasty Vent) or confusion (Trick Vent) to help him close in on the opponent, and unique among the Riders he can wear Darkwing as a cape using his Guard Vent or Advent to fly at high speeds. These cards make Knight a powerful combatant for one-on-one duels.
His Survive mode enhances his close range capabilities with a more powerful Sword Vent, modifies his Nasty Vent into a more offensive form (Blust Vent) and gives him a far-range weapon (Shoot Vent).
Personality
Ren is a cold, harsh person, and hardcore loner. He is very talented as he always able to serve the customers in Cafe alongside Shinji. But despite his cold personality, he is actually a kind person and can become emotionally distracted when someone he consider close is injured or dying. Even when he got amnesia, his personality didn't change.
Ren is a contradictory person, telling Shinji to not hesitate at the prospect of killing, yet unable to do so himself, only forging on due to saving Eri. He opposes companionship, yet in reality very much needs it, considering Shinji his only friend and willing to go to great lengths to help him.
Though his relationship with Shinji had a rocky start due to him naturally being opposed to friendship
Forms
Ren transforms into Kamen Rider Knight through his Advent Deck and his V-Buckle. These are the following forms throughout the course of the series run. In Kamen Rider Ryuki: World of If, he transforms into Kamen Rider Odin and thus turning into it's puppet.
Blank Form (concept art)
Blank Form (ブランク体, Buranku-tai) is Knight's default form when lacking a Contract Monster. It was not seen in the series, only in concept art as seen in the artbook Kamen Rider Art Collection Hero Hen.
Kamen Rider Knight
Rider Statistics
- Height: 195cm
- Weight: 95kg
Ability Parameters:
- Punching Power: 10t (AP: 200)
- Kicking Power: 15t (AP: 300)
- Maximum Jump Height: 40m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100m per 4.5 seconds
- Sight: 10km
- Hearing: 25km
This is Knight's standard form that he had throughout most of the series, obtained once he forms his contract with Darkwing. A melee-range Kamen Rider designed for chivalrous 1-on-1 combat, Knight can use the Dark Visor (ダークバイザー, Dāku Baizā) rapier as both a weapon and to execute his Vent abilities.
Appearances: Ryuki Episodes 1-6, 9-10, 12-14, 16, 19-29, 31-32, 34-35, 37-41, 43, 45-47, 49-50, Episode Final, 13 Riders, Ryuki vs Kamen Rider Agito
Knight Survive
- "Survive!"
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
Rider Statistics
- Height: 198cm
- Weight: 97kg
Ability Parameters:
- Punching Power: 15t (AP: 300)
- Kicking Power: 22.5t (AP: 450)
- Maximum Jump Height: 50m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100m per 4.2 seconds
- Sight: 15km
- Hearing: 30km
Kamen Rider Knight Survive (仮面ライダーナイトサバイブ, Kamen Raidā Naito Sabaibu) is Knight's ultimate form, assumed by using the power of the Survive Shippu (疾風, Shippū, "Hurricane") Card, given to him by Tezuka before his death by Ohja.
In this form, Knight's Rider Visor transforms into an arm-mounted scabbard called Dark Visor-Zwei (ダークバイザーツバイ, Dāku Baizā Tsubai), which could transform into either the Dark Arrow, or the Dark Shield and Dark Sword.
Appearances: Ryuki Episodes 23-24, 26-27, 34-35, 37, 39-40, 46-50, Episode Final, 13 Riders
Kamen Rider Odin
Rider Statistics
- Height: 205cm
- Weight: 100kg
Ability Perimeters:
- Punching Power: 17.5t (AP: 350)
- Kicking Power: 25t (AP: 500)
- Maximum Jump Height: 50m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100m per 4 seconds
- Sight: 20km
- Hearing: 25km
As a fighter, Odin was observant, methodical, silent, and usually only moved when using a card or attacking, otherwise relying heavily on his ability to teleport, and his opponent's brashness. Odin is mostly a melee fighter, though has been known to send a gust of exploding feathers while his opponent was vulnerable. Kamen Rider Femme can also use these abilities, but to a more limited degree. Interestingly, his teleportation ability and gust attacks do not require an Advent Card to use.
Contract Monster
Darkwing
- Main article: Darkwing
Advent Decks
- Advent (AP: 4000): Summons Darkwing.
- Sword Vent (AP: 2000): Summons the Wing Lancer (ウイングランサー, Uingu Ransā), which is a giant lance that resembles somewhat of Darkwing's tail.
- Nasty Vent (AP: 1000): Summons Darkwing, who then does the Sonic Breaker (ソニックブレイカー, Sonikku Burekā) attack, where Darkwing unleashes painful sonic screeches.
- Trick Vent (AP: 1000): Allows Knight to pull off the Shadow Illusion (シャドーイリュージョン, Shadō Iryūjon), where Knight can create up to 8 functional doubles.
- Guard Vent (AP: 3000): Summons Darkwing to attach onto his back for the Wing Wall (ウイングウォール, Uingu Uōru) cape-like shield.
- Final Vent (AP: 5000): Knight executes the Hishouzan (飛翔斬, Hishōzan, lit, "Flying Slash"), where he starts of running at the opponent with Wing Lancer in hand as Darkwing lands on its master's back to form a cape, then Knight leaps into the air. Once he reaches the peak of his jump, he then front flips into position, with the Wing Lancer held up in a piercing position and right leg in a kicking position, wrapping himself with the cloak mid-attack as Rider and Monster descend in the form of a spinning cloth-like drill to impale the opponent with great force.
- Survive Shippu: A special Advent Card that transforms Knight into Survive Form and evolves Darkwing into Darkraider. When activated, the background of the card shines with a spiraling blue tornado effect.
- Advent (AP: 6000): Summons Darkraider.
- Sword Vent (AP: 4000): Allows Knight's Dark Visor Zwei to assume the form of the Dark Blade (ダークブレード, Dāku Burēdo) by grabbing the pummel of the sword and removing it, though there have been instances where Knight removes the Dark Blade and having not used the Sword Vent Card. Since the Advent Card slot is on the Dark Blade, Knight can still use Advent Cards.
- Shoot Vent (AP: 3000): Allows Knight's Dark Visor Zwei to assume the form of the Dark Arrow (ダークアロー, Dāku Arō), where the outer trims of the Visor swing upward to make the Visor resemble an arm-mounted crossbow. Paradoxically, it seems the shots of the Dark Arrow seem to be made of solar energy.
- Trick Vent (AP: 2000): Knight can execute Shadow Illusion, replicating up to 8 copies of himself.
- Blast Vent (AP: 2000): Summons Darkraider to execute the Dark Tornado (ダークトルネード, Dāku Torunēdo) attack, where Darkraider's tire-like turbines enlarge a bit to launch intense gales of wind to blow away opponents.
- Final Vent (AP: 8000): Performs the Shippudan (疾風断, Shippūdan, lit. "Hurricane Edge"). As Darkraider assumes its motorcycle form, Knight Survive rides Darkraider as it paralyzes the monster with a laser, then the cape pieces on Knight Survive wraps around Darkraider in a manner like Hishouzan, then turns into a missile and run through the opponent with extreme force.
.jpg "Trick Vent (Knight-Wing Knight Survive).jpg (120 KB)")
- Advent (AP: 8000): Summons Goldphoenix.
- Sword Vent (AP: 4000): Conjures Gold Saber, dual sabers formed from the Goldphoenix's wings.
- Guard Vent (AP: 4000): Conjures Gold Shield, a shield made from the Goldphoenix's tail.
- Time Vent: Allows Odin to reverse time.
- Steal Vent: Allows Odin to steal any weapon or defense object his opponent may have.
- Final Vent (AP: 10000): Executes Eternal Chaos.
- Survive Mugen: His Survive Card, the Odin's wing extended, two Survive Cards combine into one. Never used.
Equipment
- Advent Deck - Advent Card holders, also used as a key to transformation. As long as Ren holds one, he can detects presents of other Riders and Mirror Monsters inside the Mirror World, as well as surviving without dying when return to real world
- V-Buckle - Transformation belt materialised from a mirror reflection.
- Advent Cards - Trading cards that supply the user powers, weapons and Mirror Monsters (if they catch any).
Weapons
- Knight
- Default
- Dark Visor - Sword-like Visor for Knight to summon the Advent Cards' powers to him and other Riders if he used theirs.
- Wing Lancer - Lance modeled after Darkwing's tail.
- Wing Wall - Cape-like shield modeled after Darkwing's wings.
- Knight Survive
- Dark Visor-Zwei - Improved version of Dark Visor that enables Knight to evolve into Knight Survive. Can act as a shield once the Dark Blade taken out.
- Dark Arrow - Bow-like weapon transformed from Dark Visor-Zwei once the Shoot Vent Card scanned and the blade is returned.
- Dark Blade - Sword that released from Dark Visor-Zwei once the Sword Vent Card scanned.
- Dark Visor-Zwei - Improved version of Dark Visor that enables Knight to evolve into Knight Survive. Can act as a shield once the Dark Blade taken out.
- Default
- Odin
- Gold Visor - Staff-like Visor for Odin to summon the Advent Cards' powers to him and other Riders if he used theirs.
- Gold Sabers - A pair of swords modeled after Goldphoenix's feathers.
- Gold Shield - Odin's shield modeled after Goldphoenix's tail.
Vehicles
- Ride Shooter - Motorcycles that used by Riders to enter Mirror World.
- Darkraider Bike Mode - Knight Survive's Honda Shadow bike resulted from the transformed Darkraider.
Behind the scenes
Portrayal
Ren Akiyama is portrayed by Satoshi Matsuda (松田 悟志, Matsuda Satoshi). As Kamen Rider Knight, his suit actor was Makoto Itō (伊藤 慎, Itō Makoto).
Notes
- Kamen Rider Knight's name, Naito, also sounds like the English "Night", which could also refer to his color scheme which reflects darkness and night (his color is dark navy).
- Furthermore, his monster's motif is based on a nocturnal creature.
- Due to his dark armored theme and Kamen Rider name, he shares a similarity to DC Universe's Batman, who is also known as "The Dark Knight".
- Shinji and Ren's pre-transformation poses harkens back to the ones performed by the Double Riders, hinting their team-up as partners (Shinji with Rider 1 and Ren with Rider 2).
- Ren is the first Rider to be based on a mammal. In this case, a Bat.
- Ren is the second Secondary Kamen Rider to obtain his Final Form before the Primary Kamen Rider, with the other being Makoto Hikawa.
- Ren is the first and only Secondary Kamen Rider to fight the final boss in the series finale instead of the Primary Kamen Rider.
- Ren is the first Kamen Rider in the series to sport a cape (when using Guard Vent or Final Vent and while in Survive form).
- Kamen Rider Knight is one of 2 riders who use a sword as their Visor, the other is Kamen Rider Femme.
Kamen Rider Knight's "eyes".
- If one looks closely at Knight's mask, a pair of "eyes" can be seen behind the mask's visor.
- Knight is the second Second Rider to debut before his series' Primary Rider, and making the earliest debut at that, being the very first episode after G3.
- This would be followed by Geiz Myoukouin (Kamen Rider Geiz) 16 years later.
- Ren's death is ironic just like the other Mirror Riders: He told Tezuka that fighting was the only reason for his existence, and having finished the Rider War and thus having no more reason to fight, he also had no more reason to exist, dying right before he could meet Eri again.
See Also
- Len - Counterpart in Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. See comparison page.
External Links
- TV Asahi's page for Kamen Rider Knight
- Kamen Rider Ryuki (DVD)
- Kamen Rider Ryuki @ TV Asahi
- Kamen Rider Ryuuki Spoiler Page