 This article is about an ally in Kamen Rider Build.
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- "You are better off without knowing that."
- ―Sawa's catchphrase[src]
Sawa Takigawa (滝川 紗羽 , Takigawa Sawa) is a journalist and a Nanba Child who investigated Faust and became the Stretch Smash (ストレッチスマッシュ, Sutoretchi Sumasshu). After being rescued by Sento Kiryu, she joined him as a member of Team Build, later slowly defecting from Juzaburo Namba fully.
History
Early Life
Sawa as a Namba Child
Sawa Takigawa was one of the several orphans adopted by Namba Heavy Industries President, Juzaburo Namba. As one of the "Namba Children", she is a heavily trained spy and has undying loyalty for him. If their position as spies were to ever be compromised, they would commit suicide to avoid revealing anything about Namba.
In Sawa's alleged backstory, she claimed her father was a researcher working for Namba Heavy Industries who died in a gas explosion that was supposedly set up by the Touto government to cover up the loss of the Pandora Box in Faust's possession. Sawa's assumed motivation in order to find out the truth behind her father's death to prove a connection between Namba and the Touto government.
The Investigative Reporter
While Sawa investigating a trail for the rumored Kamen Rider, she interviewed Gentoku Himuro for information about the Smash, only to leave after Gentoku suggested continuing their talk at a hotel. After being saved from the Needle Smash by Kamen Rider Build, Sawa managed to track down his location at the Nascita cafe. While promising to keep their secret, Sawa provided information regarding Sento Kiryu's past and Ryuga Banjo's false incrimination.
Sawa revealed to be Namba's double agent.
Her true allegiances would be revealed being seen communicating with Juzaburo Namba. Although she was almost exposed by Misora Isurugi after planting a bug in the hideout, Sawa finally admitted being Namba's spy after she was turned into the Stretch Smash. After she explains her alleged motivations, Sawa kept under watch with the group while trying to persuade the hospitalized Taizan Himuro about a connection between Faust and the Touto government. When she believed that she completed her purpose, Sawa prepared to leave but was convinced to stay to continue helping Sento and the others, to which she gladly agreed.
After "Soichi Isurugi" had revealed himself to be Blood Stalk, Sawa collected research into the barista's past. While confirming that he was indeed the perpetrator of the Sky Wall Tragedy, she also revealed Isurugi was forcibly taken to the mental hospital but escaped. She proceeded to explain how the young Misora fell into a coma after coming into contact with the golden bracelet. This made Sento realize he had worked with Faust longer than expected.
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders
Sawa appeared very briefly to try out Banjo's cooking following "Soichi's" betrayal. She was also present to see Sento presenting new power-up item, RabbitTank Sparkling.
The Japanese Civil War
During the events of the Hokuto invasion, Sawa provided Sento the background checks of Kamen Rider Grease, Kazumi Sawatari, along with his underlings, the Hokuto Sanbagarasu. However, even during Hokuto's invasion of Touto, Sawa had notably been offscreen throughout most of the events. When Misora began displaying her ability to heal others using her golden bracelet, Sawa assists her in reach Taizan Himuro's hospital bed in order to heal Touto Prime Minister, allowing him to resume back in power and exile his son, Gentoku.
Following the Proxy Battle between Touto and Hokuto, Seito had launched an invasion against Touto and Hokuto. Sento would be informed of the existance of the Namba Children by Blood Stalk, which clued Sento into realizing Sawa's true origins and is still acting as Namba's spy. While Sento was creating the FullFull RabbitTank Bottle, he told her how he wasn't able to find any records of her father, causing Sawa to admit how she has no desire to act as a Namba Child and is only acting under duress as the Nabeshima family is being held hostage.
On the day of the Proxy Battle between Touto and Seito, Sawa handed the data on Build's latest power-up to Namba, which was uploaded to Kamen Rider Rogue's Sclash Driver. Although Sento transformed into Build RabbitRabbit Form, Rogue had the upperhand until Sawa learned Kazumi secured the Nabeshima family to safety. Sawa gave Sento the signal to transform into Build TankTank and defeating Rogue. With Sento's victory, the war with Seito had seemingly come to a close. Sawa apologized to the others about her actions, while everyone forgives her.
The Evolto Revolution
Although the war between Touto and Seito had come to a close, Blood Stalk decided to press on by raising the Pandora Tower from the Sky Wall. Sawa and the others would be aware of Blood Stalk's true nature as Evolto, the alien responsible for the destruction of Mars. Noticing the strange circumstances with Banjo's past, Sawa was asked by Sento to look into his background. While the Kamen Riders left to retrieve the Pandora Box, Sawa confided with Misora how Banjo may not be fully human and uncovered his alien origins.
Sawa was present to witness Evolto's recovery of the Evol-Driver and emergence as Kamen Rider Evol. In the process, the alien separated himself from Soichi Isurugi and proceeded to possess Banjo, then later Sento, until he managed to regain his final form, Black Hole. After Sento was released from Evolto's possession, he was restored to being Takumi Katsuragi again but no memory of being Sento. After Gentoku was injured from his encounter with Kamen Rider MadRogue, Sawa helped tend his wounds as he confided to her his regrets for turning Nariaki Utsumi into a dark path.
Following Sento's memories being restored, everyone ponders why Evolto was collecting Fullbottles despite having already reached Black Hole form. As the battle against Evolto and Seito's forces progressed, Sawa continued to support the Kamen Riders in their battles and providing information for them.
Kamen Rider Build: Be The One
During the Build Annihilation Plan, both Sawa and Misora were among the Japanese populace whom had been compelled by Kengo Ino to eliminate Kamen Rider Build. Eventually, however, they were freed by the influence of Vernage. Sawa was present to see Misora combining the Gold Rabbit and Silver Dragon with the Genius Fullbottle, allowing Sento and Banjo to become Kamen Rider Build Cross-ZBuild Form and defeat Kamen Rider Blood.
The War for Earth
Evolto continued to collect the Lost Bottles to complete the Black Panel to evolve into a horrifying new monster form. Sawa would support Sento's plan to use the White Panel to merge their world with one where the Sky Wall did not exist, using Evolto himself as the catalyst. Shortly after Evolto's national television broadcast, Sawa and Misora stayed behind in the coffee shop while the Kamen Riders raced up to Pandora Tower. After after receiving a call from Nariaki Utsumi, Sawa raced to the Pandora Tower where she witnessed Gentoku and Utsumi fighting together, until the latter's death at the hands of Evolto. While rest of the team waited for Evolto at the top, later learning of Kazumi's death from becoming Grease Blizzard, with Sawa hugging her crying friend over the loss of their comrade.
Sawa witnessed the three remaining Riders charging after at Evolto. While Build and Cross-Z were left overwhelmed by Evolto's monster form, Rogue sacrifices himself to immobilize Evolto, allowing Sento to trap Evolto and tether the worlds. However at the last second, Evolto grabs Banjo and drags him into the ripple between the two Earths, while Sento gave pursuit. As the worlds began to unite, Sawa realized Misora's golden bracelet had fallen off. Sawa and Misora stood together at the Pandora Tower as they enter the New World.
New World
After Sento defeated Evolto for good, the new world was successfully created. This world's version of Sawa now works for Central Political News. She approaches Gentoku to have an interview, in which he accepts and will discuss with her later over dinner in his office.
Build NEW WORLD: Kamen Rider Cross-Z
Eventually as the alien Killbus forces Banjo to open Pandora's Box with the white Pandora Panel, memories from the old timeline resurfaced in Sawa's mind, due to her exposure to the Nebula Gas. She and the rest of Team Build reunited with Sento and Banjo.
Build NEW WORLD: Kamen Rider Grease
Months after the incident with Killbus, Sawa received a call from Gentoku that he alongside Shinobu, Taizan, and the rests of the scientists got ambushed by Down Fall via loudspeaker indirect call. Sawa proceed to Sento and later saved Gentoku, giving him an elixir which is extracted from the Hokuto Sanbagarasu to allow him to transform again after he had his Hazard Level absorbed.
After the battle ended, Sawa is revealed to share Gentoku's outfit hobby and announced that they are dating, especially the one who told Gentoku to shave.
Girls Remix
Personality
Sawa is an enthusiastic and energetic woman, whose often bubbly demeanor masks her passionate and shrewd nature.
Having been indoctrinated as a member of the Namba Children, she also seems to have somewhat of a scheming and manipulative side. Her interactions with Sento and team would eventually warm her up, as she felt a sense of family with them which she had always yearned for. This would eventually lead her to defect from Namba's side.
Stretch Smash
Stretch Smash
- Height: 204.7 cm
- Weight: 104.1 kg
- Features・Stem: hardened rubber body
Stretch Smash During combat had the hardened rubber wrapped around your body expands, contracts, swings like a whip, and crushes enemy armor. It is also possible to inflate the rubber part of the shoulder to safely catch the enemy's attack.
This form is exclusive to Build Episode 11
Smash Bottle
Smash Bottle
(Stretch Smash)
This Smash Bottle contains the essence of the Stretch Smash.
Relationships
Friends
- Team Build - Teammates and Friends
- Sento Kiryu/Kamen Rider Build (II): Sento rescued her from the Needle Smash, eventually leading her to Nascita where Build's HQ is. She offers herself a place in their group, offering them secrets of all the events happening in the war. But Sento soon learns she's a spy for Nanba, not only turning back to normal from her state as Stretch Smash, but also after she tried to steal schematics of Sento's FullFullBottle designs, After all the sins she's done, she still remained as a full member of Team Build.
- Ryuga Banjou/Kamen Rider Cross-Z (Charge/Magma): She and Banjou get along helping him during his fugitive time. She helped discover Banjo's DNA being alien related to Evolto.
- Misora Isurugi: Both Sawa and Misora share a sisterly bond. Regardless of how she was still a spy for Nanba, she still forgave her and took her back. When Kazumi and Gentoku left, she makes a Mii-tan dakimakura pillow as a means of bringing him back. Sawa comforts her for Kazumi's death with hugs.
- Kazumi Sawatari/Kamen Rider Grease: Sawa and Kazumi start interacting after the Touto-Hokuto war. Learning of Kazumi being a fan of Misora as Mii-tan, acting as her protective bodyguard & bouncer, she gets him to pay her money for whatever desires he wants with Misora, depending on the prices she offers.
- Gentoku Himuro/Night Rogue (I)/Kamen Rider Rogue: Met him at Touto base for an interview. As now Kamen Rider Rogue, she patches him to health revealing her connection to Utsumi. Both Gentoku and Sawa are currently in a romantic relationship together by the time of Build NEW WORLD: Kamen Rider Grease.
- Nariaki Utsumi/Night Rogue (II)/Kamen Rider MadRogue: He along with Sawa were members of the Nanba Children. He contacted her revealing himself infiltrating Evolto's ranks to gain the Evolto's rider system, asking her to bring Pandora's Box to gain an advantage against the Kaiser clones.
Allies
- Soichi Isurugi: Worked alongside him and Team Build until revealed not only being revealed to be Blood Stalk but also being possessed by Evolto.
- Taizan Himuro: She and Misora helped in the rescue of Touto's Prime Minister and to escape with the Evol Driver.
- Girls Remix:
- Sakura Igarashi/Kamen Rider Jeanne: to be added
- Hana Natsuki/(Kamen Rider) Aguilera: to be added
- Reika Shindai/Kamen Rider Sabela: to be added
- Is/Kamen Rider Zero-Two (II): to be added
- Poppy Pipopapo/Asuna Karina/Kamen Rider Poppy: to be added
- (Kamen Rider) Tsukuyomi/Alpina: to be added
- Akiko Narumi (Terui): to be added
- Kanon Fukami: to be added
- Rinko Daimon: to be added
Enemies
- Evolto/Blood Stalk/Kamen Rider Evol: Enemy to Team Build.
- Juzaburo Namba: Who once served under him as one of the Nanba Children, till she finally leaves him for Team Build, after all the kindness and love they gave her during her time with them.
Behind the Scenes
Portrayal
Sawa is portrayed by Yukari Taki (滝 裕可里, Taki Yukari) who previously portrayed portrayed Aoi Katsuragi in Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Accel and Mari Shirase in Kamen Rider Ghost.
Concept Art
Stretch Smash concept art
Stretch Smash was designed by Tamotsu Shinohara (篠原 保, Shinohara Tamotsu).
Notes
- The Stretch Smash suit is a modified version of Mirage Smash's suit.
Appearances
Kamen Rider Build
- Episode 1: That One with the Best Match
- Episode 2: The Innocent Runaway
- Episode 3: Borderline of Justice
- Episode 4: The Testimony Will Be Zero
- Episode 5: Dangerous Identity
- Episode 6: Moonsault of Anger
- Episode 7: The Devil's Scientist
- Episode 9: The Trap of Project Build
- Episode 10: Technology of Destruction
- Episode 11: Burning Dragon
- Episode 12: Theory of Conspiracy
- Episode 13: Who Takes Off The Veil?
- Episode 14: The False Kamen Rider
- Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders
- Episode 15: Judging Sento Kiryu!
- Episode 17: Rider Wars Start
- Episode 18: The Golden Soldier
- Episode 19: The Forbidden Item
- Episode 20: The Devil's Trigger
- Episode 21: The Unstoppable Hazard
- Episode 22: Victory of Tears
- Episode 23: The Phantom of the West
- Episode 25: The Idol Awakens
- Episode 26: The Treacherous Deathmatch
- Episode 27: The Counterattack Hero
- Episode 28: The Genius Arrives With a Tank
- Episode 30: The Truth of the Pandora Box
- Episode 31: Surging Magma!
- Episode 32: Programmed Tragedy
- Episode 33: The Final Weapon: Evol
- Episode 34: The Severing Best Match
- Episode 35: Tower of Destruction
- Episode 36: Evolto Hunts the Stars
- Episode 37: The Ultimate Phase
- Episode 38: Mad World
- Episode 39: The Unstoppable Genius
- Episode 40: The Final Revolution
- Episode 41: The Truth of the Best Match
- Episode 42: The Doubtful Legacy
- Episode 43: The Other Build
- Episode 44: The End of Evolto
- Episode 45: The Scientist of Hope
- Kamen Rider Build: Be The One
- Episode 46: An Oath to Be The One
- Episode 47: Zero Degree Flames
- Episode 48: To The World of Love & Peace
- Episode 49: The Tomorrow Build Will Create
- Kamen Rider Build: Final Stage
- Kamen Rider Build NEW WORLD
- Kamen Rider Jeanne & Kamen Rider Aguilera with Girls Remix
