 This article is about a character in Kamen Rider Kuuga.
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- "Yusuke Godai, do you know about this? (shows him a thumbs up gesture) It's an ancient Roman sign to show satisfaction. This was the gesture given to someone who overcame any obstacles. You should be someone who aims to be worth of this sign too. Losing your father was certainly a sad thing for you... But because of that for the sakes of your mother and sister you must work hard to be a man worth this sign to be shown to. Become a man who will always protect everyone's happiness! Do you think that is truly a wonderful thing? I, as your teacher, think that it is!"
- ―Kanzaki's words that became Yusuke's life motivation.[src]
Shoji Kanzaki (神崎 昭二, Kanzaki Shōji) is a teacher who had been Yusuke Godai's elementary school teacher.
History[]
Background[]
Kanzaki had begun teaching at an elementary school sometime during his career, with one of his students being Yusuke Godai. When Yusuke's father had passed away, Kanzaki gave his student a few words of motivation, teaching Yusuke about the significance behind the thumbs up and telling him to become someone who was worthy of the sign. He had his students write down their wishes, and Yusuke wrote that he wanted to learn 2000 skills by the year 2000 and meet Kanzaki once again to show him.
Awaiting Yusuke[]
As the years passed, while Kanzaki's passion for teaching never faded, he felt that as he never had any notable students or that any students saw him as a notable teacher, he wasn't doing his job correctly and wanted to retire. He also saw how the conflicting goals between the school's administration and the students' parents had negatively impacted the kids, causing him to question his purpose as a teacher. While in the middle of cleaning his house on a whim, he found the notebook he had his students write down and saw Yusuke's page, which included a promise to meet his teacher again on March 25, 2000, which was just the day after.
The next day, Kanzaki left home and hoped that Yusuke would remember his promise as well, having decided to retire if Yusuke didn't show up. As he waited for the bus, he encountered Sakurako Sawatari, whom Yusuke had sent on his behalf as he was on a call with Ichijo fighting the Gurongi as Kamen Rider Kuuga. Taking Sakurako to the school, Kanzaki expressed his feelings about being a teacher to her and was extremely happy and deeply moved to learn that Yusuke had never forgotten their promise. Later that night, Yusuke arrived after a long battle and reunited with his teacher.