 This article is about a Rider in Kamen Rider Zi-O.
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In 2019, a Worm copied Shun Kageyama (影山 瞬, Kageyama Shun) and was able to transform into Kamen Rider PunchHopper (仮面ライダーパンチホッパー, Kamen Raidā Panchi Hoppā, Masked Rider PunchHopper).
History[]
A meteor crashes on Earth and the Salis Worms begin to attack and copy the appearances of humans. One of the Worms copies the form of the deceased Shun Kageyama, whose memories are exactly the same as the original. He also has the Hopper Zecter to transform into PunchHopper. He makes a surprise attack on Kamen Rider Zi-O II and Kamen Rider Gatack while the Riders are fighting a group of Worms. Then Gatack assumes Rider form and Zi-O II uses clairvoyance skill to defeat him before Another Kabuto arrives and helps PunchHopper escape, saying that the Worm is his "little brother". Later, the imitation Shun tricks Sougo and Woz to think that he is an ally and wants to save So Yaguruma from what he becomes . However, his true purpose is to lure Arata Kagami to an ambush set by the Hell Brothers.[2006: Next Level Kabuto]. Kagami is subsequently abducted by Kageyama, as another meteorite is about to crash into Earth.
Kageyama only agrees to let Kagami go if the Riders give him the Ginga and Fourze Ridewatches, because he does not want them to prevent the meteorite carrying his Worm comrades from crashing into Earth. Kagami is freed by Sougo and Woz anyway, and he transforms to fight Kageyama. Nevertheless, Another Kabuto comes in time and stops Gatack from harming his "brother". Kageyama transforms into PunchHopper and the three engage in battle. Being outnumbered 2 to 1, Gatack is soundly defeated by a Rider Punch and Rider Kick from PunchHopper and Another Kabuto, respectively. PunchHopper later takes the Ginga and Fourze Ridewatches with him, saying that the meteorite cannot be stopped without those Watches.
In an abandoned warehouse, the mimicked Kageyama is seen eating noodles with his "brother". He is asked by Yaguruma whether he actually plans on ending the world. Kageyama affirms this, but Yaguruma says that as long as they have each other, none of that matters, and that they will still keep walking the "hellish" world forever. Heure, nevertheless, does not want the world to be destroyed, and appears before the two. He freezes time and takes away the Ginga and Fourze Ridewatches with the intention of returning them to the protagonists so that they can stop the meteorite. Imitation Kageyama is frustrated by this.
Later, on the top of a building, Another Kabuto and PunchHopper do battle with Geiz and Woz. The four combatants use their finishing attacks and force one another out of the transformations. Kageyama states that the meteorite carries his Worm companions, and once it reaches Earth, they will be able to conquer the planet. At that point, Kagami, Sougo and Tsukuyomi, who have just retrieved the stolen Ridewatches, enter the fray. Sougo and Woz travel into space to stop the meteorite, leaving GeizRevive and Gatack to fight PunchHopper and KickHopper.
Geiz, as GeizRevive, fights PunchHopper, and ultimately defeats him with the power of Shippu. Another Kabuto is also destroyed by Kagami right after. When Yaguruma, on the ground, comes by his side and asks him to call him "brother" again, the mimicked Kageyama coldly tells him that he has never been his "brother", and that he has never been "Kageyama" to begin with. He reverts back to the original Worm form and disintegrates.
Forms[]
Kamen Rider PunchHopper
- "Henshin! Change PunchHopper!"
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
- Ability Parameters
- Punching Power: 3 t[1]
- Finisher Power: 19 t[1]
- Kicking Power: 6.5 t[1]
- Maximum Jump Height: 39 m[1]
- Maximum Running Speed: 100 m/5.6 s[1]
Unlike all of the other Riders in Kamen Rider Kabuto, the Kamen Rider Hopper Series Riders only have one form that they transform into. Kamen Rider PunchHopper (仮面ライダーパンチホッパー, Kamen Raidā Panchihoppā) has a black Acrida cinerea motif and by raising the legs on the Hopper Zecter (ホッパーゼクタ, ーHoppā Zekutā), PunchHopper can jump high into the sky. By lowering the legs on the Hopper Zecter, the energy is concentrated into a tachyon-powered Rider Punch (ライダーパンチ, Raidā Panchi). The impact upon landing on the ground again powers up another punch.
Appearances: Zi-O Episode 37-38Equipment[]
Devices[]
- Hopper Zecter: PunchHopper's Transformation device (uses the brown side)
- ZECT Buckle: PunchHopper's transformation-Clock Up hybrid belt
Behind the Scenes[]
Portrayal[]
This version of Shun Kageyama is portrayed by Masato Uchiyama (内山 眞人, Uchiyama Masato), who played his original role in Kamen Rider Kabuto.
Notes[]
- This version of Shun Kageyama is the second character in Zi-O whose appearance is similar to the original version. Unlike Miss Sailor who is an entirely different character from Yuri Aso, this character is merely a copycat with the original character's appearance and memories.
- It is noted that Worms are only able to mimic someone they have met directly, yet this Worm somehow is not known to have had any interaction with the original Shun Kageyama whatsoever.
- This Kageyama being a Worm taking the the original's likeness is a stark contrast to the Scorpio Worm, who killed the original Tsurugi Kamishiro along with his sister and took on his identity, with the side effect being that the personality of his victim overtaking control of the Worm's body.
- This Shun Kageyama is noticeably more overweight, a fact acknowledged by his actor. Uchiyama stated that had his return offer come sooner, he would have taken the time needed to lose some weight.[2]
Appearances[]
Kamen Rider Zi-O
- Episode 37: 2006: Next Level Kabuto
- Episode 38: 2019: Kabuto's Choice (Death)