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This article is about a/an reimagined take on a rider in the reboot film series which includes Kamen Rider The First and Kamen Rider The Next. |
- For the version from the original Kamen Rider series, see Takeshi Hongo.
Takeshi Hongo (本郷 猛 Hongō Takeshi), who appears in the reboot movies Kamen Rider The First (2005) and Kamen Rider The Next (2007), is an alternate version of the original Takeshi Hongo from Kamen Rider, the original series.
Contents
Biography
The First
Much like the series, Takeshi Hongo was a college biochemistry student, but he was captured by the Shocker's agent Bat due to being an "ideal" candidate for their experiment, forced to undergo a procedure that turns him into a super-powered Inhumanoid cyborg code-named Hopper, whose purpose was to eliminate any witnesses to Shocker's actions. Hopper later proves to be Shocker's finest work as he lacks the need for transfusion to survive like other Shocker Inhumanoids. 'Hopper's' first mission was to assassinate two witnesses who coincidentally were the journalist who had interviewed him prior to his kidnapping, Asuka Midorikawa, and her fiancé Katsuhiko Yano. It was during the assault that Hongo reclaimed his sense of humanity, though too late to save Katsuhiko as Asuka finds Hongo next to Katsuhiko's lifeless body, believing he was the murderer as she attempts to uncover how a seemingly normal college student could become a murderer. The incident left Hongo with an epiphany, deciding to use his new found power to stop Shocker's evil and protect all that he holds dear from them. Meanwhile, Shocker uses the body of Katsuhiko to create a second Hopper known as Ichimonji Hayato to destroy the traitorous "Hopper I". The two Riders eventually team up to save Asuka, when she uncovered the existence of Shocker itself. In the end, Hongo and Asuka confessed their love for each other.
Kamen Rider Kabuto
Back of the Back of the Back

Takeshi Hongo as seen in Kamen Rider Kabuto
Takeshi Hongo appears in Kamen Rider Kabuto, when Soji Tendo see the Bistro La Salle temporarily closed, then look at the same sign and leaves on his bike. Back of the Back of the Back
The Next
Hongo returned in the movie's sequel, Kamen Rider The Next, taking place two years after the original film. Hongo has severed ties with Asuka, and is now a science teacher at a Japanese high school, to which he is severely disrespected and mocked by his rowdy students until a public display of his abilities as a reconstructed human scares the student body into fearing him. During this time, helping his only respected student Kotomi in the mystery behind Chiharu, Hongo becomes involved with Shocker's latest plot to use nanomachines to remodel all of Japan instantaneously, forcing him to resume his fight against them. Reuniting with an ailing Ichimonji and later making an ally of Shocker's newest soldier, Hopper Version 3, Hongo puts an end to Shocker's plot once again. In the end, due to the various complaints received by the parents of his frightened students, Hongo is forced to quit his position as a teacher, but gains a friend in Kotomi.
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage


Video Game appearances
All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution

1 in All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution
Kamen Rider 1 appears as a playable character among other Kamen Riders in the game, with his finisher being the Rider Kick.
Kamen Rider Buttobasoul

Kamen Rider 1 medal
Kamen Rider 1 is a playable character with other Kamen Rider of Showa Heisei and Reiwa in Kamen Rider Buttobasoul.
Other Game appearances
Masked Rider Expansion

Kamen Rider 1 Masked Rider Expansion card
Kamen Rider 1 appears as a playable character in this trading card game with other Kamen Rider Kamen Rider Heisei-Era , Showa-Era,super sentai, Metal Heroes and other Heroes.
Kamen Rider 1

Kamen Rider 1 (Kamen Rider The First)

Kamen Rider 1 (Kamen Rider The Next)
Rider Statistics:[1]
- Rider Height: 187 cm
- Rider Weight: 74 kg
Ability Parameters:[1]
- Punching Power: 3 t
- Kicking Power: 10 t
- Maximum Jump Height: 15.3 m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100 m per 5 seconds
Special Attacks:
- Rider Kick: 30 t
Appearances: Kamen Rider The First, Kamen Rider The Next, Final Stage.
Transformation
Kamen Rider 1 uses the power of the wind to fight. His belt is, in fact, a micro-nuclear engine powered by a turbine in the center of the Typhoon Belt.
Rider Transformation
Hongo simply opens up his leather jackets (or polo shirt), revealing the Typhoon Belt. Wind then blows into the turbine on the belt, activating his body armor, then he puts on his helmet and snaps his faceplate to it, completing the transformation. In the sequel, Kamen Rider The Next, Hongo does a new transformation style much like his TV series counterpart, leaping into the air and then landing on the ground already transformed. It was seen when he battles the Chainsaw Lizard and the six Shocker Riders.
Rider Suit
Though his suit is redesigned, Rider 1's outfit aged poorly by the events of the 2nd movie, going from blue to a darker shade of dull green (in conjunction with the events of the original TV series costume) as well as sporting numerous scars and dents. The single stripe on the side was also changed to two stripes.
Technique
- Rider Kick (ライダーキック Raidā Kikku)
- Rider Punch (ライダーパンチ Raidā Panchi)
- Combined Techniques
Equipment
Device
- Typhoon - 1 transformation belt.
Vehicle
- Cyclone: 1's Rider Machine.
Behind the scenes
Portrayal
This version of Takeshi Hongo was portrayed by Masaya Kikawada (黄川田 将也 Kikawada Masaya), who would later go on to portray Master Red in Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger
. As Hopper 1, his suit actor was Hiroshi Maeda (前田 浩 Maeda Hiroshi).
During his brief appearance in Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage, 1 was voiced by an unknown voice actor.
Kabuto

The First's Takeshi Hongo's cameo in Kabuto.
This Takeshi Hongo (in his civilian form) also made a cameo appearance in episode 14 of Kamen Rider Kabuto, the series marking the 35th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series.
Concept Art
Notes
- Takeshi is the first Rider with a Skull Man motif in movies, the second being Katsuhiko Yano/Kamen Rider 2, the third being Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3, and the fouth is Sokichi Narumi/Kamen Rider Skull in Kamen Rider W. This is subsequently followed by the Kyoichiro Kuroi/Kamen Rider 3 Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
and Kamen Rider 4 in "Duel! The True Identity of Shocker's Great Leader".
- In the film, before the confrontation with Chiharu, Takeshi made the iconic Kamen Rider 1 battle pose.
- However, they have no connection to their transformation.
- Like his TV counterpart, 1 has multiple suit variants.
- 1 like the other two Reboot Riders, not to have a Ridewatch representing his Rider form.
- Takeshi has some similarities with So Yaguruma/Kamen Rider KickHopper from Kamen Rider Kabuto.
- Both had grasshopper motif.
- Both conforming part of evil organizations and deserted (Takeshi to Shocker and So to ZECT).
- Both with his respective partner confirming a Rider couple (Takeshi and Katsuhiko conforming a Double Riders and So and Shun Kageyama conforming Hell Brothers).
- Kamen Rider Ichi-Gata from Kamen Rider: Reiwa The First Generation , has a similar color scheme to Kamen Rider 1.
Appearances
- Main article: Takeshi Hongo (reboot)/Appearances
Kamen Rider The First
Kamen Rider Kabuto
- Episode 14: Back of the Back of the Back
Kamen Rider The Next
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage
References
See also
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Kamen Riders |
Takeshi Hongo - Katsuhiko Yano - Shiro Kazami |
Gear |
Typhoon (Rider 1/Rider 2/Shocker Riders) - Double Typhoon - Cyclone (Rider 1/Rider 2) - Hurricane - Shocker Bikes |
Allies |
The First: Asuka Midorikawa - Tōbei Tachibana |
The Next: Kotomi Kikuma |
Enemies |
Shocker |
Great Leader of Shocker |
Shocker Staff (The First): Youth - Lady - Elderly Gentleman |
Inhumanoids (The First): Spider - Bat - Haruhiko Mitamura - Miyoko Harada |
Inhumanoids (The Next): Scissors Jaguar - Chainsaw Lizard |
Henchmen: Shocker Combatmen - Shocker Riders |
Other Enemies: Chiharu |
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