Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー, Kamen Raidā?, Masked Rider), is a weekly sci-fi story created by Japanese mangaka Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV (now TV Asahi). A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine around the same period. The series has spawned many sequels and evolved into a franchise. The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura naming two minor planets in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1, and 12796 Kamenrider, after the series itself.
Story
The story took place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious terrorist organization. To further its plans for world domination, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escaped just before the final brainwashing. With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Hongo battled Shocker's minions as the grasshopper-themed altered human (改造人間, kaizō ningen?) superhero Kamen Rider. Another of Shocker's victims, freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji, had also been given cyborg implants, but was saved by Kamen Rider from the brainwashing process to become Kamen Rider 2. Assisted by motorcycle race team manager Tobei Tachibana and FBI agent Kazuya Taki, the Kamen Riders fought in both solo and partnered missions against both Shocker and its successor organization Gel-Shocker.
Manga
Many manga based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only the following few were penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself:
* 1971: Kamen Rider
* 1971: Kamen Rider - a remake
* 1979: Kamen Rider (Storyboard)
The original manga published in 1971 diverged from the plot of the television series in several ways. In the manga, Hongo was outnumbered by twelve Shocker Riders (as opposed to six in the television series) and was subsequently killed. Hayato Ichimonji, one of the twelve Shocker Riders, received a head injury during the fight and regained his conscience as a result. He then turned against Shocker and succeeded Hongo's role as Kamen Rider. However, Hongo was resurrected near the end of the manga story.
Main characters
Riders
* Takeshi Hongo / Kamen Rider 1 (本郷 猛 / 仮面ライダー１号, Hongō Takeshi / Kamen Raidā Ichigō?) - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98
* Hayato Ichimonji / Kamen Rider 2 (一文字 隼人 / 仮面ライダー２号, Ichimonji Hayato / Kamen Raidā Nigō?) - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98
Allies
* Tōbei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbei?) - Hongo's racing mentor.
* Kazuya Taki (滝 和也, Taki Kazuya?) (episodes 13-98) - An FBI agent assigned to investigate Shocker activities in Japan. While not himself a cyborg, Taki was skilled in martial arts, and often used them alongside both Kamen Riders to battle the foot-soldiers who invariably accompanied a Shocker agent.
* Professor Midorikawa (緑川博士, Midorikawa Hakase?, 1): A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Shocker agent Spider Man.
* Ruriko Midorikawa (緑川 ルリ子, Midorikawa Ruriko?): The daughter of Prof. Midorikawa, blaming Hongo for his death.
* Hiromi Nohara (野原 ひろみ, Nohara Hiromi?): Ruriko's friend.
Shocker
Main article: Shocker (Kamen Rider)
Gel-Shocker
Main article: Gel-Shocker
Episode list
1. The Mysterious Spider Man (怪奇蜘蛛男, Kaiki Kumo Otoko?)
2. The Terrifying Bat Man (恐怖蝙蝠男, Kyōfu Kōmori Otoko?)
3. Monster, Scorpion Man (怪人さそり男, Kaijin Sasori Otoko?)
4. Cannibalism, Sarracenian (人喰いサラセニアン, Hitokui Sarasenian?)
5. Monster, Mantis Man (怪人かまきり男, Kaijin Kamakiri Otoko?)
6. Grim Reaper, Chameleon (死神カメレオン, Shinigami Kamereon?)
7. Duel With Grim Reaper Chameleon! World Fair Impression (死神カメレオン決闘！万博跡, Shinigami Kamereon Kettō! Banpaku Ato?)
8. Strangeness! Bee Woman (怪異！蜂女, Kaii! Hachi Onna?)
9. The Terrifying Cobra Man (恐怖コブラ男, Kyōfu Kobura Otoko?)
10. The Revived Cobra Man (よみがえるコブラ男, Yomigaeru Kobura Otoko?)
11. Bloodsucking Monster, Gebacondor (吸血怪人ゲバコンドル, Kyūketsu Kaijin Gebakondoru?)
12. Murder, Yamogelas (殺人ヤモゲラス, Satsujin Yamogerasu?)
13. Lizardron and the Big Monster Army (トカゲロンと怪人大軍団, Tokageron to Kaijin Dai Gundan?)
14. Raid of the Demon Sabotegron (魔人サボテグロンの襲来, Majin Saboteguron no Shūrai?)
15. Counterattack, Sabotegron (逆襲サボテグロン, Gyakushū Saboteguron?)
16. Wrestler of the Devil, Pirasaurus (悪魔のレスラーピラザウルス, Akuma no Resurā Pirazaurusu?)
17. Death Match in the Ring: Defeat! Pirasaurus (リングの死闘倒せ！ピラザウルス, Ringu No Shitō Taose! Pirazaurusu?)
18. Fossil Man: Mandanger (化石男ヒトデンジャー, Kaseki-Otoko Hitodenjā?)
19. Monster Crabbubbler Appears in Hokkaido (怪人カニバブラー北海道に現る, Kaijin Kanibaburā Hokkaidō ni Arawaru?)
20. Fire-Breathing Caterpillar Monster: Dokugander (火を吹く毛虫怪人ドクガンダー, Hi o Fuku Kemushi Kaijin Dokugandā?)
21. Dokugander, Confrontation at Osaka Castle (ドクガンダー 大阪城の対決！, Dokugandā Ōsaka-jō no Taiketsu!?)
22. Suspicious Merman Amazonia (怪魚人アマゾニア, Kai Kyojin Amazonia?)
23. Sky-Flying Monster Musasabedol (空飛ぶ怪人ムササビードル, Soratobu Kaijin Musasabīdoru?)
24. Deadly Poison Monster Mushroommolg's Sortie! (猛毒怪人キノコモルグの出撃！, Mōdoku Kaijin Kinokomorugu no Shutsugeki!?)
25. Defeat Mushroommolg! (キノコモルグを倒せ！, Kinokomorugu o Taose!?)
26. The Terrifying Antlion (恐怖のあり地獄, Kyōfu no Arijigoku?)
27. Mukadelas Monster Classroom (ムカデラス怪人教室, Mukaderasu Kaijin Shōshitsu?)
28. Underground Monster Molerang (地底怪人モグラング, Chitei Kaijin Mogurangu?)
29. Electric Monster Jellyfishdall (電気怪人クラゲダール, Denki Kaijin Kuragedāru?)
30. Revived Fossil, Bloodsucking Trilobite (よみがえる化石吸血三葉虫, Yomegaeru Kaseki Kyūketsu San'yōchū?)
31. Deathmatch! Anteater Demon Arigabari (死斗！ありくい魔人アリガバリ, Shitō! Arikui Majin Arigabari?)
32. Cannibalism Flower, Dokudalian (人喰い花ドクダリアン, Hitokui Hana Dokudarian?)
33. Steel Monster, Armadillong (鋼鉄怪人アルマジロング, Kōtetsu Kaijin Arumajirongu?)
34. Japan in Danger! Toadgiller's Invasion (日本危うし！ガマギラーの侵入, Nihon Ayaushi! Gamagirā no Shinnyū?)
35. Murderous Ant Queen, Archimedes (殺人女王蟻アリキメデス, Satsujin Joōari Arikimedesu?)
36. Resurrected Mummy Monster, Egyptus (いきかえったミイラ怪人エジプタス, Ikikaetta Miira Kaijin Ejiputasu?)
37. Poisonous Gas Monster Trickabuto's G-Plan (毒ガス怪人トリカブトのＧ作戦, Dokugasu Kaijin Torikabuto no Jī Sakusen?)
38. Lightning Monster Rayking's World Darkness Plan (稲妻怪人エイキングの世界暗黒作戦, Inazuma Kaijin Eikingu no Sekai Ankoku Sakusen?)
39. Monster Wolf Man's Huge Murder Party (怪人狼男の殺人大パーティー, Kaijin Ōkami Otoko no Satsujin Dai Pātī?)
40. Deathmatch! Monster Snowman vs. Two Riders (死斗！怪人スノーマン対二人のライダー, Shitō! Kaijin Sunōman Tai Futari no Raidā?)
41. Magma Monster Ghoster, Decisive Battle at Sakurajima (マグマ怪人ゴースター 桜島大決戦, Maguma Kaijin Gōsutā Sakurajima Dai Kessen?)
42. The Devil's Messenger, Mysterious Fly Man (悪魔の使者 怪奇ハエ男, Akuma no Shisha Kaiki Hae Otoko?)
43. Mysterious Birdman Pranodon's Attack (怪鳥人プラノドンの襲撃, Kai Chōjin Puranodon no Shūgeki?)
44. Graveyard Monster, Moldbinga (墓場の怪人カビビンガ, Hakaba no Kaijin Kabibinga?)
45. Monster Namewhale's Gas Explosion Plan (怪人ナメクジラのガス爆発作戦, Kaijin Namekujira no Gasu Bakuhatsu Sakusen?)
46. Showdown!! Snow Mountain Monster Bearconger (対決！！雪山怪人ベアーコンガー, Taiketsu!! Yukiyama Kaijin Beākongā?)
47. The Death-Calling Ice Devil Todogiller (死を呼ぶ氷魔人トドギラー, Shi o Yobu Kōri Majin Todogirā?)
48. Bloodsucking Marshes of Leechguerilla (吸血沼のヒルゲリラ, Kyūketsu Numa no Hirugerira?)
49. Cannibalistic Monster, Sea Anemone (人喰い怪人イソギンチャック, Hitokui Kaijin Isoginchakku?)
50. Monster Turtlestone's Murderous Aurora Program (怪人カメストーンの殺人オーロラ計画, Kaijin Kamisutōn no Satsujin Ōrora Keikaku?)
51. Stone Monster Unicornos vs. Double Rider Kick (石怪人ユニコルノス対ダブルライダーキック, Ishi Kaijin Yunikorunosu Tai Daburu Raidā Kikku?)
52. My Name is Mysterious Birdman Gilgalass (おれの名は 怪鳥人ギルガラスだ！, Ore no Na wa Kai Chōjin Girugarasu?)
53. Monster Jaguarman's Ready-to-Die Motorbike War (怪人ジャガーマン決死のオートバイ戦, Kaijin Jagāman Kesshi Ōtobai Ikusa?)
54. Sea Serpent Man of the Phantom Village (ユウレイ村の海蛇男, Yūrei Mura no Umihebi Otoko?)
55. Cockroach Man!! The Terrifying Bacterial Ad-Balloon (ゴキブリ男！恐怖の細菌アドバルーン, Gokiburi Otoko!! Kyōfu no Saikin Adobarūn?)
56. Amazon's Poison Butterfly Gireera (アマゾンの毒蝶ギリーラ, Amazon no Doku Chō Girīra?)
57. Tsuchigumo Man Poisonmondo (土ぐも男ドクモンド, Tsuchigumo Otoko Dokumondo?)
58. Monster Poison Lizard, Duel in Fear Valley!! (怪人毒トカゲ おそれ谷の決闘！！, Kaijin Doku Tokage Osore Tani no Kettō!!?)
59. The Bottomless Swamp Monster, Earthworm Man! (底なし沼の怪人ミミズ男！, Sokonashi Numa no Kaijin Mimizu Otoko!?)
60. Mysterious Owl Man's Murderous X-Rays (怪奇フクロウ男の殺人レントゲン, Kaiki Fukurō Otoko no Satsujin Rentogen?)
61. Monster Catfishgiller's Electric Hell (怪人ナマズギラーの電気地獄, Kaijin Namazugirā no Denki Jigoku?)
62. Monster Hedgehoras' Murder Skull Plan (怪人ハリネズラス 殺人どくろ作戦, Kaijin Harinezurasu Satsujin Dokuro Sakusen?)
63. Monster Rhinogang's Autorace of Death (怪人サイギャング 死のオートレース, Kaijin Saigyangu Shi no Ōtorēsu?)
64. Monster Cicadaminga's Song to Kill Everyone (怪人セミミンガ みな殺しのうた！, Kaijin Semiminga Mina Koroshi no Uta?)
65. Monster Dr. Insect and the Shocker School (怪人昆虫博士とショッカースクール, Kaijin Konchū-hakase to Shokkā Sukūru?)
66. Shocker Graveyard, Revived Monsters (ショッカー墓場よみがえる怪人たち, Shokkā Hakaba Yomigaeru Kaijin-tachi?)
67. The Shocker Leader Appears! Riders in Danger (ショッカー首領出現！！ライダー危うし, Shokkā Shuryō Shutsugen!! Raidā Ayaushi?)
68. Doctor Shinigami, the True Meaning of Terror? (死神博士恐怖の正体？, Shinigami Hakase Kyōfu no Shōtai??)
69. Monster Gillercricket's Claws of Impending Death (怪人ギラーコオロギせまる死のツメ, Kaijin Girākōrogi Semaru Shi no Tsume?)
70. Monster Electric-Guitarbotal's Fireball Attack (怪人エレキボタル火の玉攻撃！！, Kaijin Erekibotaru Hi no Tama Kōgeki!!?)
71. Monster Horseflygomes' Rokkoudai Mountain Pursuit (怪人アブゴメス六甲山大ついせき！, Kaijin Abugomesu Rokkōsan DaiTsuiseki!?)
72. Vampiric Mosquilas vs. Two Riders (吸血モスキラス対二人ライダー, Kyūketsu Mosukirasu Tai Futari Raidā?)
73. Double Riders' Defeat! Shiomaneking (ダブルライダー 倒せ！シオマネキング, Daburu Raidā Taose! Shiomanekingu?)
74. Deadly Bloodsucking Fiends!! Good Luck, Rider Boys' Squad (死の吸血魔 がんばれ！！ライダー少年隊, Shi no Kyūketsu Ma Ganbare!! Raidā Shōnen Tai?)
75. Poison Flower Monster Roseranga - The Secret of the House of Terror (毒花怪人バラランガ 恐怖の家の秘密, Doku Hana Kaijin Bararanga Kyōfu no Uchi no Himitsu?)
76. Three Head of Generator Monster Seadragons!! (三匹の発電怪人シードラゴン！！, Sanbiki no Hatsuden Kaijin Shīdoragon!!?)
77. Monster Newtgeth, Duel at the Farm of Hell!! (怪人イモリゲスじごく牧場の決闘！！, Kaijin Imorigesu Jigoku Bokujō no Kettō!!?)
78. The Dreadful Urchindogma + The Phantom Monster (恐怖のウニドグマ＋ゆうれい怪人, Kyōfu no Unidoguma + Yūrei Kaijin?)
79. Hell Ambassador!! The True Meaning of Fear? (地獄大使！！恐怖の正体？, Jigoku Taishi!! Kyōfu no Shōtai??)
80. Gel-Shocker Appears! Kamen Rider's Last Day! (ゲルショッカー出現！仮面ライダー最後の日!!, Gerushokkā Shutsugen! Kamen Raidā Saigo no Hi!!?)
81. Kamen Rider Dies Twice! (仮面ライダーは二度死ぬ！, Kamen Raidā wa Nido Shinu!?)
82. Monster Jellyfish Wolf, Dreadful Rush Hour (怪人クラゲウルフ 恐怖のラッシュアワー, Kaijin Kurage Urufu Kyōfu no Rasshuawā?)
83. Monster Inokabuton, Defeat the Rider With Crazy Gas (怪人イノカブトン 発狂ガスでライダーを倒せ, Kaijin Inokabuton Hakkyō Gasu de Raidā o Taose?)
84. Watch Out, Rider! Isoginjaguar's Hell Trap (危うしライダー！イソギンジャガーの地獄罠, Ayaushi Raidā! Isoginjagā no Jigoku Wana?)
85. Sludge Monster, Dreadful Murder Smog (ヘドロ怪人恐怖の殺人スモッグ, Hedoro Kaijin Kyōfu no Satsujin Sumoggu?)
86. Monster Eaglemantis' Human Hunt (怪人ワシカマギリの人間狩り, Kaijin Washikamagiri no Ningen Kari?)
87. Gel-Shocker's Delivery Man of Death (ゲルショッカー 死の配達人, Gerushokkā Shi no Haitatsunin?)
88. Bizarre! The Picture of the Black Cat That Calls for Blood (怪奇！血をよぶ黒猫の絵, Kaiki! Chi o Yobu Kuroneko no E?)
89. Fear's Pet Strategy, Drop Rider into Hell! (恐怖のペット作戦 ライダーを地獄へ落とせ！, Kyōfu no Petto Sakusen Raidā o Jigoku e Otose!?)
90. Fear's Pet Strategy, Rider SOS (恐怖のペット作戦 ライダーＳＯＳ, Kyōfu no Petto Sakusen Raidā Esu Ō Esu?)
91. Gel-Shocker, Enroll in Terror School (ゲルショッカー恐怖学校に入学せよ, Gerushokkā Kyōfu Gakkō ni Nyūgaku Seyo?)
92. Atrocity! Fake Kamen Riders!! (凶悪！にせ仮面ライダー！！, Kyōaku! Nise Kamen Raidā!!?)
93. 8 Kamen Riders (８人の仮面ライダー, Hachinin no Kamen Raidā?)
94. The True Identity of the Gel-Shocker Leader (ゲルショッカー首領の正体, Gerushokkā Shuryō no Shōtai?)
95. Monster Garaox's Sky-Flying Car (怪人ガラオックスの空飛ぶ自動車, Kaijin Garaokkusu no Sora Tobu Jidōsha?)
96. Takeshi Hongo, Cactus Monster Exposed!? (本郷猛 サボテン怪人にされる！？, Hongō Takeshi Saboten Kaijin ni Sareru!??)
97. Takeshi Hongo, Transformation Impossible (本郷猛変身不可能, Hongō Takeshi Henshin Funō?)
98. Gel-Shocker Annihilated! The End of the Leader!! (ゲルショッカー全滅！首領の最後！！, Gerushokkā Zenmetsu! Shuryō no Saigo!!?)
Films
* 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider (ゴーゴー仮面ライダー, Gō Gō Kamen Raidā?) - movie version of Episode 13
The Shocker Organization sends two of its Inhumanoids to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into Tokageron, a lizard Inhumanoid capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant.
* 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Shocker (仮面ライダーVSショッカー, Kamen Raidā tai Shokkā?)
Professor Daidōji (大道寺博士, Daidōji Hakase?) has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidōji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.
* 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell (仮面ライダーVS地獄大使, Kamen Raidā tai Jigoku Taishi?)
Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Hell tells Kamen Rider 1 and Taki that Shocker is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions.
* 2005: Kamen Rider The First - premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2 in a 21st-century setting.
* 2007: Kamen Rider The Next - premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.
S.I.C. Hero Saga
Published in Monthly Hobby Japan, the S.I.C. Hero Saga stories illustrated by S.I.C. figure dioramas portray stories featuring the characters from Shotaro Ishinomori series. Kamen Rider has had three different stories: Missing Link, Special Episode: Escape (SPECIAL EPISODE -脱出-, SPECIAL EPISODE: Dasshutsu?), and From Here to Eternity (ここより永遠に, Koko yori Towa ni?). Missing Link ran in the July to October 2002 issues, From Here to Eternity was featured in the special issue HOBBY JAPAN MOOK S.I.C. OFFICIAL DIORAMA STORY S.I.C. HERO SAGA vol.1 Kakioroshi, and Special Episode: Escape was featured in the October 2006 issue of Hobby Japan.
New characters introduced during the Missing Link story are the twelve Shocker Riders (ショッカーライダー, Shokkā Raidā?, each with different colored scarves) and the Shocker Tank (ショッカータンク, Shokkā Tanku?).
Missing Link chapter titles
1. Infiltration (潜入, Sennyū?)
2. Disappearance (失踪, Shissō?)
3. Awakening (覚醒, Kakusei?)
4. Puppet (傀儡, Kairai?)
Cast
* Takeshi Hongo (本郷 猛, Hongō Takeshi?): Hiroshi Fujioka (藤岡 弘, Fujioka Hiroshi?)
* Hayato Ichimonji (一文字 隼人, Ichimonji Hayato?): Takeshi Sasaki (佐々木 剛, Sasaki Takeshi?)
* Tōbei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbei?): Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji?)
* Kazuya Taki (滝 和也, Taki Kazuya?): Jirō Chiba (千葉 治郎, Chiba Jirō?)
* Colonel Zol (ゾル大佐, Zoru Taisa?): Jirō Miyaguchi (宮口 二郎, Miyaguchi Jirō?)
* Dr. Shinigami (死神博士, Shinigami Hakase?): Hideyo Amamoto (天本 英世, Amamoto Hideyo?) (Played as Eisei Amamoto)
* Ambassador Hell (地獄大使, Jigoku Taishi?): Kenji Ushio (潮 健児, Ushio Kenji?)
* General Black (ブラック将軍, Burakku Shōgun?): Matasaburō Niwa (丹羽 又三郎, Niwa Matasaburō?)
* Ruriko Midorikawa (緑川 ルリ子, Midorikawa Ruriko?): Chieko Morigawa (森川 千恵子, Morigawa Chieko?) (Played as Chieko Maki (真樹 千恵子, Maki Chieko?))
* Hiromi Nohara (野原 ひろみ, Nohara Hiromi?): Yōko Shimada (島田 陽子, Shimada Yōko?)
* Mari (マリ, Mari?): Linda Yamamoto (山本 リンダ, Yamamoto Rinda?)
* Yuri (ユリ, Yuri?): Wakako Oki (沖 わか子, Oki Wakako?)
* Michi (ミチ, Michi?): Katsumi Nakajima (中島 かつみ, Nakajima Katsumi?)
* Emi (エミ, Emi?): Emily Takami (高見 エミリー, Takami Emirī?)
* Mika (ミカ, Mika?): Yōko Sugibayashi (杉林 陽子, Sugibayashi Yōko?)
* Tokko (トッコ, Tokko?): Machiko Nakajima (中島 マチ子, Nakajima Machiko?) (Played as Machiko Nakajima (中島 真智子, Nakajima Machiko?))
* Yokko (ヨッコ, Yokko?): Yoshiko Nakada (中田 喜子, Nakada Yoshiko?)
* Choko (チョコ, Choko?): Mimi Hagiwara (ミミ 萩原, Mimi Hagiwara?) (Played as Mimy (ミミー, Mimī?))
* Gorō (五郎, Gorō?): Yasuharu Miura (三浦 康晴, Miura Yasuharu?)
* Naoki (ナオキ, Naoki?): Tomonori Yazaki (矢崎 知紀, Yazaki Tomonori?)
* Mitsuru (ミツル, Mitsuru?): Hōichi Yamada (山田 芳一, Yamada Hōichi?)
* Shirō (史郎, Shirō?): Jō Honda (本田 じょう, Honda Jō?)
* The Great Leader of Shocker/The Great Leader of Gel-Shocker (ショッカー首領／ゲルショッカー首領, Shokkā Shuryō/Geru Shokkā Shuryō?, Voice): Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗, Naya Gorō?)
* Narrator (ナレーター, Narētā?): Shinji Nakae (中江 真司, Nakae Shinji?)
Crew
* Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
* Scriptwriters: Masaru Igami, Shin'ichi Ichikawa, Masayuki Shimada, Mari Takizawa, Hisashi Yamazaki, Takao Ikuo, Masashi Tsukada, Takeo Oono, Shiro Ishimori, Seirou Suzuki, Takayuki Hasegawa, Kimio Hirayama, Minoru Yamada, Gorou Okeya, Shotaro Ishinomori
* Directors: Hirokazu Takemoto, Itaru Orita, Hidetoshi Kitamura, Minoru Yamada, Kazukuri Uchida, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Masashi Tsukada, Shotaro Ishinomori, Atsuo Kumanaka
* Photographer: Osamigi Yamamoto
* Illumination: Kouosamu Oota
* Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
* Artist: Mokuo Mikami
* Editing: Ayaki Sugeno (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
* Recording: Mari Fujinami
* Assistant Director: Masashi Tsukada
* Costume Designer: Tokyo Designs
* Action Choreographer: Kazutoshi Takahashi
* Line Chief: Teruo Itou
* Production Manager: Okusouhei Matono
* Sound Recording: Katsushi Ota (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
* Development: Toei Laboratories
* Cooperation: Muromachi Racing Group
Songs
Opening themes
* "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック, Rettsu Gō!! Raidā Kikku?)
o Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Hiroshi Fujioka with Male Harmony (メール・ハーモニー, Mēru Hāmonī?)
o Episodes: 1-13
* "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック, Rettsu Gō!! Raidā Kikku?)
o Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
o Episodes: 14-88
* "Rider Action" (ライダーアクション, Raidā Akushon?)
o Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Masato Shimon
o Episodes: 89–98
Ending themes
* "Kamen Rider no Uta" (仮面ライダーの歌, Kamen Raidā no Uta?, "The Song of Kamen Rider")
o Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
o Episodes: 1–71
* "Rider Action" (ライダーアクション, Raidā Akushon?)
o Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Masato Shimon
o Episodes: 72–88
* "Lonely Kamen Rider" (ロンリー仮面ライダー, Ronrī Kamen Raidā?)
o Lyrics: Mamoru Tanaka
o Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
o Artist: Masato Shimon
o Episodes: 89–98
Legacy
The Kamen Rider original series produced a great number of spin-offs which remain in production today. Several Kamen Rider series were aired in Japan after the first Kamen Rider finished. After Kamen Rider Black RX ended production in 1989, the series was put on hold.
There were three movie released as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J. After original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death, the Kamen Rider franchise was restarted in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga. Since then Kamen Rider has become popular again and has a strong fanbase across Asia in countries such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.[verification needed] As of 2010, twenty-one Kamen Rider series have been made, the current series being Kamen Rider OOO (which premiered on September 5, 2010).
As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First.
