Kamen Rider a legendary hero from Japan

Kamen Rider (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.

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 (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.

Riders

Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1 - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98. He is a biochemist at Jounan University, who also races motorcycles as part of the Tachibana Racing team.

Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider #2 - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98

Allies

Tōbei Tachibana - Hongo's racing mentor and confidant. He is often called "Master" by other members of his racing club.

Kazuya Taki (episodes 11, 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 - A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Shocker agent Spider Man.

Ruriko Midorikawa (episodes 1-13) - The daughter of Prof. Midorikawa, she initially blames Hongo for her father's death, but eventually learns the truth and becomes his ally. In episode 14, it is revealed that she accompanied Hongo on a quest to defeat Shocker activities in Europe.

Hiromi Nohara: Ruriko's friend, who works as a waitress at Snack Amigo.

Kishimori (episodes 2, etc.) - Hongo's fellow biochemist at Jounan University.

Snack Amigo - a small café where Hongo and other members of Tachibana's racing club gather, in early episodes. Its employees include the waitress Yumi and the bartender Shiro, who occasionally assist Hongo in countering Shocker's plans.

Mari, Yuri, and Michi (episodes 14- ) - Female members of the Tachibana Racing Club, who join after Hongo's departure. Michi is a small-displacement rider, Yuri is a martial artist, and Mari has experience in fencing.

Goro (episodes 14- ) - Yuri's kid brother, and a junior member of the racing club.

Films

1971: Go Go Kamen Rider - 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 (Kamen Raidā tai Shokkā)

Professor Daidōji 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 (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.

Kamen Rider 40th anniversary film

OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā: Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā), released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series, featuring the cast and characters of Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider OOO, and other characters from past iterations of the franchise series.

Kamen Rider a legendary hero from Japan