Kamen Rider

Story

Doctor Keitarō Shido, an acclaimed scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neo-Shocker to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he convinces Neo-Shocker's command to allow him to operate on an injured camper. Explaining that he can turn the camper, Hiroshi Tsukuba into a powerful Neo-Shocker warrior, they allow Doctor Shido to operate. However, he quickly turns the tables on them, transforming Hiroshi, not into a kaijin, but the powerful warrior Sky Rider, using his newfound abilities to combat the evil Neo-Shocker menace.

Characters

Hiroshi Tsukuba (筑波　洋, Tsukuba Hiroshi): A gliding enthusiast caught in a conflict with Neo-Shocker after one of their agents murdered his friends. He ended up being caught and turned into a cyborg by both Keitaro and Neo-Shocker after he was mortally injured in an attempt to save Keitaro from Neo-Shocker, before he and the scientist managed to escape from their captors and use his newfound powers as Skyrider (スカイライダー, Sukairaidā) to fight the terrorist group.

Keitarō Shido (志度 敬太郎, Shido Keitarō): A scientist targeted by Neo-Shocker who was responsible for Hiroshi becoming Sky Rider. To keep a low profile, having hang glided in his youth, Shido founded the Shido Hang Glide Club and last aided Sky Rider in disarming a Plus-Alpha Bomb before leaving the country to join the Anti-Neo-Shocker Committee.

Midori Kanō (叶 みどり, Kanō Midori): Shido's aide.

Yumi Nozaki (野崎 ユミ, Nozaki Yumi): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.

Michi Sugimura (杉村 ミチ, Sugimura Michi): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.

Konta Tonda (飛田 今太, Tonda Konta): A photojournalist who is looking for a good story, usually losing consciousness when he is about to stumble into a fight between Sky Rider and Neo-Shocker.

Genjirō Tani (谷 源次郎, Tani Genjirō): A senior of Hiroshi's and a friend of Shido, Tani owns the Blanca Coffee Shop that serves as Sky Rider's new base of operations. Having lost his family to Neo-Shocker in the past, Tani is eager to help Hiroshi take the organization down.

Numa (沼)

Aki Ozawa (小沢 アキ, Ozawa Aki)

Naoko Itō (伊東 ナオコ, Itō Naoko)

Kanji Yada/GanGan G (矢田 勘次／がんがんじい, Yada Kanji/Gan Gan Jī)

Neo-Shocker

Shocker is once again reformed as the Neo-Shocker (ネオショッカー, Neo Shokkā) organization, playing a role in numerous disappearances and terrorist attacks against the Japanese government. Spreading their influence across the world, their goal is the genocide of about two thirds of the current human population on Earth with them as the dominant majority. Though the other branches are succeeding unopposed, only the Japanese branch is making no progress due to the interference of Sky Rider.

Great Leader of Neo-Shocker (ネオショッカー大首領, Neo Shokkā Dai Shuryō): Hailing from Dark Nebula B-26, he is a giant, alien dragon who is the leader of the Neo-Shocker organization and “Emperor of the Dark Nebula”. Destroyed in a bomb explosion by the combined efforts of all previous Kamen Riders.

General Monster/Yamorijin (ゼネラルモンスター／ヤモリジン, Zeneraru Monsutā/Yamorijin): A former Nazi under Colonel Zol, he is the first chief of Neo-Shocker's Japanese branch who wields a cane. Eventually promoted, Monster underwent a modification into Yamorijin, a gecko cyborg. Due to a recent failure he was presented with the red eye, which signals that if he fails for a final time he will be terminated. He was executed by Sky Rider's Sky Kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, kidnapping people in Sapporo. He was eventually destroyed by Kamen Rider ZX's Rider Spin Shot and crashed into Admiral Majin.

Admiral Majin (魔人提督, Majin Teitoku): The second and final chief of the Neo-Shocker organization. He was the only Neo-Shocker member with no kaijin form. He was executed by Kamen Rider 2, Kamen Rider Stronger and Sky Rider's triple kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, confronting Sky Rider in Mashu Lake, but is eventually destroyed by Sky Rider's Dragonfly Chute and crashed into Yamorijin.

Gingaoh (銀河王, Ginga Ō; lit. "Galaxy King"): Gingaoh is the main antagonist in the Sky Rider movie, a mechanical alien invader that Neo-Shocker formed an alliance with. He was destroyed in his spaceship explosion.

Ari Commandos (アリコマンド, Ari Komando): Ant-like foot soldiers in black.

Skull Assassination Squad (ドクロ暗殺隊, Dokuro Ansatsu Tai): Skull-masked elite guards who wield swords and crossbows.

Episodes

The Cyborg Flies in the Sky (改造人間大空を翔ぶ, Kaizō Ningen Ōzora o Tobu) (Original Airdate: October 5, 1979)

Bizarre! Kumojin (怪奇！クモンジン, Kaiki! Kumonjin) (Original Airdate: October 12, 1979)

It's Courage! The Fear of the Bat Flute (勇気だ！コウモリ笛の恐怖, Yūki da! Kōmori-bue no Kyōfu) (Original Airdate: October 19, 1979)

Two Cyborgs, the Angry Rider Break (２つの改造人間 怒りのライダーブレイク, Futatsu no Kaizō Ningen Ikari no Raidā Bureiku) (Original Airdate: October 26, 1979)

Fly, Ride on a Girl's Dreams (翔べ 少女の夢をのせて, Tobe Shōjo no Yume o Nosete) (Original Airdate: November 2, 1979)

Kinokojin! The Devil's Hands are Cold (キノコジン！悪魔の手は冷たい, Kinokojin! Akuma no Te wa Tsumetai) (Original Airdate: November 9, 1979)

Kamagirijin! The Dreadful Ceremony (カマギリジン！恐怖の儀式, Kamagirijin! Kyōfu no Gishiki) (Original Airdate: November 16, 1979)

Mukadenjin's Trap! The Mysterious Operating Room (ムカデンジンの罠！謎の手術室, Mukadenjin no Wana! Nazo no Shujutsushitsu) (Original Airdate: November 23, 1979)

Cobranjin's Murder Army (コブランジンの殺人軍団, Koburanjin no Satsujin Gundan) (Original Airdate: November 30, 1979)

Seen! Kaningerjin's Secret (見た！カニンガージンの秘密, Mita! Kaningājin no Himitsu) (Original Airdate: December 7, 1979)

Sanshojin! Escape from Hell Valley (サンショウジン！地獄谷の脱出, Sanshōjin! Jigokudani no Dasshutsu) (Original Airdate: December 14, 1979)

Dark Santa Claus; Ah, Transformation Impossible (暗闇のサンタクロースああ変身不可能, Kurayami no Santa Kurōsu Aa Henshin Fukanō) (Original Airdate: December 21, 1979)

Special

Immortal Kamen Rider Special aired on September 8, 1979. Tobei Tachibana visits a Kamen Rider museum where he talks to some children about the Kamen Riders. Scenes from Kamen Rider, X, Amazon and Stronger are shown. He's about to introduce a new Kamen Rider when some of the kids remind him that he forgot Kamen Rider V3. Clips from the movie Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants are shown. After the movie clips, Tobei Tachibana introduces Sky Rider, with previews of New Kamen Rider.

Film

The Movie Eight Riders vs. Gingaoh (仮面ライダー 8人ライダーVS銀河王 Kamen Raidā: Hachi'nin Raidā Tai Gingaō) was released on March 15, 1980 and features Sky Rider teaming up with the previous 7 riders.

Cast

Hiroaki Murakami as Hiroshi Tsukuba

Kimiko Tanaka as Midori Kanō

Naoko Fushimi as Michi Sugimura

Kaori Tatsumi as Yumi Nozaki

Ryūmei Azuma as Imata Tonda

Mie Suzuki as Naoko Itō

Sayako Eguchi as Aki Ozawa

Jin Takase as Numa

Kōji Shiratori as Shigeru Kanō

Tomaru Katsura as Kanji Yada

Gorō Naya as The Great Leader

Shinzō Hotta as General Monster

Yōsuke Naka as Admiral Majin

Takashi Tabata as Keitarō Shido

Nobuo Tsukamoto as Genjirō Tani

Voice cast

Shinji Nakae as Narrator

International Broadcasts

In the Philippines, it was aired on RPN-9 as New Masked Rider from 1982 to 1983 with an English dub.

Songs

Opening themes

"Moero! Kamen Rider" (燃えろ! 仮面ライダー, Moero! Kamen Raidā; "Burn! Kamen Rider")

Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori

Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73

Episodes: 1–28

"Otoko no Na wa Kamen Rider" (男の名は仮面ライダー, Otoko no Na wa Kamen Raidā; "That Man's Name is Kamen Rider")

Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori

Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Artist: Ichirou Mizuki

Episodes: 29–54

Ending themes

"Haruka naru Ai ni Kakete" (はるかなる愛にかけて; "Long Distance Love")

Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude

Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73

Episodes: 1–28

"Kagayake! Hachinin Rider" (輝け! 8人ライダー, Kagayake! Hachinin Raidā; "Shine! Eight Riders")

Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude

Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and The Chirps