Kamen Rider Fourze

This article is about the television series. For the series' main character, see Kamen Rider Fourze (character).

Kamen Rider Fourze
The logo for Kamen Rider Fourze
Genre	Tokusatsu
Created by	Shotaro Ishinomori
Written by	Kazuki Nakashima Riku Sanjo
Directed by	Koichi Sakamoto Hidenori Ishida Takayuki Shibasaki Satoshi Morota Ryuta Tasaki
Starring	Sota Fukushi Ryuki Takahashi Fumika Shimizu
Narrated by	Nobuyuki Hiyama
Opening theme	"Switch On!" by Anna Tsuchiya
Ending theme	"Giant Step" by Astronauts
Composer(s)	Shuhei Naruse
Country of origin	Japan
Language(s)	Japanese
No. of episodes	(List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)	Kengo Motoi (TV Asahi) Hideaki Tsukada Kazuhiro Takahashi (Toei)
Running time	24-25 min. (per episode)
Production company(s)	Toei Company
Distributor	Toei Company
Broadcast
Original channel	TV Asahi
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Original airing	September 4, 2011 (2011-09-04)
Chronology
Preceded by	Kamen Rider OOO
External links
Website

Kamen Rider Fourze (仮面ライダーフォーゼ, Kamen Raidā Fōze^?) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider OOO,^[1] joining Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger in the Super Hero Time lineup. Trademarks on the title were filed by Toei in April 2011^[2][3][4] The series commemorates not only the Kamen Rider Series' 40th anniversary but also the 50th anniversary of spaceflight, which began with Yuri Gagarin's flight in 1961.^[5] The show's catchphrase is "Switch on youth 'cause space on your hand!" (青春スイッチオンで宇宙キター！, Seishun suitchi on de uchū kitā!^?),^[6] referencing the Fourze Driver (フォーゼドライバー, Fōze Doraibā^?) transformation belt which gets its various powers from devices called Astro Switches (アストロスイッチ, Asutoro Suitchi^?) to conjure attachments to Fourze's limbs.^[1][7] As with the two previous series, the protagonist of Fourze made his debut in the annual summer film of the show's direct predecessor, appearing in Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals.

Production

The Takasaki University of Commerce in Gunma Prefecture is used for exterior shots of Amanogawa High School in Kamen Rider Fourze.

Fourze is written by Kazuki Nakashima, known for his screenplays of Oh! Edo Rocket and Gurren Lagann. The creature designer is Kia Asamiya, known for his artwork for the manga Martian Successor Nadesico and Silent Möbius. Koichi Sakamoto, known for his work on the American Power Rangers franchise, serves as the series' main director after his work on the Kamen Rider W films and several episodes of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

Story

Main article: List of Kamen Rider Fourze characters

Amanogawa High School has become the center of strange happenings, and things only get stranger when the bad boy styled transfer student Gentaro Kisaragi attempts to make friends in his own unique way, reuniting with childhood friend and self-professed space travel otaku Yuki Jojima, all while gaining the ire of loner Kengo Utahoshi and the school's queen bee Miu Kazashiro and her enforcer jock boyfriend Shun Daimonji, as garishly styled social butterfly JK and goth girl Tomoko Nozama watch on. When monsters called Zodiarts begin to appear on campus, Kengo and Yuki attempt to use the strange devices they have found in the Rabbit Hatch lunar base that they access through a locker on an off-limits part of campus to fight them. However, Gentaro interferes in their plans, in part due to Kengo's body unable to handle the strains of battle, and uses the devices to transform into Kamen Rider Fourze.^[8][9]

Episodes

Main article: List of Kamen Rider Fourze episodes

The titles of episodes of Kamen Rider Fourze consist of four kanji that can be read together to form a full statement.

#	Title	Writer	Original airdate
1	"The Metamorphosis of Youth" "Sei Shun Hen Shin" (青・春・変・身)	Kazuki Nakashima	September 4, 2011
2	"Bring It On Space!" "U Chū Jō Tō" (宇・宙・上・等)	Kazuki Nakashima	September 11, 2011
3	"Election of the Queen" "Jo Ō Sen Kyo" (女・王・選・挙)	Kazuki Nakashima	September 18, 2011
4	"The Transformation in Secret" "Hen Gen An Yaku" (変・幻・暗・躍)	Kazuki Nakashima	September 25, 2011
5	"Two Sides to Friendship" "Yū Jō Hyō Ri" (友・情・表・裏)	Kazuki Nakashima	October 2, 2011
6	"Full Blown Lightning Attack" "Den Geki It To" (電・撃・一・途)	Kazuki Nakashima	October 9, 2011
7	"His Highness, King Jerk" "Ō Sama Ya Rō" (王・様・野・郎)	Riku Sanjo	October 16, 2011
8	"The Iron Knight's Cooperation" "Tek Ki Ren Kei" (鉄・騎・連・携)	Riku Sanjo	October 23, 2011
9	"Awakening of the Witch" "Ma Jo Kaku Sei" (魔・女・覚・醒)	Riku Sanjo	October 30, 2011
10	"Clash in the Moonlight" "Gek Ka Geki Totsu" (月・下・激・突)	Riku Sanjo	November 13, 2011
11	"The Moon's Gateway Disappears" "Shō Shitsu Tsuki To" (消・失・月・戸)	Kazuki Nakashima	November 20, 2011
12	"Life Mission of Kengo" "Shi Mei Ken Mei" (使・命・賢・命)	Kazuki Nakashima	November 27, 2011

Films

The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals

Main article: Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals

The character of Gentaro Kisaragi (portrayed by Fukushi) and Kamen Rider Fourze make their debut appearance in Kamen Rider OOO's third film Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals.

Movie War Mega Max

Main article: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max

A crossover film between Kamen Rider OOO and Kamen Rider Fourze in the same vein as the Movie War 2010 and Movie War Core films, titled Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ＆オーズ MOVIE大戦 MEGA MAX, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Fōze ando Ōzu: Mūbī Taisen Mega Makkusu^?)^[10], is planned for a December 10, 2011, theatrical release in Japan.^[11] The guest star for the Fourze portion is Hello! Project member Erina Mano, who will portray Nadeshiko Misaki (美咲 撫子, Misaki Nadeshiko^?) who transforms into Kamen Rider Nadeshiko (仮面ライダーなでしこ, Kamen Raidā Nadeshiko^?), the first schoolgirl Kamen Rider.^[12]

Video game

A port of Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes titled Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes Fourze (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ フォーゼ, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Fōze^?) is planned for release on both the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii during Winter 2011. In addition to adding Kamen Rider Fourze to the game, the Shōwa Riders (e.g., Kamen Rider #1 & Kamen Rider Black RX) are added as playable characters.

Cast

• Gentaro Kisaragi (如月 弦太朗, Kisaragi Gentarō^?): Sota Fukushi (福士 蒼汰, Fukushi Sōta^?)
• Kengo Utahoshi (歌星 賢吾, Utahoshi Kengo^?): Ryuki Takahashi (高橋 龍輝, Takahashi Ryūki^?)
• Yuki Jojima (城島 ユウキ, Jōjima Yūki^?): Fumika Shimizu (清水 富美加, Shimizu Fumika^?)
• Miu Kazashiro (風城 美羽, Kazashiro Miu^?): Rikako Sakata (坂田 梨香子, Sakata Rikako^?)
• Shun Daimonji (大文字 隼, Daimonji Shun^?): Justin Tomimori (冨森 ジャスティン, Tomimori Jasutin^?)
• Tomoko Nozama (野座間 友子, Nozama Tomoko^?): Shiho (志保^?)
• JK (ＪＫ（ジェイク）, Jeiku^?): Shion Tsuchiya (土屋 シオン, Tsuchiya Shion^?)
• Sarina Sonoda (園田 紗里奈, Sonoda Sarina^?): Yuka Konan (虎南 有香, Konan Yuka^?)
• Chuta Ohsugi (大杉 忠太, Ōsugi Chūta^?): Takushi Tanaka (田中 卓志, Tanaka Takushi^?)
• Mitsuaki Gamo (我望 光明, Gamō Mitsuaki^?): Shingo Tsurumi (鶴見 辰吾, Tsurumi Shingo^?)
• Tamae Sakuma (佐久間 珠恵, Sakuma Tamae^?): Maria Yoshikawa (吉川 まりあ, Yoshikawa Maria^?)
• Jun Shigeno (繁野 ジュン, Shigeno Jun^?): Arisa Fujisaki (藤嵜 亜莉沙, Fujisaki Arisa^?)
• Reiko Hirota (広田 玲子, Hirota Reiko^?): Yurika Tachibana (橘 ゆりか, Tachibana Yurika^?)
• Chosuke Ban (番 長介, Ban Chōsuke^?): Tadao Kuroishi (黒石 高大, Kuroishi Tadaō^?)
• Scorpion Zodiarts (スコーピオン・ゾディアーツ, Sukōpion Zodiātsu^?, Voice): Eiji Takemoto (竹本 英史, Takemoto Eiji^?)
• Narration (ナレーション, Narēshon^?): Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之, Hiyama Nobuyuki^?)

Guest cast

• Shunya Miura (三浦 俊也, Miura Shun'ya^?, 1, 2): Masanori Mizuno (水野 真典, Mizuno Masanori^?)
• Takashi Satake (佐竹 剛, Satake Takashi^?, 7, 8): Satoshi Jinbo (神保 悟志, Jinbo Satoshi^?)
• Takato Daimonji (大文字 高人, Daimonji Takato^?, 7, 8): Ryo Kamon (加門 良, Kamon Ryō^?)
• Ritsuko Usaka (鵜坂 律子, Usaka Ritsuko^?, 9, 10): Hikari Kajiwara (梶原 ひかり, Kajiwara Hikari^?)

Suit actors

• Kamen Rider Fourze: Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二, Takaiwa Seiji^?)

Songs

Opening theme

• "Switch On!"
  • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • Composition & Arrangement: tatsuo (of everset)
  • Artist: Anna Tsuchiya (土屋 アンナ, Tsuchiya Anna^?)^[13][14]

  Anna Tsuchiya decided to perform the opening theme for Kamen Rider Fourze after her young son became a fan of Kamen Rider OOO and because of her own fond memories of watching Kamen Rider Series shows as a child herself.^[15]

Ending theme

• "Giant Step"
  • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
  • Artist: Astronauts
  • Episodes: 6-

  Astronauts is a special band formed by May'n and former Surface vocalist Yoshiharu Shiina for Kamen Rider Fourze.^[16]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Uchusen, Vol. 133
2. ^ "商願２０１１－２７２３２". 18 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zacoYUGo. 
3. ^ "商願２０１１－２７２３３". 18 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zafF4OmG. 
4. ^ "商願２０１１－２７２３４". 18 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zafLIYp3. 
5. ^ "仮面ライダー：最新作「フォーゼ」は初の学園モノ　リーゼント頭の主人公に福士蒼汰 - MANTANWEB（まんたんウェブ）". 2011-06-30. http://mantan-web.jp/2011/06/30/20110630dog00m200021000c.html. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
6. ^ "新仮面ライダーは「青春スイッチオンで宇宙キター！」 - MSN産経ニュース". 2011-06-30. http://sankei.jp.msn.com/entertainments/news/110630/ent11063016490020-n1.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
7. ^ Hyper Hobby, August 2011
8. ^ Hyper Hobby, September 2011
9. ^ Toei Hero Max, Vol. 38
10. ^ "仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ&オーズ MOVIE大戦 MEGAMAX／ユーザーレビュー - Yahoo!映画". http://info.movies.yahoo.co.jp/userreview/tymv/id340731/. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 
11. ^ "東映、12月10日から「仮面ライダー」公開". http://rengo-tsushin.com/modules/movie/index.php?page=article&storyid=1152. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
12. ^ "沢穂希をイメージ　初の女子高生「仮面ライダーなでしこ」登場！ ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". 2011-10-02. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2011/10/02/kiji/K20111002001741280.html. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
13. ^ "土屋アンナが40周年記念に元気をSwitch On！『仮面ライダーフォーゼ』主題歌発表". TV LIFE. 2011-09-02. http://www.tvlife.jp/news/detail.php?news_id=49881. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 
14. ^ "「ライダーを見てると戦いたくなる」土屋アンナさんが『仮面ライダーフォーゼ』主題歌「Switch On!」を担当！". Livedoor. 2011-09-02. http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5829846/. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 
15. ^ "土屋アンナが40周年記念に元気をSwitch On！『仮面ライダーフォーゼ』主題歌発表". TV LIFE. 2011-09-02. http://www.tvlife.jp/news/detail.php?news_id=49881. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 
16. ^ "May’n「仮面ライダーフォーゼ」スペシャルユニットを結成！". 2011-10-09. http://pc.mayn.jp/information/2011/10/mayn_1423.html. Retrieved 2011-10-09. 

External links

• Kamen Rider Fourze at TV Asahi
• Kamen Rider Fourze at Toei TV

Preceded by OOO

Kamen Rider 2011–

Succeeded by TBA