Kamen Rider Kuuga (character)

Kamen Rider Kuuga is the title character of the Kamen Rider series released in 2000. He is portrayed by Joe Odagiri. Kuuga is the only Kamen Rider appearing in the series.

Fictional character biography

Born in Hokkaidō on March 18, 1975, with a blood type of O, Yuusuke Godai is a happy-go-lucky and honest person that fights to protect everyone's smile. He and his younger sister, Minori, lost their mother while they were both young and their father at Afganistan when they were older, living with their father's friend Tamasaburo Kazari.

Yuusuke's life changed the day that his friend led the archaeological finding of the Linto Tribe and found the Arcle, the henshin device of the original Kuuga. However, the founding also marked the unsealing of the Grongi labeled "Unidentied Lifeform 0" who murdered the archaeologists before releasing his kind into the world. When the Grongi Zu Gumun Ba attacked the city upon being revived, Godai puts on the belt to fight him, resulting with the Arcle fusing onto him as he assumes Kuuga's Growing Form. But due to his similarity to the Grongi, the police labeled Kuuga's Growing Form as "Unidentfied Lifeform 2". Eventually, during his 2nd fight with Gumun when the Grongi Zu Gōma Gu used his ally to make a hasty retreat after a vain attempt to fight, Kuuga manages to assume the fighting Mighty Form, which the Police labeled as "Unidentfied Lifeform 4". Starting with inspector Kaoru Ichijou, Yuusuke eventually gains the trust of the police force by receiving the TryChaser 2000 from Ichijou. While brought to Doctor Shuichi Tsubaki for a confidential check-up, Yuusuke learns that the Arcle's fusion onto him is more complex is it had spread into his muscular and nervous systems. During his first battle with the Grongi Zu Bazu Ba, though Kuuga assumes Dragon Form, he was unable to properly use his abilities to defeat the Grongi and was heavily injured as a result. But thanks to Sakuraro's aid, Yuusuke manages to use Dragon Form properly to kill Bazu.

During his fight with the Grongi Me Bajisu Ba, Kuuga assumes Pegasus Form but was overwhelmed by his enhanced senses as Bajisu escapes, vowing revenge on Kuuga. Unable to change, Yuusuke decides to help Ichijou by finding Mika Natsume, the daughter of one of Daguba's victims who is on the verge of being suicidal when her father's murderer not yet caught. After talking Mika into letting things resolve themselves over time, Bajisu attacks and Yuusuke is able to effectively use Pegasus Form's power to kill the Grongi sniper. While dealing with the Grongi Me Giiga Gi, and his sister's apprehensive feelings for being Kuuga, Yuusuke is able to become Titan Form to defeat the Giiga after convincing his sister that it all be right. Yuusuke later meets Junichi Shiina, a young man who lost his faith in humanity and though to be able to relate more the Unidentified Lifeforms. However, his encounter with the Grongi Me Biran Gi said otherwise when Kuuga saves the boy before killing the Grongi. During the fight however, Yuusuke felt the reawakening of the Gouram as it was excavated and whirled to life to make its way towards him, providing its power for him to counter the Grongi Me Gyarido Gi.

Later, when poisoned by the Grongi Me Ginoga De, Yuusuke manages to survive the near death experience due to the Amadam countering the poison, allowing Yuusuke to arrive to the police's aid in time to destroy Ginoga and later his clone. However, since then, Yuusuke begin to felt a numbing pain during his next few battles as Kuuga against stronger Grongi. When fighting the promoted Go Garima Ba, Yuusuke learns that his numbness may be tied to a greater power. After training to bring out the "golden power" with Hikari's help, Yuusuke battles Garima in a upgraded version of Kuuga's Titan Form, Rising Titan. When helping his former teacher in finding one of his students, whose troubled story reminded him of himself as a kid, Yuusuke battles the Grongi Go Būro Gu and assumes Raising Pegasus Form to kill him. Yuusuke later achieves Raising Dragon Form while fighting the Grongi Go Bemiu Gi, helping Ichijou in learning the killing pattern of the Go in the process. From a checkup with Dr. Tsubaki, Yuusuke learns the new upgrades are a prelude to the Arcle's fusing further into his body, though he believes its because of the stronger Grongi new appearing and subsciously desire to get stronger. After healing from being wounded by the Grongi Go Gamego, Yuusuke meets Shiina as he took up being an artist since their last encounter before he finds the Grongi and kills him once achieving Rising Mighty Form, accidently causing devastation within a 3000 meter radius. Because of the incident, the BeatChaser 2000 made to resist the Gouram's ingestion is not to be given to Kuuga as the mysterious Grongi Go Badā Ba begins to play, saving Kuuga as his final victim. While Ichijo convinces his fellow officers, Yuusuke is aided by Sugita in tracking down Badā until Ichijo arrives with the BetaChaser which allows Kuuga to destroy Badā. However, the incident with the sadistic Grongi Go Jaraji Da, influences Godai's behavior for the worse, causing him to subsciously assume Kuuga's Ultimate Form while killing the Grongi a in brutal rage.

Later, Yuusuke goes to Enokida when she wanted to investigate the reason on how he can turn everyday objects into weapons like the Go Grongi before going after the Grongi Go Zazaru Ba when she went up against a evolving Gōma. The fact that the two Grongi were fighting each other gave Yuusuke a omnious feeling that something bad's about to occur. This is made worst when Yuusuke learns the "Kuuga" character not of Linto origin, but is is actually a incomplete Grongi character and may be tied to Number Zero, later revealed as the Grongi lord N Daguba Za when he arrived to slaughter Gōma before making his way to Tokyo for end-game. Godai's fears of their relation if confirmed Sakurako fully translated the Linto text and the Grongi characters on it, revealing his mental welbeing during the incident with Jaraji while understanding that he'll be alright as long as he doesn't fight out of hate. After learning from Enokida that the Grongi may also share Kuuga's ability to change form, Yuusuke leave when Go Jaza Gi makes her move. During a flawed attempt to get her, Kuuga senses Daguba and got wounded while his guard was down, before he finally kills Jaza in the next confrontation. After a post-discussion of the recent Grongi/Kuuga connects after the death of Grongi Go Babera Da, Yuusuke makes his way to the 12 Arikawa Group Flute Competition, having brush in with Daguba before arriving to the Aikawa Group building after a hostage situation is resolved with Mika tramatized by the incident. As he escorts Mika to her train for home, Yuusuke tells her not to run away even if things get scary.

During the battle with the last of the Grongi, Go Gadoru Ba, Kuuga overwhelmed by the Grongi's abilty to assume forms similar to his own. Serverely wounded as a result, Yuusuke is brought to the hospital where after a question of ethics, Tsubaki argees to induce a electro-theraphy charge after his heart gave out. By the time he leaves the hospital, Yuusuke arrives to the Staduim where Gadoru is fighting Re Doruda Da. However in the ensuing rematch, Kuuga assumes the dark-armored Kuuga Amazing Mighty form to kill Gadoru. With all the Grongi warrior dead, Daguba finally reveals himself, overpowering Kuuga's Amazing Mighty Form and cracking the Amadan while killing numberous people before taking his leave,sparing Kuuga to get stronger. Knowing that he has no choice but to break his word and assume that form, Yuusuke visits to his friends one-by-one, knowing that he may not come back, with Sakurako realizing his intend as Daguba finally makes his move, telling Yuusuke to meet him as Kyuurou. With Ichijo joining him, Yuusuke tells him to shoot him in the Auracle should he go berserk, though the officer is relucant to do that. Once assuming Ultimate Form, powered by his gentle nature rather than hatred, Kuuga battles Daguba to the point of exhaustion and nearly getting himself killed. Three months after the final battle, Yuusuke had begun a new adventure to travel the world, starting at a Mexican beach where helps some kids before walking off.

Forms

tatistics & Performance Data

Statistical Data	Growing Form	Mighty Form (Rising) {Amazing}	Dragon Form (Rising)	Pegasus Form (Rising)	Titan Form (Rising)	Ultimate Form
Height:	190 cm	200 cm	200 cm	200 cm	200 cm	202 cm
Weight:	90 kg	99 kg (104 kg) {125 kg}	90 kg (92 kg)	99 kg (99.9 kg)	110 kg (122 kg)	150 kg
Punching power:	--	3t	1t	7t	25t	80t
Kicking power:	--	10t	7t	3t	10t	100t
Highest jump:	--	15m	30m	15m	10m	50m
Top speed:	--	100m/5.2s	100m/2s	100m/5.2s	100m/7.2s	100m/2s
Sense:	--	x10	x10	x1000 (x10000)	x10	x10000

Kuuga is the Kamen Rider with most forms to date, 11 in total. Aside from his first form, Growing Form, he had four base forms that he relied on and would upgrade throughout the series. His armor would change color depending on the form. Like the Go Grongi, Kuuga can alter any item he has into a weapon by temporary changing its atomic structure.

Growing Form

Growing Form is the weakest form of Kuuga and has white armor with small horns. In the first episode, Yuusuke wears the belt to fight Zu･Gumun･Ba but is unable to fully utilize its power. Kuuga will turn white if he is seriously injured and will not be able to transform for 2 hours. In the first few episodes, he is labeled as "Unidentified Being 2" and thought to be a different being from his other form. Although his power is weak in this form, he can still use the finisher "Growing Kick".

Mighty Form

nihongo|Mighty Form|マイテフォーム|Maite Fōmu is Kuuga's default form and has red armor. Yuusuke was first able to transform into this form while fighting Zu･Gooma･Gu. In this form, Kuuga uses his "Mighty Kick" attack to kill the monsters. Mighty Form was enhanced by the golden power into nihongo|Rising Mighty Form|ライジングマイテフォーム|Raijingu Maite Fōmu, with golden trimmings. The Mighty Anklet is equipped in the right leg, upgrading Kuuga's attack to "Rising Mighty Kick", which causes the target to explode with a 3000 mile radius of the area. By episode 46, Kuuga's Mighty Form was advanced into the black-armored Amazing Mighty Form, with the Mighty Anklet equipped on both legs for use of the "Amazing Mighty Kick" dropkick attack.

Dragon Form

nihongo|Dragon Form|ドラゴンフォーム|Doragon Fōmu is a blue nihongo|"Quick Form"|俊敏体|Shunbin-tai form that allows Kuuga to be more agile and quicker, although his physical strength drops from the level offered by Mighty Form. This armor grants Kuuga blue armor that offers somewhat less protection, but is better suited for quick movements. To make up for the lack of strength, he uses a the Dragon Rod staff as his weapon, using any pole or stick-like object to manifest it. His finishing move in this form is "Splash Dragon", an aerial thrust attack to the torso. Dragon was later upgraded by the golden power into nihongo|Rising Dragon Form|ライジング ドラゴンフォーム|Raijingu Doragon Fōmu, gaining a golden trim with his weapon enhanced into the Rising Dragon Rod voulge and his finishing move improved into the "Rising Splash Dragon".

Pegasus Form

nihongo|Pegasus Form|ペガススフォーム|Pegasusu Fōmu is a green nihongo|"Shooting Form"|射撃体|Shageki-tai where Kuuga's senses are heightened to extreme levels, enabling him to see and hear his opponents with deadly accuracy. The downside to this is that it can not be sustained for too long because of the enormous strain placed on the nervous system (only 50 seconds), and if Kuuga exceeds this limit, he shall be knocked back into Growing Form & be unable to transform for two hours. Kuuga uses the Pegasus Bowgun crossbow that can be created out of any gun-like object, commonly Ichijo's hand gun. His finishing move with the bow gun is "Blast Pegasus", an arrow shot from the bowgun. Once upgraded to nihongo|Raising Pegasus Form|ライジング ペガススフォーム|Raijingu Pegasusu Fōmu, Kuuga can hold the form for 30 seconds and uses the Rising Pegasus Bowgun for his "Rising Blast Pegasus". This attack may uses up to three arrows.

Titan Form

nihongo|Titan Form|タイタンフォーム|Taitan Fōmu is a purple nihongo|"Herculean Form"|剛力体|Gōriki-tai where defense is greatly increased, allowing him to withstand his opponents' attacks long enough to get in close range, despite sacrificing speed. This form has much larger armor that is mainly silver with large purple trims. He uses the Titan Sword that can be created out of pole or stick-like objects, normally the control handle of his bike. His finishing move is "Calamity Titan", a powerful sword thrust wherein Kuuga twists the blade as it is impaled. This was the first of Kuuga's forms to be upgraded by the Golden power, becoming nihongo|Rising Titan Form|ライジングタイタンフォーム|Raijingu Taitan Fōmu. As a result, Kuuga uses the Rising Titan Sword for "Rising Calamity Titan". But Kuuga can create a second Rising Titan Sword to use in the stronger "Double Rising Calamity Titan" attack.

Ultimate Form

His most dangerous form, the Ultimate Form combines all the powers of the other forms, originally a risk is that the user would lose control and become like Daguba, a monster bent on killing everything in its way. However, due to Yuusuke's gentle nature, he retains his will as he uses the new form against Daguba. It is black with gold trims all over his body and with 4 (or 5) horns. This form can utilizes the same powers as Daguba including Pyrokinesis.

Equipment

Arcle - This transformation belt is the source of Kuuga's power. While being attacked by the spider Grongi (Zu･Gumun･Ba), Yuusuke grabbed the belt and after putting it on, it immediately fused into his body. When he transforms it reappears around his waist and is always the same color as his current form. A stone embedded in the belt, called Amadam, is the source of Kuuga's power and able to extend the lifespan of a person. Futhermore, the Amadam is present in Daguba as well.

Gouram - A mysterious enity formed from fragments found at the original excavation site at the beginning of the story. After its initial formation, the Gouram assimilated various other metals as it made its way to Tokyo in its search for Kuuga. It assists Kuuga in various capacities such as aerial transportation and becoming Barding for Kuuga's bike, however, after being used for a certain amount of time, it returns back to its shattered fragments until Yuusuke revives it by touching its Amadam. It is very maneuverable and capable of a top air speed of 500km/h (310.69mph). However, since being exposed to the Golden power, Gouram returns back to the Police Science Division in a different color and in one piece.TryChaser 2000 ("TRCS 2000") - A new model of police motorcycle designed to be faster and more powerful than the conventional bikes that were currently utilized by the police force. After Ichijo befriends Kuuga and believes that he is the only one capable of successfully fighting the Unidentified Beings, he gives one to Yuusuke.

*Try Gouram - When the Gouram finally finds Kuuga, it attaches itself to the TRCS 2000 as armor. While in this form the bike is faster and capable of ramming opponents in a similar manner to Kuuga's Mighty Kick.

BeatChaser 2000 ("BTCS 2000") - An upgraded model of the TryChaser 2000 that was designed specifically for Kuuga, it is faster and more durable than the TRCS model and more resistant to the corression caused by Gouram. Yuusuke utilized this bike in order to track down and defeat Go Badā Ba. The Police Department was hesitant to give this to Kuuga due to his Rising Mighty Form. Like the TryChaser, this vehicle was also upgradable by the Gouram and even Kuuga's Golden Power.

*Beat Gouram - The combination of the BeatChaser 2000 and the Gouram results in an even more powerful vehicle for Kuuga.
*Rising Beat Gouram - This is the result of Kuuga combining the Golden power with the Beat Gouram. After this form, the Gouram returns back to the Police Science Division a different color and in one piece. It was used only once, in order to destroy the Buffalo Grongi (Go･Baberu･Da).

Relationship between Kuuga and Agito

Considering Kamen Rider Agito is Kuuga's indirect sequel, there's a big possibility that Kuuga and Agito might have the similar origin. In Kuuga's series, Sakurako finds out there were two ancient civilizations, the Linto (リント "Rinto") tribe and the Grongi (グロンギ "Gurongi") tribe. Books and mini-encyclopedias about "Kamen Rider Agito" stated that the Overlords (the God twin brothers - Light and Darkness - who created the world) were the highest force from the Linto tribe, as well as the Unknown were in fact, protectors of the Linto. However, though both Riders are very similar, their source of power is very different. Agito's power comes from evolution(since all humans will become Agito eventually) and the light of the Overlord of light which comes the formation of the belt. while Kuuga's power comes directly from the Arcle.

References

* [http://incolor.inebraska.com/stuart/riders/kuuga.htm Internet Nebraska]