Houtaro Ichinose

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ8sWSvUtWI is the main protagonist of Kamen Rider Gotchard. He is a young high-school alchemist who transforms into .
==History==
===Background===
Houtaro Ichinose was born to his mother Tamami Ichinose and an unnamed father. At some point, Houtaro began helping his mother run their family restaurant after his father left for abroad.
At one point during his childhood, Houtaro ended up in the Ouroboros Realm through an open gate and met and became friends with Hopper1 and Steamliner. He then met with his future self and witnessed Glion battling Fuga Kudo. Both Houtaros ended up guarding many Chemies from the stray energy attack from the two clashing Alchemists. After the future Houtaro returned to his time period, Fuga commended the young Houtaro's bravery while erasing his memory of this event.
In his teenage years, Houtaro began attending Furasu High School, where he became classmates with Rinne Kudo and best friends with Ryo Kajiki.
===Becoming Gotchard ===
One day after school, Houtaro encountered Hopper1 and was taken to the Ouroboros Realm where he met Fuga Kudo, who was on the run with the Gotchardriver from the Three Dark Sisters. After being entrusted the Driver for the hopes of the future, Houtaro returned to Earth but was attacked by Clotho. Transforming into Kamen Rider Gotchard for the first time, Houtaro defeated the Dark Sister and reclaimed Kamantis, declaring his intent to befriend all the Chemies.
With his new status, he was invited by his teacher Minato to join the Alchemist Academy while under Rinne's supervision. He manages to pass the entry test by a technicality as he lack the skills to use alchemy for the test and instead convinced Kamantis and Odorippa to alter their respective weights. Houtaro explained how he received the Gotchardriver, but was quickly told that Fuga was in-fact a traitor to the academy and Rinne's father. Back at home, learning of Rinne's father reminded him of his own father, who left the family to pursue his dream of traveling the world. Because Tamami wasn't angry at her husband for leaving, she encouraged Houtaro to pursue his dream when he eventually finds it. 
===Daybreak I: Here Comes The Highlight!===
Houtaro can be seen chasing and trying to catch up to Hopper1, which hits him in the head while Ace Ukiyo looks behind the two and hopes that the boy will find his own happiness someday as Ace walks away while Houtaro continues to chase after Hopper1.
===Meeting his Allies===
Determined to become a "top-notch" alchemist, Houtaro took on several jobs in capturing wild Chemy with Rinne, eventually meeting and forming friendships with fellow alchemists Renge Icho and Sabimaru Tsuruhara. Eventually, Houtaro's philosophies were challenged in the form of Supana Kurogane, an elite alchemist who believed that Chemies were nothing but tools to be used by humans, and that Houtaro had no right to be a Kamen Rider. Thinking back on final wish Fuga had left behind, Houtaro stood his ground on his beliefs and used his Kamen Rider powers in the way he thought was right.
===Kamen Rider Gotchard VS Kamen Rider Legend===
One day, Houtaro was transported into an alternate world via. Aurora Curtain by Ho-Oh Kaguya Quartz, who temporarily recruited him to fight against Hundred and one of their leaders. Houtaro returned to his world promptly, but did not retain any of his memories due to a malfunction in the Aurora Curtain system.
===Kamen Rider Geats: 4 Aces and the Black Fox===
Houtaro was later alerted to the presence of a Pawn Jyamato and encountered Kamen Rider Keilow, initially perceiving him as an adversary before teaming up with him. Gotchard first appeared as Madpirates Wild and later transformed into SteamHopper to swiftly clear the warehouse and defeat the Knight Jyamato. Before leaving, he apologized to Keilow for the misunderstanding and gave him a blank Ride Chemy Card as a gesture of goodwill before departing. The card would later be used by Ace of Heart to transform into Geats Oneness. 
===Befriending the Chemies===
In pursuit of a mutual friendship with the Chemies, Houtaro helped several individuals amicably part with their Chemies, as he is expected to follow the laws of alchemy in which humans cannot "co-exist" with Chemies. His actions later attracted the attention of Licht Kugimiya, an elite investigator from the Alchemy Union who believed there was a traitor within the organization.
Discovering that the traitor was in fact Shiori Harima, whose presence gave rise to Sabimaru being forced into becoming Kamen Rider Dread, Houtaro's overall outlook towards his dream had changed. However, he was assisted by UFO-X, who bestowed Houtaro the Exgotchalibur, allowing him to overcome his predicament and transform into Super Gotchard, allowing him to defeat Dread for the first time.
However as both Lachesis and Clotho both began to transform into Dread themselves, they also began to look for the Level 10 Chemies as well. With Houtaro and Rinne having locked onto one, X-Rex who was capable of unearthing dormant erased memories, Houtaro learned of his formerly erased friendship with Hopper1 as a child. Though surprised by this, this did not stop Houtaro from bonding with X-Rex and gaining access to his second Super Gotchard form. Thanks to Rinne having overcome her emotional slump from Atropos' doing, Houtaro is able to defeat Dread a second time, now swearing that he will protect all hopes and dreams no matter the cost.
===Kamen Rider The Winter Movie: Gotchard & Geats Strongest Chemy★Great Gotcha Operation===
As Houtaro and his friends continued to search for the Chemies, they encounter the Jyamato, who had appeared as a result of being controlled by the Level 10 Chemy X Wizard. With the help of Ace and the other DGP Riders, they recapture several Level 10 Chemys with X Wizard's instructions. However that led the way for Licht Kugimiya, the true mastermind who had in fact been control X Wizard from behind the scenes just to get his revenge on Ace from 2000 years ago. With Kugimiya having absorbed multiple Chemys and become the Geats Killer, Houtaro and Ace fought him together and defeated him.
===Becoming Stronger===
After forming a friendship with X Wizard thanks to Ace's help, Houtaro continued his journey to collect the Chemies and befriend them. He ultimately met Glion, the mastermind behind his enemies who proved to be Houtaro's greatest challenge yet. From out of nowhere, Houtaro is helped by a Kamen Rider Gotchard Daybreak who provided Houtaro an opportunity to seize his own future and unlock his own version of Fire Gotchard. His growing strength served as a benchmark for both Rinne and Supana, both who found themselves wanting to reach Houtaro's current level. Houtaro bore witness to Rinne's return as Kamen Rider Majade, and Supana's evolution from the warrior Valvarad to full Kamen Rider status. 
However that came with the near downfall of the Alchemist Academy, which had been usurped by Glion and his three servants. While Houtaro and his friends retreated back to his family diner, Minato stayed behind and became the latest user of Kamen Rider Dread, effectively becoming an enforcer of Glion tasked with claiming all of the remaining Chemy cards in Houtaro's possession. While Minato nearly succeeded and left Houtaro with only Steamliner, Houtaro is saved by Fuga, who taught him the forbidden method of transforming only with Steamliner, unlocking Kamen Rider Iron Gotchard. 
With Fuga also briefly joining the fight as Kamen Rider Wind, his efforts paved a way for Houtaro to enter the Ouroboros Realm. Once uniting with the Chemies and proving his bond with them, Houtaro reclaimed Hopper1, who evolved into Crosshopper and allowed Houtaro to unlock Kamen Rider Platina Gotchard and seal Geyron away within the Door of Darkness. This however had awakened the Dark King Gigist, who had been sleeping within the door since being sealed away long ago.
===Reunion with Legend===
While recapturing Chemies, Houtaro is ambushed by Hundred, who wish to eliminate Gotchard and find the Legend Kamen Riser in Legend's possession. While fighting Tasogare, Houtaro strengthened his revolve as a Kamen Rider and vowed to never stop fighting for the people. He also teamed up with Legend to fully destroy Saigetsu, who attempted to destroy the world via Dooms Clock, which Houtaro destroys with the help of Kaguya.
===Awakening the Dragon Within===
With Clotho having lost her master and now desperate, Houtaro attempted to bring her into their fold just as Lachesis has. However thanks to Atropos' recent work, Gigist had completely returned and dominated Clotho to his bidding. With his eyes on the mysterious Egg that is the 101st Chemy that had been inside of Houtaro's Gotchardriver, Gigist attempted to draw Houtaro's malice out so he could take it for himself. Using a new type of alchemy, Gigist created a new type of Malgam that directly uses a Chemy's soul, which will die upon defeat. Having been forced to "kill" Skebows and Hopper1, Houtaro's despair had him nearly transformed into a Malgam, until he was saved by the 101st Chemy, who tried to get Houtaro to stop fighting as it felt that Houtaro and the Chemies had done enough. 
Houtaro ultimately refused to give up on his friends and the Chemies, including Hopper1, and managed to convinced the egg who he had affectionately called Tamagon to fight alongside him. This led Tamagon to finally hatch into Nijigon, taking on traits of Houtarou's personality and allowing Houtaro to become Kamen Rider Rainbow Gotchard, which allowed Houtaro to reverse Gigist's transmutations of the Chemies. Showering his reclaimed allies with the power of Nijigon, Houtaro took the fight to Gigist once more and ultimately defeated him.
===The New Dark Kings===
With the defeat of Gigist however, it came about the resurgence of two new enemies, Germain and Gaelijah.
==Personality==
Houtaro is a filial son who helps his mother run their family restaurant, but he has no idea what he wants to do in life. He uses the restaurant's kitchen to create original dishes, and is searching for something only he himself can make. Despite his efforts, Houtaro is a somewhat amateur cook, as his dishes always have something end up going wrong with the final product usually involving its taste.
Houtaro is very upbeat and excitable, and sometimes rather childish. He doesn't hesitate to jump into dangerous situations even if his body is unwell, and is empathetic to both humans and Chemies. He likes using the word "Gotcha", but has two other catchphrases with the word, including "No Gotcha!" whenever things don't go his way, and "Oh my Gotcha!" when he's surprised.
As an Alchemist, Houtaro is a strong believer in the coexistence between humans and Chemies, and is capable of understanding the hearts and thoughts of the latter. However, seeking to understand others leaves Houtaro vulnerable to deceit due to his naivete. 
==Powers and Abilities==
===Powers===
*Malice Detection: Houtaro can detect human malice and its intensity.
*Chemy Communication: He can somehow communicate with Chemies, or at least understand what they want to do. This power allows him to connect with most of the Chemies on a personal level.
*Alchemy: After becoming Gotchard and being accepted into Alchemist Academy, Houtaro started his alchemist training at the beginner level. Although he initially struggled to harness alchemy, he successfully transmuted the goggles from the past into the Gotcharigniter. After his powers echoed with Nijigon and becoming Kamen Rider Rainbow Gotchard, his alchemy level increased dramatically and he is able to perform it much more freely, stating that both it and cooking are similar. 
**Rainbow Breath Empowerment : After attaining Nijigon, Houtaro can shower any Chemy with Nijigon's ability to prevent them from being controlled by Gigist and from Malgam transformations.
===Abilities===
*Cooking: Houtaro is a skilled chef and often makes new recipes that he came up with. However, his final products somehow go wrong, much to his dismay. So far, the only one who enjoys Houtarou’s dishes is Nijigon, who was still unhatched at the time. 
===Weaknesses===
*Gotcharigniter Overuse: Excessive usage of the Gotcharigniter will cause it to overheat, which will inflict excruciating pain onto Houtaro while he continues to be transformed. As such, the igniter must cool down before it can be safely used again.
*Iron Gotchard: As stated by Kyoka, Iron Gotchard is a forbidden form because it forces Houtaro to merge with Tenliner using a procedure equivalent to as if he would transform into a Malgam, except that his body cannot handle the power due to his lack of innate malice. This is later negated with the addition of Crosshopper to transform into Platina Gotchard.
== Possessions ==
Houtaro Ichinose (Rinne Kudo Possessed).png|Houtaro Ichinose (Bodyswap with Rinne Kudo)
Houtaro Ichinose (Zukyumpire Possessed).png|Houtaro Ichinose (Possessed by Zukyumpire)
==Forms==
==Equipment==
===Devices===
*Gotchardriver - Main transformation device
*Gotcharigniter - Upgrade attachment to access Fire Gotchard.
*Tenliner - A steam train Chemy that is used as an upgrade attachment to access Iron Gotchard.
*Crosshopper - A grasshopper Chemy that is used alongside Tenliner as an upgrade attachment to access Platina Gotchard.
*Nijigon - A dragon Chemy that is used as an upgrade attachment to access Rainbow Gotchard.
*Ride Chemy Cards - Transformation trinkets
*Gotchardraw Holder - Carrying strap for Ride Chemy Cards
*Chemy Riser - Chemy summoning device.
*Alchemist Ring - Special ring given by Alchemist Academy.
===Weapons===
*Gotcharge Gun - Gotchard's gun weapon
*Gotchartornado - Gotchard's bow/sword weapon
*Exgotchalibur - Super/Star Gotchard's transformation device and personal weapon
*Beat Axe - Loaned from Na-Go
====Suit-Equipped Weapons====
*Heavy Expressure - A pair of gauntlets granted by Iron Gotchard.
===Legend Rider Weapons===
*Medajaribur - Cyclone Tatoba's weapon
===Vehicles===
*Golddash - A motorcycle Chemy that Gotchard can use for transportation.
==Legend Rider Devices==
==Relationships==
===Family===
Tamami Ichinose.png|Tamami IchinoseMother
No Image Available.png|Unnamed Father
 
*Tamami Ichinose: Houtaro's mother.
===Friends===
*Hopper1/Crosshopper: Houtaro's Chemy partner.
*Steamliner/Tenliner: Houtaro's second Chemy partner.
*Nijigon: Houtaro's ultimate Chemy partner within him.
*Kitchen ICHINOSE Union
**Rinne Kudo/Kamen Rider Majade: Houtaro's classmate in his regular high school, who later became his classmate in the Alchemy Academy, but also his comrade & best friend. They both hold a special connection similar to the Chemy's levels as she's 9, while Houtaro's is 1.
**Renge Icho: One of Houtaro's new friends & classmates in the Alchemy Academy.
**Sabimaru Tsuruhara/Kamen Rider Dread (I): One of Houtaro's new friends & classmates in the Alchemy Academy. When Sabimaru was forced to become Dread, Houtaro gains the power of Super Gotchard from the X-Chemies to save him.
*Supana Kurogane/(Kamen Rider) Valvarad: Supana is against the idea of Houtaro being a Kamen Rider due to the latter being overly optimistic and having a somehow naive upbringing. The two also have different opinions of Chemies, as Supana believes them as nothing but mere tools, while Houtaro believes them as living beings. Aside from this, Supana is a better cook than Houtaro, which Houtaro swears to surpass him both as an alchemist and a cook. As some time passes, Supana begins to slowly accept him as his abilities as Gotchard began to grow on him. After learning his past, Houtaro began to have concerns about him and vowed to help him as much he can. This is also explains why Kyoka entrusted Houtaro for taking care of Supana if something happened to her.
*Lachesis/Kamen Rider Dread (II)/Valvarad (II): to be added
*Ryo Kajiki: Houtaro's best friend.
*Ho-Oh Kaguya Quartz/Kamen Rider Legend: Houtaro first meets Kaguya in his parallel world. Since then, they started to grow a friendship but was instantly warped back to his world.
*Butler: Kaguya's loyal butler who heavily resembles Houtaro's friend, Kajiki.
*Kyoka Edami: Houtaro and his friends meet Supana's mentor for the first time, when she first arrived at his family's restaurant. She had come for their help in developing the Rider System she's making for Supana, while also sharing about his past.
===Allies===
*Fuga Kudo/Kamen Rider Wind: Rinne's father who gave Houtaro the Gotchardriver before his death.
*Minato/Kamen Rider Dread (IV): Houtaro's mentor turned enemy. Eventually after learning of his past, he and the others try to convince him to come back to their side. Eventually, he returns as their professor again after breaking him from his past.
*Tsumuri: to be added
*Kamen Rider Gotchard Daybreak: His future self. The future Houtaro traveled back through time to save his past self from Glion. When he arrived, he questioned his past self whether he would leave everything to him or take over his own future. Soon later, he helped his past self again and he gave him a new power by duplicating a Gotcharigniter, which he then transforms into Kamen Rider Fire Gotchard. Gotchard Daybreak returned to his timeline while parallel future has come.
===Enemies===
*Three Dark Sisters
**Atropos/Kamen Rider Dread (V): Houtaro holds hatred towards Atropos after she made Sabimaru be forced into becoming Dread.
**Clotho/Kamen Rider Dread (III): Clotho was the first of the Three Dark Sisters to fight Houtaro, when he begins to become Gotchard. Since then, she's become a rival of his and swears to destroy him. Though so Hotaru not fell anymosity toward her, only confusion for what she continue fighting without a clear reason or goal.
*Glion/Kamen Rider Dread (VI): to be added
*Licht Kugimiya: to be added
===Legend Riders===
*Ace Ukyo/Kamen Rider Geats: to be added
*Keiwa Sakurai/Kamen Rider Tycoon: to be added
*Neon Kurama/Kamen Rider Na-Go: to be added
*Michinaga Azuma/Kamen Rider Buffa: to be added
==Behind the Scenes==
===Portrayal===
*Houtaro Ichinose is portrayed by . As a child, he is portrayed by .
*As Kamen Rider Gotchard, his suit actor is , who had previously been the de-facto suit-actor for many secondary Riders in the franchise since the Heisei-era.https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0138398 Although Eitoku had previously shared a primary role as Kamen Rider Vice alongside Yuya Nawata's Kamen Rider Revi (who is erroneously considered the lead Primary as opposed to Vice), Gotchard marks Eitoku's solo debut as the lead primary Rider role.
===Rider No.===
As the leading rider protagonist of Kamen Rider Gotchard, Gotchard is labeled and .
===Etymology===
*The in Houtaro's surname , plus the in Rinne and Fuga's last name, , equals to ten, a reference to Gotchard's method of form changing that requires a combination of ten levels, especially Steamhopper (1+9).
* means "treasure-elder son". Renge Icho nicknames him .
* is a portmanteau of and .
===Concept Art===
Steamhopper Concept Art.png|Steamhopper
Appareskebow Concept Art.png|Appareskebow
Venommariner Concept Art.png|Venommariner
Antwrestler Concept Art.png|Antwrestler
Burninggorilla Concept Art.png|Burninggorilla
Needlehawk Concept Art.png|Needlehawk
Dokkirishovel Concept Art.png|Dokkirishovel
Hiikesurose Concept Art.png|Hiikesurose
Goldmechanichor Concept Art.png|Goldmechanichor
Lightningjungle Concept Art.png|Lightningjungle
Marsphoenix Concept Art.png|Marsphoenix
MadPirates Wild Concept Art.png|Madpirates Wild
==Notes==
==Appearances== 
==External Links==
to be added
==Navigation==
Category:Gotchard Characters
Category:Primary Riders
Category:Reiwa Era Riders
Category:Gotchard Riders
Category:Heroes
Category:Card Riders
Category:Alchemist Academy