Takeshi Hongo (The Series)

, who appears in the reboot movies Kamen Rider The First (2005) and Kamen Rider The Next (2007), is an alternate version of the original Takeshi Hongo from Kamen Rider, the original series.
==Biography==
===The First===
Much like the series, Takeshi Hongo was a college biochemistry student, but he was captured by the Shocker's agent Bat due to being an "ideal" candidate for their experiment, forced to undergo a procedure that turns him into a super-powered Inhumanoid cyborg code-named "Hopper", whose purpose was to eliminate any witnesses to Shocker's actions. Hopper later proves to be Shocker's finest work as he lacks the need for transfusion to survive like other Shocker Inhumanoids. 'Hopper's' first mission was to assassinate two witnesses who coincidentally were the journalist who had interviewed him prior to his kidnapping, Asuka Midorikawa, and her fiancé Katsuhiko Yano. It was during the assault that Hongo reclaimed his sense of humanity, though too late to save Katsuhiko as Asuka finds Hongo next to Katsuhiko's lifeless body, believing he was the murderer as she attempts to uncover how a seemingly normal college student could become a murderer. The incident left Hongo with an epiphany, deciding to use his new found power to stop Shocker's evil and protect all that he holds dear from them. Meanwhile, Shocker sends a second Hopper known as Hayato Ichimonji to destroy Takeshi. The two Riders clash with one another, with Asuke learning of both their identities. In a twist of fate though, Hayato is later deemed by Shocker as a traitor as well, with Takeshi saving him from death. The two Hoppers becoming allies, they eventually team up to save Asuka when she uncovered the existence of Shocker. In the end, Hongo and Asuka confessed their love for each other.
===Kamen Rider Kabuto===
====Back of the Back of the Back====
Takeshi Hongo appears in Kamen Rider Kabuto, when Soji Tendo sees the Bistro La Salle temporarily closed, then looks at the same sign and leaves on his bike. 
===The Next===
Hongo returned in the movie's sequel, Kamen Rider The Next, taking place two years after the original film. Takeshi is now a science teacher at a Japanese high school, being severely disrespected and mocked by his rowdy students for his meek attitude. During this time, one of his students: Kotomi, was being harassed by her peers as he had no choice but to use his cybernetic strength to save her and is offered by her help in the mystery behind Chiharu. Hongo becomes involved with Shocker's latest plot to use nanomachines to remodel all of Japan instantaneously, forcing him to resume his fight against them. Reuniting with an ailing Ichimonji and later making an ally of Shocker's newest soldier, Hopper Version 3, Hongo puts an end to Shocker's plot once again. In the end, several parents complained to the school board about Takeshi, after how he frightened the entire student body with his powers, forcing him to resign as school teacher. As he leaves in a disheartened manner, Takeshi found himself cheered up by Kotomi, calling him "Sensei", proving herself to be the only loyal student & friend from school he has in the world.
===Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage===
==Video Game appearances==
===All Kamen Rider: Rider Revolution===
Kamen Rider 1 appears as a playable character among other Kamen Riders in the game, with his finisher being the Rider Kick.
===Masked Rider Expansion===
Kamen Rider 1 appears as a playable character in this trading card game with other Kamen Riders from the Heisei-Era, Showa-Era, Super Sentai, Metal Heroes, and other Heroes.
===Kamen Rider Buttobasoul===
Kamen Rider 1 is a playable character with other Kamen Rider of Showa Heisei and Reiwa in Kamen Rider Buttobasoul.
==Personality==
Compared to his original counterpart, Takeshi is a rather meek figure, lacking confidence in himself. Having a fascination with science, Takeshi is shown to greatly appreciate the beauty of life, expressing it in his study of snowflakes. He also harbored a crush on Asuka, but expressed her finding happiness in her upcoming marriage with Katsuhiko. When mind-controlled by Shocker, Takeshi became a ruthless figure, until breaking free after remembering his admiration of snowflakes, deciding to oppose Shocker's evil as the Kamen Rider.
While innocent of Katsuhiko's murder, Takeshi could not explain the truth to Asuka, being too afraid to do so. Worsening this was his despair from being altered into a cyborg. From Tobe's words though, Takeshi decided to continue his crusade against Shocker, desiring to protect innocents from harm. Takeshi would still retain his compassion, saving Hayato from execution. Upon Shocker's abduction of Asuka, Takeshi affirmed his feelings for her, not hesitating to face Shocker head on, even when Hayato briefly retreated mid-way in the battle. Takeshi gladly reaffirmed Hayato as a good person after he came back for him, appreciating his change of heart.
Two years later, Takeshi became a science teacher at a high school. Still meek, he was too timid to properly discipline his students, regularly enduring their disrespect. In spite of this, he remains genuinely concerned for them, carelessly displaying his cybernetic powers in public to save Kotomi. Due to his lonely personal life, Takeshi viewed Hayato as his only friend, becoming worried about the latter's failing health. 
Wishing for Hayato to continue living, Takeshi initially denied his help at stopping Shocker's new soldiers, believing it to be too dangerous. When Hayato persisted though, Takeshi ultimately relented, knowing that he needed all the help he could get. Similarly, Takeshi accepted Shiro as an ally upon the latter's heel-turn, having previously urged Shiro to respect Chiro's wishes for Shocker to be stopped. After being forced to resign from the school, Takeshi was disheartened at first, but began to cheer up at Kotomi's words of comfort. 
==Fighting style==
Like Shocker's other cyborgs, Takeshi is superhuman in physical prowess; able to easily stop a semi-truck with one hand in human form. In his transformed state, Takeshi has no issue being ingulfed in a massive explosion, nor jumping from a skyscraper onto the ground. 
Being the first "successful" soldier of Shocker, Takeshi does not need blood transfusions to survive, in contrast to his predecessors. When freed from his brainwashing, Takeshi struggled to control his powers, lacking experience in combat. Thus, Takeshi relied primarily on power and stamina, parrying his foes' attacks and counter-attacking in response. Yet, Takeshi still proved a capable fighter, defeating Spider and matching Hayato in their two encounters. 
Against a trio of Bat, Cobra, and Snake, Takeshi initially proved little challenge; Cobra alone overwhelming Takeshi and Hayato simultaneously. From determination and teamwork though, the Double Riders gradually evened the odds, their Double Rider Kick proving fatal for Bat. Facing Cobra, Takeshi continuously attacked him in rapid movement, winning via a Rider Tailspin Shoot and Rider Kick combo attack. 
Two years later, Takeshi vastly improved as a fighter, to the extent of facing Shocker's newest soldiers on equal footinghttps://www.kamen-rider-official.com/zukan/kamen_rider_members/299. When ambushed by them, Takeshi swiftly adapted to the situation, impressing Chainsaw Lizard. In his third encounter against the Shocker Riders, Takeshi defeated several without losing momentum, overcoming their teamwork. However, Takeshi was at a noticeable disadvantage against Scissors Jaguar, somewhat struggling to keep up. By working together with Hayato though, Takeshi ultimately defeated their adversary, using a Double Rider Kick and Double Rider Punch combination attack to finish Scissors Jaguar off. 
=== Other abilities ===
* Master Bike Racer: From his natural talents, experience, and cybernetic enhancements, Takeshi swiftly mastered the Cyclone I, overcoming several Shocker grunts with it. Two years later, Takeshi's skills have further improved, able to best a platoon of Shocker Riders on their own Cyclone bikes. 
* Expert Scientist: As a research student of Johnan University, Takeshi has sufficient knowledge of biochemistry, being noticed by Asuka for his "research". However, as a school teacher, Takeshi is generally unreliable, allowing his students to act out without complaint. 
==Kamen Rider 1==
Kamen Rider 1
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The First=
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The Next=
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;Rider StatisticsToei. (2005). Kamen Rider The First.
*Rider Height: 187 cm
*Rider Weight: 74 kg
;Ability Parameters
*Punching Power: 3 t
*Kicking Power: 10 t
*Maximum Jump Height: 15.3 m
*Maximum Running Speed: 100 m per 5 seconds
;Special Attacks
*Rider Kick: 30 t
Kamen Rider 1 consists of the following parts:https://www.kamen-rider-official.com/zukan/kamen_rider_members/297https://www.kamen-rider-official.com/zukan/kamen_rider_members/299
*: The mask covering the head of Takeshi Hongo to conceal his true identity.
**: Can detect every situation around.
**: With compound eyes that have vision that far surpasses that of ordinary people, it is possible for Hongo to check his surroundings without missing anything.
**: A device for detecting danger. Notifies Hongo when enemies appear nearby.
*: A device that converts wind power obtained from the Typhoon into energy.
*: A belt device. When exposed and activated, the dynamo in the center rotates to collect wind power, which is Kamen Rider 1's energy source.
**: A device that stores the energy converted by the Converter Lung.
* A body suit adapted to Kamen Rider 1's grasshopper abilities. It boasts the toughness to bounce back bullets and protect his entire body.
Appearances: Kamen Rider The First, Kamen Rider The Next, Final Stage.
==Transformation==
Kamen Rider 1 uses the power of the wind to fight. His belt is, in fact, a micro-nuclear engine powered by a turbine in the center of the Typhoon Belt.
===Rider Transformation===
Hongo simply opens up his leather jackets (or polo shirt), revealing the Typhoon Belt. Wind then blows into the turbine on the belt, activating his body armor, then he puts on his helmet and snaps his faceplate to it, completing the transformation. In the sequel, Kamen Rider The Next, Hongo does a new transformation style much like his TV series counterpart, leaping into the air and then landing on the ground already transformed. It was seen when he battles the Nokoguilli Tokage and the six Shocker Riders.
===Rider Suit===
Though his suit is redesigned, Rider 1's outfit aged poorly by the events of the 2nd movie, going from blue to a darker shade of dull green (in conjunction with the events of the original TV series costume) as well as sporting numerous scars and dents. The single stripe on the side was also changed to two stripes.
==Technique==
*
*
*Rider Tailspin Shoot
*Cyclone Crusher
*Combined Techniques
** (with Rider 2)
** (with Rider 2)
==Equipment==
===Device===
*Typhoon - 1 transformation belt.
===Vehicle===
*Cyclone I: 1's Rider Machine.
==Behind the Scenes==
===Portrayal===
This version of Takeshi Hongo was portrayed by , who would later go on to portray in . As Hopper 1, his suit actor was . During his brief appearance in Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage, 1 was voiced by an unknown voice actor.
===Kabuto===
This Takeshi Hongo (in his civilian form) also made a cameo appearance in episode 14 of Kamen Rider Kabuto, the series marking the 35th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series.
===Concept Art===
Ca6130bfb895ed19a48743dcfac0ccdc.jpg|Kamen Rider 1 The First concept art
1nextart.JPG|Kamen Rider 1 The Next concept art
==Notes==
*Like his TV counterpart, Rider 1 has multiple suit variants:
**His original suit in Kamen Rider The First adopts Rider 1's original color scheme, eventually switching to Sakurajima 1's colors in Kamen Rider The Next whilst sporting green stripes on the sides of his suit similar to New 1's white stripes.
*Whereas other versions of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 prefer skill and precision in battle, this Takeshi is highly dependent on stamina and strength, hence his power-based combat style.
==Appearances==
* Kamen Rider The First
* Kamen Rider Kabuto
**Episode 14: Back of the Back of the Back
* Kamen Rider The Next
* Kamen Rider Zi-O: Final Stage
==See also==
==External Links==
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Takeshi Hongo (The First).
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Takeshi Hongo (The Next).
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Kamen Rider 1 (The First).
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Kamen Rider 1 (The Next).
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