Kamen Rider Hibiki

is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the nineteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The show premiered on January 30, 2005 and aired its final episode on January 22, 2006. It aired alongside and later, on the Super Hero Time block. This series is noted for introducing new themes and styles yet unseen in other shows. The catchphrase for the series is: .
The average rating of the series was 8.2 %.https://w.atwiki.jp/shichouseiko/pages/16.html
==Production==
===Pre-Production===
Started from February 2004, the successor of Kamen Rider Blade TV show was put into pre-production. During brainstorming, chief producer Shigenori Takatera had felt that the trend of battle royales and handsome young men leads was being exhausted, and no longer wanted to force the the idea of continuing "Kamen Rider Series". Especially at the moment, the viewing rate and toy sales of Blade are both unable to get over 's . Therefore, his plan is to reboot past Toei / Shotaro Ishinomori heroes. The top consideration is 1972’s , followed by and . Takatera hoped that it will be the first step to re-brand Ishinomori and Toei's classic heroes and build a Japanese version of Disney. The legacy of this period in the show is the Armor of the Ogre.
 
After brainstorming, the theme of the upcoming show was decided to be a mixture of "ninja", "hunter" and "yokai". In March 2004, it was rumored that would be a ninja theme. To avoid competition, the production crew had to remove the ninja and yokai section and replaced them with "global demon hunters" and "magic creatures". An additional "cowboy" concept was made during this period and eventually became the design motif of Kamen Rider Ibuki. Another choice is create a new hero based on Korean folktales along with a South Korea corporation, but was rejected by Toei’s holders eventually. One month later, after being informed that the will indeed using magic as the key elements, the crew had to rework over again with removing all magic sections in the plan. Magic circle, spells and magical creatures were re-imagined into "Onmyoji" and "Shikigami", gives the birth of Disk Animals.
 
In June 2004 , due to Bandai's strong request in the reason of merchandizing and franchsing, the upcoming show was given the "Kamen Rider" moniker, and Takatera's crew had to adapt all their early settings to this Kamen Rider series, came out with the title Kamen Rider Hibiki. With the title established, things such as Oni Riders, taiko weapons, the master and the apprentice was added up in later periods, leading to the completion of building up the world of Hibiki. Kataoka, Chikara. (2007) Circumstances of "Masked Rider Hibiki" - How documents and heroes are "set". Japan: Gogatsu Shobō. ISBN 9784772704625
===Staff Changes===
By Episode 29, Takatera was removed from his position as executive producer. Although Toei has not released an official statement regarding the reason, many critics have pointed out several of them that may have caused it, being low audience ratings, low toy sales, and dissatisfaction with the show's themes and/or story. Up until now, Shin-ichiro Shirakura had no involvement in Hibiki and replaced Takatera as executive producer for the show as well as the series' summer film Kamen Rider Hibiki And The 7 Senki. Tsuyoshi Kida and Shinji Oishi, the original head-writers for the show under Takatera, were replaced by Toshiki Inoue and Shoji Yonemura under Shirakura's direction.
In addition, personalities such as Sensha Yoshida, a renowned manga artist; Hiroshi Yamamoto, a video-game designer; Masao Higashi, a seasoned television and movie critic; and many others published severe criticisms in their personal blogs because of this. Even the show's star, Shigeki Hosokawa, who portrayed Hibiki, stated in his personal website that Inoue’s scripts "needed adjustments" and that this whole staff change was "fraudulent". With the first production staff, Hosokawa would join the writers meetings and give suggestions, however Hosokawa could not give his opinion in the second production staff meetings due to time restraints.
In an interview published on TV Asahi's main website, Hosokawa stated that the script for the final episode was rewritten on the final day of filming. He later said that the script was sent in so late that it arrived on set as the final battle was being filmed. This finale was scrapped and then a new ending that, according to Hosokawa, was nothing like the intended ending, was filmed. Later in the interview, Hosokawa said that the Oni suit used by Kiriya was a kitbash of two new suits made especially for the characters of Asumu and Kyosuke. Hosokawa said that this was the most upsetting change to him as the final script had been rewritten six times at that point and all but the filmed version contained both Asumu and Kyosuke becoming Oni.
Changes:
*Asumu's opening narration at the start of every episode was removed.
*A new opening was introduced in episode 34 and following.
*The use of kanji being flashed on screen during scenes was removed altogether.
*The ending sequence was removed altogether.
*The characters of Kyousuke Kiriya and Shuki were introduced to the series.
*Originally Eiki and Shouki were both supposed to be main cast members, but had their parts completely removed.
*The fire breathing (Onibi) and the Oni claws (Onizume) abilities' sequences were completely removed along with Ibuki opening his mouth for his attack. The Makamou that opened their mouths too wide or spurted liquids were also removed. There had been complaints about these sequences from parent advocacy groups who claimed that they scared children.
*Things as complicated-to-animate CG Makamou and shooting in mountains were almost entirely reduced probably due to cost issues, leading critics to believe that Takatera was forcefully removed from the project due to his unwillingness to change his script to adapt to these changes.
In January 2006, at the Kamen Rider Super Live, Hosokawa stated that the series was "essentially an incomplete process" and that "it should not have ended that way". Mitsu Murata, who portrayed the Douji characters, declared on his blog: "I cannot forgive them, I want to continue his idea", complaining about the removal of Takatera as producer. These declarations caused an unprecedented storm within the professional tokusatsu market and many of Toei's executives were berated for allowing a series to be handled in such a manner.
==Story==
The Kamen Riders, known as , battle man eating beasts called Makamou with "pure sound". One of the Oni, a man named Hibiki ends up having a teacher and apprentice-like relationship with Asumu Adachi. A young boy unsure of himself and is at a crossroads in his life as he transitions to high school, Asumu learns to be an adult through watching Hibiki and the other Oni as they all train together to hone their skills in fighting the Makamou and the homunculi aiding them. However, the sudden raise of Makamou numbers proves to be a prelude to an upcoming calamity.
==Characters==
===Oni===
====TV Show====
Kamen Rider Hibiki 	Hitoshi Hidaka
Kamen Rider Ibuki 	Iori Izumi
Kamen Rider Todoroki 	Tomizo Todayama
Kamen Rider Zanki 	Zaomaru Zaitsuhara (Other users)
Kamen Rider Danki 	Daisuke Danda
Kamen Rider Sabaki 	Sakae Saeki
Kamen Rider Eiki 	Eiki
Kamen Rider Gouki 	Gouki
Kamen Rider Shouki 	Shouki
Kamen Rider Touki 	Touki
Kamen Rider Banki 	Banki
Kamen Rider Shuki 	Shiori Shinagawa
Kamen Rider Michibiki	Michibiki
Kamen Rider Kachidoki	Kachidoki
Kamen Rider Genki 	Genki
Kamen Rider Yamabuki 	Yamabuki
====Movie/special-exclusive====
Kamen Rider Hibiki 	Hibiki
Kamen Rider Ibuki 	Ibuki
Kamen Rider Todoroki	Todoroki
Kamen Rider Kabuki 	Kabuki
Kamen Rider Touki 	Touki
Kamen Rider Kirameki	Kirameki
Kamen Rider Nishiki 	Nishiki
Kamen Rider Habataki	Habataki
====Stageshow-exclusive====
Kamen Rider Jaki 	Jacky Zhang
Kamen Rider Mujaki 	Mutsuko Murashima
God of Oni 	
Kamen Rider Jaku 	Jaku
Kamen Rider Kagayaki	Konko Kageyukouji
Kamen Rider Yuki 	Yuki
Kamen Rider Roki 	Roki
Kamen Rider Kyoki 	Kyosuke Kiriya
====S.I.C. Hero Saga-exclusive====
Kamen Rider Fubuki	Fubuki
====Novel-exclusive====
Kamen Rider Akatsuki	Tsutomu Tsumura
Kamen Rider Hibiki 	Hibiki
Kamen Rider Saki 	Saki
Kamen Rider Ibuki 	Ibuki
Kamen Rider Kido 	Kido
Kamen Rider Kiryu 	Kiryu
Kamen Rider Kiju 	
Kamen Rider Shokuki 	Hattori Hanzo III
===Debatable Riders===
====TV Show====
Armor of the Ogre 	Shiori Shinagawa
Transformed Akira 	Akira Amami
Transformed Kyosuke	Kyosuke Kiriya
====Other media====
Shocker Rider No.8	Hiroshi Hachimura
Transformed Asumu 	Asumu Adachi
Kujaku 	Kujaku
Armor of the Ogre 	Kiryu ► Momotaro
Fake Kabuki 	Hitotsumi
===Allies===
*Asumu Adachi
*Hitomi Mochida
*Ikuko Adachi
====Takeshi====
*Ichiro Tachibana
*Kasumi Tachibana
*Hinaka Tachibana
*Midori Takizawa
*Kōnosuke Kogure
===Makamou===
*The Real Man and Woman
**The Man and Woman
***White Puppet
***Black Puppet
***Super Douji and Hime
====Giant types====
*Tsuchigumo
**Yoroi Tsuchigumo
**Kaengumo
*Yamabiko
*Bakegani
**Amikiri
*Ittanmomen
*Ooari
*Otoroshi
*Nurikabe
*Ubume
*Yamaarshi
*Oonamazu
*Nanashi
*Kamaitachi
*Notsugo
*Rokurokubi
*Orochi
====Summer types====
*Dorotabou
*Kappa
*Bakeneko
*Tengu
*Kasha
*Uwan
*Yobuko
*Kodama
*Satori
*Kaendaishou
*Makamou Ninja Group
*Hitotsumi
====Others====
*Okubi
*Bakekarasu
*Wanyūdō
*Omukade
*Onyuudou
==Episodes==
==Other media==
===Manga===
#
#
===S.I.C. Hero Saga===
#Seven Ogres
===Novels===
#
#
==Cast==
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
** Parent Douji : Sei Ashina
* : 
** Parent Hime : Mitsu Murata
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
* : 
===Suit Actors===
* Kamen Rider Hibiki, Kamen Rider Sabaki, Transformed Kyosuke: 
* Kamen Rider Ibuki, Kamen Rider Danki: 
* Kamen Rider Todoroki, Transformed Todayama: 
* Kamen Rider Zanki, Douji, Kamen Rider Hibiki (sub): 
* Kamen Rider Zanki (episodes 15-16): 
* Kamen Rider Eiki, Kamen Rider Shuki: 
* Makamou: 
* Bakeneko: 
* Hime: 
== Songs ==
Opening themes
* 
** Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
** Episodes: 1-33, 48
* 
** Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
** Composition: Toshihiko Sahashi
** Artist: 
** Episodes: 34-47
Ending theme
* 
** Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
** Composition: Toshihiko Sahashi
** Artist: 
** Episodes: 1-33, 48
==Notes==
*In the original show, the logo used was vertically oriented with the words read from top to bottom. In other media, however, a horizontal version of the logo was used.
*None of the riders in this series ever shout during transformation, except for a few of the movie-exclusive Riders who call out their Rider name when transforming.
*This is the only Heisei season where none of the Riders featured (even the main Rider) use a belt to transform.
*All of the Rider weapons are based on music instruments.
*All the names of the Kamen Riders from this series end with the letters "ki".
*Many episodes of the series use a song dialogue (for example to Hibiki).
*This is the first series of Kamen Rider where the transformation destroys the heroes' clothing.
**Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue predates this, but that is a movie.
*This is the only Heisei series without a female protagonist.
*The series has a few references to the original show:
**The organization Takeshi that helps the Oni is the same as the first name of the first Kamen Rider.
**The founder of Takeshi 200 years ago in the movie was a man named Tobei Tachibana and the Tachibanas regularly aid the Riders like the original Tobei Tachibana did for Kamen Rider 1.
**Kamen Rider Ibuki uses the power of wind to transform and rides a motorcycle in the early episodes of the show.
*Excluding A.R. World Riders, this series has the most Riders appear with 30 (including the riders that appear in expanded material). It is followed by Gaim with 25 (excluding all Bujin Riders except Bujin Gaim) and Ryuki with 17 (excluding Abyss, who is Decade-exclusive).
**If counted by on-screen appearance though, Hibiki's amount of Riders at 23 is one less than the total amount of Gaim, as Hibiki had to exclude 6 stage show Riders and 1 S.I.C. Hero Rider while Gaim had to exclude one Rider only.
***However, this record would be broken by Kamen Rider Geats TV Series as it have 33+ Riders (including the deceased Riders that were mentioned in the first episode).
*This is the only series not to feature Seiji Takaiwa as the suit actor for the Heisei-era Main Rider since Agito, due to his role in the concurrently airing as the suit actor for .
*This was the only season to have an opening theme song with no lyrics, Kagayaki, which was the theme in the first portion of the series.
*Synonymous with "Ongeki Warrior" (音撃戦士 Ongeki Senshi) (in TV Asahi official website, etc.), "Senki" (戦鬼) (in theater version title, infant magazine, etc.), "Oni Warrior" (鬼戦士 Oni Senshi) (in theatrical version CM, and 'オニ戦士' is written in the infant magazine), "Oni Chōjin" (鬼超人, lit. "Demon Superman") (in some infant magazine) and so on. Although it is an existence that corresponds to the Kamen Rider in other Kamen Rider Series works, this name is never used in the play.
*This show is the final Kamen Rider series to be shot in 1080i.
*The first outro was shot at Mizumoto Park.
==External links==
* at 
*Kamen Rider Hibiki at Japanese Wikipedia
*Official website from TV Asahi 
*Official Game Web Site
*Official website at Kamen-Rider-Official
Category:Kamen Rider Series
Category:Heisei era