Kazuya Taki

is a supporting character in Kamen Rider. He is an FBI agent and professional bike racer who assist the Double Riders in their battle against Shocker. In Kamen Rider Spirits, he becomes a central character assuming the identity of .
==Overview==
Taki was sent to investigate Shocker's activities in Japan, leading to his membership of the Tachibana Racing Club. Being one of the only three allies to know of Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2's identity, Taki assisted him in several battles against Shocker, becoming one of their greatest foes. 
Later, with Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 's return, Hayato leaves Japan to fight Shocker's international branches, entrusting Takeshi to protect their home country. Continuing their crusade, Takeshi, Taki and the others fought against Shocker's newest members, foiling several of their plans. Eventually, the Tachibana Racing Club's efforts proved enough for the Great Leader to declare Shocker defeated, though with an ominous threat given afterwards.
Replacing Shocker was the newly founded Gel Shocker, with their soldiers considerably more powerful than their predecessors. Despite this new threat though, Taki and the others continued to assist Hongo and Ichimonji, allowing the Double Riders to successfully stop Gel Shocker's reign of evil.
After Gel Shocker's destruction, Taki was assigned to go to America for a new mission. Bidding farewell to everyone from the Tachibana Racing Club at the airport, Taki left Japan, glad to have helped save the world. 
===Spirits===
In Kamen Rider Spirits, Taki still resides in America, with nearly a decade passing since his battle against Shocker. Despite Taki's heroic actions, the FBI deemed him a potential liability, afraid that Taki may leak classified information to the general public. 
Allowed to work solely on minor cases, Taki spends much of his free time telling others of the Kamen Riders, though few aside from children take his stories seriously. One day, Taki learns that several victims had been attacked by an unknown creature, with their corpses devoid of body fluid. Investigating alone, Taki learns that his young friend Spike was mutated into a vampire by the evil Father Petrescu , the culprit to the mysterious murders. 
Not wishing to harm Spike, Taki reminds him of the Kamen Rider, urging him to resist Petrescu's influence. Barely, Spike gains enough control to stop himself from murdering Taki, retreating to Petrescu's church. Infuriated with Petrescu's vile actions, Taki sets out to rescue Spike, taking on the Kamen Rider-like persona, Taki Rider. 
Heading to Spike's location, Taki fights against Petrescu's forces, with Spike flying away from the chaos in confusion. Overwhelmed, Taki is nearly executed by Petrescu, when a familiar figure appears before them. It was Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1, arriving to assist Taki. Teaming up as the Double Riders, the two set off to stop Petrescu's invasion of the city, protecting the innocent from harm. At a bridge, Taki and Takeshi were assisted by a still mutated Spike, allowing them to defeat Petrescu in battle. 
Days later, it is revealed that Takeshi had given Spike an antidote for his mutation, reverting him back to human form. With Spike reliving his normal life, both Takeshi and Taki left the city to combat their newest enemy, the Badan Empire. 
==Personality==
An easygoing man with a strong sense of justice, Taki is shown to be a courageous individual. As a partner for Kamen Rider, Taki loyally assisted the Double Riders throughout their campaign against Shocker's forces, no matter the dangers he faced. Possessing a kind heart, Taki is constantly shown concerned for the well-being of children, acting as an older brother figure towards Goro, Naoki, Mitsuru, and members of the Kamen Rider Kid Corps.
==Abilities==
While not a cyborg, Taki is an extremely skilled combatant, with Shocker's Combatmen proving no match for him in battle. His physical prowess alone is borderline superhuman, being capable of jumping past a 2 meter steel fence with ease. HisTaki Rider suit, while originally made from normal clothing, is modified with technology to amplify his already high-strength to levels close to that of the cyborg Kamen Riders, allowing him to fight alongside them. 
From his FBI training, Taki is also an expert of espionage, his disguises efficient enough to fool several of Shocker's Kaijin, despite their enhanced senses. 
Like Takeshi, Taki is a prodigious bike racer, Hayato being nowhere near their level of skill. Even when entering a tournament rigged by Shocker, Taki ultimately won 2nd place in the race, with only Takeshi beating him for 1stThe Monster Saigang, Deadly Auto Race.. Evidently, Taki is also a skilled mechanic as well, assisting Tobee and Takeshi in creating the New Cyclone. 
==Taki Rider==
Taki Rider
In Kamen Rider Spirits manga, when an orphan named Spike was turned into vampire, he was forced to play the act of Kamen Rider 1, donning the mantle of . While at first seemingly easy, he was outnumbered by Father Petrescu's vampire victims until the real Kamen Rider 1 helped him, thus foiling the villain's evil scheme.
::Signature Moves
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:The signature move of every Kamen Rider,Taki Rider's version was made via modifying his Combat Boots, which have stun guns inside the soles of the boots to deliver an electrified kick to the target.
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:Taki's version of the Rider Punch, which was empowered by shotgun shells attached to a pair of custom brass knuckles.
:;
::Combined technique with Kamen Rider 2.
==Equipment==
* - Shotgun created by Riderman, based on Franchi SPAS-12, therefore possible if both were to create a Double Rider Shooting
*Ballistic Fists - A pair of brass knuckles loaded with explosive shotgun shells to perform a Rider Punch
*Combat Boots - Enhanced army boots that can emulate a Rider Kick, using stun guns to empower the blow with electricity.
*Honda Valkyrie - Personal motorcycle
*Skyturbo - Borrowed from Skyrider in Vol 10 of Shin Spirits.
==Notes==
*Even though Taki played a major role in Kamen Rider, he didn't appear in any of the sequels.
**His role, like Ichimonji was made to fill in Hongo's actor, Fujioka, whom at that time was injured after a motorcycle stunt went wrong and had to leave the show to recover.
*According to producer Hirayama, Taki has met Takeshi, Hayato, Shiro, and Tachibana before the events of Kamen Rider.
*To revitalize the original TV show, it was decided that a new Rider would be introduced, Kamen Rider 3. 
**One of the ideas for the new Rider was Taki being captured by Shocker and being converted into a cyborg to fight against Kamen Rider 1. However, just like his predecessors, he'd escape brainwashing and join the other Riders in their battle. 
**An alternate idea also suggested at the time was Rider 1 and 2 creating a new robotic Kamen Rider 3 to join them in their battle. 仮面ライダー1971-1984 2014, pp. 122-127, Chapter 1 Series 1 "Kamen Rider 1 and 2" However, eventually, it was decided that they'd go with a new hero becoming the third Rider and that, rather than continuing the original series, he'd star in his own show. That led to the creation of Kamen Rider V3.
**The idea of turning Taki into a Rider seemed to get close enough to execution that Kamen Rider: Rider 3 vs. The Demon of General Black a 5-page manga, was published at the time, hyping the new Rider.
**The producer Toru Hirayama had also considered making Taki become Kamen Rider 4 in the TV series instead of Joji Yuki, but this idea fell through.
*Taki Rider serves as an homage to the series , one of Shotaro Ishinomori's earlier characters, who was adapted for the creation of Kamen Rider 1.
*A live-action suit of Taki Rider was made in 2001 in a Kamen Rider Spirits promotion, although the suit has since gone missing.
SkullRider.jpg
Super-Toku-Tai-2001Taki Icon.jpeg|Taki's Icon in the PlayStation Videogame Super Tokusatsu Taisen 2001
==Appearances==
==See also==
*Jiro Taki - Manga counterpart
==External links==
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Kazuya Taki.
==Navigation==
Category:Kamen Rider Characters
Category:Allies
Category:Spirits Riders
Category:Showa Era Riders
Category:Heroes
Category:Manga Riders
Category:Debatable Riders