Kamen Rider Hibiki

**Kamen Rider Hibiki** (仮面ライダー響鬼（ヒビキ）, *Kamen Raidā Hibiki*?, translated as **Masked Rider Hibiki**) is the sixteenth entry of the *Kamen Rider Series*. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. *Kamen Rider Hibiki* first aired on January 30, 2005 and aired its final episode on January 22, 2006.

It aired alongside *Mahou Sentai Magiranger* for Super Hero Time 2005. This series is noted for introducing new themes and styles yet unseen in other shows. The catchphrase for the series is "To us, there are heroes." (ぼくたちには、ヒーローがいる, *Bokutachi ni wa, hīrō ga iru*?).

## Plot

The Kamen Riders, known as Oni, 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.

## Staff changes

*Kamen Rider Hibiki* began with Shigenori Takadera as the Toei producer, however, Shinichiro Shirakura, who though having participated in other Heisei Kamen Rider series, had no involvement whatsoever in the *Hibiki* production, was appointed producer of the movie *Kamen Rider Hibiki and the Seven War Demons*, eventually replacing Takadera in the TV production from episode 30. The writing staff also changed; Tsuyoshi Kida and Shinji Ooishi were replaced by Toshiki Inoue and Shoji Yonemura, who had worked with Shirakura in Shibuya Fifteen (Sh15uya) and other Heisei Kamen Rider series.

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 Kiriya. 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 Kiriya becoming Oni.

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 Takadera 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.

There has never been any official statement from Toei, but many critics point out several facts might have caused it, the main reason being the low toy sales. It is not usual for a Toei production to have two different producers for the TV series and the movie. It is likely that a different producer was appointed for the movie because Toei was suffering from schedule problems with Takadera.

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 Kyosuke 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 Takadera was forcefully removed from the project due to his unwillingness to change his script to adapt to these changes.

## Characters

### Kamen Riders

#### Other Kamen Riders

* Genki
* Yamabuki

### Allies

* Asumu Adachi
* Hitomi Mochida
* Ikuko Adachi

#### Takeshi

* Ichiro Tachibana
* Kasumi Tachibana
* Hinaka Tachibana
* Midori Takizawa
* Konosuke Kogure

#### Giant types

* Tsuchigumo
	+ Kaengumo
* Yamabiko
* Bakegani
	+ Amikiri
* Ittanmomen
* Ooari
* Otoroshi
* Nurikabe
* Ubume
* Yamaarshi
* Oonamazu
* Kamaitachi
* Notsugo
* Orochi

#### Summer types

* Dorotabou
* Kappa
* Bakeneko
* Tengu
* Uwan
* Yobuko
* Kaendaishou
* Makamou Ninja Group
* Hitotsumi

#### Experimental types

* Nanashi
* Yoroi Tsuchigumo
* Kasha
* Yobuko
* Satori
* Rokurokubi

#### Others

* Kodama
* Okubi
* Bakekarasu
* Wanyudo
* Omukade
* Onyuudou

## Episodes

*Main article: Kamen Rider Hibiki Episodes*
The episode titles in this Kamen Rider Series have a tendency to have the first part of the title ending with a kana that is of the "u" category (i.e., ku, ru, tsu, etc.).

1. The Echoing Oni (響く鬼, *Hibiku Oni*?)
2. The Howling Spider (咆える蜘蛛, *Hoeru Kumo*?)
3. Falling Voice (落ちる声, *Ochiru Koe*?)
4. Running Ichiro (駆ける勢地郎, *Kakeru Ichiro*?)
5. Melting Sea (熔ける海, *Tokeru Umi*?)
6. Beating Soul (叩く魂, *Tataku Tamashii*?)
7. Majestic Breath Oni (息吹く鬼, *Ibuku Oni*?)
8. Shouting Wind (叫ぶ風, *Sakebu Kaze*?)
9. A Squirming Evil Heart (蠢く邪心, *Ugomeku Jashin*?)
10. The Oni Who Stands in Line (並び立つ鬼, *Narabitatsu Oni*?)
11. Swallowing Wall (呑み込む壁, *Nomikomu Kabe*?)
12. Revealed Secrets (開く秘密, *Hiraku Himitsu*?)
13. Berserk Fate (乱れる運命, *Midareru Sadame*?)
14. Devouring Douji (喰らう童子, *Kurau Dōji*?)
15. Weakening Thunder (鈍る雷, *Niburu Ikazuchi*?)
16. Roaring Oni (轟く鬼, *Todoroku Oni*?)
17. A Targeted Town (狙われる街, *Nerawareru Machi*?)
18. Unbroken Hurricane (挫けぬ疾風, *Kujikenu Shippū*?)
19. Strumming Warrior (かき鳴らす戦士, *Kakinarasu Senshi*?)
20. The Pure Sound (清める音, *Kiyomeru Oto*?)
21. Gathering Demons (引き合う魔物, *Hikiau Mamono*?)
22. Becoming a Cocoon (化ける繭, *Bakeru Mayu*?)
23. Summer Training (鍛える夏, *Kitaeru Natsu*?)
24. Burning Crimson (燃える紅, *Moeru Kurenai*?)
25. Running Azure (走る紺碧, *Hashiru Konpeki*?)
26. Counting the Days (刻まれる日々, *Kizamareru Hibi*?)
27. Passing Down the Bond (伝える絆, *Tsutaeru Kizuna*?)
28. Undying Malice (絶えぬ悪意, *Taenu Akui*?)
29. Shining Boy (輝く少年, *Kagayaku Shōnen*?)
30. Forging Premonition (鍛える予感, *Kitaeru Yokan*?)
31. Surpassing Father (超える父, *Koeru Chichi*?)
32. Bursting Song (弾ける歌, *Hajikeru Uta*?)
33. The Armed Blade (装甲う刃, *Matō Yaiba*?)
34. Beloved Beauty (恋する鰹, *Koi Suru Katsuo*?)
35. Fallen Angel (惑わす天使, *Madowasu Tenshi*?)
36. Starving Shuki (飢える朱鬼, *Ueru Shuki*?)
37. Lightning Living Again (甦る雷, *Yomigaeru Ikazuchi*?)
38. Broken OnGeki (敗れる音撃, *Yabureru Ongeki*?)
39. Your Beginning (始まる君, *Hajimaru Kimi*?)
40. Nearing Orochi (迫るオロチ, *Semaru Orochi*?)
41. The Awakening Teacher and Student (目醒める師弟, *Mezameru Shitei*?)
42. Ferocious Demons (猛る妖魔, *Takeru Yōma*?)
43. An Unchangeable Body (変われぬ身, *Kawarenu Mi*?)
44. Forbidden Secret (秘める禁断, *Himeru Kindan*?)
45. Dying a Glorious Death, Zanki (散華する斬鬼, *Sange Suru Zanki*?)
46. Mastering the Oni Way (極める鬼道, *Kiwameru Onidō*?)
47. The Talking Back (語る背中, *Kataru Senaka*?)
48. Dreaming of Tomorrow (明日なる夢, *Asunaru Yume*?)

**Movies**

1. *Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Senki* (劇場版　仮面ライダー響鬼と７人の戦鬼, *Gekijōban Kamen Raidā Hibiki to Shichinin no Senki*?)

**Specials**

1. *Kamen Rider Hibiki: Asumu Henshin! You can be an Oni, too!!* (仮面ライダー響鬼 明日夢変身！キミも鬼になれる！！, *Kamen Raidā Hibiki: Kimi mo Oni ni nareru!!*?)

## Cast

* Hibiki (響鬼（ヒビキ）, *Hibiki*?): Shigeki Hosokawa (細川 茂樹, *Hosokawa Shigeki*?)
* Asumu Adachi (安達 明日夢, *Adachi Asumu*?): Rakuto Tochihara (栩原 楽人, *Tochihara Rakuto*?)
* Ibuki (威吹鬼（イブキ）, *Ibuki*?): Joji Shibue (渋江 譲二, *Shibue Jōji*?)
* Todoroki (轟鬼（トドロキ）, *Todoroki*?): Shingo Kawaguchi (川口 真五, *Kawaguchi Shingo*?)
* Zanki (斬鬼（ザンキ）, *Zanki/Kamen Raidā Zanki*?): Kenji Matsuda (松田 賢二, *Matsuda Kenji*?)
* Kasumi Tachibana (立花 香須実, *Tachibana Kasumi*?): Mayu Gamou (蒲生 麻由, *Gamō Mayu*?)
* Hinaka Tachibana (立花 日菜佳, *Tachibana Hinaka*?): Miyuki Kanbe (神戸 みゆき, *Kanbe Miyuki*?)
* Hitomi Mochida (持田 ひとみ, *Mochida Hitomi*?): Erika Mori (森 絵梨佳, *Mori Erika*?)
* Ikuko Adachi (安達 郁子, *Adachi Ikuko*?): Kaoru Mizuki (水木 薫, *Mizuki Kaoru*?)
* Ichiro Tachibana (立花 勢地郎, *Tachibana Ichirō*?): Atomu Shimojo (下條 アトム, *Shimojō Atomu*?)
* Akira Amami (天美 あきら, *Amami Akira*?): Nana Akiyama (秋山 奈々, *Akiyama Nana*?)
* Midori Takizawa (滝澤 みどり, *Takizawa Midori*?): Masako Umemiya (梅宮 万紗子, *Umemiya Masako*?)
* Douji (童子, *Dōji*?): Mitsu Murata (村田 充, *Murata Mitsu*?)
	+ Parent Douji : Sei Ashina
* Hime (姫, *Hime*?): Sei Ashina (芦名 星, *Ashina Sei*?)
	+ Parent Hime : Mitsu Murata
* Kyosuke Kiriya (桐矢 京介, *Kiriya Kyōsuke*?): Yuichi Nakamura (中村 優一, *Nakamura Yūichi*?)
* Danki (弾鬼（ダンキ）, *Danki*?): Makoto Ito (伊藤 慎, *Itō Makoto*?)
* Shouki (ショウキ, *Shōki*?): Yoshifumi Oshikawa (押川 善文, *Oshikawa Yoshifumi*?)
* Kounosuke Kogure (小暮 耕之助, *Kogure Kōnosuke*?): Akira Fuse (布施 明, *Fuse Akira*?)
* Shuki (朱鬼（シュキ）, *Shuki*?): Reiko Kataoka (片岡 礼子, *Kataoka Reiko*?)
* Tsutomu Tsumura (津村 努, *Tsumura Tsutomu*?): Kento Shibuya (渋谷 謙人, *Shibuya Kento*?)
* Sabaki (裁鬼, *Kamen Raidā Sabaki*?, Voice): Katsumi Shiono (塩野 勝美, *Shiono Katsumi*?)
* Next Preview Narrator, Eiki (次回予告ナレーター, 鋭鬼, *Jikai Yokoku Narētā, Eiki*?, Voice): Kazuya Nakai (中井 和哉, *Nakai Kazuya*?)
* Junction Narrator (ジャンクションナレーター, *Jankushon Narētā*?): Koji Nakata (中田 浩二, *Nakata Kōji*?)

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Kagayaki" (輝, *"Kagayaki"*? Radiance)
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
	+ Episodes: 1-33, 48
* "Hajimari no Kimi e" (始まりの君へ, *"Hajimari no Kimi e"*? To the Original You)
	+ Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
	+ Artist: Akira Fuse
	+ Episodes: 34-47

Ending theme
* "Shonen yo" (少年よ, *"Shonen yo"*? Boy!)
	+ Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
	+ Artist: Akira Fuse
	+ Episodes: 1-33, 48

Insert theme
* "Kiwamareba Ongeki!!" (極めれば音撃！！, *"Kiwamareba Ongeki!!"*? Reach the Extreme Ongeki!!) performed by Jin Hashimoto
* "Fuga Yuden" (風雅勇伝, *"Fuga Yuden"*? Refined Brave Confidant) performed by Tomokazu Seki
* "Raibu Gogo" (雷武轟々, *"Raibu Gogo"*? Thunderous War Rumblings) performed by Eizo Sakamoto
* "Hibiki Kenzan!!" (響鬼見参！！, *"Hibiki Kenzan!!"*?) performed by Masatoshi Ono

## Novel

A set of six novels published under the title *"Kamen Rider Hibiki: Compass to Tomorrow"* was released shortly after the end of the series. The novels followed relatively the same plot as the TV series but added new characters and enemies towards the end of its run.

## *Seven Ogres*

The S.I.C. Hero Saga side story for *Hibiki* is titled *Kamen Rider Hibiki: Seven Ogres* (仮面ライダー響鬼 -SEVEN OGRES-, *Kamen Raidā Hibiki: SEVEN OGRES*?), which is an alternate telling of the film *Hibiki & The Seven Senki*. It features the original character Kamen Rider Armed Hibiki Sengoku Period ver.) (仮面ライダー装甲響鬼（戦国時代ver.）, *Kamen Raidā Āmudo Hibiki (Sengoku Jidai ver.)*?). The *Seven Ogres* storyline ran in the June through September 2006 issues of *Monthly Hobby Japan* magazine.

Chapter titles
1. Takeshi (猛士, *Takeshi*?)
2. Kabuki (歌舞鬼, *Kabuki*?)
3. Kurenai (紅, *Kurenai*?)
4. Orochi (オロチ, *Orochi*?)

## International broadcasts

In the Philippines, the series is broadcast on TV5 as *Masked Rider Hibiki* and also on Teleasia Filipino via Cignal Digital TV.

## Notes

* All of the riders in this series never shout "transform" or any other shout (like Amazon didn't shout "transform" but his own Rider name instead).
* 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 second series of Kamen Rider where the transformation destroys the heroes' clothing. The first is Shin.
* 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.
* This series has the most Riders appear with 30 (including the riders that appear in expanded material). It is followed by Gaim with 23 and Ryuki with 17.
* 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 as suit actor in *Mahou Sentai Magiranger* as MagiRed.
	+ As a part of 2005 Super Hero Time series, both Magiranger and Hibiki was aired at the same year.

## External links

* *Kamen Rider Hibiki* at Wikipedia
* *Kamen Rider Hibiki* at Japanese Wikipedia
* Official website from TV Asahi
* Official Game Web Site