Kamen Rider (Skyrider)

*For the original series of the same name, see Kamen Rider.*
**Kamen Rider** (仮面ライダー, *Kamen Raidā*?, translated as **Masked Rider**) is the sixth entry of the *Kamen Rider Series*. It has the same name as the first series in the franchise, and fans usually refer to this series as **The New Kamen Rider** (新しい仮面ライダー, *Atarashii Kamen Raidā*?) or **Skyrider** (スカイライダー, *Sukairaidā*?) (after the main character) in order to distinguish it from the original.

The series was broadcast on MBS from October 5, 1979 to October 10, 1980, lasting 54 episodes. The series was a co-production between Toei and Ishinomori Productions, and was created by Shotaro Ishinomori. It aired every Saturday at 7:00 PM.

*The New Kamen Rider* was intended as a revival of the original *Kamen Rider*, going back to the basic, essential themes established in that series, as opposed to the more complex and unique series that came before it, such as *Kamen Rider Amazon* and *Kamen Rider Stronger*.

## Plot

Doctor Keitaro Shido, an acclaimed scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neo-Shocker in order to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he convinces Neo-Shocker command to allow him to operate on an injured camper. Explaining that he can turn the camper, Hiroshi Tsukuba into a powerful Neo-Shocker warrior, they allow Doctor Shido to operate. However, he quickly turns the tables on them, transforming Hiroshi not into an evil kaijin, but into the powerful warrior Skyrider, using his newfound abilities to combat the evil Neo-Shocker menace.

## Characters

### Allies

* Keitaro Shido
* Midori Kano
* Yumi Nozaki
* Michi Sugimura
* Imata Tonda
* Genjiro Tani
* Numa
* Aki Ozawa
* Naoko Ito
* Shigeru Kano
* Kanji Yada/GanGan G
* Seven Legendary Riders

### Neo-Shocker

* Great Boss of Neo-Shocker
* General Monster/Yamorijin
* Admiral Majin
* Galaxy King
* Ari Commandos
* Skull Assassination Squad
* Neo-Shocker Scientists
	+ Professor Doc
	+ Doctor Meteor
	+ Doctor X
	+ Shiroari Commandos

## Episodes

*Main article: Kamen Rider (Skyrider) Episodes*
1. An Cyborg Flies in the Sky (改造人間大空を翔ぶ, *Kaizō Ningen Ōzora o Tobu*?)
2. Bizarre! Kumojin (怪奇！クモンジン, *Kaiki! Kumonjin*?)
3. It's Courage! The Fear of the Bat Flute (勇気だ！コウモリ笛の恐怖, *Yūki da! Kōmori-bue no Kyōfu*?)
4. Two Cyborgs, the Angry Rider Break (２つの改造人間 怒りのライダーブレイク, *Futatsu no Kaizō Ningen Ikari no Raidā Bureiku*?)
5. Fly, Ride on a Girl's Dreams (翔べ 少女の夢をのせて, *Tobe Shōjo no Yume o Nosete*?)
6. Kinokojin! The Devil's Hands are Cold (キノコジン！悪魔の手は冷たい, *Kinokojin! Akuma no Te wa Tsumetai*?)
7. Kamagirijin! The Dreadful Ceremony (カマギリジン！恐怖の儀式, *Kamagirijin! Kyōfu no Gishiki*?)
8. Mukadenjin's Trap! The Mysterious Operating Room (ムカデンジンの罠！謎の手術室, *Mukadenjin no Wana! Nazo no Shujutsushitsu*?)
9. Cobranjin's Murder Army (コブランジンの殺人軍団, *Koburanjin no Satsujin Gundan*?)
10. Seen! Kaningerjin's Secret (見た！カニンガージンの秘密, *Mita! Kaningājin no Himitsu*?)
11. Sanshojin! Escape from Hell Valley (サンショウジン！地獄谷の脱出, *Sanshōjin! Jigokudani no Dasshutsu*?)
12. Dark Santa Claus; Ah, Transformation Impossible (暗闇のサンタクロースああ変身不可能, *Kurayami no Santa Kurōsu Aa Henshin Fukanō*?)
13. Arijigokujin: Three Hours Before Tokyo Explodes (アリジゴクジン東京爆発３時間前, *Arijigokujin Tōkyō Bakuhatsu Sanjikan-mae*?)
14. Haejigokujin, Kamen Rider Close Call (ハエジゴクジン仮面ライダー危機一髪, *Haejigokujin Kamen Raidā Kikiippatsu*?)
15. Dreadful Aokabijin's Big Tokyo Earthquake (恐怖のアオカビジンの東京大地震, *Kyōfu no Aokabijin no Tōkyō Dai Jishin*?)
16. What is the Immortal Gokiburijin's G-Monster's True Identity? (不死身のゴキブリジンＧモンスターの正体は？, *Fujimi no Gokiburijin Jī Monsutā no Shōtai wa?*?)
17. You Did It! The End of G-Monster (やったぞ！Ｇモンスターの最後, *Yatta zo! Jī Monsutā no Saigo*?)
18. Admiral Majin's Great Electric Hell Operation (魔神提督の電気ジゴク大作戦, *Majin Teitoku no Denki Jigoku Dai Sakusen*?)
19. Cover Your Ears Too! Okamijin's Murderous Cry (君も耳をふさげ！オオカミジン殺しの叫び, *Kimi mo Mimi o Fusage! Ōkamijin Koroshi no Sakebi*?)
20. Two Kamen Riders, Who is Another? (２人の仮面ライダーもう１人はだれだ？, *Futari no Kamen Raidā Mō Hitori wa Dare da?*?)
21. Enter Stronger; Two Riders vs. Two Formidable Monsters (ストロンガー登場２人ライダー対強敵２怪人, *Sutorongā Tōjō Futari Raidā Tai Kyōteki Ni Kaijin*?)
22. Kogoensky Froze Tokyo 5 Seconds Ago (コゴエンスキー東京冷凍５秒前, *Kogoensukī Tōkyō Reitō Gobyō-mae*?)
23. Monster Flying Squirrel Brothers and Two Riders (怪人ムササビ兄弟と２人のライダー, *Kaijin Musasabi Kyōdai to Futari no Raidā*?)
24. Madarakajin, Fear of Poison Gas (マダラカジン毒ガスの恐怖, *Madarakajin Dokugasu no Kyōfu*?)
25. Heavy! Heavy! The 50-ton Baby (重いぞ！重いぞ！５０トンの赤ちゃん, *Omoi zo! Omoi zo! Gojutton no Akachan*?)
26. Three Riders vs. Neoshocker's School Fortress (３人ライダー対ネオショッカーの学校要塞, *San'nin Raidā Tai Neo Shokkā no Gakkō Yōsai*?)
27. Tank and Monster the Second Generation Corps, Full Force of Eight Riders (戦車と怪人Ⅱ世部隊 ８人ライダー勢ぞろい, *Sensha to Kaijin Nisei Butai Hachi'nin Raidā Seizoroi*?)
28. Eight Riders' Great Training of Friendship (８人ライダー友情の大特訓, *Hachi'nin Raidā Yūjō no Dai Tokkun*?)
29. First Appearance! Strengthened Skyrider's Finishing Move (初公開！強化スカイライダーの必殺技, *Hatsu Kōkai! Kyōka Sukairaidā no Hissatsu-waza*?)
30. He Eats Dreams? The Strange Boy Who Came From the Amazon (夢を食べる？アマゾンから来た不思議な少年, *Yume o Taberu? Amazon kara Kita Fushigi na Shōnen*?)
31. Run, X-Rider! Hiroshi Tsukuba! Don't Die!! (走れＸライダー！筑波洋よ死ぬな！！, *Hashire Ekkusu Raidā! Tsukuba Hiroshi yo Shinu na!!*?)
32. Thank You, Keisuke Jin! Leave the Final Blow to Me!! (ありがとう神敬介！とどめは俺にまかせろ！！, *Arigatō Jin Keisuke! Todome wa Ore ni Makasero!!*?)
33. Hello! Riderman, be Careful of Nezura Man (ハロー! ライダーマンネズラ毒に気をつけろ!!, *Harō! Raidāman Nezura Doku ni Ki o Tsukero!!*?)
34. Danger, Skyrider! He's Come! Shirō Kazami!! (危うしスカイライダー！やって来たぞ風見志郎！！, *Ayaushi Sukairaidā! Yattekita zo Kazami Shirō!!*?)
35. Kazami Senpai! I'll Get the Tako Gang!! (風見先輩！タコギャングはオレがやる！！, *Kazami-senpai! Tako Gyangu wa Ore ga Yaru!!*?)
36. Hurry, Hayato Ichimonji! Save the People Caught in Trees!! (急げ、一文字隼人！樹にされる人々を救え！！, *Isoge, Ichimonji Hayato! Ki ni Sareru Hitobito o Sukue!!*?)
37. The Mystery of Hyakki Village! Is Hiroshi also Caught in a Tree? (百鬼村の怪！洋も樹にされるのか？, *Hyakki-mura no Kai! Hiroshi mo Ki ni Sareru no ka?*?)
38. Please, Shigeru Jo! There's the Ari Commando Training School With a Million Yen Monthly Salary (来たれ、城茂！月給百万円のアリコマンド養成所, *Kitare, Jō Shigeru! Gekkyū Hyakuman'en no Ari Komando Yōseijo*?)
39. Help! Two Riders!! Mother Becomes a Demon (助けて！２人のライダー！！母ちゃんが鬼になる, *Tasukete! Futari no Raidā!! Kāchan ga Oni ni Naru*?)
40. Chase, Hayato! The Kappa's Bowl Flies Through the Sky (追え隼人！カッパの皿が空をとぶ, *Oe Hayato! Kappa no Sara ga Sora o Tobu*?)
41. Ghost Story Series - The Secret of the Phantom Building (怪談シリーズ・幽霊ビルのひみつ, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Yūrei Biru no Himitsu*?)
42. Ghost Story Series - Zombie! The Monster is Revived (怪談シリーズ・ゾンビー！お化けが生きかえる, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Zonbī! Obake ga Ikikaeru*?)
43. Ghost Story Series - Hōichi the Earless's 999 Ears (怪談シリーズ・耳なし芳一９９９の耳, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Miminashi Hōichi Kyūhyakukyūjūkyū no Mimi*?)
44. Ghost Story Series - The Werecat Wants Children's Blood! (怪談シリーズ・呪いの化け猫 子供の血が欲しい！, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Noroi no Bakeneko Kodomo no Chi ga Hoshii!*?)
45. Ghost Story Series - The Snake Woman Curses Hiroshi Tsukuba! (怪談シリーズ・蛇女が筑波洋を呪う！, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Hebi On'na ga Tsukuba Hiroshi o Norou!*?)
46. Ghost Story Series - The Breakable Human! Fear of the Mirror's Center (怪談シリーズ・くだける人間！鏡の中の恐怖, *Kaidan Shirīzu - Kudakeru Ningen! Kagami no Naka no Kyōfu*?)
47. Skyrider's Greatest Weakness! Attack the 0.5 Second Blind Spot (スカイライダー最大の弱点！０．５秒の死角をつけ, *Sukairaidā Saidai no Jakuten! Rētengobyō no Shikaku o Tsuke*?)
48. Four Skyriders, Who is the Real One? (４人のスカイライダー本物はだれだ？, *Yo'nin no Sukairaidā Honmono wa Dare da?*?)
49. Rocket Launch! Hiroshi Tsukuba Goes to the Space Graveyard (ロケット発射！筑波洋を宇宙の墓場へ, *Roketto Hassha! Tsukuba Hiroshi o Uchū no Hakaba e*?)
50. You, Also Enlist in the Ari Commando Boys' Squad!? (君もアリコマンド少年隊に入隊せよ！？, *Kimi mo Ari Komando Shōnen-tai ni Nyūtai seyo!?*?)
51. Neoshocker Red & White, Great Decisive Battle of Death (ネオショッカー紅白死の大決戦, *Neo Shokkā Kōhaku Shi no Dai Kessen*?)
52. Hiroshi's Father Had Lived! As Altered Human FX777? (洋の父が生きていた！改造人間ＦＸ７７７とは？, *Hiroshi no Chichi ga Ikite Ita! Kaizō Ningen Efu Ekkusu Surī Sebun to wa?*?)
53. The End of Admiral Majin! And the Great Leader's True Identity? (魔神提督の最後！そして大首領の正体は？, *Majin Teitoku no Saigo! Soshite Dai Shuryō no Shōtai wa?*?)
54. Farewell, Hiroshi Tsukuba! Eight Heroes Forever.... (さらば筑波洋！８人の勇士よ永遠に・・・・, *Saraba Tsukuba Hiroshi! Hachi'nin no Yūshi yo Eien ni....*?)

**Movies**

1. *Eight Riders vs. Galaxy King* (仮面ライダー 8人ライダーVS銀河王, *Kamen Raidā: Hachi'nin Raidā Tai Gingaō*?)

**Specials**

1. *Immortal Kamen Rider Special* (不滅の仮面ライダースペシャル, *Fumetsu no Kamen Raidā Supesharu*?)

## Cast

* Hiroshi Tsukuba (筑波　洋, *Tsukuba Hiroshi*?) - Hiroaki Murakami (村上 弘明, *Murakami Hiroaki*?)
* Midori Kano (叶 みどり, *Kanō Midori*?) - Kimiko Tanaka (田中 功子, *Tanaka Kimiko*?)
* Michi Sugimura (杉村 ミチ, *Sugimura Michi*?) - Naoko Fushimi (伏見 尚子, *Fushimi Naoko*?)
* Yumi Nozaki (野崎 ユミ, *Nozaki Yumi*?) - Kaori Tatsumi (巽 かおり, *Tatsumi Kaori*?)
* Imata Tonda (飛田 今太, *Tonda Imata*?) - Ryumei Azuma (東 隆明, *Azuma Ryūmei*?)
* Naoko Ito (伊東 ナオコ, *Itō Naoko*?) - Mie Suzuki (鈴木 美江, *Suzuki Mie*?)
* Aki Ozawa (小沢 アキ, *Ozawa Aki*?) - Sayako Eguchi (江口 燁子, *Eguchi Sayako*?)
* Numa (沼, *Numa*?) - Jin Takase (高瀬 仁, *Takase Jin*?)
* Shigeru Kano (叶 シゲル, *Kanō Shigeru*?) - Kōji Shiratori (白鳥 恒視, *Shiratori Kōji*?)
* Kanji Yada (矢田 勘次, *Yada Kanji*?) - Tomaru Katsura (桂 都丸, *Katsura Tomaru*?)
* Keitaro Shido (志度 敬太郎, *Shido Keitarō*?) - Takashi Tabata (田畑 孝, *Tabata Takashi*?)
* Genjiro Tani (谷 源次郎, *Tani Genjirō*?) - Nobuo Tsukamoto (塚本 信夫, *Tsukamoto Nobuo*?)
* The Great Leader (大首領, *Daishuryō*?, Voice) - Goro Naya (納谷 悟朗, *Naya Gorō*?)
* General Monster (ゼネラルモンスター, *Zeneraru Monstā*?) - Shinzo Hotta (堀田 真三, *Hotta Shinzō*?)
* Admiral Majin (魔人提督, *Majin Teitoku*?) - Yosuke Naka (中 庸助, *Naka Yōsuke*?)
* Narrator (ナレーター, *Narētā*?) - Shinji Nakae (中江 真司, *Nakae Shinji*?)

### Suit actors

* Skyrider, Kamen Rider #1, Kamen Rider V3 (34-35): Tetsuya Nakayashiki
* Skyrider (understudy; episodes 31-33), Fake Skyrider: Kazuo Niibori
* Kamen Rider #1, Kamen Rider #2: Masaru Okada
* Riderman: Junichi Akasaka
* Kamen Rider Stronger: Haruhiko Hashimoto
* Kamen Rider #1, Kamen Rider #2, Fake Skyrider, Monsters: Hiroshi Ueda
* Kamen Rider #2, Kamen Rider V3, Kamen Rider Stronger, Fake Skyrider, Monsters, GanGan G: Hiroo Kawarazaki

## Songs

Opening theme
* "Moero! Kamen Rider" (燃えろ! 仮面ライダー, *Moero! Kamen Raidā*?, Burn! Kamen Rider)
	+ Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
	+ Artist: Ichiro Mizuki and Koorogi '73
	+ Episodes: 1-28

* "Otoko no Na wa Kamen Rider" (男の名は仮面ライダー, *Otoko no Na wa Kamen Raidā*?, That Man's Name is Kamen Rider)
	+ Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
	+ Artist: Ichiro Mizuki
	+ Episodes: 29-54

Ending theme
* "Haruka naru Ai ni Kakete" (はるかなる愛にかけて, *"Haruka naru Ai ni Kakete"*? "Long Distance Love")
	+ Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
	+ Artist: Ichiro Mizuki and Koorogi '73
	+ Episodes: 1-28

* "Kagayake! Hachinin Rider" (輝け! 8人ライダー, *Kagayake! Hachinin Raidā*?, Shine! Eight Riders)
	+ Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
	+ Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
	+ Artist: Ichiro Mizuki and The Chirps
	+ Episodes: 29-54

## Notes

* It is an odd coincidence that a Kamen Rider first gained the power of flight after a certain American superhero made his box office debut one year earlier.
* Halfway through the season, the writers had seemingly forgotten Skyrider could fly, as this ability was never used in later episodes.
	+ One explanation could possibly be due to the technical and budget limitations of that time period for Japanese TV, the production staff being unable to fully simulate Skyrider's flight in the manner Shotaro Ishinomori wanted. More recent appearances of Skyrider in crossover films have solved this problem using CGI and green screen effects.
		- Another possibility is the change in writing staff being uninformed about Skyrider during the transition from a reboot series to being in-continuity with previous installments.
* Skyrider is the first season outside of the original series and V3 to reach or surpass a full year of airing. Aside from one other season, every Rider season after Skyrider lasts exactly one year of airtime.

## External links

* *Kamen Rider Skyrider* at Wikipedia
* *Kamen Rider (Skyrider)* at Japanese Wikipedia