Takeshi Hongo (reboot)

*For the original version, see Takeshi Hongo.*
**Takeshi Hongo** (本郷 猛, *Hongō Takeshi*?) is an alternate version of the original Takeshi Hongo from *Kamen Rider*, the original series and is the main protagonist of *Kamen Rider The First* and *Kamen Rider The Next*.

## Biography

### The First

Much like the series, 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 uses the body of Katsuhiko to create a second Hopper known as Ichimonji Hayato to destroy the traitorous "Hopper I". The two Riders eventually team up to save Asuka, when she uncovered the existence of Shocker itself. In the end, Hongo and Asuka confessed their love for each other. Kamen Rider The First

### The Next

Hongo returned in the movie's sequel, *Kamen Rider The Next*, taking place two years after the original film. Hongo has severed ties with Asuka, and is now a science teacher at a Japanese high school, to which he is severely disrespected and mocked by his rowdy students until a public display of his abilities as a reconstructed human scares the student body into fearing him.

During this time, helping his student Kotomi 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, due to the various complaints received by the parents of his frightened students, Hongo is forced to quit his position as a teacher, but gains a friend in Kotomi. Kamen Rider The Next

## Forms

* The First
* The Next

**The First**

**The Next**

## Behind the scenes

### Portrayal

This version of Takeshi Hongo was portrayed by Masaya Kikawada (黄川田 将也, *Kikawada Masaya*?). As Hopper 1, his suit actor was Hiroshi Maeda (前田 浩, *Maeda Hiroshi*?).

### Kabuto

This Takeshi Hongo (not in suit) also made a cameo appearance in episode 14 of *Kamen Rider Kabuto* (2006), in between *The First* and *The Next*. *Kamen Rider Kabuto* marked the 35th anniversary of the *Kamen Rider Series*.