Kamen Rider Stronger

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Kamen Rider Stronger

Title screen.
Genre Tokusatsu
Created by Shōtarō Ishinomori
Starring Shigeru Araki, Kyōko Okada
Opening theme "Kamen Rider Stronger's Song"
Ending theme "And Also For Today, Fight On Stronger"
Composer(s) Shunsuke Kikuchi
Country of origin Japan
No. of episodes 39
Production
Running time 25 minutes approx. per episode
Broadcast
Original channel TBS, MBS
Original run April 5, 1975 – December 27, 1975
Chronology
Preceded by Kamen Rider Amazon
Followed by Kamen Rider

Kamen Rider Stronger (仮面ライダーストロンガー Kamen Raidā Sutorongā?, Masked Rider Stronger in English) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. The fifth programme to be created as part of the Kamen Rider Series, the series was broadcast on TBS and MBS from April 5, 1975 to December 27, 1975, lasting 39 episodes, and aired every Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Stronger was a co-production between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and was created by Shōtarō Ishinomori.

While the series is relatively popular amongst tokusatsu fans, it has not garnered much mainstream attention. However, the series is unique in several respects, and has influenced other series in the franchise in many ways. See Themes, below.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Shigeru Jō, played by Shigeru Araki, joins the evil organisation Black Satan after the death of a close friend, one whom he considered his mentor. Promised power, and fueled by a desire for revenge, he undergoes surgery to become one of Black Satan's super warriors. However, Shigeru knows that Black Satan were in fact the murderers of his friend; he was using Black Satan in order to gain new powers. The newly powered up Shigeru escapes from the Black Satan headquarters before they can brainwash him into following their campaign of evil.

Frustrated, Black Satan scientists devise a plan to capture and kill the warrior they have just created, along with continuing the goal they've had all along—world domination. Shigeru plans on fighting back in his new form, called Kamen Rider Stronger. While escaping from Black Satan, Stronger meets Yuriko Misaki (played by Kyōko Okada) another cyborg warrior created by Black Satan. They team up, with Yuriko now becoming Electro Wave Human Tackle. The two eventually meet Tōbei Tachibana as well.

Stronger, Tackle, and Tōbei fight valiantly against the evil cyborg forces of Black Satan, continually meeting the head agents General Shadow, and the One-Eyed Titan. The Titan is defeated in episode 13, but manages to return in episode 17 as the One-Hundred Eyed Titan, posing an even greater threat than before. Despite sharing the similar goals of defeating Stronger and conquering the world, General Shadow and the Titan cannot seem to agree on a few other issues—for instance, which one of them gets to kill Stronger. Often, their bickering inadvertently allows him to escape their wrath.

In episode 26, Stronger is able to topple Black Satan once and for all. With his former organization in ruins, General Shadow forms the "Delza Army" to continue his malicious goals. There were two further defining moments for the series: first, in episode 30, Tackle sacrifices herself to save Stronger from Doctor Kate, a Delza Army general. Her death affects Stronger greatly, and he vows to keep fighting until evil is defeated. Tackles' death is sometimes compared to Riderman's sacrifice in Kamen Rider V3. In the following episode, Stronger's fight against evil is greatly assisted when he undergoes surgery and gains a devastating new power—the ability to power up into a new, stronger, form—"Charge Up!".

Ultimately, all the former Riders, Kamen Riders 1, 2 from the original Kamen Rider, V3 from Kamen Rider V3, X from Kamen Rider X, and Amazon from Kamen Rider Amazon, all appear in the final few episodes to help Stronger finally defeat the Delza Army and General Shadow. This sequence of episodes has attracted some praise from fans. [1]

[edit] Themes

Stronger's primary motif was that of electricity. All his attacks were based on electricity, and the cyborg aspect of his body is much more prominent than in the previous series; for instance, his hands were metal coils that had to be covered when he was not transformed. Stronger was not based on a grasshopper or grasshopper-like insect as with the previous Riders; he is based on the Kabutomushi, or Japanese rhinoceros beetle.

The other primary characteristic of the series is Shigeru's bravado and eccentric personality. For instance, in the first episode, he instructs some Black Satan henchmen he encounters to call him Jō-san or Shigeru-san, the informal forms of his name, due to the fact that he'd already introduced himself. He wears various t-shirts emblazoned with the letter "S", along with numerous other items of clothing, including a denim jacket with a rose emblem. Stronger's entrance is also a hallmark of the series, with his opening serifu and accompanying whistle a particular highlight. [2]:

"The heavens call...
The earth cries out...
The crowds roar...
All calling on me to strike back against evil.
Now listen up, villains!
I am the warrior of justice,
The Kamen Rider Stronger!"

This recurring sequence has been compared to a similar one in Kikaider.[3]

Additionally, the "form changer" motif makes its first appearance in Stronger. Stronger's "Charge-Up!" mode predates Robo Rider and Bio Rider of Kamen Rider Black RX, and the primary themes of Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Agito and Kamen Rider Den-O were the main characters' ability to change forms. Kamen Rider Kabuto, where each Rider character can shift between a bulky armoured form and a lightly covered, fast form, also features this concept prominently.

Indeed, Kabuto was greatly influenced by Stronger. Not only are both Stronger and Kabuto based on the same type of beetle, Stronger's Rider Machine is named "Kabutoroh". Beyond these superficial similarities, Kabuto and Stronger, or, more accurately, Shigeru and Tendō Souji, the title character of Kabuto, share a similar philosophical outlook and eccentric attitudes toward life and others, often commenting wrly on combat as it occurs.

Earlier Kamen Riders had "charge up" modes but without a change in appearance. Riders 1, 2 and V3 simply had a charge up sound effect. Kamen Rider X had smoke pour out of his body.

[edit] List of episodes

  1. I am the Electric Human Stronger!! (おれは電気人間ストロンガー！！ Ore wa Denki Ningen Sutorongā!!?)
  2. The Secret of Stronger and Tackle! (ストロンガーとタックルの秘密！ Sutorongā to Takkuru no Himitsu!?)
  3. The Thriller House Calls for Children!! (スリラーハウスが子どもを呼ぶ！！ Surirā Hausu ga Kodomo o Yobu!!?)
  4. The Demonic Motorbike Reckless Driving Operation! (悪魔のオートバイ暴走作戦！！ Akuma no Ōtobai Bōsō Sakusen!!?)
  5. Black Satan's School Lunch!? (ブラックサタンの学校給食！？ Burakku Satan no Gakkō Kyūshoku!??)
  6. The Jellyfish Machine Monster Who Took the Form of a Teacher! (先生に化けたクラゲ奇械人！ Sensei ni Baketa Kurage Kikaijin!?)
  7. Rider Great Reversal!! (ライダー大逆転！！ Raidā Dai Gyakuten!!?)
  8. Don't Melt, Rider! The Final Blow, Electro-Kick!! (溶けるなライダー！とどめの電キック！！ Tokeru na Raidā! Todome no Den-Kikku!!?)
  9. The Band of Demons Has Come!! (悪魔の音楽隊がやって来た！！ Akuma no Ongakutai ga Yattekita!!?)
  10. The Frightful Gummer Bug! It Targets Humans!! (恐怖のガンマー虫！人間を狙う！！ Kyōfu no Ganmā Mushi! Ningen o Nerau!!?)
  11. Chameleorn! Demonic Film!? (カメレオーン！悪魔のフィルム！？ Kamereōn! Akuma no Firumu!??)
  12. Duel! Stronger's Grave!? (決闘！ストロンガーの墓場！？ Kettō! Sutorongā no Hakaba!??)
  13. The One-Eyed Titan! The Final Counter Attack!! (一ツ目タイタン！最後の逆襲！！ Hitotsume Taitan! Saigo no Gyakushū!!?)
  14. The Appearance of Enigmatic Chief Executive Shadow! (謎の大幹部シャドウの出現！ Nazo no Dai Kanbu Shadō no Shutsugen!?)
  15. Shadow's Trump That Calls Death!! (死を呼ぶシャドウのトランプ！！ Shi o Yobu Shadō no Toranpu!!?)
  16. The Bloodsucking Bubunger's Demonic Present! (吸血ブブンガー悪魔のプレゼント！ Kyūketsu Bubungā Akuma no Purezento!?)
  17. Ghost Story, The Demonic Easter (怪談 悪魔の復活祭 Kaidan Akuma no Fukkatsusai?)
  18. Ghost Story, The Bottomless Swamp (怪談 底なし沼 Kaidan Sokonashi Numa?)
  19. Ghost Story: The Cursed Old Castle! (怪談 呪われた古城！ Kaidan Norowareta Kojō!?)
  20. The Great Scary Desert! Two Toubeis?! (恐怖の大砂漠！二人の藤兵衛！？ Kyōfu no Dai Sabaku! Futari no Tōbei!??)
  21. Sharkshark Island, Decisive Battle in the Sea! (鮫ヶ島海中大決戦！ Samezame Shima Kaichū Dai Kessen!?)
  22. Rider Execution at 12:00!? (１２時００分ライダー処刑！？ Jūniji Zerofun Raidā Shokei!??)
  23. The Devil of the Underground Kingdom!! (地底王国の魔王！！ Chitei Ōkoku no Maō!!?)
  24. Bizarre! The Unmanned Train Runs!! (怪奇！無人電車が走る！！ Kaiki! Mujin Densha ga Hashiru!!?)
  25. Don't Die!! Shigeru Jou in the Electric Chair (死ぬな！！電気椅子の城茂 Shinu na!! Denki Isu no Jō Shigeru?)
  26. Seen!! The Great Leader's True Identity!! (見た！！大首領の正体！！ Mita!! Dai Shuryō no Shōtai!!?)
  27. Remodelled Majin! The Delzer Army Appears!! (改造魔人！デルザー軍団現わる！！ Kaizō Majin! Deruzā Gundan Arawareru!!?)
  28. Oh! Stronger...into Small Pieces?! (あ！ストロンガーがこなごなに…？！ A! Sutorongā ga Konagona ni...?!?)
  29. The Curse of Majin Kate's Blood! (魔人ケイト血ののろい！ Majin Keito Chi no Noroi!?)
  30. Goodbye, Tackle! Her Last Activity!! (さようならタックル！最後の活躍！！ Sayōnara Takkuru! Saigo no Katsuyaku!!?)
  31. Stronger's Great Remodelling!! (ストロンガー大改造！！ Sutorongā Dai Kaizō!!?)
  32. Deadly! Super Electro Three-Stage Kick!! (必殺！超電三段キック！！ Hissatsu! Chō Den Sandan Kikku!!?)
  33. Stronger Dies in the Full Moon!? (ストロンガー満月に死す！？ Sutorongā Mangetsu ni Shisu!??)
  34. The Snake Woman's Bloodsucking Hell! (ヘビ女の吸血地獄！ Hebi Onna no Kyūketsu Jigoku!?)
  35. The Man Who Returned! The Name is V3!! (帰って来た男！その名はＶ３！！ Kaettekita Otoko! Sono Na wa Buisurī!!?)
  36. Three Riders Vs. The Powerful Delzer Army! (三人ライダー対強力デルザー軍団！ Sannin Raidā Tai Kyōryoku Deruzā Gundan!?)
  37. Riders Captured! Long Live Delzer!! (ライダー捕らわる！デルザー万才！！ Raidā Torawaru! Deruzā Banzai!!?)
  38. Appearance! Riders #1, #2!! (出現！ライダー１号２号！！ Shutsugen! Raidā Ichigō Nigō!!?)
  39. Goodbye! The Glorious Seven Riders! (さようなら！栄光の七人ライダー！ Sayōnara! Eigō no Shichinin Raidā!?)

Movie:

  • Kamen Rider Stronger

An alligator kaijin from Black Satan attacks a young boy and long-time Kamen Rider ally Tobei Tachibana, but Kamen Rider Stronger and Denpa Ningen Tackle run in to make the save. However, Shigeru and Yuriko fall into separate traps and are captured by Black Satan. Yuriko fights for her life as Shigeru is brainwashed by the organization.

[edit] Cast

  • Shigeru Jō/Kamen Rider Stronger (城 茂／仮面ライダーストロンガー Jō Shigeru/Kamen Raidā Sutorongā?) - Shigeru Araki (荒木 茂 Araki Shigeru?)
  • Yuriko Misaki/Electro Wave Human Tackle (岬 ユリ子／電波人間タックル Misaki Yuriko/Denpa Ningen Takkuru?) - Kyōko Okada (岡田 京子 Okada Kyōko?)
  • Tōbei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛 Tachibana Tōbee?) - Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二 Kobayashi Akiji?)
  • Yōichirō Masaki (正木 洋一郎 Masaki Yōichirō?) - Hiroshi Ogasawara (小笠原 弘 Ogasawara Hiroshi?)
  • Titan (タイタン Taitan?) - Akira Hamada (浜田 晃 Hamada Akira?)
  • Dead Lion (デッドライオン Deddo Raion?, Voice) - Mahito Tsujimura (辻村 真人 Tsujimura Mahito?)
  • The Great Leader of Black Satan (ブラックサタン大首領 Burakku Satan Daishuryō?, Voice) - Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗 Naya Gorō?)
  • General Shadow (ジェネラルシャドウ Jeneraru Shadō?, Voice) - Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝 Shibata Hidekatsu?)
  • Marshal Machine (マシーン大元帥 Mashīn Daigensui?, Voice) - Osamu Ichikawa (市川 治 Ichikawa Osamu?)
  • The Great Leader of Delza Army/General Stone (デルザー軍団大首領／岩石大首領 Deruzā Gundan Daishuryō/Ganseki Daishuryō?, Voice) - Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗 Naya Gorō?)
  • Narrator (ナレーター Narētā?) - Shinji Nakae (中江 真司 Nakae Shinji?)

[edit] Songs

Opening theme
  • "The Song of Kamen Rider Stronger" (仮面ライダーストロンガーの歌 Kamen Raidā Sutorongā no Uta?)
Ending theme
  • "Stronger Fights Today" (今日もたたかうストロンガー Kyō mo Tatakau Sutorongā?)
  • "Stronger Fights Today" (今日もたたかうストロンガー Kyō mo Tatakau Sutorongā?)
    • Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
    • Composition: Shunsuke Kikuchi
    • Artists: Ichiro Mizuki & Mitsuko Horie
    • Episodes: 2-31
  • "Stronger Action" (ストロンガーアクション Sutorongā Akushon?)
    • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
    • Composition: Shunsuke Kikuchi
    • Artists: Ichiro Mizuki & Mitsuko Horie
    • Episodes 32-38

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Paul "Igadevil" Sullivan. Post on Japan Hero Access forums..
  2. ^ This translation comes from the region 2 DVDs.
  3. ^ Stuart Johnson. alt.tv.sentai thread from November 17, 1999.

[edit] References

Preceded by
Amazon		 Kamen Rider
1975 – 1975		 Succeeded by
"Skyrider"
Shōwa Kamen Riders
v • d • e
Kamen Riders: 1 • 2 • V3 • Riderman • X • Amazon • Stronger • Skyrider • Super-1 • ZX • BLACK • RX
Villains: Great Leader • Shocker • Gel-Shocker • Destron • GOD • Geddon • Garanda Empire • Black Satan • Delza Army
Neo-Shocker • Dogma Kingdom • Jin Dogma • Badan Empire • Gorgom • Shadow Moon • Crisis Empire
Others: Tōbei Tachibana
v • d • e
 
Kamen Rider Series
Created by Shotaro Ishinomori
Shōwa TV series:
Kamen Rider  • V3  • X  • Amazon  • Stronger  • Skyrider  • Super-1  • BLACK  • BLACK RX
Heisei TV series:
Kuuga  • ΑgitΩ  • Ryuki  • 555 (φ's)  • Blade (♠)  • Hibiki  • Kabuto  • Den-O  • Kiva
Specials:
Original films:
ZO  • J  • World  • THE FIRST  • THE NEXT
Heisei films:
Manga and books:
Spirits  • Card Warrior  • EVE -GAIA-
American series:
See also: