FRIEND OR FOE? ENTER "KAMEN RIDER NO. 3"! Discarded Rider of the '70s Revived for Today

幻の仮面ライダー3号が登場 !


New teaser art for the upcoming film introducing Rider No. 3!

Fans all know Kamen Rider V3 is the third cybernetic hero, created by Riders No. 1 & No. 2 in his own series in 1973, but the initial concept was very much different. Originally, KAMEN RIDER (1971-1973) would continue, with the 100th episode introducing a new Rider: No. 3! The character was to be an android conceived by the Double Riders to help combat the latest enemy organization, Ghost Shocker! Rider No. 3 only appearred in pages of the October 1972 issue of Tanoshii Yochien (Shogakukan Publishing) in the manga story, "No. 3 Rider vs. Black Shogun" (illustrated by Norihiko Ishikawa), where the character was created by Black Shogun to defeat the Double Riders.


Former pro-wrestler Nobuhiko Takada plays the new Black Shogun.

Ultimately, this character was scrapped and KAMEN RIDER V3 was created instead. Now, the discarded hero comes to life in Toei's upcoming feature directed by Takayuki Shibasaki, SUPERHERO WAR GRAND PRIX: KAMEN RIDER NO. 3 (Supahiro Taisen GP: Kamen Rider San-go), opening on March 21, 2015! Noting the broken manacle chains on his wrists, it seems that No. 3 may have the same origin as the '70s manga. While the Kamen Riders have traditionally mounted motorcycles, Rider No. 3 has been granted a car, to tie in with the currently-running series KAMEN RIDER DRIVE (2014) and the "Grand Prix" theme of the film.


Kamen Rider No. 3 production design. Note manacles and chains.

Meanwhile, the design and execution of the costume recalls the re-imagined titular characters featured in the theatrical films KAMEN RIDER: THE FIRST (2005) and KAMEN RIDER: THE NEXT (2007). Any direct tie-in or crossover with the previous pair of stories is unknown at present, but Toei has already produced a number of movies and series in which the "alternate realities" of the Kamen Rider Universes bleed through. Now, Kamen Rider No. 3 comes to life and becomes canon. And in spite of the wildly uneven nature of Toei's seasonal superhero movies, there's no guarantee it will be any better (or worse). Hopefully, if nothing else, the film will be entertaining.

Click to jump to the official website to see the first teaser trailer!

"KIKAIDER: REBOOT" IS COMING TO THE US! Honolulu Theatrical Premiere: October 10th

10月に『キカイダーREBOOT』がアメリカで上陸！


English herald for the North American Premiere in Honolulu.

SCOOP: It's official — this morning I was notified by the CEO of JN Productions/Generation Kikaida, Joanne Ninomiya, that we could finally announce that her Honolulu-based company has finalized their licensing deal with Toei for the recent feature film, KIKAIDER: THE ULTIMATE HUMAN ROBOT (Kikaida Reboot, 2014), a remake of the original 1972 series, directed by Ten Shimozawa. While more details on this will be forthcoming from JNP/GK in September, we are able to announce that the film will receive its North American Premiere in "Titan XC" at the Ward Stadium 16 in Honolulu, October 10th through October 16th.

JN Productions/Generation Kikaida have released several beloved vintage tokusatsu series on DVD in the US (complete with English Subtitles), such as KIKAIDA, KAMEN RIDER V3, KIKAIDA 01, and INAZUMAN.

Stay tuned for more details as they develop! Or check out the Generation Kikaida website!

2013 IS 1973: "KAMEN RIDER V3" February 17, 1973 - February 9, 1974

へ〜んしん、V３ゃ!


Jacket for Toei Video's current DVD release. ©Toei/Ishimori Pro

The second and the highest-rated Kamen Rider series of the 1970s, KAMEN RIDER V3 was especially memorable for its non-stop action, dynamic mutant designs, exciting music score, and a solid cast led by the legendary Hiroshi Miyauchi. A Japanese university student, Shiro Kazami (Miyauchi), vows to avenge the murder of his family by taking on the sinister Destron organization. After being mortally wounded, Shiro is revived as the mighty fighting cyborg, Kamen Rider V3, to take on the ruthless Destron syndicate. An updated Kamen Rider V3 appeared in the feature, KAMEN RIDER: THE NEXT (2007).

OWN IT TODAY: All 52 English-subtitled episodes of KAMEN RIDER V3 are available on DVD from JN Productions/Generation Kikaida in one six-disc box set fully-loaded with special features, and digitally remastered sound and picture. Click here to order your copy of arguably the best Henshin Hero series of the '70s!

THE RETURN OF "KAMEN RIDER V3"! JNP Reissues "Complete Series" DVD Box Set

©Toei Company Ltd./Ishimori Productions

Honolulu-based JN Productions/Generation Kikaida is re-releasing their KAMEN RIDER V3 DVD Box Set on May 18! This is one of the DVD projects I had the pleasure of doing for JNP/Generation Kikaida over the last decade (including KIKAIDA and INAZUMAN) released in 2005, and it's my all-time favorite superhero series from 1970s. We really went overboard with the extras on this set: I wrote detailed behind-the-scenes factoids (including biographies on all of the Guest Stars and Production Staff), two essays on the series, two complete sets of English Subtitles (one for children and the other for adults), and 71 Character Profiles (with sound bytes)! The set also boasts an exclusive interview with star Hiroshi Miyauchi, six Karaoke Music Videos, and much, much more!

According to the press release: We have answered your call. Due to numerous requests for KAMEN RIDER V3, JN Productions is proud to release a newly issued, fully-loaded “Special Edition” six-disc set which contains all 52 exciting episodes—digitally remastered, complete and uncut—and bonus features found on the “Collector’s Edition” box set. This new "Special Edition" set will be priced at $149.50—if you didn't catch the first release of this action packed series, be sure you don’t miss it this time around! The KAMEN RIDER V3 Special Edition DVD Box Set will be available exclusively in Honolulu at Shirokiya, Ala Moana Center or through the Generation Kikaida website for shoppers outside of Hawaii. Online shoppers will receive a free gift for a limited time only!

Produced by action film purveyors, Toei Studios (THE KILLING MACHINE), and the hit-making team of creative producer Tohru Hirayama Tohru (JOHNNY SOKKO) and manga author Shotaro Ishimori (CYBORG 009), KAMEN RIDER V3 is not just a superhero saga, it's a superhero opera! After witnessing the brutal murder of his family at the hands of the demonic, secret society known only as "Destron", motorcross phenom Shiro Kazami is reborn as a cyborg warrior! Exploding with breakneck action by the Ono Ken-Yukai (YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE), an exciting score by Shunsuke Kikuchi (DRAGONBALL Z), and the electrifying presence of action star Hiroshi Miyauchi (SISTER STREETFIGHTER), KAMEN RIDER V3 defined the superhero genre for a generation of Japanese television viewers.

The coolest Japanese superhero series of the 1970s, KAMEN RIDER V3 rocks!

Monster of the Month Destron Mutant: SCISSORS JAGUAR

デストロン怪人 ハサミジャガー 「仮面ライダーV３」より


©Ishimori Productions/Toei Company

Height: 194 cm • Weight: 86 kg • Origin: Atacama Desert, Chile • Original Appearance: KAMEN RIDER V3 (1973-74) Episode 1 "Rider No.3: His Name is V3!" & Episode 2 "The Last Testament of the Double Riders" • Design: Shotaro Ishimori/Akira Takahashi • Fabricator: Ekisu Productions • Suit Actor: Sadao Kobayashi • Voice Actor: Ritsuo Sawa

Surviving the destruction of Gel-Shocker, the fiendish Great Leader reorganized his forces into more powerful Destron organization. Destron’s first "hybrid mutant," fused with mechanical weaponry, was Scissors Jaguar. His mission, under Destron’s “Operation: Tokyo Annihilation”, was to eliminate witnesses of Destron’s movements, including Junko Tama, and the Kazami Family, who gave her shelter. Scissors Jaguar’s second mission was to destroy the headquarters of the Rider Boy Scouts, and its chief, Tobei Tachibana. While the tables are turned when Kamen Rider V3 arrives on the scene, Scissors Jaguar is joined by Turtle Bazooka to fight all three Kamen Riders.

Arguably, the Destron Mutants designed and created for KAMEN RIDER V3 were the pinnacle of the Kamen Rider series of the 1970s, including Scissors Jaguar. The exceptional synergy in the teamwork on this series, from Ishimori's rough sketches, refined by Takahashi, and realized by Ekisu Productions (under the guiding hand of creative producer Tohru Hirayama), rank as some of the finest ever crafted for a tokusatsu series. While there were many well-executed mutants in the series that followed, none of them had the iconic charm and dynamic look of the Destron Mutants. And you know what? They’re just cool as hell, too.