Kamen Rider Stronger

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Kamen Rider Stronger
Title screen.
Genre	Superhero action/adventure
Creator(s)	Shotaro Ishinomori
Starring	Shigeru Araki, Kyoko Okada
Opening theme	"Kamen Rider Stronger's Song"
Ending theme	"And Also For Today, Fight On Stronger"
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	39
Production
Running time	25 minutes approx. per episode
Broadcast
Original channel	NET
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 franchise, the series was broadcast on TBS from April 5, 1975 to December 27, 1975, lasting 39 episodes. It aired every Saturday at 7:00 PM. Stronger was a co-production between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and was created by Shotaro 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 1 Overview 2 Themes 3 Ratings and reception 4 List of episodes 5 Notes 6 References

[edit] Overview

Shigeru Jou (城茂 Jō Shigeru), 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, Jou 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 Jou 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. Jou plans on fighting back in his new form, called Kamen Rider Stronger. While escaping from Black Satan, Stronger meets Yuriko Misaki (Misaki Yuriko) (played by Kyoko Okada) another cyborg warrior created by Black Satan. They team up, with Misaki now becoming Electro Wave Human Tackle. The two eventually meet Tachibana Tôbei as well.

Stronger, Tackle, and Tachibana 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 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 Jou-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 Kikaida.^[3]

Additionally, the "form changer" motif makes its first appearance in Stronger. Stronger's "Charge-Up!" mode predates Roborider and Biorider of Kamen Rider BLACK RX, and the primary themes of Kamen Rider Kuuga and Kamen Rider Agito 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 "Kabutorô". Beyond these superficial similarities, Kabuto and Stronger, or, more accurately, Shigeru and Tendou, 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] Ratings and reception

There is some debate as to whether Stronger was intended to be the final Kamen Rider series. Though few argue that the series does contain a conclusion of sorts to the saga that began in the original Kamen Rider, Japanese film and television historian August Ragone argues that it was simply a matter of coincidence, because the network that had aired all the previous series, MBS, had decided not to air Stronger, instead giving the rights to TBS. At the same time, NET aired the wildly successful Himitsu Sentai Goranger, the first Super Sentai in programme in direct competition with Stronger, resulting in extremely low ratings for TBS, and, ultimately, a long hiatus for the Kamen Rider franchise, which would not return until 1979 with Skyrider.^[4]

[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] Notes

[edit] References

• Paul "Igadevil" Sullivan. Kamen Rider Stronger at Igadevil's Kamen Rider Page.
• Stuart Johnson. "Kamen Raid Sutorong" at the Henshin Hall of Fame.
• Tetsuo Takagi. alt.tv.sentai thread from July 11, 1998.
• Kamen Rider Stronger at the Internet Movie Database

Preceded by Kamen Rider Amazon

Kamen Rider 1975 – 1975

Succeeded by "New" Kamen Rider

Classic Riders v • d • e
Kamen Riders:	1 • 2 • V3 • Riderman • X • Amazon • Stronger • Skyrider • Super-1 • ZX
Others:	Shocker

Kamen Rider franchise v • d • e Created by Shotaro Ishinomori and Toru Hirayama
TV series:	1st gen.:	Kamen Rider  • V3  • X  • Amazon  • Stronger  • Skyrider  • Super-1
	2nd gen.:	BLACK  • BLACK RX
	3rd gen.:	Kuuga  • Agito  • Ryuki  • 555  • Blade  • Hibiki  • Kabuto  • Den-O
Specials:		Birth of the 10th! (ZX)  • Prologue (Shin)  • SD  • Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider  • Hyper Battle series
Original films:		Kamen Rider ZO  • Kamen Rider J  • Kamen Rider World  • Kamen Rider the First
Manga:		Kamen Rider Spirits  • Card Warrior
American series:		Saban's Masked Rider  • Kamen Rider Dragon Knight