Masked Rider, or “Kamen Raider” as known in Japan, a hugely popular sci-fi franchise started in 1971, has undergone remarkable transformations which stand out even among so many fictions revamping story structures to meet with the changing needs of the society.
   In the original series, aired by TV Asahi, Masked Rider?an insect-masked, bike-riding superhero?breaks off with “Shocker” gang of evil cyborgs to which he once belonged and defeats them one after another.
   In the ensuing “Masked Rider Kuuga” series in 2000 and “Masked Rider Agito” series in 2001, however, stories begin with police investigating cases before Masked Rider shows up, an apparent effort to make stories look real in the eyes of more matured viewers.
   “Masked Rider 555” in 2003 pushes the envelope even further. Evil cyborgs turn out to be an evolved form of human beings while Masked Rider is portrayed not as a champion of justice but as a somewhat ambiguous figure who could well be a murderer, reflecting the real world where seemingly ordinary people may commit atrocities, catering to adult viewers in addition to previously targeted child viewers.
 


   Complex Viewers in Post-Modern Era
   In 1990s, big monsters had the center stage as with Ultraman and Godzilla, both the works of special effect genius Eiji Tsuburaya. While Ultraman Tiga participated by a member of popular group V6 in 1996 became a talk of the town, the 1954 production of Godzilla was remade in 1990s and became a big success. Godzilla was later exported to the United States.
   In 2000s, however, Masked Rider took over and became a social phenomenon, actors and actresses who performed in the Masked Rider series became so popular that they later starred in TV dramas and frequented variety shows, Masked Rider figures selling like hot cakes, Masked Rider shows held throughout the country, tickets sold at Internet auction for 10,000 yen and even Masked Rider photographic collections were published.
   “The success of Masked Rider has to do with the progression of post-modernism,” said Tsunehiro Uno, an expert on subculture and author of “The Imagination of 2000s” who added that as post-modernism became a premise in 2000s, Ultraman performs poorly and Masked Rider performs well. Uno’s book is a thorough account of changes in the imagination of fictitious works in 2000s against the backdrops of the changing social environment.
   “Ultraman is typical of the imagination of 1960s and Masked Rider that of 2000s,” Uno told. He said as the season of politics, represented by the “Zenkyoto” student movement, ended in 1960s and 1970s, Japan moved a step closer to a post-modern society. Also in 1990s and 2000s, he said, as global capitalism ate its way, a post-modern situation developed.
   For example, Uno said, Ultraman’s world is a simple and easy analogy to cold war confrontations, Japanese Self-Defense Forces or the United States cast as the scientific special investigation unit up against the monsters of the Soviet Union.
   On the other hand, he said, Masked Rider is about crimes by terrorists. Masked Rider combating Shocker is an ex-Shocker cyborg himself and, on their part, Shocker is acriminal organization committing acts of terrorism like Aum Shinrikyo. Masked Rider even conjures up the images of internal killings among radical leftists, he said.

Tsunehiro Uno
Wrote “The imagination of 2000s.”
Insists that there are so many island universes and they battle each other.

Competition with “Samurai Sentai”
   Toei Co. producer Shinichiro Shirakura said, “We aim to differentiate Heisei Masked Rider from Sentai (fighting squadron) series.” He was charged with the production of “Samurai Sentai Shinkenger” (2009), another successful TV Asahi sci-fi series featuring five samurai descendants, led by Shinken Red, who fight evil spirits, before assigned to Masked Rider in 2000.
   The Toei producer said Samurai Sentai series has an established success formula. Viewers know what to expect?the five Shinkenger including the red, blue, green, yellow and pink comes up, they beat the bad guy, and a monster most likely appears?and, most of all, viewers know what it is all about without even seeing it. The series is established in the Japanese culture so much so that there is a host of locally adapted parodies of Samurai Sentai. But, he said, Samurai Sentai became banal about 10 years before the Heisei series of Masked Rider started.
   However, Masked Rider had a history of having failed to remake itself. Viewers have firm images of what Masked Rider is all about. Every time it is remade cashing in on such images, however, Masked Rider flopped.

Shinichiro Shirakura
Chief producer of the Masked Rider series in 2000s.
Makes works reflecting real society using meta-fiction or parody.


Hybrid Fiction for Multiple Targets
   So, Shirakura said, he turned the tables on viewers, focusing, instead, on differentiating from Samurai Sentai. He decided to appeal to a wide spectrum of generations, not just children.
   Author Uno said Japan with complex market needs to satisfy has brought forth a unique hybrid of fictitious works. He explained: “Japan has a declining birth rate and the society is highly diversified, which makes it extremely difficult to produce a nationally worshipped idol or movie. And yet, TV networks are required to produce megahits with millions of viewers, which is an impossible proposition.”
   The networks worked on the mission impossible by addressing a number of tribes at the same time, as with Masked Rider, offering a modern sci-fi drama and special effects for men in their 20s and 30s, a human drama and handsome actors for moms and a tale of superhero for children. Uno said Masked Rider is targeted at three to four different island universes, each seeing a different story in the same series.
   He said Masked Rider consists of a hybrid of cultures which are foreign to one another but nonetheless combined with a strong intensity, giving it an enormous impact unseen in other countries or other parts of the history of Japanese fictions.
  

Some Like Good Old Stories
   Some fans like the straightforward Masked Rider as it originally was. A leader of “Kaiju Doumei” (Waseda University Monster Alliance), a group of sci-fi fans, said “Masked Rider Decade” made in 2009 destroyed the all-important setting of the original story in an attempt to appease various viewer groups.
   He acknowledged that Masked Rider Decade was a bold attempt beyond his expectations. But he also said there was no denying that he felt cheated.
   The student monster watcher said Masked Rider appears in the new series much too often, reflecting a story structure emphasizing the visual aspect at the expense of a storyline which is said to be broken. “Children are no fool,” he said, “they gain from a good story.” “If they have to continue to see it for half a year or a whole year, it better be good.”
   The student admitted that many people fell for Masked Rider when they saw Masked Rider Decade for the first time. “It is a huge success in terms of marketing and promotion of the Heisei series of Masked Rider,” he said.
  

Kaiju Doumei
  Produce original fiction and show them at Waseda Festival and other events.
   Appreciate existent sci-fi too.


New Rider Still Beats Monsters
   Asked if viewers could keep up with Masked Rider increasing in complexity to meet with the changing social needs, producer Shirakura said, “Despite all the talk about destroying the stereotype, there has been no change in the basic framework of Masked Rider defeating his enemies.” “No matter how complex it may seem,” he said, “we make a point of showing Masked Rider and monsters, and Masked Rider beating monsters.”
   He said those viewers who do not take Masked Rider very seriously as well as children who cannot appreciate its complex stories may enjoy Masked Rider defeating monsters. Those who expect more may enjoy complex stories as they unfold, he said.
   The TV producer said Masked Rider is comprised of two layers?one for children and the other for grownups. “You should have your way of enjoying TV. It just doesn’t matter if it were not what producers originally intended.”
   Shirakura added that the attraction of a TV serial is that for an entire week you anticipate a timeframe?8:00 to 8:30 in the Sunday morning in the case of Masked Rider. “It is the process of looking forward to the next episode or a new program that matters,” he said.


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History of the Masked Rider
Since the Turn of the Millennium

“Masked Rider Kuuga” (2000)
   Masked Rider Kuuga uses an ancient, mysterious power. Monsters called ‘Grongi’ are revived from such ancient times and enjoy slaughter as a game. Police investigate their acts as strange incidents before the Masked Rider battles them. This work strongly pursues the realities of modern society.

“Masked Rider Agito” (2001)
   This work focuses on daily life. A young man with amnesia transforms into the Masked Rider Agito and battles Monsters called ‘Unknown’. While he does not understand why he can transform, he lives his daily life and tries to follow his dream of becoming a chef.

“Masked Rider Ryuki” (2002)
In this work, 13 Masked Riders battle each other. They join a survival game called a battle royale. The winner of the battle royale can get his or her wish granted.

“Masked Rider 555”(2003)
This work focuses on the idea that there is no absolute justice. Monsters called ‘Orphenoch’ are portrayed as an evolved form of human and try to assimilate into their species. Masked Rider 555 attempts to defend the citizenry from their assault. He believes that he is fighting for justice, but fighting Orphenochs is a mean fighting humans too. Because of this moral conflict, it is difficult to say whether Masked Rider 555 is just or not.

“Masked Rider Den-O” (2007)
   The main character is a typical everyman, but he becomes possessed by partner monsters called ‘Imagin’ and transform Masked Rider Den-O. He battles evil monsters by working together with his partners. In this work, human and monster communication is stressed.

“Masked Rider Decade” (2009)
   This was made as a memorial work for all of the Masked Rider series since the turn of the millenium. All previous Masked Riders appear in this series. Masked Rider Decade journeys to each Masked Rider’s world and defends it from collapse.


BY    Eita Shimokuwada

EDITOR   Kyosuke Higuchi