Kamen Rider Black

Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBLACK, Kamen Raidā Burakku), translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero-drama television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 4, 1987 to October 9, 1988. With its very dramatic storyline and its twist of the Kamen Rider having a tragic relationship with his nemesis, the installment not only became very popular in Japan, but also in many countries where it was aired. The series is often regarded as a TV classic and is considered by many as the most popular Kamen Rider show of the late 1980s, as well as one of the most famous of all Kamen Riders in the Showa Period. The series also received a manga adaptation. Kamen Rider Black RX was a direct sequel to this series.

Kamen Rider Black
GenreTokusatsu
Superhero fiction
Science fiction
Action/Adventure
Fantasy
Drama
Conspiracy
Created byShotaro Ishinomori
Written byShōzō Uehara (eps 1-12)
Noboru Sugimura (eps 13-51)
Directed byYoshiaki Kobayashi
Starring
  • Tetsuo Kurata
  • Takahito Horiuchi
  • Akemi Inoue
  • Ayumi Taguchi
  • Hitomi Yoshii
  • Jun Yoshida
Voices of
Narrated byKiyoshi Kobayashi
Issei Masamune
Composer(s)Eiji Kawamura
Country of originJapan
No. of episodes51
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkMBS
TBS
Original releaseOctober 4, 1987 –
October 9, 1988
Chronology
Preceded byKamen Rider Super-1
Followed byKamen Rider BLACK RX

Synopsis
Main article: List of Kamen Rider Black characters

After being kidnapped by the cult Gorgom on the night of their 19th birthday, stepbrothers Kotaro Minami and Nobuhiko Akizuki were submitted to a cyborg surgery with the purpose of becoming the candidates for the next Gorgom Creation King. Both of them are called Century Kings and are destined to best each other in a final battle - whoever wins will become the next Creation King. Kotaro escaped before getting brainwashed (which is the final step in the surgery), with help from his foster father and turned against Gorgom. He soon finds out the horrific truth from his stepfather: Gorgom originally killed his true parents and, since both Kotaro and Nobuhiko were born on the day of a solar eclipse, are referred to as "Black Sun" and "Shadow Moon". Kotaro, taking on the name of Kamen Rider Black, was determined to rescue his stepbrother from Gorgom while protecting Japan. However, later in the series, Nobuhiko emerged as Shadow Moon to fight Kotaro with the survivor becoming the next Creation King.

List of episodes
  1. Black!! Transformation (BLACK！！変身, Burakku!! Henshin) (Original Airdate: October 4, 1987)
  2. Mutant Party (怪人パーティ, Kaijin Pātī) (Original Airdate: October 11, 1987)
  3. Strange? Strange Reconstructed Humans (怪？怪・改造人間, Kai? Kai Kaizō Ningen) (Original Airdate: October 18, 1987)
  4. The Devil's Laboratory (悪魔の実験室, Akuma no Jikkenshitsu) (Original Airdate: October 25, 1987)
  5. Run Through the Maze, Kotaro (迷路を走る光太郎, Meiro o Hashiru Kōtarō) (Original Airdate: November 1, 1987)
  6. Riddle Of The Secret Espers (秘密透視のなぞ, Himitsu Tōshi no Nazo) (Original Airdate: November 8, 1987)
  7. The Regenerated Bio-Machine (復元する生体メカ, Fukugen Suru Seitai Meka) (Original Airdate: November 15, 1987)
  8. The Devil's Trill (悪魔のトリル, Akuma no Toriru) (Original Airdate: November 22, 1987)
  9. Bishum's Red Lips (ビシュムの紅い唇, Bishumu no Akai Kuchibiru) (Original Airdate: November 29, 1987)
  10. Where's Nobuhiko? (信彦はどこに？, Nobuhiko wa Doko ni?) (Original Airdate: December 6, 1987)
  11. The Starving Mutants (飢えた怪人たち, Ueta Kaijin-tachi) (Original Airdate: December 13, 1987)
  12. Birth Of The Super Machine Legend (超マシン伝説誕生, Chō Mashin Densetsu Tanjō) (Original Airdate: December 20, 1987)
  13. My Mom Is A Mutant Nanny (ママは怪人養育係, Mama wa Kaijin Yōikugakari) (Original Airdate: December 27, 1987)
  14. The Day The Tuna Disappeared (マグロが消えた日, Maguro ga Kieta Hi) (Original Airdate: January 10, 1988)
  15. The Targeted Ghoul School (狙われた怪奇学園, Newareta Kaiki Gakuen) (Original Airdate: January 17, 1988)
  16. My Friend! Go Beyond The Sea (友よ！海を越えて, Tomo yo! Umi o Koete) (Original Airdate: January 24, 1988)
  17. Kyoko's Strange Dream (杏子の不思議な夢, Kyōko no Fushigi na Yume) (Original Airdate: January 31, 1988)
  18. Sword Saint Bilgenia!! (剣聖ビルゲニア！！, Kensei Birugenia!!) (Original Airdate: February 7, 1988)
  19. The Suffocating Trap Of Hell (息づまる地獄の罠, Ikidzumaru Jigoku no Wana) (Original Airdate: February 14, 1988)
  20. Rider's Grave (ライダーの墓場, Raidā no Hakaba) (Original Airdate: February 21, 1988)
  21. Clash! The Two Super Machines (激突！二大マシン, Gekitotsu! Ni Dai Mashin) (Original Airdate: February 28, 1988)
  22. The Shadow That Stalks Dad (パパを襲う黒い影, Papa o Osō Kuroi Kage) (Original Airdate: March 6, 1988)
  23. Marumo's Magical Powers (マルモの魔法の力, Marumo no Mahō no Chikara) (Original Airdate: March 13, 1988)
  24. The Female College Student's Nightmare (女子大生の悪夢, Joshidaisei no Akumu) (Original Airdate: March 20, 1988)
  25. The Roaring Armed Machine (爆走する武装メカ, Bakusō Suru Busō Meka) (Original Airdate: April 3, 1988)
  26. Rescue The Psychic Girl (超能力少女を救え, Chōnōryoku Shōjo o Sukue) (Original Airdate: April 10, 1988)
  27. Fire Breathing Danger Road (火を噴く危険道路, Hi o Fuku Kiken Dōro) (Original Airdate: April 17, 1988)
  28. Scarab Beetle's Invitation To Hell (地獄へ誘う黄金虫, Jigoku e Sasō Koganemushi) (Original Airdate: April 24, 1988)
  29. The Targeted Death Mask (獲物はデスマスク？, Emono wa Desu Masuku?) (Original Airdate: May 1, 1988)
  30. Aloha to an Assassin! (暗殺者にアロハ！, Ansatsusha ni Aroha!) (Original Airdate: May 8, 1988)
  31. Burn! Boy Warriors (燃えよ！少年戦士, Moe yo! Shōnen Senshi) (Original Airdate: May 15, 1988)
  32. Dream Girl Yuki (夢少女・ユキ, Yume Shōjo Yuki) (Original Airdate: May 22, 1988)
  33. Father, Son And The River Of Love (父と子の愛の河, Chichi to Ko no Ai no Kawa) (Original Airdate: May 29, 1988)
  34. Revival?! The Prince Of Hell (復活？！地獄王子, Fukkatsu?! Jigoku Ōji) (Original Airdate: June 5, 1988)
  35. Showdown! The Two Princes (対決！二人の王子, Taiketsu! Futari no Ōji) (Original Airdate: June 12, 1988)
  36. The War Declaration of Love and Death (愛と死の宣戦布告, Ai to Shi no Sensen Fukoku) (Original Airdate: June 19, 1988)
  37. Memories of Yubari's Sky (想い出は夕張の空, Omoide wa Yūbari no Sora) (Original Airdate: June 26, 1988)
  38. Mystery!? The EP-Party Boy Squad (謎！？ＥＰ党少年隊, Nazo!? Ī Pī Tō Shōnentai) (Original Airdate: July 3, 1988)
  39. The Idol's Poison Fangs (アイドルの毒牙, Aidoru no Dokuga) (Original Airdate: July 10, 1988)
  40. Secret Of The Karate Master (カラテ名人の秘密, Karate Meijin no Himitsu) (Original Airdate: July 17, 1988)
  41. The Dangerous Time Thief (あぶない時間泥棒, Abunai Jikan Dorobō) (Original Airdate: July 24, 1988)
  42. Tokyo Mutant Gathering (東京-怪人大集合, Tōkyō - Kaijin Daishūgō) (Original Airdate: July 31, 1988)
  43. Battle at the Mutant Farm! (怪人牧場の決闘！, Kaijin Bokujō no Kettō!) (Original Airdate: August 7, 1988)
  44. An Ocean Inside The Closet (タンスの中は海！, Tansu no Naka wa Umi) (Original Airdate: August 14, 1988)
  45. Death Of Flower Mutant Bishum (妖花ビシュムの死, Yōka Bishumu no Shi) (Original Airdate: August 21, 1988)
  46. Baraom's Fierce Death (壮絶バラオムの死, Sōzetsu Baraomu no Shi) (Original Airdate: August 28, 1988)
  47. Death of the Rider (ライダー死す！, Raidā Shisu!) (Original Airdate: September 4, 1988)
  48. Bouquet of Reminiscence, Into The Ocean (海に追憶の花束を, Umi ni Tsuioku no Hanataba o) (Original Airdate: September 11, 1988)
  49. Fierce Battle! Death Of Darom (激闘！ダロムの死, Gekitō! Daromu no Shi) (Original Airdate: September 18, 1988)
  50. The Creation King's True Form? (創世王の正体は？, Sōsei Ō no Shōtai wa?) (Original Airdate: October 2, 1988)
  51. Gorgom's Last Day (ゴルゴム最期の日, Gorugomu Saigo no Hi) (Original Airdate: October 9, 1988)

Manga

A manga adaptation of Black titled Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBlack, Kamen Raidā Burakku) ran in Shōnen Sunday from 1987-1988.

TV specials
  • 1987: This is Kamen Rider Black (これが仮面ライダーＢＬＡＣＫだ!!, Kore ga Kamen Raidā Burakku da!!) - It was broadcast one week before the first episode, and introduces the character Kamen Rider Black.
  • 1988: Kamen Rider 1 Through RX: Big Gathering (仮面ライダー１号～ＲＸ大集合, Kamen Raidā Ichigō~Āru Ekkusu Daishūgō) - It covers all the heroes, from Kamen Rider 1 until ZX, and introduces Kamen Rider Black RX.

Theatrical films
  • Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Onigashima (仮面ライダーＢＬＡＣＫ　鬼ヶ島へ急行せよ, Kamen Raidā Burakku Onigashima e Kyūkō seyo)
Released on March 12, 1988 (between episodes 22 and 23) as part of the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival. Originally known simply as Kamen Rider Black during its theatrical release. Children all over Tokyo mysteriously disappear without warning. Kotaro suspects that the Gorgom are behind the abductions and follows a suspicious-looking tour bus with children on it, only to lose its trail off a cliff. With the help of a fisherman (played by Ishinomori himself), Kotaro travels to a remote island and uses his abilities as Kamen Rider Black to save the kids and foil Gorgom's latest evil scheme.
  • Kamen Rider Black: Terrifying! The Phantom House of Devil Pass (仮面ライダーＢＬＡＣＫ　恐怖!悪魔峠の怪人館, Kamen Raidā Burakku Kyōfu! Akumatōge no Kaijinkan)
Released on July 9, 1988 (between episodes 38 and 39) as part of the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival. The city of Yūbari, Hokkaidō has become a ghost town following the presence of Shadow Moon and his minions of Gorgom. Makino, a scientist working on Gorgom's top-secret robot experiment, escapes from the evil organization and returns to Tokyo, only to find out that his wife and daughter have been abducted. As Kamen Rider Black, Kotaro travels to Yubari to save Makino's family and liberate the town from Shadow Moon's evil grasp.
Tetsuo Kurata reprised his role as Kotaro Minami in 2009's Kamen Rider Decade The Movie: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker.
Kurata also returned as Kotaro Minami in 2015's Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3.

Video games
  • Kamen Rider Black: Taiketsu Shadow Moon (仮面ライダーBLACK 対決シャドームーン, Kamen Raidā Burakku: Taiketsu Shadōmūn, "Showdown with Shadow Moon")
A side-scrolling action game released by Bandai for the Family Computer Disk System on April 15, 1988. Player takes control of Kamen Rider Black, who must defeat numerous Gorgom mutants. The player got to ride Battle Hopper in addition to controlling Black on foot.
  • Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu
Kamen Rider Black appears as the main character of the 1988 storyline in this 3D action game for the PlayStation 2. Lead to an old Shocker hideout believing it to be Gorgom, Kotaro is forced to fight various kaijin and Gel-Shocker soldiers, only to learn the game's true villain is after the King Stone inside of him. Eventually, Kamen Rider 1, Kamen Rider V3 and Kamen Rider Agito travel to 1988 to assist him in the game's final battle. Tetsuo Kurata returns to voice the character. Shadow Moon makes a brief cameo as a non-playable character as well.

Cast
  • Tetsuo Kurata as Kohtaro Minami (南 光太郎, Minami Kōtarō)
  • Takahito Horiuchi as Nobuhiko Akizuki (秋月 信彦, Akizuki Nobuhiko)
  • Akemi Inoue as Kyoko Akizuki (秋月 杏子, Akizuki Kyōko)
  • Ayumi Taguchi as Katsumi Kida (紀田 克美, Kida Katsumi)
  • Hitomi Yoshii as High Priestess Bishium (大神官ビシュム, Daishinkan Bishumu)
  • Susumu Kurobe as Hideomi Kuromatsu (黒松 英臣, Kuromatsu Hideomi)
  • Jun Yoshida as Kensei Bilgenia (剣聖ビルゲニア, Kensei Birugenia)
  • Takeshi Watabe as Creation King (創世王, Sōsei Ō, Voice)
  • Shōzō Iizuka as High Priest Darom (大神官ダロム, Daishinkan Daromu, Voice)
  • Toshimichi Takahashi as High Priest Baraom (大神官バラオム, Daishinkan Baraomu, Voice)
  • Masaki Terasoma as Century King Shadow Moon (世紀王シャドームーン, Seiki Ō Shadō Mūn, Voice)
  • Kiyoshi Kobayashi (1-39) and Issei Masamune (40-51) as the Narrator

Guest actors
  • Kantarō Suga as Soichiro Akizuki
  • Sent Hoshi as Masaru Todo (東堂 勝, Tōdō Masaru)
  • Yutaka Hirose as Hayami
  • Ryōsuke Sakamoto as Morita
  • Miyuki Nagato as Gorgom Henchwoman
  • Jōji Nakata as Shigeru Sugiyama
  • Masaki Kyomoto as Ryusuke Taki (滝 竜介, Taki Ryūsuke)
  • Kouji Unogi as Buffalo Mutant (Human Form)
  • Hiroko Nishimoto as Kimie Tadokoro
  • Mayumi Yoshida
  • Masashi Ishibashi as Saburo Takasugi
  • Shun Ueda as Kuwagata Mutant (Human Form)
  • Eisuke Yoda as Kujira Mutant (クジラ怪人, Kujira Kaijin, Voice)

Songs
Opening theme
  • "Kamen Rider Black" (仮面ライダーBLACK, Kamen Raidā Burakku)
    • Lyrics: Yoko Aki (阿木 燿子, Aki Yōko)
    • Composition: Ryudo Uzaki (宇崎 竜童, Uzaki Ryūdō)
    • Arrangement: Eiji Kawamura (川村 栄二, Kawamura Eiji)
    • Artist: Tetsuo Kurata
Ending theme
  • "Long Long Ago, 20th Century"
    • Lyrics: Yoko Aki
    • Composition: Ryudo Uzaki
    • Arrangement: Eiji Kawamura
    • Artist: Norio Sakai

International broadcast
  • It aired in Thailand on Channel 3 in 1990, dubbed as wīrburus̄ʹ h̄n̂ākāk dả. ("วีรบุรุษหน้ากากดำ", literally: Black Mask Hero).
  • It was broadcast in the Philippines every Sunday from 1993 to 1998 via IBC-13 and was one of the highest rated TV shows of that time, being translated to Filipino.
  • The media aired in Indonesia from 1993 to 1994 via RCTI and from 2004 to 2006 via Indosiar. It was known as Ksatria Baja Hitam which means The Black Steel Knight and received a cult following since.
  • It was the first of the two series of the Kamen Rider franchise to be broadcast in Brazil (the other being Kamen Rider Black RX), by the now extinct network Rede Manchete from April 1991 to December 1994, and was also released on home video. The last episode (51 - Gorgom's Last Day) was never shown. Rerun in the year 2011 on the channel Ulbra TV. Even with the title of Black Kamen Rider adopted by the dubbing, the series was announced in promos as Blackman, which was also used for the toy line and for the Brazilian soundtrack album.

In other media
  • Kamen Rider Black is pictured on the cover art of Powerman 5000's 1994 EP, True Force.
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