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Icon-krThis article is about a series entry (the 19th) in the Kamen Rider Series.
Red alert WARNING: This series contains scenes of blood, scary images and partial nudity. Viewer discretion is advised!

For the series' main character, see Hitoshi Hidaka.

Kamen Rider Hibiki (仮面ライダー響鬼ヒビキ, Kamen Raidā Hibiki, Masked Rider Hibiki) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the nineteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The show premiered on January 30, 2005 and aired its final episode on January 22, 2006. It aired alongside Tokusou Sentai DekarangerIcon-crosswikiand later, Mahou Sentai MagirangerIcon-crosswiki on the Super Hero Time block. This series is noted for introducing new themes and styles yet unseen in other shows. The catchphrase for the series is: "To us, there are heroes." (ぼくたちには、ヒーローがいる, Bokutachi ni wa, hīrō ga iru).

The average rating of the series was 8.2 %.[1]

Production[]

Pre-Production[]

Started from February 2004, the successor of Kamen Rider Blade TV show was put into pre-production. During brainstorming, chief producer Shigenori Takatera had felt that the trend of battle royales and handsome young men leads was being exhausted, and no longer wanted to force the the idea of continuing "Kamen Rider Series". Especially at the moment, the viewing rate and toy sales of Blade are both unable to get over Toho's Chouseishin GransazerIcon-crosswiki. Therefore, his plan is to reboot past Toei / Shotaro Ishinomori heroes. The top consideration is 1972’s Henshin Ninja ArashiIcon-crosswiki, followed by Android KikaiderIcon-crosswiki and Uchuu Keiji GavanIcon-crosswiki. Takatera hoped that it will be the first step to re-brand Ishinomori and Toei's classic heroes and build a Japanese version of Disney. The legacy of this period in the show is the Armor of the Ogre.

After brainstorming, the theme of the upcoming show was decided to be a mixture of "ninja", "hunter" and "yokai". In March 2004, it was rumored that Genseishin JustirisersIcon-crosswiki would be a ninja theme. To avoid competition, the production crew had to remove the ninja and yokai section and replaced them with "global demon hunters" and "magic creatures". An additional "cowboy" concept was made during this period and eventually became the design motif of Kamen Rider Ibuki. Another choice is create a new hero based on Korean folktales along with a South Korea corporation, but was rejected by Toei’s holders eventually. One month later, after being informed that the 2005 Super Sentai SeriesIcon-crosswiki will indeed using magic as the key elements, the crew had to rework over again with removing all magic sections in the plan. Magic circle, spells and magical creatures were re-imagined into "Onmyoji" and "Shikigami", gives the birth of Disk Animals.

In June 2004 , due to Bandai's strong request in the reason of merchandizing and franchsing, the upcoming show was given the "Kamen Rider" moniker, and Takatera's crew had to adapt all their early settings to this Kamen Rider series, came out with the title Kamen Rider Hibiki. With the title established, things such as Oni Riders, taiko weapons, the master and the apprentice was added up in later periods, leading to the completion of building up the world of Hibiki. [2]

Staff Changes[]

By Episode 29, Takatera was removed from his position as executive producer. Although Toei has not released an official statement regarding the reason, many critics have pointed out several of them that may have caused it, being low audience ratings, low toy sales, and dissatisfaction with the show's themes and/or story. Up until now, Shin-ichiro Shirakura had no involvement in Hibiki and replaced Takatera as executive producer for the show as well as the series' summer film Kamen Rider Hibiki And The 7 Senki. Tsuyoshi Kida and Shinji Oishi, the original head-writers for the show under Takatera, were replaced by Toshiki Inoue and Shoji Yonemura under Shirakura's direction.

In addition, personalities such as Sensha Yoshida, a renowned manga artist; Hiroshi Yamamoto, a video-game designer; Masao Higashi, a seasoned television and movie critic; and many others published severe criticisms in their personal blogs because of this. Even the show's star, Shigeki Hosokawa, who portrayed Hibiki, stated in his personal website that Inoue’s scripts "needed adjustments" and that this whole staff change was "fraudulent". With the first production staff, Hosokawa would join the writers meetings and give suggestions, however Hosokawa could not give his opinion in the second production staff meetings due to time restraints.

In an interview published on TV Asahi's main website, Hosokawa stated that the script for the final episode was rewritten on the final day of filming. He later said that the script was sent in so late that it arrived on set as the final battle was being filmed. This finale was scrapped and then a new ending that, according to Hosokawa, was nothing like the intended ending, was filmed. Later in the interview, Hosokawa said that the Oni suit used by Kiriya was a kitbash of two new suits made especially for the characters of Asumu and Kyosuke. Hosokawa said that this was the most upsetting change to him as the final script had been rewritten six times at that point and all but the filmed version contained both Asumu and Kyosuke becoming Oni.

Changes:

  • Asumu's opening narration at the start of every episode was removed.
  • A new opening was introduced in episode 34 and following.
  • The use of kanji being flashed on screen during scenes was removed altogether.
  • The ending sequence was removed altogether.
  • The characters of Kyousuke Kiriya and Shuki were introduced to the series.
  • Originally Eiki and Shouki were both supposed to be main cast members, but had their parts completely removed.
  • The fire breathing (Onibi) and the Oni claws (Onizume) abilities' sequences were completely removed along with Ibuki opening his mouth for his attack. The Makamou that opened their mouths too wide or spurted liquids were also removed. There had been complaints about these sequences from parent advocacy groups who claimed that they scared children.
  • Things as complicated-to-animate CG Makamou and shooting in mountains were almost entirely reduced probably due to cost issues, leading critics to believe that Takatera was forcefully removed from the project due to his unwillingness to change his script to adapt to these changes.

In January 2006, at the Kamen Rider Super Live, Hosokawa stated that the series was "essentially an incomplete process" and that "it should not have ended that way". Mitsu Murata, who portrayed the Douji characters, declared on his blog: "I cannot forgive them, I want to continue his idea", complaining about the removal of Takatera as producer. These declarations caused an unprecedented storm within the professional tokusatsu market and many of Toei's executives were berated for allowing a series to be handled in such a manner.

Story[]

The Kamen Riders, known as Oni, battle man eating beasts called Makamou with "pure sound". One of the Oni, a man named Hibiki ends up having a teacher and apprentice-like relationship with Asumu Adachi. A young boy unsure of himself and is at a crossroads in his life as he transitions to high school, Asumu learns to be an adult through watching Hibiki and the other Oni as they all train together to hone their skills in fighting the Makamou and the homunculi aiding them. However, the sudden raise of Makamou numbers proves to be a prelude to an upcoming calamity.

Characters[]

Oni[]

TV Show[]

KR Hibiki Ibuki Todoroki 1

Three main Riders in Hibiki: (from left to right) Todoroki, Hibiki, Ibuki.

11Oni

(From left to right): Gouki, Shouki, Eiki, Zanki, Todoroki, Hibiki, Ibuki, Sabaki, Danki, Touki, Banki.

Seven Senki

Movie Riders: (from left to right) Touki, Habataki, Kirameki, Ibuki, Hibiki, Kabuki, Todoroki, Nishiki.

Kamen Rider Hibiki Hitoshi Hidaka
Kamen Rider Ibuki Iori Izumi
Kamen Rider Todoroki Tomizo Todayama
Kamen Rider Zanki Zaomaru Zaitsuhara (Other users)
Kamen Rider Danki Daisuke Danda
Kamen Rider Sabaki Sakae Saeki
Kamen Rider Eiki Eiki
Kamen Rider Gouki Gouki
Kamen Rider Shouki Shouki
Kamen Rider Touki Touki
Kamen Rider Banki Banki
Kamen Rider Shuki Shiori Shinagawa
Kamen Rider Michibiki Michibiki
Kamen Rider Kachidoki Kachidoki
Kamen Rider Genki Genki
Kamen Rider Yamabuki Yamabuki

Movie/special-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Hibiki Hibiki
Kamen Rider Ibuki Ibuki
Kamen Rider Todoroki Todoroki
Kamen Rider Kabuki Kabuki
Kamen Rider Touki Touki
Kamen Rider Kirameki Kirameki
Kamen Rider Nishiki Nishiki
Kamen Rider Habataki Habataki

Stageshow-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Jaki Jacky Zhang
Kamen Rider Mujaki Mutsuko Murashima
God of Oni En no Ozunu
Kamen Rider Jaku Jaku
Kamen Rider Kagayaki Konko Kageyukouji
Kamen Rider Yuki Yuki
Kamen Rider Roki Roki
Kamen Rider Kyoki Kyosuke Kiriya

S.I.C. Hero Saga-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Fubuki Fubuki

Novel-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Akatsuki Tsutomu Tsumura [Citation needed]
Kamen Rider Hibiki Hibiki
Kamen Rider Saki Saki
Kamen Rider Ibuki Ibuki
Kamen Rider Kido Kido
Kamen Rider Kiryu Kiryu
Kamen Rider Kiju Kiju of the ValleyIcon-crosswiki
Kamen Rider Shokuki Hattori Hanzo III

Debatable Riders[]

TV Show[]

Armor of the Ogre Shiori Shinagawa
Transformed Akira Akira Amami
Transformed Kyosuke Kyosuke Kiriya

Other media[]

Shocker Rider No.8 Hiroshi Hachimura
Transformed Asumu Asumu Adachi
Kujaku Kujaku
Armor of the Ogre KiryuMomotaro
Fake Kabuki Hitotsumi

Allies[]

Takeshi[]

Makamou[]

Giant types[]

Summer types[]

Others[]

Episodes[]

Main article: Kamen Rider Hibiki Episodes

The series is divided into two story arcs[3]:

  • Episodes 1-29 - Story Arc: Training Oni (「鍛える鬼」編, Kitaeru Oni Hen)
  • Episodes 30-48 - Story Arc: Boy Towards Tomorrow (「明日往く少年」編, Ashita Iku Shōnen Hen)

The episode titles adhere to the format of a verb followed by a noun. In addition, this is the first series to use special names for its episodes, similar to the Super Sentai series; in this case, calling them "Volumes" (, Maki), with the episode numbers themselves being written in kanji rather than Arabic numerals (i.e. Volume 1 (一之巻, Ichinomaki), Volume 2 (二之巻, Ninomaki), etc.), and the final episode being called the Final Volume (最終之巻, Saishūnomaki).[4]

  1. The Echoing Oni (響く鬼, Hibiku Oni)
  2. The Howling Spider (咆える蜘蛛, Hoeru Kumo)
  3. Falling Voice (落ちる声, Ochiru Koe)
  4. Running Ichiro (駆ける勢地郎, Kakeru Ichiro)
  5. Melting Sea (熔ける海, Tokeru Umi)
  6. Beating Soul (叩く魂, Tataku Tamashii)
  7. Majestic Breath Oni (息吹く鬼, Ibuku Oni)
  8. Shouting Wind (叫ぶ風, Sakebu Kaze)
  9. A Squirming Evil Heart (蠢く邪心, Ugomeku Jashin)
  10. The Oni Who Stands in Line (並び立つ鬼, Narabitatsu Oni)
  11. Swallowing Wall (呑み込む壁, Nomikomu Kabe)
  12. Revealed Secrets (開く秘密, Hiraku Himitsu)
  13. Disrupting Fate (乱れる運命, Midareru Sadame)
  14. Devouring Douji (喰らう童子, Kurau Dōji)
  15. Weakening Thunder (鈍る雷, Niburu Ikazuchi)
  16. Roaring Oni (轟く鬼, Todoroku Oni)
  17. A Targeted Town (狙われる街, Nerawareru Machi)
  18. Unbroken Hurricane (挫けぬ疾風, Kujikenu Shippū)
  19. Strumming Warrior (かき鳴らす戦士, Kakinarasu Senshi)
  20. The Pure Sound (清める音, Kiyomeru Oto)
  21. Gathering Demons (引き合う魔物, Hikiau Mamono)
  22. Becoming a Cocoon (化ける繭, Bakeru Mayu)
  23. Summer Training (鍛える夏, Kitaeru Natsu)
  24. Burning Crimson (燃える紅, Moeru Kurenai)
  25. Running Azure (走る紺碧, Hashiru Konpeki)
  26. Counting the Days (刻まれる日々, Kizamareru Hibi)
  27. Passing Down the Bond (伝える絆, Tsutaeru Kizuna)
  28. Undying Malice (絶えぬ悪意, Taenu Akui)
  29. Shining Boy (輝く少年, Kagayaku Shōnen)
  30. Forging Premonition (鍛える予感, Kitaeru Yokan)
  31. Surpassing Father (超える父, Koeru Chichi)
  32. Bursting Song (弾ける歌, Hajikeru Uta)
  33. The Armed Blade (装甲う刃, Matō Yaiba)
  34. Beloved Beauty (恋する鰹, Koi Suru Katsuo)
  35. Fallen Angel (惑わす天使, Madowasu Tenshi)
  36. Starving Shuki (飢える朱鬼, Ueru Shuki)
  37. Lightning Living Again (甦る雷, Yomigaeru Ikazuchi)
  38. Broken Ongeki (敗れる音撃, Yabureru Ongeki)
  39. Your Beginning (始まる君, Hajimaru Kimi)
  40. Nearing Orochi (迫るオロチ, Semaru Orochi)
  41. The Awakening Teacher and Student (目醒める師弟, Mezameru Shitei)
  42. Ferocious Demons (猛る妖魔, Takeru Yōma)
  43. An Unchangeable Body (変われぬ身, Kawarenu Karada)
  44. Forbidden Secret (秘める禁断, Himeru Kindan)
  45. Dying a Glorious Death, Zanki (散華する斬鬼, Sange Suru Zanki)
  46. Mastering the Oni Way (極める鬼道, Kiwameru Onidō)
  47. The Talking Back (語る背中, Kataru Senaka)
  48. Dreaming of Tomorrow (明日なる夢, Asunaru Yume)

Movies

  1. Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Senki (劇場版 仮面ライダー響鬼と7人の戦鬼, Gekijōban Kamen Raidā Hibiki to Shichinin no Senki)

Specials

  1. Kamen Rider Hibiki: Asumu, Transform! You can be an Oni, too!! (仮面ライダー響鬼 明日夢変身!キミも鬼になれる!!, Kamen Raidā Hibiki: Asumu Henshin! Kimi mo Oni ni nareru!!)

Stageshows

  1. Kamen Rider Hibiki: Special Show (仮面ライダー響鬼 スペシャルショー, Kamen Raidā Hibiki Supesharu Shō)
  2. Kamen Rider Super Live: Oni Legend, Gaiden (仮面ライダースーパーライブ ~鬼伝説・外伝~, Kamen Raidā Sūpā Raibu Oni Densetsu Gaiden)

Other media[]

Manga[]

  1. Kamen Rider Hibiki (manga) (仮面ライダー響鬼, Kamen Raidā Hibiki)
  2. Kamen Rider Hibiki And The 7 Senki (manga) (仮面ライダー響鬼と7人の戦鬼, Kamen Raidā Hibiki to Shichinin no Senki)

S.I.C. Hero Saga[]

  1. Seven Ogres

Novels[]

  1. Kamen Rider Hibiki: Compass to Tomorrow (仮面ライダー響鬼 明日への指針, Kamen Raidā Hibiki Asu e no Konpasu)
  2. Kamen Rider Hibiki (novel) (小説 仮面ライダー響鬼, Shōsetsu Kamen Raidā Hibiki)

Cast[]

Suit Actors[]

Songs[]

Opening themes

  • "Kagayaki" ( "Radiance")
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Sahashi
    • Episodes: 1-33, 48

Ending theme

Notes[]

Hibiki Logo

A horizontal version of the logo

  • In the original show, the logo used was vertically oriented with the words read from top to bottom. In other media, however, a horizontal version of the logo was used.
  • None of the riders in this series ever shout during transformation, except for a few of the movie-exclusive Riders who call out their Rider name when transforming.
  • This is the only Heisei season where none of the Riders featured (even the main Rider) use a belt to transform.
  • All of the Rider weapons are based on music instruments.
  • All the names of the Kamen Riders from this series end with the letters "ki".
  • Many episodes of the series use a song dialogue (for example to Hibiki).
  • This is the first series of Kamen Rider where the transformation destroys the heroes' clothing.
  • This is the only Heisei series without a female protagonist.
  • The series has a few references to the original show:
    • The organization Takeshi that helps the Oni is the same as the first name of the first Kamen Rider.
    • The founder of Takeshi 200 years ago in the movie was a man named Tobei Tachibana and the Tachibanas regularly aid the Riders like the original Tobei Tachibana did for Kamen Rider 1.
    • Kamen Rider Ibuki uses the power of wind to transform and rides a motorcycle in the early episodes of the show.
  • Excluding A.R. World Riders, this series has the most Riders appear with 30 (including the riders that appear in expanded material). It is followed by Gaim with 25 (excluding all Bujin Riders except Bujin Gaim) and Ryuki with 17 (excluding Abyss, who is Decade-exclusive).
    • If counted by on-screen appearance though, Hibiki's amount of Riders at 23 is one less than the total amount of Gaim, as Hibiki had to exclude 6 stage show Riders and 1 S.I.C. Hero Rider while Gaim had to exclude one Rider only.
      • However, this record would be broken by Kamen Rider Geats TV Series as it have 33+ Riders (including the deceased Riders that were mentioned in the first episode).
  • This is the only series not to feature Seiji Takaiwa as the suit actor for the Heisei-era Main Rider since Agito, due to his role in the concurrently airing Mahou Sentai MagirangerIcon-crosswiki as the suit actor for MagiRedIcon-crosswiki.
  • This was the only season to have an opening theme song with no lyrics, Kagayaki, which was the theme in the first portion of the series.
  • Synonymous with "Ongeki Warrior" (音撃戦士 Ongeki Senshi) (in TV Asahi official website, etc.), "Senki" (戦鬼) (in theater version title, infant magazine, etc.), "Oni Warrior" (鬼戦士 Oni Senshi) (in theatrical version CM, and 'オニ戦士' is written in the infant magazine), "Oni Chōjin" (鬼超人, lit. "Demon Superman") (in some infant magazine) and so on. Although it is an existence that corresponds to the Kamen Rider in other Kamen Rider Series works, this name is never used in the play.
  • This show is the final Kamen Rider series to be shot in 1080i.
  • The first outro was shot at Mizumoto Park.

References[]

  1. https://w.atwiki.jp/shichouseiko/pages/16.html
  2. Kataoka, Chikara. (2007) Circumstances of "Masked Rider Hibiki" - How documents and heroes are "set". Japan: Gogatsu Shobō. ISBN 9784772704625
  3. [1]
  4. http://web.archive.org/web/20150831002833if_/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/hibiki/02_katsudo/backnumber.html

External links[]

Rider's Crest-Hibiki (Red) Kamen Rider Hibiki
Oni
Primary: Hitoshi Hidaka - Iori Izumi - Tomizo Todayama - Zaomaru Zaitsuhara
Modern Day Oni: Daisuke Danda - Sakae Saeki - Eiki - Shiori Shinagawa - Akira Amami - Kyosuke Kiriya
Ancient Sengoku Era Oni: Hibiki (past) - Ibuki (past) -Todoroki (past) - Kabuki - Touki - Kirameki - Nishiki - Habataki
Stageshow-Exclusive: Jacky Zhang - Mutsuko Murashima - Konko Kageyukouji - Yuki
Ancient Edo Era Oni: Hibiki (Edo Period) - Ibuki (Edo Period) - Saki - Kido - Kiryu - Hattori Masanari
Other Oni: Fubuki - Previous Zanki - Gouki - Shouki - Touki - Banki - Tsutomu Tsumura - Michibiki - Kachidoki - Genki - Yamabuki
Takeshi
Ichiro Tachibana- Asumu Adachi - Kasumi Tachibana - Hinaka Tachibana - Midori Takizawa - Kounosuke Kogure
Allies: Hitomi Mochida - Ikuko Adachi
Gear
Transformation Items
Henshin Onsa - Henshin Onibue - Henshin Kigen
Ongeki Weapons
Ongekibou - Ongekiko - Ongekizofukuken Armed Saber - Ongekikan - Ongekimei - Ongekigen - Ongekishin - Meito Onsaken - Ongekikanabou - Ongekicymbal - Ongekitriangle - Ongekiflute
Vehicles
Gaika - Tatsumaki - Shiranui - Raijin
Other
Disk Animals - Equipment Belt - Armor of the Ogre
Makamou
Leaders: The Real Man and Woman - The Man and Woman - Black Puppet - White Puppet - Super Douji and Hime
Giant Type Makamou: Tsuchigumo - Yamabiko - Bakegani - Ittanmomen - Ooari - Okubi - Otoroshi - Ubume - Yamaarashi - Oonamazu - Amikiri - Kamaitachi - Notsugo
Summer Type Makamou: Dorotabou - Kappa - Bakeneko - Uwan - Tengu - Hitotsumi
Special Makamou: Nanashi - Kasha - Yobuko - Midaredouji - Kodama - Satori - Rokurokubi - Orochi
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