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Icon-krThis article is about a series entry (the 14th) in the Kamen Rider Series.
Red alert WARNING: This series contains scenes of blood, graphic violence, gun violence, and murder. Viewer discretion is advised!

For the series' main character, Kuuga, see Yusuke Godai.

Kamen Rider Kuuga (仮面ライダークウガ, Kamen Raidā Kūga, Masked Rider Kuuga) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series. It is the first entry of the Heisei Era, and the fourteenth overall. Created as a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, the series premiered on January 30, 2000, joining Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFiveIcon-crosswiki and later Mirai Sentai TimerangerIcon-crosswiki.

The series is the first to be broadcast in widescreen format (albeit presented in a letterbox format). The catchphrase for the series is "A New Hero, A New Legend".

The average rating of the series was 9.7%.[1]

Story[]

Long ago, the Gurongi Tribe terrorized the Rinto (リント, Rinto) until a warrior named Kuuga appeared and defeated the Gurongi, sealing their leader within a cave. In the present day, a multi-talented man named Yusuke Godai finds himself linked to the mysterious stoned belt that was found within the excavated cave as the Gurongi are resurrected and resume their murderous game on the descendants of the Rinto, humanity itself.

It is up to Yusuke, along with the assembled Science Police, to use the various powers of Kuuga to stop and defeat the Gurongi Tribesmen from their continuous killing and ensure the happiness of others. However, as the endgame draws near, Yusuke learns that there is a horrible revelation behind Kuuga and the Gurongis' leader.

Characters[]

Kamen Riders[]

Kuuga and Ichijo

Kamen Rider Kuuga together with Kaoru Ichijo

TV Show[]

Kamen Rider Kuuga RikuYusuke Godai

Novel-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Kuuga Ancient KuugaMika Natsume

Manga-exclusive[]

Kamen Rider Kuuga RikuYusuke Godai
Kamen Rider Agito Yukina TsugamiShoichi Tsugami
Kamen Rider Agito Reiko Takano
Kamen Rider G3 Tetsuya SurugaKaoru Ichijo

Debatable Riders[]

Agito Giant Ape-like Agito, Shouma Kitagiri, Strong arm Agito, Failed Agito

Allies[]

Gurongi[]

Main article: Gurongi

La Group[]

Xu Group[]

Me Group[]

Go Group[]

Others[]

Episodes[]

Main article: Kamen Rider Kuuga Episodes

The series is divided into three story arcs[2]:

  • Episode 01-16 - "Rebirth" Arc (「新生」編, "Shinsei"-Hen), this arc introduces most of the main characters and plot. It deals with Yusuke Godai fighting the Gurongi, upon becoming Kuuga.
  • Episode 17-35 - "Evolution" Arc (「進化」編, "Shinka"-Hen), this arc deals with Yusuke upgrading his powers with the Rising forms after being brought back from the dead by the Arcle.
  • Episode 36-49 - "Ends" Arc (「終焉」編, "Shūen"-Hen), this arc builds up Kuuga's further evolution into his Ultimate Form and his final fight against the Gurongi overlord, N·Daguva·Zeba.

The title of each episode of this Kamen Rider Series is written with only one word, consisting of two Kanji.

  1. Revival (復活, Fukkatsu)
  2. Transformation (変身, Henshin)
  3. Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō)
  4. Sprint (疾走, Shissō)
  5. Distance (距離, Kyori)
  6. Azure Dragon (青龍, Seiryū)
  7. Grief (傷心, Shōshin)
  8. Archer (射手, Shashu)
  9. Siblings (兄妹, Kyōdai)
  10. Fierceness (熾烈, Shiretsu)
  11. Promise (約束, Yakusoku)
  12. Teacher (恩師, Onshi)
  13. Suspicion (不審, Fushin)
  14. Omen (前兆, Zenchō)
  15. Armor (装甲, Sōkō)
  16. Creed (信条, Shinjō)
  17. Preparation (臨戦, Rinsen)
  18. Loss (喪失, Sōshitsu)
  19. Artifact (霊石, Reiseki)
  20. Smile (笑顔, Egao)
  21. Secrets (暗躍, An'yaku)
  22. Game (遊戯, Yūgi)
  23. Uneasiness (不安, Fuan)
  24. Strengthening (強化, Kyōka)
  25. Wandering (彷徨, Hōkō)
  26. Myself (自分, Jibun)
  27. Ripple (波紋, Hamon)
  28. Clarification (解明, Kaimei)
  29. Crossroads (岐路, Kiro)
  30. Fate (運命, Unmei)
  31. Retaliation (応戦, Ōsen)
  32. Obstacle (障害, Shōgai)
  33. Cooperation (連携, Renkei)
  34. Tremble (戦慄, Senritsu)
  35. Emotion (愛憎, Aizō)
  36. Complication (錯綜, Sakusō)
  37. Approach (接近, Sekkin)
  38. Transition (変転, Henten)
  39. Goma (強魔, Gōma)
  40. Impulse (衝動, Shōdō)
  41. Control (抑制, Yokusei)
  42. Battlefield (戦場, Senjō)
  43. Reality (現実, Genjitsu)
  44. Crisis (危機, Kiki)
  45. Archenemy (強敵, Kyōteki)
  46. Indomitable (不屈, Fukutsu)
  47. Decision (決意, Ketsui)
  48. Kuuga (空我, Kūga)
  49. Yusuke (雄介, Yūsuke)

Specials

  1. Kamen Rider Kuuga vs. the Strong Monster Go·Jiino·Da (仮面ライダークウガVS剛力怪人ゴ・ジイノ・ダ, Kamen Raidā Kūga Bāsasu Gōriki Kaijin Go·Jiino·Da)
  2. First Dream of the New Year (初夢, Hatsuyume)
  3. Good Job (乙彼, Otsukare)
  4. Kamen Rider Kuuga: Special Chapter (仮面ライダークウガ 特別篇, Kamen Raidā Kūga Tokubetsu-hen) (director's cut of the first two episodes)

Other media[]

Manga[]

  1. Kamen Rider Kuuga (Televi-kun manga) (仮面ライダークウガ, Kamen Raidā Kūga)
  2. Kamen Rider Kuuga: Extra Episode ~Trust~ (仮面ライダークウガ エクストラエピソード「信頼」, Kamen Raidā Kūga Ekusutora Episōdo Shinrai)
  3. Kamen Rider Kuuga (comic) (幪面超人古迦, Mung Min Chiu Yan Gu Gaa)
  4. Kamen Rider Kuuga (manga) (仮面ライダークウガ, Kamen Raidā Kūga)

S.I.C. Hero Saga[]

  1. Odyssey (オデッセイ, Odessei)
  2. Dark Side

Novels[]

  1. Kamen Rider Kuuga (novel) (小説 仮面ライダークウガ, Shōsetsu Kamen Raidā Kūga)

Cast[]

Suit Actors[]

Songs[]

Main article: Kamen Rider Kuuga: Song Collection 1
Main article: Kamen Rider Kuuga: Song Collection 2
Opening theme
Ending theme
Insert theme
  • "Blue Higher
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist: Jin Hashimoto
  • ""Bara No Okite" (薔薇の掟, The Law of Roses)
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist:Mie Nanamori (La·Balva·De)
  • "TRY & CHASE
    • Lyrics: Nagae Kuwabara
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist: Masayuki Tanaka
  • "Say Alright!"
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist: Jin Hashimoto
  • "Edge of Green"
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Kazunori Miyake
    • Artist: Jin Hashimoto
  • "PURPLE PRIDE"
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Kazunori Miyake
    • Artist: Norio Sakai
  • "Love is my life
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist: Yoshitaka Ootsuka
  • "Soukouki GOURAM" (装甲機GOURAM, Armored Machine GOURAM)
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Keiichi Oku
    • Artist: MICKEY-T.
  • "BEATCHASER 2000
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Composition & Arrangement: Toshihiko Satou
    • Artist: Jin Hashimoto
  • "Kyuukyoku no Yami" (究極の闇, Ultimate Darkness)
    • Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
    • Artist: Norio Sakai

Release[]

  • Kamen Rider Kuuga premiered in Japan on TV Asahi on January 30, 2000.
  • Kuuga was released on Blu-Ray in several box sets.

  • All episodes of Kuuga were released in North America on TokuSHOUTSU on May 1, 2020[3]
  • A physical Blu-Ray release was announced by Shout! at their panel at Anime Expo 2022, and pre-orders began on July 2, 2022. Containing all episodes with an optional subtitle track for the Gurongi language, the set will be released on September 20, 2022.[4]

  • All episodes of Kuuga were released in Latin America with a Spanish dub on Olympusat's FreeTV streaming app on September 7, 2021

Notes[]

  • This show is the very first Kamen Rider series to be shot in 1080i, though some broadcast footage and frequent home video releases used the modified component masters (on-air versions with letterboxed 4:3 aspect ratio), which results in standard quality. The HD streaming and Blu-Ray Box releases, however: Uses the modified and upscaled versions of the SD component masters, making the term "remastered" completely null. This practice would continue until the end of Kamen Rider Den-O.
  • There were plans to produce a Kuuga film featuring an overseas tribe of Gurongi led by a Wolf Gurongi, but it never happened due to the lack of proper funding.[5] Kuuga would not make his first theatrical film appearance until Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker.
Masked Rider KUUGA first spell

Kamen Rider Kuuga english logo

  • An alternate version of the logo with both English and Japanese language was used in the 2018 Kamen Rider Exhibition in Macau.
  • As a result of Odagiri's starring in the show, he became the namesake of the infamous television phenomenon known as the "Odagiri effect", in which a show primarily with a male demographic attracts a larger than expected number of female viewers due to the show's attractive male leads. Aside from the target audience of young children from the ages of 4 to 12, the producers noticed that Kuuga was also attracting the children's mothers as well, who were in their 30's. Toei deliberately attempted to do the same with Kamen Rider Agito, this time casting three attractive male leads. This was very successful as the effect was working as intended, much to the dismay of most male viewers.
  • This series marked the first time the Kamen Rider franchise had returned to TV Asahi (before 1977 NET) since the final episode of Kamen Rider Amazon. Kamen Rider had moved to TBS due to a new series spun off from the franchise debuting on NET. TBS would continue to house the series until the final episode of Kamen Rider Black RX.
  • This series is the last to feature one lone Rider fighting, a practice commonly associated with the Showa era. Originally, this was going to be the series that introduced the concept of other Riders, but the staff decided to keep it only to Godai instead to pay tribute to Shotaro Ishinomori. Because of this, Kuuga is unique in its kind.
  • This series is the last series to have no romanized translation of its title. Kamen Rider Agito would be the first to start this practice, continuing on until the present day.
  • This is the first season to air alongside a Super Sentai season on the same network, that being the first 2 episodes of Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFiveIcon-crosswiki followed by Mirai Sentai TimerangerIcon-crosswiki until Kuuga concluded it's airing. This practice with future seasons would later become the block known as Super Hero Time starting with Kamen Rider 555 and Bakuryuu Sentai AbarangerIcon-crosswiki in 2003.

References[]

External links[]

Navigation[]

Icon-kuuga Kamen Rider Kuuga
Kamen Rider Kuuga
Riku - Yusuke Godai - Mika Natsume (Novel Only)
Arsenals
Transformation Gear: Arcle (Prototype)
Rider Machines: Gouram - Trychaser 2000 - Beatchaser 2000
Weapons: Dragon Rod - Pegasus Bowgun - Titan Sword - Mighty Anklet
Terminology: Amadam - Rinto - Rinto hieroglyphics - Gegel
Tokyo Police Department
Kaoru Ichijo - Hikari Enokida - Sadao Matsukura - Morimichi Sugita - Tsuyoshi Sakurai - Nozomi Sasayama
Other Allies and Characters
Sakurako Sawatari - Minori Godai - Shuichi Tsubaki - Tamasaburo Kazari - Nana Asahina - Jean Michel Sorrel - Mika Natsume - Shoji Kanzaki - Junichi Chono
Gurongi
N·Daguva·Zeba
Nu·Zajio·Re
La Group

La·Balva·De - La·Doldo·Gu

Xu Group

Xu·Gmun·Ba - Xu·Goma·Gu - Xu·Mevio·Da - Xu·Vazuu·Ba - Xu·Zain·Da

Me Group

Me·Vagis·Ba - Me·Geega·Gi - Me·Byran·Gi - Me·Garido·Gi - Me·Gadra·Da - Me·Ginoga·De - Me·Galme·Re - Me·Garima·Ba

Go Group

Go·Buuro·Gu - Go·Bemiu·Gi - Go·Gamego·Re - Go·Badaa·Ba - Go·Jalaji·Da - Go·Zazalu·Ba - Go·Jaaza·Gi - Go·Babel·Da - Go·Gadol·Ba - Go·Jiino·Da

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