Kamen Rider (1979 TV series)

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー), also referred to as (New) Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー(新)) or Skyrider (スカイライダー) (after the main character), is a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and the sixth program in the Kamen Rider Series. The series was produced by Toei Company. The series aired every Friday at 7:00 PM on MBS from October 5, 1979 to October 10, 1980.

The 1979 series was intended as a revival of the original 1971 series of the same name, going back to the basic, essential themes established in that show.

Story
Doctor Keitarō Shido, an acclaimed scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neo-Shocker to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he convinces Neo-Shocker's command to allow him to operate on an injured camper. Explaining that he can turn the camper, Hiroshi Tsukuba into a powerful Neo-Shocker warrior, they allow Doctor Shido to operate. However, he quickly turns the tables on them, transforming Hiroshi, not into a kaijin, but the powerful warrior Sky Rider, using his newfound abilities to combat the evil Neo-Shocker menace.

Characters

 * Hiroshi Tsukuba (筑波　洋): A gliding enthusiast caught in a conflict with Neo-Shocker after one of their agents murdered his friends. He ended up being caught and turned into a cyborg by both Keitaro and Neo-Shocker after he was mortally injured in an attempt to save Keitaro from Neo-Shocker, before he and the scientist managed to escape from their captors and use his newfound powers as Skyrider (スカイライダー) to fight the terrorist group.
 * Keitarō Shido (志度 敬太郎): A scientist targeted by Neo-Shocker who was responsible for Hiroshi becoming Sky Rider. To keep a low profile, having hang glided in his youth, Shido founded the Shido Hang Glide Club and last aided Sky Rider in disarming a Plus-Alpha Bomb before leaving the country to join the Anti-Neo-Shocker Committee.
 * Midori Kanō (叶 みどり): Shido's aide.
 * Yumi Nozaki (野崎 ユミ): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.
 * Michi Sugimura (杉村 ミチ): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.
 * Imata Tonda (飛田 今太): A photojournalist who is looking for a good story, usually losing consciousness when he is about to stumble into a fight between Sky Rider and Neo-Shocker.
 * Genjirō Tani (谷 源次郎): A senior of Hiroshi's and a friend of Shido, Tani owns the Blanca Coffee Shop that serves as Sky Rider's new base of operations. Having lost his family to Neo-Shocker in the past, Tani is eager to help Hiroshi take the organization down.
 * Numa (沼)
 * Aki Ozawa (小沢 アキ)
 * Naoko Itō (伊東 ナオコ)
 * Kanji Yada/GanGan G (矢田 勘次／がんがんじい)

Neo-Shocker
Shocker is once again reformed as the Neo-Shocker (ネオショッカー) organization, playing a role in numerous disappearances and terrorist attacks against the Japanese government. Spreading their influence across the world, their goal is the genocide of about two thirds of the current human population on Earth with them as the dominant majority. Though the other branches are succeeding unopposed, only the Japanese branch is making no progress due to the interference of Sky Rider.
 * Great Leader of Neo-Shocker (ネオショッカー大首領): Hailing from Dark Nebula B-26, he is a giant, alien dragon who is the leader of the Neo-Shocker organization and “Emperor of the Dark Nebula”. Destroyed in a bomb explosion by the combined efforts of all previous Kamen Riders.
 * General Monster/Yamorijin (ゼネラルモンスター／ヤモリジン): A former Nazi under Colonel Zol, he is the first chief of Neo-Shocker's Japanese branch, armed with a cane. Eventually promoted, Monster underwent a modification into Yamorijin, a gecko cyborg. Due to a recent failure he was presented with the red eye, which signals that if he fails for a final time he will be terminated. He was executed by Admiral Majin after he was defeated by Sky Rider's Sky Kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, kidnapping people in Sapporo. He was eventually destroyed by Kamen Rider ZX's Rider Spin Shot and crashed into Admiral Majin.
 * Admiral Majin (魔人提督): The second and final chief of the Neo-Shocker organization. He was the only Neo-Shocker member with no kaijin form. He was executed by the Great Leader after being defeated by Kamen Rider #2, Kamen Rider Stronger and Sky Rider's triple kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, confronting Sky Rider in Mashu Lake, but is eventually destroyed by Sky Rider's Dragonfly Chute and crashed into Yamorijin.
 * Gingaoh (銀河王): Gingaoh is the main antagonist in the Sky Rider movie, a mechanical alien invader that Neo-Shocker formed an alliance with. He was destroyed in his spaceship explosion.
 * Ari Commandos (アリコマンド): Ant-like foot soldiers in black.
 * Skull Assassination Squad (ドクロ暗殺隊): Skull-masked elite guards who wield swords and crossbows.
 * Neo-Shocker Scientists:
 * Professor Doc (プロフェッサー・ドク): A friend of General Monster. After General Monster died, he was sentenced to death by Admiral Majin and killed by Shibirayjin.
 * Doctor Meteor (ドクター・メテオ): An authority on brain surgery. Killed by Kamen Rider Stronger's Electro Shock.
 * Doctor X (ドクターX): He repairs or scraps Ari Commands in a dock disguised as a pediatric clinic.
 * Shiroari Commandos (白アリコマンド): Termite-like scientists who assist in the conversion of humans into cyborgs.

Episodes

 * 1) The Cyborg Flies in the Sky (改造人間大空を翔ぶ) (Original Airdate: October 5, 1979)
 * 2) Bizarre! Kumojin (怪奇！クモンジン) (Original Airdate: October 12, 1979)
 * 3) It's Courage! The Fear of the Bat Flute (勇気だ！コウモリ笛の恐怖) (Original Airdate: October 19, 1979)
 * 4) Two Cyborgs, the Angry Rider Break (２つの改造人間 怒りのライダーブレイク) (Original Airdate: October 26, 1979)
 * 5) Fly, Ride on a Girl's Dreams (翔べ 少女の夢をのせて) (Original Airdate: November 2, 1979)
 * 6) Kinokojin! The Devil's Hands are Cold (キノコジン！悪魔の手は冷たい) (Original Airdate: November 9, 1979)
 * 7) Kamagirijin! The Dreadful Ceremony (カマギリジン！恐怖の儀式) (Original Airdate: November 16, 1979)
 * 8) Mukadenjin's Trap! The Mysterious Operating Room (ムカデンジンの罠！謎の手術室) (Original Airdate: November 23, 1979)
 * 9) Cobranjin's Murder Army (コブランジンの殺人軍団) (Original Airdate: November 30, 1979)
 * 10) Seen! Kaningerjin's Secret (見た！カニンガージンの秘密) (Original Airdate: December 7, 1979)
 * 11) Sanshojin! Escape from Hell Valley (サンショウジン！地獄谷の脱出) (Original Airdate: December 14, 1979)
 * 12) Dark Santa Claus; Ah, Transformation Impossible (暗闇のサンタクロースああ変身不可能) (Original Airdate: December 21, 1979)
 * 13) Arijigokujin, Tokyo Explodes Before 3:00 (アリジゴクジン東京爆発３時間前) (Original Airdate: December 28, 1979)
 * 14) Haejigokujin, Kamen Rider Close Call (ハエジゴクジン仮面ライダー危機一髪) (Original Airdate: January 4, 1980)
 * 15) Dreadful Aokabijin's Big Tokyo Earthquake (恐怖のアオカビジンの東京大地震) (Original Airdate: January 11, 1980)
 * 16) The Immortal Gokiburijin, What is the True Identity of General Monster? (不死身のゴキブリジンＧ(ゼネラル)モンスターの正体は？) (Original Airdate: January 18, 1980)
 * 17) You Did It! The End of General Monster (やったぞ！Ｇ(ゼネラル)モンスターの最後) (Original Airdate: January 25, 1980)
 * 18) Admiral Majin's Great Electric Hell Operation (魔神提督の電気ジゴク大作戦) (Original Airdate: February 1, 1980)
 * 19) Cover Your Ears Too! Okamijin's Murderous Cry (君も耳をふさげ！オオカミジン殺しの叫び) (Original Airdate: February 8, 1980)
 * 20) Two Kamen Riders, Who is Another? (２人の仮面ライダーもう１人はだれだ？) (Original Airdate: February 15, 1980)
 * 21) Enter Stronger; Two Riders vs. Two Formidable Monsters (ストロンガー登場２人ライダー対強敵２怪人) (Original Airdate: February 22, 1980)
 * 22) Kogoensky Froze Tokyo 5 Seconds Ago (コゴエンスキー東京冷凍５秒前) (Original Airdate: February 29, 1980)
 * 23) Monster Flying Squirrel Brothers and Two Riders (怪人ムササビ兄弟と２人のライダー) (Original Airdate: March 7, 1980)
 * 24) Madarakajin, Fear of Poison Gas (マダラカジン毒ガスの恐怖) (Original Airdate: March 14, 1980)
 * 25) Heavy! Heavy! The 50-ton Baby (重いぞ！重いぞ！５０トンの赤ちゃん) (Original Airdate: March 21, 1980)
 * 26) Three Riders vs. Neoshocker's School Fortress (３人ライダー対ネオショッカーの学校要塞) (Original Airdate: March 28, 1980)
 * 27) Tank and Kaijin the Second Generation Corps, Full Force of Eight Riders (戦車と怪人II世部隊 ８人ライダー勢ぞろい) (Original Airdate: April 4, 1980)
 * 28) Eight Riders' Great Training of Friendship (８人ライダー友情の大特訓) (Original Airdate: April 11, 1980)
 * 29) First Appearance! Powered Sky Rider's Finishing Move (初公開！強化スカイライダーの必殺技) (Original Airdate: April 18, 1980)
 * 30) He Eats Dreams? The Strange Boy Who Came From the Amazon (夢を食べる？アマゾンから来た不思議な少年) (Original Airdate: April 25, 1980)
 * 31) Run, X-Rider! Hiroshi Tsukuba! Don't Die!! (走れＸライダー！筑波洋よ死ぬな！！) (Original Airdate: May 2, 1980)
 * 32) Thank You, Keisuke Jin! Leave the Final Blow to Me!! (ありがとう神敬介！とどめは俺にまかせろ！！) (Original Airdate: May 9, 1980)
 * 33) Hello! Riderwoman, be Careful of Nezura Man (ハロー! ライダーウーマンネズラ毒に気をつけろ!!) (Original Airdate: May 16, 1980)
 * 34) Danger, Sky Rider! He's Come! Shirō Kazami!! (危うしスカイライダー！やって来たぞ風見志郎！！) (Original Airdate: May 23, 1980)
 * 35) Kazami Senpai! I'll Get the Tako Gang!! (風見先輩！タコギャングはオレがやる！！) (Original Airdate: May 30, 1980)
 * 36) Hurry, Hayato Ichimonji! Save the People Caught in Trees!! (急げ、一文字隼人！樹にされる人々を救え！！) (Original Airdate: June 6, 1980)
 * 37) The Mystery of Hyakki Village! Is Hiroshi also Caught in a Tree? (百鬼村の怪！洋も樹にされるのか？) (Original Airdate: June 13, 1980)
 * 38) Please, Shigeru Jō! There's the Ari Commando Training School With a Million Yen Monthly Salary (来たれ、城茂！月給百万円のアリコマンド養成所) (Original Airdate: June 20, 1980)
 * 39) Help! Two Riders!! Mother Becomes a Demon (助けて！２人のライダー！！母ちゃんが鬼になる) (Original Airdate: June 27, 1980)
 * 40) Chase, Hayato! The Kappa's Bowl Flies Through the Sky (追え隼人！カッパの皿が空をとぶ) (Original Airdate: July 4, 1980)
 * 41) Ghost Story Series - The Secret of the Phantom Building (怪談シリーズ・幽霊ビルのひみつ) (Original Airdate: July 11, 1980)
 * 42) Ghost Story Series - Zombie! The Monster is Revived (怪談シリーズ・ゾンビー！お化けが生きかえる) (Original Airdate: July 18, 1980)
 * 43) Ghost Story Series - Hōichi the Earless' 999 Ears (怪談シリーズ・耳なし芳一９９９の耳) (Original Airdate: July 25, 1980)
 * 44) Ghost Story Series - The Werecat Wants Children's Blood! (怪談シリーズ・呪いの化け猫 子供の血が欲しい！) (Original Airdate: August 1, 1980)
 * 45) Ghost Story Series - The Snake Woman Curses Hiroshi Tsukuba! (怪談シリーズ・蛇女が筑波洋を呪う！) (Original Airdate: August 8, 1980)
 * 46) Ghost Story Series - The Breakable Human! Fear of the Mirror's Center (怪談シリーズ・くだける人間！鏡の中の恐怖) (Original Airdate: August 15, 1980)
 * 47) Sky Rider's Greatest Weakness! Attack the 0.5 Second Blind Spot (スカイライダー最大の弱点！０．５秒の死角をつけ) (Original Airdate: August 22, 1980)
 * 48) Four Sky Riders, Who is the Real One? (４人のスカイライダー本物はだれだ？) (Original Airdate: August 29, 1980)
 * 49) Rocket Launch! Hiroshi Tsukuba Goes to the Space Graveyard (ロケット発射！筑波洋を宇宙の墓場へ) (Original Airdate: September 5, 1980)
 * 50) You, Also Enlist in the Ari Commando Boys' Squad!? (君もアリコマンド少年隊に入隊せよ！？) (Original Airdate: September 12, 1980)
 * 51) Neoshocker Red & White, Great Decisive Battle of Death (ネオショッカー紅白死の大決戦) (Original Airdate: September 19, 1980)
 * 52) Hiroshi's Father Had Lived! As Altered Human FX777? (洋の父が生きていた！改造人間ＦＸ７７７とは？) (Original Airdate: September 26, 1980)
 * 53) The End of Admiral Majin! And the Great Leader's True Identity? (魔神提督の最後！そして大首領の正体は？) (Original Airdate: October 3, 1980)
 * 54) Farewell, Hiroshi Tsukuba! Eight Heroes Forever.... (さらば筑波洋！８人の勇士よ永遠に・・・・) (Original Airdate: October 10, 1980)

Special
Immortal Kamen Rider Special aired on September 8, 1979. Tobei Tachibana visits a Kamen Rider museum where he talks to some children about the Kamen Riders. Scenes from Kamen Rider, X, Amazon and Stronger are shown. He's about to introduce a new Kamen Rider when some of the kids remind him that he forgot Kamen Rider V3. Clips from the movie Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants are shown. After the movie clips, Tobei Tachibana introduces Sky Rider, with previews of New Kamen Rider.

Movie
The Movie Eight Riders vs. Gingaoh (仮面ライダー 8人ライダーVS銀河王 Kamen Raidā: Hachi'nin Raidā Tai Gingaō) was released on March 15, 1980 and features Sky Rider teaming up with the previous 7 riders.

Cast

 * Hiroaki Murakami as Hiroshi Tsukuba
 * Kimiko Tanaka as Midori Kanō
 * Naoko Fushimi as Michi Sugimura
 * Kaori Tatsumi as Yumi Nozaki
 * Ryūmei Azuma as Imata Tonda
 * Mie Suzuki as Naoko Itō
 * Sayako Eguchi as Aki Ozawa
 * Jin Takase as Numa
 * Kōji Shiratori as Shigeru Kanō
 * Tomaru Katsura as Kanji Yada
 * Gorō Naya as The Great Leader
 * Shinzō Hotta as General Monster
 * Yōsuke Naka as Admiral Majin
 * Takashi Tabata as Keitarō Shido
 * Nobuo Tsukamoto as Genjirō Tani
 * Shinji Nakae as Narrator

International Broadcasts

 * In the Philippines, it was aired on RPN-9 as Masked Rider from 1982 to 1983 with an English dub.

Songs

 * Opening themes
 * "Moero! Kamen Rider" (燃えろ! 仮面ライダー)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73
 * Episodes: 1-28
 * "Otoko no Na wa Kamen Rider" (男の名は仮面ライダー)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Ichirou Mizuki
 * Episodes: 29-54


 * Ending themes
 * "Haruka naru Ai ni Kakete" (はるかなる愛にかけて)
 * Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73
 * Episodes: 1-28
 * "Kagayake! Hachinin Rider" (輝け! 8人ライダー)
 * Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and The Chirps
 * Episodes: 29-54