Mitsuhiro Oikawa Announced as Kamen Rider #3 in Superhero Taisen GP

Mitsuhiro Oikawa was officially announced as the Phantom Kamen Rider in this spring’s Superhero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider #3 at a cast announcement conference on January 27th. 

Until now, the person cast for Kamen Rider #3 has been kept secret. At a press conference held in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Oikawa raised his arm at an angle and announced, “it’s been 40 years, and finally I can live my dream.”

The Kamen Rider series first introduced Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2, with V3 carrying the torch. However, half a year before Kamen Rider V3 aired, the 1972 issue of Bessetsu Tanoshii Youchien featured a story written by the original Kamen Rider author, Shotaro Ishinomori titled, Rider #3 VS Black Shogun. Like Riders 1 and 2, Kamen Rider #3 was modified by Shocker and his beloved car, the TriCyclone.

After the defeat of Shocker in the final episode of the very first Kamen Rider series, a mysterious Rider makes himself known to Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2. In the upcoming movie, Kamen Rider #3 will be portrayed as The Rider who should not have existed, who defeats Kamen Rider # 1 and Kamen Rider #2, then the reign of Shocker begins.

The trailer highlighting Oikawa as Kamen Rider #3 can be found on the official Super Hero Taisen GP website.

Oikawa, who will also perform the movie’s theme song, stated, “I never thought I would be this excited. I get to portray a Kamen Rider, the hero I played make-believe as, and I even won the Tokusatsu Hero Audition. Two dreams granted.”

Source: Oricon Style, Smart Boys Official Twitter 1 & 2

All English translations are accredited to The Tokusatsu Network staff members. Please do not repost without crediting and directly linking back to the original Tokusatsu Network article.