Where Are They Now?: Kamen Rider Kiva 1986 Side

The second entry of the “Where Are They Now?” series covers Kamen Rider Kiva. Due to the show’s significant cast, this entry will be divided into two articles: characters in the 2008 timeline and characters from the 1986 timeline. The article below covers the 1986 side; and for those looking for the 2008 side, click here.

Kohei Takeda, who played eccentric violinist Otoya Kurenai, has gone on to play characters in several movies and TV shows. He played Hirai in High & Low The Movie, a film centered around a city controlled by five gangs warring to earn the number one slot. He revised the same role in its sequel, High & Low Season 2.

He also played Ikki in Kotodama: Spiritual Curse. The film centers around a group of high school girls who learn of a fatal gas attack that occurred in their school years earlier and unusual occurrences start happening soon after.

Furthermore, Kohei appeared in the first two episodes of Seishun Tantei Haruya, a show about a university student who becomes a private detective. Kohei appears alongside Syo Jinnai in episode one. Jinnai is best known for playing Enter in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. For more information about Jinnai’s work after Go-Busters, click here.

Yu Takahasi, who played the Fangire Hunter, Yuri Aso, is probably best known post-Kiva for her role as Sailor Jupiter in several stage adaptations of Sailor Moon as Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon: La Reconquista and Sailor Moon: Petite Étrangère. 

Takahasi also had a starring role in Ameonna or Rain Woman, a horror movie based on an old Japanese legend bearing the same name. The legend centers around a woman who is a cloud in the morning and becomes rain at night.

Keji Matsuda, who played the last of the Wolfen, Jiro, continued to play various roles in tokusatsu. He played the  Wataru Shijima / Baron the Thunder Knight in Garo Makai Senki and provided the voice for Gabi Raizo in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger.

He also played Detective Masa in Moon Dream which is a notable movie for a few reasons. The first being that it a Japanese film with a Nigerian lead actor, with several other cast members also of African decent. The movie also includes two other tokusatsu actors: Bernard Ackah, who played kaijin in Kamen Rider Wizard and Kamen Rider Drive and Thane Camus, who appeared in Zero Black Blood as Ring, Garo Makai no Hana as Luke, and Kamen Rider Ghost as Steve Bills.

Eiji Takigawa, who played the last Franken, Riki, appeared in a few TV shows on and off again since 2008. Most recently Barbrucuiys Road: The Story of My Brother and I in 2015, and the live action adaptation of Yowamushi Pedal in 2016.

Yuuki Ogoe, the last of the Merman, Ramon, played the main character Sakamichi Onoda in Yowamushi Pedal alongside his Kiva castmember, Eiji Takigawa. He was also in the Prince of Tennis Musical as Ryoma Echizen.

Shinya Niiro, who played the King of the Fangire, has been active with his musical career. Releasing an album named Shinya Niiro Live in 2016. He has annual live concert every year.

He played Greta in the Japanese adaptation of the stage play called Bent, written by Martin Sherman.

Saki Kagami, who played Wataru’s mother Maya, only acted for a short time after Kamen Rider Kiva ended. She has since retired from the entertainment industry.