Original Kamen Rider Hiroshi Fujioka Reprises Role as Segata Sanshiro

The iconic actor revives the character for the first time in over two decades.

Easily recognized by most tokusatsu fans as the first actor to hold the Kamen Rider title, Hiroshi Fujioka is equally as known to others as Segata Sanshiro, a mascot for the 1994 Sega Saturn console. He appeared in the role for 19 commercials airing in Japan from 1997-1998. The character was such a hit with audiences that a video game was released called Segata Sanshiro Shinken Yugi in 1998.

Hiroshi Fujioka most recently reprised his role as Hongo Takeshi/Kamen Rider Ichigo for the 2016 Kamen Rider 1 movie.

Fujioka surprised fans everywhere when he appeared as Segata Sanshiro at the 2019 SegaFes, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Sega Saturn’s release. Fujioka answered questions about the character, discussing how he learned martial arts from his father, and how he faced struggles in playing such an intense character.

Fujioka mentioned he had once hit a wooden controller so hard he bloodied his hand on accident. The last time he was in the role 22 years ago, Sanshiro was defending Sega’s headquarters in space. The character helped keep him a child at heart. Once the event came to a close, Segata Sanshiro’s theme played, and the audience cheered.

Source: Daisuki Toku