Heisei Kamen Rider Films And TV Special Featuring Past Stars To Air On Wowow

The Japanese station Wowow will be airing many Hesei Kamen Rider movies as well as a special program featuring three past actors about Kamen Rider films in the Heisei era.

Japanese television station Wowow has announced an upcoming TV special, Let’s Talk About Kamen Rider, featuring Hiroki Iijima (Emu Hojo/Kamen Rider Ex-Aid), Atsuhiro Inukai (Sento Kiryu/Kamen Rider Build), and Sou Okuno (Sougo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O) in which the three final Heisei era Kamen Rider actors take a look at clips from Heisei era Kamen Rider films and provide their comments. Additionally, Heisei era Kamen Rider films will be airing on Wowow during March and April.

March will feature seven films including Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love, Kamen Rider Den-O The Movie: I’m Born!, Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max, and Kamen Rider Drive the Movie: Surprise Future. April, meanwhile, will see Wowow airing 42 Kamen Rider movies from throughout the Heisei era as well as Kamen Rider Amazons seasons 1 and 2. For many of these movies, it will be their first television broadcast, and most of these movies will be presented in their director’s cut versions, and many of them will be airing for the first time on television.

Atsuhiro Inukai (Left), Sou Okuno (Middle), Hiroki Iijima (Right)

One such film will be Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever. Below is a short interview with Iijima, Inukai, and Okuno on the film and their roles in the legacy of Kamen Rider.

Q: Is this the first time you three have been together?

EVERYONE: It is rare to have a reunion like this. It feels like a school reunion where we’re not in the same grade, but still from the same school.

Q: Please tell us about your favorite aspects of Heisei Generations FOREVER.

IIJIMA & INUKAI: I think the appearance of many new forms is what will excite the viewer.

OKUNO: After that, it’s the legendary co-stars! The surprise appearance from Takeru Satoh will excite Den-O fans.

Q: You all are now members of Heisei Kamen Rider. What do you think Kamen Rider was for you? There was recently a survey that said many adult fans enjoy Kamen Rider as well.

IIJIMA: I haven’t watched Kamen Rider since I saw it as a kid, but after watching it nowadays, I thought the stories are very interesting and it’s something that even adults can enjoy.

INUKAI: I’m not sure how many adults are watching. It is loved by so many people.

OKUNO: I was very involved in Kamen Rider and thought it was just wonderful. I’m honored to be a member of Heisei Kamen Rider.

Q: Please give us a special message in honor of the movie’s broadcast.

INUKAI: I think this is the first time the movie has been broadcast like this, so it’s a huge event for fans. During the filming, I felt as if I had to work harder to to advertise Kamen Rider well. In the future, I would like to do my best so I can come back. Please support me with this goal.

IIJIMA: I think Kamen Rider is gateway for new actors, but because we’re newcomers, we are doing our best using all our strength ! It is story that can be enjoyed by adults so it’s good to watch with your family, even those who have never seen Kamen Rider. Of course, I hope everyone will have a fun time together.

OKUNO: Since this broadcast will also feature other works, I hope you will enjoy them and watch more than once. I hope you can see the “charm” in Kamen Rider and understand how interesting it is. I will be glad if you can!

Toei has been honoring the legacy of Kamen Rider in the Heisei era in various ways since 2018. Wowow’s special and Kamen Rider movie schedule are the latest ways Japan is celebrating Heisei Kamen Rider even as Kamen Rider Zero-One, the first Kamen Rider show of the Reiwa era, passes its halfway point.

Let’s Talk About Kamen Rider will air on March 3rd at 4:45 PM JST. Details of the Kamen Rider film schedule for March and April can be found on Wowow’s website.

Sources: Mantan Web, Wowow Website (1), (2)