Kamen Rider Kiva

Kamen Rider Kuuga (仮面ライダークウガ)

Kamen Rider Kuuga (仮面ライダークウガ Kamen Raidā Kūga?, Masked Rider Kuuga) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the tenth installment of the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows and the first of the series to air entirely in the Heisei period. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and was shown on TV Asahi from January 30, 2000 to January 21, 2001. Kamen Rider Kuuga is the first Kamen Rider Series to be broadcast in widescreen format (albeit presented in a letterbox format). The catchphrase for the series is "A New Hero, A New Legend". Long ago, the Gurongi Tribe terrorized the Linto (リント Rinto?) until a warrior named Kuuga appeared and defeated the Gurongi, sealing their leader within a cave. In present day, a multi-talented man named Yuusuke Godai finds himself linked to the mysterious stoned belt that was found within the excavated cave as the Gurongi are resurrected and resume their murderous game on the descendants of the Linto, humanity itself. It is up to Yusuke, along with the assembled Science Police, to use the various powers of Kuuga in order to stop and defeat the Gurongi Tribesmen from their continuous killing and ensure the happiness of others. However, as endgame draws near, Yusuke learns that there is a horrible revelation behind Kuuga and the Gurongis' leader.

Joe Odagiri As Yuusuke
Yuusuke Godai (五代 雄介, Godai Yuusuke), born in Hokkaidō on March 18, 1975, with a blood type of O is a happy-go-lucky and honest person that fights to protect everyone's smile. He and his younger sister, Minori, lost their mother while they were both young and their father at Afghanistan when they were older, living with their father's friend Tamasaburo Kazari.
On the day he returns from Indonesia to Japan at the Airport, Yuusuke's life changed the day that he returned with a mask for Sakurako Sawatari, who was helping in Professor Natsume's archaeological finding of the Linto Tribe and a mummified corpse, whose disruption marked the unsealing of a strange monster that attacks the archaeologists. Receiving a distress call from them, Yuusuke makes his way to the excavation site, seeing the light that marks the rebirth of the Grongi Tribe. By the time he arrived the scene at daybreak, he finds the police investigating the area and meets detective Kaoru Ichijo, finding a strange belt tied to the visions he's been seeing. He later meet Ichijo has as he and Sakurako are brought to police station to learn the archeologists were all slaughtered by the mysterious monster, later referred to as "Unidentified Lifeform 0", before being given the Arcle to translate the markings on it.
However, as they leave, the two encounter the Grongi Zu-Gumun-Ba attacking the station upon being revived, Yuusuke puts on Arcle to fight him, resulting with the belt fusing onto him as he assumes Kuuga's Growing Form and saves Ichijo from the Grongi, the detective recognizing Yuusuke. After a 11 hour rest, Sakurako suggests they return to Tokyo as they are visited by Ichijo who tells him not to meddle in police and go to Tokyo to see Shuichi Tsubaki. Later that night, Yuusuke goes against Ichijo's wishes to help fight Zu-Gooma-Gu, only to be beaten by the stronger monster and later get chewed up by Ichijo.
But after seeing the daughter of the late Professor Natsume cry over her father's death, Yuusuke's resolve to fight for the sake to keep people from suffering him to assume Mighty Form, taking name of "Kuuga" as he saves Ichijo from Gooma and destroys Gumun. Starting with inspector Kaoru Ichijo, Yuusuke eventually gains the trust of the police force by receiving the TryChaser 2000 from Ichijo. While brought to doctor Shuichi Tsubaki for a confidential check-up, Yuusuke learns that the Arcle's fusion onto him is more complex is it had spread into his muscular and nervous systems.
During his first battle with Zu-Badzū-Ba, Kuuga assumes Dragon Form and eventually masters it with Sakurako's aid to kill Badzū. Then while fighting Me-Bajisu-Ba, Kuuga assumes Pegasus Form but was overwhelmed by his enhanced senses as Bajisu escapes, vowing revenge on Kuuga. Unable to change, Yuusuke decides to help Ichijo by finding Mika Natsume, who is on the verge of being suicidal when her father's murderer not yet caught. After talking Mika into letting things resolve themselves over time, Bajisu attacks and Yuusuke is able to effectively use Pegasus Form's power to kill the Grongi sniper.
While dealing with Me-Giiga-Gi, and Minori's apprehensive feelings for being Kuuga, Yuusuke is able to become Titan Form to defeat Giiga after convincing Minori that it all be right. Yuusuke later meets Junichi Chono, a young man who lost his faith in humanity and thought to be able to relate more the Unidentified Lifeforms. However, his encounter with Me-Biran-Gi said otherwise when Kuuga saves the boy before killing the Grongi. During the fight however, Yuusuke felt the reawakening of the Gouram as it was excavated and whirled to life to make its way towards him, providing its power for him to counter Me-Gyarido-Gi.
Later, when poisoned by Me-Ginoga-De, Yuusuke manages to survive the near death experience due to the Amadam countering the poison when induced with shock therapy, allowing him to arrive to the police's aid to destroy Ginoga and later his clone. But since then, Yuusuke begins to felt a numbing pain during his next few battles as Kuuga against stronger Grongi, learns that it may be tied to a greater power that maybe needed as he believes that stronger Grongi will eventually appears. After training to bring out the "golden power" with Enokida's help, Yuusuke's battle against the promoted Go-Garima-Ba leads to an upgraded version of Kuuga's Titan Form, Rising Titan Form. The next two fights allow Yuusuke to become bring Rising Pegasus Form and Rising Dragon Form while learning that the Arcle had fused further into his body.
After healing from being wounded by Go-Gamego-Re, Yuusuke meets Chono as he took up being an artist since their last encounter before he finds the Grongi and kills him once achieving Rising Mighty Form, accidentally causing mass devastation. Because of the incident, the BeatChaser 2000 would not to be given to Kuuga as the Go-Badā-Ba finally begins to play, saving Kuuga as his final victim. While Ichijo convinces his fellow officers, Yuusuke is aided by Sugita in tracking down Badā until Ichijo arrives with the Beat Chaser which allows Kuuga to destroy Badā. However, the incident with the sadistic Go-Jaraji-Da, influences Yuusuke's behavior for the worse, causing him to subconsciously assume Kuuga's Ultimate Form while killing the Grongi in a brutal rage.
Later, Yuusuke goes to Enokida when she wanted to investigate the reason on how he can turn everyday objects into weapons like the Go Grongi before going after Go-Zazaru-Ba when she went up against an evolving Gooma, worried that two Grongi fighting each other was a very bad omen. This is made worst when Yuusuke learns the "Kuuga" character not of Linto origin, but is actually an incomplete Grongi character and may be tied to Number 0, later revealed as the Grongi lord N-Daguba-Zeba when he arrived to slaughter Gooma before making his way to Tokyo for end-game. Yuusuke's fears of their relation were confirmed as Sakurako fully translated the Linto text and the Grongi characters on it, revealing his mental wellbeing during the incident with Jaraji while understanding that he'll be alright as long as he doesn't fight out of hate.
After learning from Enokida that the Grongi may also share Kuuga's ability to change form, Yuusuke leaves when Go-Jāza-Gi makes her move. During a flawed attempt to get her, Kuuga senses Daguba and got wounded while his guard was down before he finally kills Jāza in the next confrontation. After a post-discussion of the recent Grongi/Kuuga connections after the death of Go-Baberu-Da, Yuusuke makes his way to the 12 Arikawa Group Flute Competition, having brush in with Daguba before arriving to the Arikawa Group building after a hostage situation is resolved with Mika traumatized by the incident. As he escorts Mika to her train for home, Yuusuke tells her not to run away even if things get scary.
During the battle with the last of the Go Grongi, Go-Gadoru-Ba, Kuuga is overwhelmed by the Grongi's ability to assume forms similar to his own. Severely wounded as a result, Yuusuke is brought to the hospital where after a question of ethics, Tsubaki agrees to induce an electro-therapy charge after his heart gave out. By the time he leaves the hospital, Yuusuke arrives to the stadium where Gadoru is fighting Ra-Dorudo-Gu. However in the ensuing rematch, Kuuga assumes the dark-armored Kuuga Amazing Mighty Form to kill Gadoru. With all the Grongi warriors dead, Daguba finally reveals himself, overpowering Kuuga's Amazing Mighty Form and cracking the Amadam while killing numerous people before taking his leave, sparing Kuuga so he can get even stronger.
Knowing that he has no choice but to break his word and assume that form, Yuusuke visits to his friends one-by-one, knowing that he may not come back, with Sakurako realizing his intentions as Daguba finally makes his move, telling Yuusuke to meet him at Mount Kuro. With Ichijo joining him, Yuusuke tells him to shoot him in the Arcle should he go berserk and becoming the entity that bring ultimate darkness, though the officer is reluctant to do that. Once assuming Ultimate Form, powered by his gentle nature rather than hatred, Kuuga battles Daguba to the point of exhaustion and nearly getting himself killed. Three months after the final battle, Yuusuke had begun a new adventure to travel the world, starting at a Cuban beach where he helps some kids before walking off.

 Kamen Rider Kuuga Debut:
(2000-2001)


















Gender: Male
Series: Kamen Rider Kuuga
Motif: Stag Beetle
Rider Type: Hero
Homeworld: Earth (Kuuga's World)
First Appearance: Revival
Last Appearance: Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
Number of Episode
Appearances:
49 (Kuuga)
1 (Fourze)
2 (Movies)
Actor: Joe Odagiri
Naoki Imamura (Super Hero Taisen)

The Arcle (アークル Ākuru?) is Kuuga's transformation belt. An ancient belt created by the Linto Tribe and used by the original Kuuga, Riku. While being attacked by Zu-Gumun-Ba, Yuusuke grabbed the belt and after putting it on, it immediately fused into his body.
Arcle.jpgWhen he transforms it reappears around his waist and is always the same color as his current form. A stone embedded in the belt, called Amadam (アマダ, Amadamu), is the source of Kuuga's power and able to extend the lifespan of a person. Furthermore, the Amadam is present in Daguva as well


 
Kuuga-ar-gouram.jpgThe Gouram (ゴウラム Gōramu?) is a mysterious entity formed from fragments found at the original excavation site at the beginning of the story of Kamen Rider Kuuga. After its initial formation, the Gouram assimilated various other metals as it made its way to Tokyo in its search for Kuuga. It assists Kuuga in various capacities such as aerial transportation and becoming Barding for Kuuga's bike, however, after being used for a certain amount of time, it returns back to its shattered fragments until Yuusuke revives it by touching its Amadam. It is very maneuverable and capable of a top air speed of 500km/h (310.69mph). However, since being exposed to the golden power, Gouram returns back to the Police Science Division in a different color and in one piece.
According to the Linto scriptures, Gouram was known as a Horse Armor, which means that the previous Kuuga used a horse in combat.


The TryChaser 2000 (TRCS 2000) (トライチェイサー2000 Torai Cheisā Nisen) is Kuuga's personal bike. A new model of police motorcycle, it was designed to be faster and powerful than the conventional bikes utilized by the police force.
Its other unique feature is its activation: To activate it requires both the Try-Acceler Rod, the bike's right grip that functions as a start-up key, and a four-digit keycode. Ichijo would give the prototype to Yuusuke, believing he is the only one who can successfully beat the Unidentified Life Forms. Yuusuke would later alter TryChaser's color scheme via a keycode, giving it its signature red, white, and gold look.
It's control panel would consist of analog buttons and levers (later changed to a digital one due to damage caused by his fight with Me-Gadora-Da) and a voice sensitive radio.
In his fight with Go-Badaa-Ba, it was stolen and used against him in the middle of the series and broke when Go-Badā-Ba tried to injure Kuuga with it.
Mass produced TryChasers are utilized by the police force bearing codes starting with TR.

TryGouram's Statistics:
    Kamen-rider-kuuga-try-goran.jpg
  • Length 3.2m (10.49ft)
  • Height 1.25m (4.1ft)
  • Top Speed 400km/h (248.55mph)
The TryGouram (トライゴウラム Torai Gōramu?) is what ultimately results when the Gouram finally finds Kuuga. It attaches itself to the TRCS 2000 as armor. While in this form the bike is faster and capable of ramming opponents via the Try Gouram Attack in a similar manner to Kuuga's Mighty Kick.

Kamen-rider-kuuga-beat-goran.jpgStatistics:
  • Length 3.2m (10.49ft)
  • Height 1.25m (4.1ft)
  • Top Speed 570km/h (354.18mph)
The BeatGouram (ビートゴウラム Bīto Gōramu?), like Try Gouram, is the combination of the BeatChaser 2000 and the Gouram which results in an even more powerful vehicle for Kuuga.



Kamen-rider-kuuga-beatchaser-2000.jpgThe BeatChaser 2000 (BTCS 2000) (ビートチェイサー2000 Bīto Cheisā Nisen?) is an upgraded model of the TryChaser 2000 that was designed specifically for Kuuga, it is faster and more durable than the TRCS model and more resistant to the corression caused by Gouram. Yuusuke utilized this bike in order to track down and defeat Go-Badā-Ba. The Police Department was hesitant to give this to Kuuga due to his Rising Mighty Form. Like the TryChaser, this vehicle was also upgradable by the Gouram and even Kuuga's golden power.  
BeatChaser 2000's Statistics:
  • Length 2.4m (7.87ft)
  • Height 1.25m (4.1ft)
  • Top Speed 420km/h (260.97mph)