is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in

Toei Company () (also styled TOEI) is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution and video game developer and publishing company. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan (all but two of them operated by ...

Kamen Rider The , also known as ''Masked Rider Series'' (until Decade), is a Japanese superhero media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, manga, and anime, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. ''Kamen Rider'' media genera ...

Series. It is the eighteenth series in the

Heisei The is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Emeritus Akihito from 8 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the day after the death of the Emperor Hirohito, ...

period run and the twenty-seventh series overall. Toei registered the Kamen Rider Ex-Aid trademark on June 13, 2016. The show premiered on October 2, 2016, one week after the finale of '' Kamen Rider Ghost'', joining '' Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger'' and later, '' Uchu Sentai Kyuranger'' in the Super Hero Time line-up.

Story

Emu Hojo is an intern in the Pediatrics Department at Seito University Hospital and a genius video gamer who goes by the alias "M". Emu was inspired to practice medicine after a doctor, the future minister of health Kyotaro Hinata saved his life from an illness when he was a child. Kyotaro also gave him a WonderSwan handheld video game console as a reward that ignited Emu's interest in video games. Recently, a video game company known as the Genm Corporation, or Genm Corp. for short has become aware of the existence of the Bugsters, a form of computer virus that spawns from their company's software bugs. Led by the mysterious Parad and his partner Graphite, the Bugsters manifest themselves in the physical world by infecting humans that play Genm Corp's video games at a cellular level. Once a Bugster fully manifests, the human host gradually fades away as a consequence of stress experienced by the host. Genm Corp counters the Bugster threat by developing the Gamer Driver belts and a series of transformation and summon type trinkets, the Rider Gashats, for doctors who underwent a special procedure to be allowed to use its powers. One of the chosen doctors is Emu himself, who transforms into Kamen Rider Ex-Aid to save his patients from the Bugster viruses. But Ex-Aid learns of other doctors who are also Riders besides himself: elite surgeon Hiiro Kagami/Kamen Rider Brave, the unlicensed "dark doctor" Taiga Hanaya/Kamen Rider Snipe, and coroner Kiriya Kujo/Kamen Rider Lazer, who can transform into a motorcycle form. Assisted by Poppy Pipopapo, a Bugster who joined their side under the name Asuna Karino, the four also face the opposition of the prototype Ex-Aid Kamen Rider Genm, eventually revealed to be Genm Corp's CEO Kuroto Dan. Revealing himself to be the creator of the Bugsters after deleting Kiriya, Kuroto has been using them and the Doctor Riders to create "The Ultimate Game", an AR MMO called "Kamen Rider Chronicle", where everyone is given the power to become a Kamen Rider known as a Ride-Player in a fight for survival. Kuroto reveals that he infected Emu with the Bugster virus years ago, making him

patient zero The index case or patient zero is the first documented patient in a disease epidemic within a population, or the first documented patient included in an epidemiological study. It can also refer to the first case of a condition or syndrome (not ...

of the current Bugster infection. The group is then joined by Nico Saiba, Emu's gaming rival known as "N" who becomes Taiga's assistant. Once being defeated for good by Emu, Kuroto is killed off by Parad who gained the ability to become Kamen Rider Para-DX as he completes Kamen Rider Chronicle with a revived Graphite and a briefly reprogramed Poppy, who becomes a Kamen Rider herself while Nico becomes a Ride-Player. Parad explains his intention to wipe out the human race with the game, revealing himself as Emu's Bugster counterpart while Poppy convinces a revived Kuroto to join the CR after reminding him of his mother whom she manifested from. Not long after, a new threat to both the Riders and Bugsters appeared in the form of the powerful Kamen Rider Cronus, revealed to be Kuroto's father Masamune Dan who is both the true mastermind of the first Zero Day and the "other" patient zero. Revealing his true colors once Kamen Rider Chronicle is completed, Masamune uses the game to further his plan, such as mass-producing Kamen Rider Chronicle Gashats worldwide. Later on, Kiriya is revived as Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo. In the final story arc, the Riders learn that the only way to stop Kamen Rider Chronicle is by destroying the Bugster who serves as its final boss: Gamedeus. When the Riders developed a means to defeat Gamedeus, Cronus retaliates by absorbing the Bugster and transforms into the new final boss Kamen Rider Gamedeus Cronus.

Casting and production

The Kamen Rider Ex-Aid trademark was registered by Toei on June 1, 2016. The show features ''

Lupin the Third Part 4 ''Lupin the 3rd Part IV: The Italian Adventure'', also known simply as , is a Japanese anime television series animated by Telecom Animation Film. Part of the ''Lupin III'' franchise, it is the fifth anime television adaptation of the ''Lupin ...

'' chief script writer Yuya Takahashi serving as chief script writer on a Kamen Rider series for the first time.

TV Asahi JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as (also known as EX and and stylized as TV asahi), is a television station that is owned and operated by the subsidiary of certified broadcasting holding company , itself controlled by The Asahi Shimbun Comp ...

producer Motoi Sasaki, who has produced various Kamen Rider shows as co-producer with a Toei producer in the past serves as chief producer for the first time. Takahito Ōmori, chief producer on ''

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger is the Toei Company's 37th entry in its long-running ''Super Sentai'' metaseries of Japanese tokusatsu television series following '' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters''. ''Kyoryuger'' aired on TV Asahi from February 17, 2013 to February 9, 2014, joini ...

'' and ''

Kamen Rider Drive is a Japanese tokusatsu television series serving as the 16th Heisei period, Heisei Kamen Rider Series, and 25th series overall. Riku Sanjo returns to the Kamen Rider Series to serve as ''Drive''s lead screenwriter, with Ryuta Tasaki as directo ...

'' also produced it. The story and cast of this series was unveiled on at Press Conference on August 30, 2016.

Episodes

Given the show's video-game theme, each episode's title is written part in English, part in kanji, similar to that of most Japanese video game covers.

Films

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid made his debut as a cameo in '' Kamen Rider Ghost: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost's Fated Moment''.

''Kamen Rider Heisei Generations''

A ''Movie War'' film, titled , was released in Japan on December 10, 2016. The film features Kamen Rider Ex-Aid teaming up with Kamen Rider Ghost,

Kamen Rider Gaim is a Japanese television series, a tokusatsu drama that is in the Kamen Rider Series; it is the 15th series during its Heisei period, Heisei run and 24th overall. The series, written by Gen Urobuchi, directed by Ryuta Tasaki and produced by Naomi ...

, and

Kamen Rider Wizard is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's ''Kamen Rider'' franchise, being the fourteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-third overall. It began airing on TV Asahi on September 2, 2012, joining ''Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters'' ...

as they battle a virus based on

Bandai Namco Entertainment is a Japanese multinational video game publisher headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and ...

's video game character,

Pac-Man originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. Th ...

. The professional wrestler

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler. He works primarily for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, his accolades in NJPW include a record setting eight reigns as IWGP Heavywei ...

was announced to be one of the main antagonists of the movie. In addition, Shunya Shiraishi (''

'') and

Ryoma Takeuchi is a Japanese actor, model and television personality who is affiliated with Horipro. He was a Rissho University Global Environmental Sciences student. He is best known for his role as Shinnosuke Tomari, the main character of the ''Kamen Rider'' ...

(''

'') reprised their roles in the film respectively. The events of the movie take place between Episodes 10 and 11.

''Ultra Super Hero Taisen''

A crossover film, titled featuring the casts of ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'', '' Amazon Riders'', '' Uchu Sentai Kyuranger'', and '' Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger'', was released in Japan on March 25, 2017. This movie also celebrates the 10th anniversary of ''

Kamen Rider Den-O is the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008. Its ...

'' and features the spaceship Andor Genesis from the ''

Xevious is a vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Namco for arcades in 1982. It was released in Japan and Europe by Namco and in North America by Atari, Inc. Controlling the Solvalou starship, the player attacks Xevious f ...

'' game, which is used by the movie's main antagonists, as well as introduces the movie-exclusive Kamen Rider True Brave, played by Kamen Rider Brave's actor

Toshiki Seto DON'T DELETE THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE THIS ACTOR/ACTRESS WILL PLAY A MAIN ROLE IN THE UPCOMING SERIES KAMEN RIDER EX-AID, AND WILL BE ACTIVE AND NOTABLE LATER ON. is a Japanese actor. He is represented by Ken-On. Biography In 2013, Seto was part of ...

from ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'', and the villain Shocker Great Leader III, played by the singer

Diamond Yukai , known professionally as , is a Japanese rock singer and actor. He was born in Tanashi, Tokyo, Japan. He is the vocalist for the Japanese rock band Red Warriors. He has acted in the Hollywood films ''Tokyo Pop'' and '' Lost in Translation'' and ...

. In addition, individual actors from older Kamen Rider and Super Sentai TV series,

Ryohei Odai , otherwise known by his mononym , is a Japanese actor and voice actor probably best known for providing the voice of Orga Sabnak in ''Gundam Seed'' and portraying Shuichi Kitaoka/Kamen Rider Zolda in ''Kamen Rider Ryuki is a Japanese tokusat ...

(''

Kamen Rider Ryuki is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. The twelfth installment in the Kamen Rider Series, it was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and it was shown on TV Asahi from February 3, 2002 to January 19, 2003. The series ...

''),

Gaku Matsumoto is a Japanese actor who is affiliated with Izawa Office. He played the role of Yakumo "Cloud" Kato (Aoninger) in the 2015 Super Sentai TV series ''Shuriken Sentai Ninninger''. Biography Matsumoto's family ran an Italian restaurant. His hobbies ...

(''

Shuriken Sentai Ninninger is a Japanese television series, the 39th entry of Toei's long-running Super Sentai metaseries, following '' Ressha Sentai ToQger''. It is the third ninja-based Sentai, and the fourth to be based on Japanese mythology and culture (after Samura ...

''),

Atsushi Maruyama is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). He previously worked for Osaka Pro Wrestling under the ring name . His ring name and original wrestling attire were inspired by the Hanshin Tigers baseb ...

(''

''), and Hiroya Matsumoto ('' Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters'') reprise their respective roles. The events of the movie takes place between episodes 23 and 24.

''True Ending''

was released in the Japanese theaters on August 5, 2017, double billed with the film for ''Uchu Sentai Kyuranger''. The events of the movie took place a few days after the main series' final episode. It features the movie-exclusives Kamen Rider Fuma and his Ninja-Players, as well as the movie version of the series' final antagonist Gamedeus. The next titular character, ''

Kamen Rider Build is a Japanese tokusatsu drama and the 28th entry of Toei Company's ''Kamen Rider'' metaseries. It is the nineteenth series to debut during the Heisei era. The show premiered on September 3, 2017, following the finale of ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'', jo ...

'' made his movie debut in ''True Ending'' before his chronological TV debut in Episode 44 of ''Ex-Aid''. The movie is part of Toei's partnership with

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

to release a special Gamer Driver's color scheme of

PlayStation VR The PlayStation VR (PS VR, known by its code name Project Morpheus during development) is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, which was released in October 2016. It is fully functional with the PlayStation 4 an ...

for

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 i ...

. The PlayStation VR Movie was released on July 13, 2017.

''Heisei Generations Final''

A ''Movie War'' film, titled was announced to be released on December 9, 2017. Aside from the casts of ''

'' and ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'',

Shu Watanabe is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Numazu, Shizuoka and graduate of Waseda University, he worked at the national newspaper ''Yomiuri ...

and Ryosuke Miura (''

Kamen Rider OOO is a 2010-2011 Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the twelfth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-first overall. It began airing on September 5, 2010, the week following the conclusion of '' Kamen Ri ...

''),

Sota Fukushi is a Japanese actor. He rose to prominence portraying Gentaro Kisaragi in ''Kamen Rider Fourze'', and has since starred in television series '' Koinaka'' (2016) and ''My Lover's Secret'' (2017), as well as films '' Strobe Edge'' (2015), ''My T ...

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Kamen Rider Fourze is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011, the week following the conclusion of ''Kamen Rider OOO'' ...

''), Gaku Sano (''

''), and Shun Nishime ('' Kamen Rider Ghost'') reprised their respective roles. The events of the movie took place a week after the film ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid the Movie: True Ending''.

''"Tricks"''

The is a series of special episodes of ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid''. * was a web-exclusive series distributed through Toei's official YouTube channel. It accompanied the airing of the main series' episode the day after it. # takes place between Episodes 1 and 2. # takes place between Episodes 3 and 4. # takes place between Episodes 4 and 5. # takes place between Episodes 5 and 6. # takes place between Episodes 6 and 7. * was a web-exclusive series released on Toei's official YouTube channel, but the final episode is exclusive to the DVD. It takes place immediately after the ''Heisei Generations'' movie, but before Episode 11. # # # * was a web-exclusive special episode released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club. The story focuses on Hirro Kagami, as he battles the "Beast Rider Squad," which consists of evil replicas of Tiger from Ryuki, Beast from Wizard, Dark Kiva from Kiva, and Sasword from Kabuto, led by serial killer Takeshi Asakura also known as Kamen Rider Ouja, played by

Takashi Hagino is a Japanese actor. He is noted for his roles in ''tokusatsu'' dramas, such as the lead role in and his supporting role in as the psychopath Takeshi Asakura, known as Kamen Rider Ouja. Television roles Tokusatsu *'' Choukou Senshi Changér ...

from ''

''. It also marked the return of Foundation X from ''

Kamen Rider W , is a 2009-2010 Japanese tokusatsu drama, the eleventh series in the Heisei period run of the Kamen Rider Series and the twentieth overall. It premiered following the finale of ''Kamen Rider Decade'' on September 6, 2009, and aired alongside '' S ...

'' which hadn't made an appearance since '' Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Space, Here We Come!''. The events of the special episode take place between episodes 14 and 15. * is included as part of the Blu-ray releases of ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid''. It serves as a prequel to the main series and explores Taiga's backstory in greater detail, focusing specifically on the event that resulted in the loss of his medical license, ending his time with CR. # # # # * is '' Televi-Kun''s . The events of the special episode take place between Episodes 32 and 33. * is Televi-Kun's "Hyper Battle DVD". It is connected to ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending''.

''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy''

is a set of three

V-Cinema Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

releases that serve as spin-offs of characters from the ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'' series. The events of the films take place two years after the film, '' Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Rider''. # is a side story focusing on Hiiro Kagami and Taiga Hanaya. The V-Cinema came out on March 28, 2018. # is a side story focusing on Parad and Poppy Pipopapo. The V-Cinema was released on April 11, 2018. # is a side story focusing on Kuroto Dan and Kiriya Kujo. The V-Cinema was released on April 25, 2018.

''Kamen Rider Genms''

is a web-exclusive crossver series of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club between ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'' and '' Zero-One'', which mainly stars both Tetsuya Iwanaga and Nachi Sakuragi as their respective characters. The theme song is "GAME CHANGER" performed by

Hiroyuki Takami Access (also known as AXS) is a Japanese pop group. Its members are Daisuke Asakura and Hiroyuki Takami. Asakura is the primary composer/producer and featured keyboardist while Takami is the vocalist. Takami also writes a major portion of acces ...

, who reprised his character in the first entry. * is the first entry of the web-exclusive series released on April 11, 2021, comprises two episodes. The events of the special take place after ''Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Vulcan & Valkyrie''. * is a sequel to the first entry of the web-exclusive series released on April 17, 2022, with the appearance of Smart Brain from ''

Kamen Rider 555 is a Japanese tokusatsu television drama. It is the 13th installment in the Kamen Rider Series. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and was broadcast on TV Asahi from January 26, 2003, to January 18, 2004. This se ...

''.

''Kamen Rider Outsiders''

is a web-exclusive crossver series of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club between ''Ex-Aid'', ''Zero-One'', ''555'', ''Ryuki'', ''

Decade A decade () is a period of ten years. Decades may describe any ten-year period, such as those of a person's life, or refer to specific groupings of calendar years. Usage Any period of ten years is a "decade". For example, the statement that "du ...

'', and ''

Saber A sabre (French: �sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as the ...

'' released on October 16, 2022, which is a direct sequel to ''Kamen Rider Genms''. The theme song is "What's the Outsiders?" performed by m.c.A.T.

Novel

, written by Yuya Takahashi, is part of a series of spin-off novel adaptions of the Heisei Era Kamen Riders. The events of the novel take place three years after ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending''. The novel was released on June 27, 2018.

Video game

, is the sixth installment of the '' Kamen Rider: Climax'' series, which was released on December 7, 2017 for

. It's a role-playing fighting game and featuring characters from ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'' and ''

''.

Cast

*: *: *: *: *, : *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *Rider Gashat and Gashacon Weapon Voices: *Narration, Voice, Gashacon Bugvisor II/Buggle Driver II and Kamen Rider Chronicle Gashat Voices:

Guest cast

*: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *: *:

Theme songs

;Opening theme *"EXCITE" **Lyrics:

Kanata Okajima is a Multi Platinum songwriter raised in Tokyo. Active since 2004, she has worked with many Japanese artists such as Namie Amuro, EXILE, E-girls as well as international artists like BTS (band), Che'Nelle, Twice, Girls' Generation, SHINee, B ...

, Daichi Miura **Composition: Carpainter, Kanata Okajima **Arrangement: UTA, Carpainter **Artist: Daichi Miura **Episodes: 2 - 11, 13, 14, 25 - 44 *:Episodes 1, 12, 15-24 and 45 do not feature the show's opening sequence. This song is used as the ending theme in episodes 1, 15, and 18-24, and an insert song in episodes 4, 12, 16, 17, 32, and 45. ;Insert themes *"Let's Try Together" **Lyrics: BOUNCEBACK, kenko-p **Composition & Arrangement: Hirofumi Hibino **Artist:

Kamen Rider Girls are an idol group developed by Avex Trax and Ishimori Productions to commemorate the Kamen Rider Series' 40th anniversary in 2011. Each of the group's current members represent one of the protagonists of the Kamen Rider Series. The group made ...

**Episodes: 13 - 15 *"Wish in the dark" **Lyrics: Kyasu Morizuki, Mio Aoyama **Composition: Takehito Shimizu **Arrangement: Toru Watanabe **Artist:

**Episodes: 17, 18 *"PEOPLE GAME" **Lyrics: Yuya Takahashi **Composition: Katsumi Ohnishi **Arrangement: Toru Watanabe, ats- **Artist: Poppy Pipopapo ( Ruka Matsuda) **Episodes: 24 - 26 *"Real Game" **Lyrics: Takayuki Tazawa **Composition: Keiichi Miyako **Arrangement: Rayflower **Artist: Rayflower **Episodes: 29 *"JUSTICE" **Lyrics: Mio Aoyama **Composition: Natsumi **Arrangement: Takehito Shimizu, Toru Watanabe **Artist: Hiroyuki Takami **Episodes: 33 *"Time of Victory" **Lyrics: Misa Kuwatani, Kyasu Morizuki **Composition: Misa Kuwatani **Arrangement: ats- **Artist: Kamen Rider Girls **Episodes: 36

International broadcast

References

External links

Official website
at

"''Tricks''" website
{{Kamen Rider Ex-Aid 2016 Japanese television series debuts TV Asahi original programming Television shows about video games Television series about artificial intelligence Television series about viral outbreaks Augmented reality in fiction Cyberpunk television series Fiction about death games