is a Japanese

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...

drama, the 31st entry of

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 i ...

's ''

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 generall ...

'' franchise, and the second series to debut during the Reiwa period. The series premiered on September 6, 2020, joining ''

Mashin Sentai Kiramager is a Japanese tokusatsu drama. It is the 44th entry of Toei's long-running ''Super Sentai'' metaseries and the first series to air exclusively in the Reiwa era. ''Kiramager''s main motifs are genies, gemstones and vehicles. It is the fifth veh ...

'', and later, ''

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' television drama, the 45th entry in Toei's long-running ''Super Sentai'' series, and the second produced in the Reiwa era. Additionally, it commemorates the 45th anniversary of the ''Super Sentai'' franchise and is th ...

'' in the ''

Super Hero Time is a programming block on the Japanese television network TV Asahi featuring new episodes of tokusatsu television series from the Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and Metal Heroes. Both series have decades of history and have been intertwined in the ...

'' line-up after the finale of ''

Kamen Rider Zero-One is a Japanese tokusatsu drama series produced by Toei Company and TV Asahi. It is the 30th series in the '' Kamen Rider'' franchise and the first series in the Reiwa period. The show premiered on September 1, 2019, following the finale of ''Kame ...

'' before being succeeded by ''

Kamen Rider Revice is a Japanese tokusatsu drama and the 32nd entry of Toei Company's ''Kamen Rider'' metaseries. It is the third series to debut during the Reiwa period and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the franchise. The series premiered on September 5, ...

'' on September 5, 2021. The series is notable for its use of a fantasy setting, along with its storybook theming.

Premise

The human world collides with a realm of

fairy tales A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cult ...

called Wonder World due to a conflict over the ''Almighty Book'' – a legendary artifact of unparalleled power as a trio of monsters called the Megids mount a failed attempt to claim it and create more of their kind. Two millennia later however, the Dark Swordsman Hayato Fukamiya, aka Kamen Rider Calibur, betrayed his comrades upon learning a horrible truth and was reportedly killed by the Flame Swordsman, Daichi Kamijo, with a girl named Luna being an apparent causality of their fight. Daichi gave his Wonder Ride Book to a boy named Touma Kamiyama before leaving his sword behind. Becoming a novelist and bookstore owner a further fifteen years later, Touma's attempt to stop a Megid attack causes him to inherit Kamijo's title as Kamen Rider Saber and he resolves to end the conflict after being recruited by the Water Swordsman, Rintaro Shindo, of an organization of swordsmen called the Sword of Logos. Among the other swordsmen Touma meets while recovering both his memories and lost Wonder Ride Books is his childhood friend, Kento Fukamiya, who wishes to understand his father's actions after Calibur resurfaces as the Megids' ally.

Production

The ''Kamen Rider Saber'' trademark was registered by Toei on May 29, 2020. On 29 July 2020, ''Kamen Rider Saber'' was officially announced during a press conference alongside its cast, during which time it was announced that the show is planned to feature at least 10 Riders over the course of the series. Along with the eponymous character, five other confirmed Riders at the time were Blades, Espada, Buster, Kenzan, and Calibur. Following the series premiere, additional Riders Slash, Falchion, Saikou, Sabela, Durandal, Solomon, and Storious eventually join the cast. The opening theme song is performed by the band

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra , commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO, is a Japanese ska and jazz band formed in 1988 by the percussionist Asa-Chang, and initially composed of over 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene. At the time, the band's sound was unlike t ...

collaborating with the band Alexandros' Yoohei Kawakami, who provides the vocals. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra also performs the ending theme song, and Kinichi Motegi, the band's drummer, provides the vocals.

Episodes

Films

''The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin''

was released on December 18, 2020, double billed with '' Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time''. Actor Masashi Taniguchi portrayed the film's main antagonist, Bahato, who eventually returned in the series as a recurring character. The events of the film take place between episodes 9–11.

''Super Hero Senki''

is a crossover film released on July 22, 2021, starring the casts from ''Saber'' and ''

'', as well as featuring characters from past entries of the franchises involved. The film is part of the celebrations for both the 50th anniversary of the ''Kamen Rider'' franchise and the 45th anniversary of the ''

Super Sentai is a Japanese superhero team metaseries and media franchise consisting of television series and films produced by Toei Company, and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi ("Sentai" is the Japanese word for "task force" or "fighting squadron"). The sho ...

'' franchise, and serves as the final crossover between them. Actors

Fuku Suzuki is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. As a member of the talent agency Theatre Academy, he made his first appearance in 2006 on the NHK children's programme ''Inai Inai Baa!'' before earning a major role in ''Marumo no Okite'' and more recently the l ...

and Ayumi Tanida portrayed Shotaro Ishinomori and the film's main antagonist, Asmodeus, respectively. Moreover,

Kenjirō Ishimaru is a Japanese actor and TV narrator. He is best known for his role in Kamen Rider series ''Kamen Rider Den-O'' as the owner of the DenLiner. He has also appeared in multiple competitions of ''Sasuke'' as a competitor and during that time has ...

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 le ...

'';

Takashi Ukaji is a Japanese actor. Early life Born in Tokyo, but raised in Hiroshima Prefecture, Ukaji was the leader of one of Japan's largest bosozoku groups before becoming an actor. His mother is Shizue Ukaji, a prominent Ainu poet and artist. Career ...

of ''

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 Rid ...

'';

So Okuno is a Japanese actor and dancer who is known for his portrayal of Sougo Tokiwa in ''Kamen Rider Zi-O'' and Hayato Shinomiya in ''Kiss Him, Not Me''. He is a member of Oscar Promotion's acting troupe Aoyama Omotesando X. Biography Okuno won the 3 ...

of ''

Kamen Rider Zi-O is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in the Toei Company's ''Kamen Rider'' franchise. It is the twenty-ninth ''Kamen Rider'' series overall as well as the twentieth and final series in the Heisei period. The show premiered on September 2, 2018, followi ...

''; Fumiya Takahashi of ''

''; Shogo Suzuki of ''

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger is the title of Toei Company's thirty-third entry in its long-running Super Sentai metaseries of Japanese tokusatsu television series. It premiered on February 15, 2009, the week following the finale of ''Engine Sentai Go-onger'', and ended on F ...

'';

Atomu Mizuishi , is a Japanese actor represented by STRAIGHT entertainment Biography In 2012 he made his debut as an actor portraying Renji Yanagi in Prince of Tennis 2nd season. In 2014 he portrayed Crow (Makai Knight) in Garo: Makai no Hana。 In 2020, h ...

of ''

''; and

Hiroshi Fujioka , better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor known for playing the hero Takeshi Hongo in the tokusatsu superhero series ''Kamen Rider'', and later the Sega Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro (jokingly revealed to be Takeshi Hongo himself). ...

of ''

'' (1971 - 1973) reprised their respective roles while

Naoya Makoto , born (born June 25, 1948 ) is an actor from Japan. Makoto is famous for playing the role of Tsuyoshi Kaijō / AkaRanger in ''Himitsu Sentai Goranger''. Biography Naoya Makoto debuted as an actor in 1971. His first appearance was as a guest pe ...

of ''

Himitsu Sentai Gorenger is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' superhero television series. ''Gorenger'', created by Shotaro Ishinomori, was the first in the long-running ''Super Sentai'' metaseries of ''tokusatsu'' programming. The series aired on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 5, ...

'';

Toshihiko Seki is a Japanese actor, voice actor, singer and narrator. In June 2004, Seki was honored by the readers of Animage Magazine in the 26th Annual Reader's Poll, where he was ranked the 9th favorite voice actor, largely in recognition of his performanc ...

Kōji Yusa is a freelance Japanese voice actor and narrator, born and raised in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. He is best known for his roles in ''Choja Raideen'' (as Raideen Owl), the ''Sonic'' series (as Shadow the Hedgehog), ''Bleach'' (as Gin Ichimaru), ''Battle V ...

Masaki Terasoma is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is affiliated with Mausu Promotion. Biography After graduating from Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, Terasoma joined Haiyuza Theatre Company. In 1984, he made his film debut in ''W's Tragedy''. Afte ...

, and

Kenichi Suzumura is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer who is affiliated with and a representative of INTENTION, a voice acting company he founded in March 2012. He voiced Morley in ''Macross 7'', Hikaru Hitachiin in ''Ouran High School Host Club'', Mas ...

of ''Kamen Rider Den-O'';

Tetsu Inada is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production. Biography Filmography Anime Films Video games Tokusatsu Dubbing Drama CDs References External linksOfficial agency profileTetsu Inadaat Ryu's Seiyuu Infos * * { ...

of ''

Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger is the twenty-eighth production of the ''Super Sentai'' metaseries produced by Toei Company, Toei. It aired as a part of TV Asahi's 2004 Super Hero Time block with ''Kamen Rider Blade''. The action footage from the show was used for the American ...

''; M·A·O and

Hiroshi Kamiya is a Japanese voice actor, singer and narrator affiliated with Aoni Production. He is best known for the voice of Levi Ackerman in ''Attack on Titan'', Trafalgar Law in ''One Piece'', Mephisto Pheles in ''Blue Exorcist'', Izaya Orihara in ''Dur ...

of ''

Uchu Sentai Kyuranger is a Japanese tokusatsu drama and the 41st entry of Toei's long-running ''Super Sentai'' metaseries, following ''Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger''. The show premiered on February 12, 2017, joining ''Kamen Rider Ex-Aid'' and later ''Kamen Rider Build' ...

''; and

Rikiya Koyama is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator currently affiliated with Haiyuza Theatre Company. He has done popular voicing roles in ''Hajime no Ippo'', ''Utawarerumono'', ''Kamen no Maid Guy'' and ''Yakuza'', and has become well known for voici ...

of ''Kamen Rider Zi-O'' reprised their respective voice roles. Additionally, the two main characters of ''Kamen Rider Revice'' made their first appearances and a special film for the series was double billed with ''Super Hero Senki''. The events of the film take place after the two-part ''Movie Release Commemorative Combo Special'', which itself takes place between episodes 39 and 40.

''Beyond Generations''

is a crossover film released on December 17, 2021, starring the casts of ''Saber'' and ''

''. The film will also feature a new Kamen Rider from a possible future in the year 2071, 100 years after the debut of the first ''

'' television series. Additionally, actors

Akiyoshi Nakao is a Japanese actor. Nakao's wife is actress Riisa Naka is a Japanese actress. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2009 Yokohama Film Festival. Naka became famous by appearing in ''Hachi One Diver'' (2008) and played the lead, Hana ...

and

Arata Furuta is a Japanese theatre and film character actor. Biography Furata has a broad range that goes from playing serious salary men, to '' bushi'' in period drama roles, and even women. He works with the theatrical troupe called Otona Keikaku and oft ...

portrayed the film's guest characters and

's son, Maito, portrayed Takeshi Hongo's younger self.

Web-exclusive series

* is a web-exclusive series released on Telasa on November 8, 2020. It comprises four episodes and focuses on Rintaro Shindo, Kento Fukamiya, Ryo Ogami, Ren Akamichi, and Tetsuo Daishinji. #Chapter 8.5: #The Other Side of Chapter 9: #Behind the Chapter 13: #Chapter 15.5: * is a web-exclusive animated short series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on February 1, 2021. # # # # # # *''Kamen Rider Saber × Ghost'' is a web-exclusive series of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club serves as a crossover between ''Saber'' and ''

Kamen Rider Ghost is a Japanese tokusatsu drama serving as the 17th Heisei Kamen Rider Series, and 26th series overall. Takuro Fukuda serves as ''Ghost''s lead screenwriter, with Satoshi Morota as director. It premiered on TV Asahi and affiliate stations throughou ...

'', with

Shun Nishime is a Japanese actor and model. His nickname is . He won the Grand Prix at the ''27th Junon Super Boy Contest''. Biography Nishime was born in 1998 in Gushikawa, Okinawa Prefecture. He lived in Nagano Prefecture from 3 to 5 years old and returne ...

and

Mio Kudo is a Japanese actress, entertainer and model who is represented by Platinum Production. She is known for her roles as Kanon Fukami/Kamen Rider Kanon Specter in ''Kamen Rider Ghost'' (2015-2016) and Sayo Oharu/Kiramai Pink in ''Mashin Sentai Kiram ...

reprising their respective roles as Takeru Tenkūji and Kanon Fukami: The series takes place between episodes 38 and 39. ** is the titular first entry of the web-series released on May 23, 2021, with

Sotaro , known as , is an American actor and model in Japan. He was born in Newport Beach, California. He is best known for his portrayal of Ken Hisatsu/Geki Chopper in the 2007 Super Sentai series ''Juken Sentai Gekiranger''. Biography Sotaro was bo ...

returning to reprise his role as Javel. ** is a sequel to the titular first entry of the web-series released on June 27, 2021, with Ryosuke Yamamoto returning to reprise his role as

Makoto Fukami is a Japanese manga artist, novelist, and screenwriter. He started writing manga in 1999 and since has had multiple of his series adapted into other media. In addition to manga, he also did screenwriting for ''Psycho-Pass'' and its first film '' ...

DVD and Blu-ray-exclusive series

* is included as part of the Blu-ray releases of ''Kamen Rider Saber''. This storyline focuses on the lives of three known bearers of the Kamen Rider Calibur title: **Part 1 serves as a prequel to the main series and focuses on Hayato Fukamiya and Daichi Kamijo. **Part 2 takes place during episodes 17–35, and focuses on Kento Fukamiya. It was released on August 4, 2021. * is ''

Televi-Kun is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan, starting in May 1976. Its main target is elementary school aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga. It features super heroes such as ''Kamen Rider'', ''Super Sentai'', ...

''s .

V-Cinema

is a

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 ...

release which received a limited theatrical release on January 28, 2022, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on May 11, 2022. The events of the V-Cinema take place eight years after the end of the main series. The V-Cinema was written by Takuro Fukuda and directed by Kazuya Kamihoriuchi. The theme song is "Bittersweet" performed by Asuka Kawazu, Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, and Ryo Aoki.

Manga

is a

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

adaptation that focuses on Ryo Ogami's past, including his high school days two decades prior and the birth of his son, Sora, six years after Daichi Kamijo defeated Hayato Fukamiya. The manga is written by Kaori Kaneko and illustrated by Keitarō Kumatsuki, and was serialized on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club from February 28, 2021, to May 30, 2021. Each arc of the manga consists of three chapters. # #

Cast

Main

* : * : * : * : * : * : * : * : * : * : * , : * : * : * : * : (Child), (Adult) * : * : * : * , Another Sophia, Priestess: * : * : * : * Seiken Rider System Singing Voice: * Kamen Rider Sabela's Equipment Voice: * Narration, Seiken Rider System Speaking Voice, Wonder Ride Books Voice:

Guest cast

* : * : * : * Men (8): , * : * Married couple (16): , * : * : * : * : * : * : * Revice Equipment Voice (Special Issue):

Theme songs

;Opening theme * **Lyrics: Atsushi Yanaka **Composition: Tsuyoshi Kawakami **Artist & Arrangement:

**Vocals & Lyrics (English Translation): Yoohei Kawakami *:Episodes 1 and 47 do not feature the show's opening sequence. This song is used as an insert song in episodes 1, 10, 15, 27, and 47. ;Ending theme * **Lyrics: Atsushi Yanaka **Composition: Takashi Kato **Artist & Arrangement: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra **Vocals: Kinichi Motegi *:Episodes 15, 44, and 47 and Special Issue do not feature the show's ending sequence. ;Insert themes *"Rewrite the story" **Lyrics:

Shoko Fujibayashi is a Japanese lyricist who has written the lyrics for several tokusatsu television series' theme songs. Most recently, Fujibayashi has worked with Shuhei Naruse on the soundtracks of '' Kamen Rider Den-O'', ''Kamen Rider Kiva'', and their films. S ...

**Composition: tatsuo **Artist: Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, & Ryo Aoki **Episodes: 38-40 *"Will save us" **Lyrics: Shio Watanabe, Kazuya Kamihoriuchi **Composition:

Shuhei Naruse is a Japanese musician, composer, and music arranger from Kyoto Prefecture. Naruse attended Ritsumeikan University. His major debut as a musician was in the rock band DEVELOP=FRAME where he played keyboards. He has since worked on the compositio ...

**Artist: Asuka Kawazu **Episodes: 43 *"The story never ends" **Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi **Composition:

Kousuke Yamashita is a Japanese composer and arranger from Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Yamashita is best known for his work on ''Digimon Xros Wars'', '' Xenosaga: The Animation'', and the tokusatsu television series ''Mahou Sentai Magiranger'', ''Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger' ...

**Artist: Rina Chinen **Episodes: 44 *"BOOK OF POWER" **Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi **Composition: tatsuo **Artist: Masanori Kobayashi (WAЯROCK) **Episodes: 45 *:An instrumental version of this song is used. *"Timeless Story" **Lyrics: Isa Takinoo **Composition: Kousuke Yamashita **Artist: Utabito Zanmai Samady **Episodes: 45, 47

Notes

References

External links

Official website
at

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 Compan ...

Official website
at Kamen Rider Web *
Official website
for ''Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations''
Official website
for ''Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin'' {{Kamen Rider 2020 Japanese television series debuts

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 th ...

TV Asahi original programming Japanese fantasy television series Japanese supernatural television series Fictional knights Television series about monsters Dark fantasy television series