I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the deeper themes in Kamen Rider, especially in terms of how it links back to general Japanese culture, and I’ve found myself wondering if some of the more inexplicable elements reflected something else that doesn’t translate as well into a Western perspective.
Case in point, Birugenia’s bizarre makeup. Although it may seem like one of the lesser out of place things in the show, aka a ‘just run with it this is tokusatsu’ kind of deals, after reading a post linking Kamen Rider with Kabuki theatre I thought there might be a connection and decided to look it up.
Specifically, I discovered a certain kind of performance style called the Aragato (very stylized samurai or supernatural dramas, often with a courageous hero, that appears to share much in common with a lot of henshin hero properties) that often used makeup techniques similar to the one Birugenia sports to emphasize the eyes. However, the interesting part to this I found was:
Considering that the main theme of Black is revenge, and Birugenia is very clearly intended as a villainous counterpart to Kotaro, that blue makeup seems to exist to reinforce his role as what Kotaro could become if he loses himself to evil.
I’m not an expert on Japanese culture by any means, so if anyone has anything else to add please do! I’m just trying to start a discussion, it’s interesting to think that there’s a lot more to Kamen Rider then we think.
Kabuki was also prominent in the original Kamen Rider, as I detailed here
… Okay, I feel like I gotta set a record straight.
Now, people often advertise V3 as a character who seeks vengeance against Destron. Even Generation Kikaida advertised V3 this way. (Hell, I remember this one thread on /m/ board (yeah, I know, /m/) that got upset at Kamen Rider Spirits because how they think its dumb that Kazami says Riders shouldn’t just fight for revenge.)
But… If you actually watch the show, revenge is not what its about. Atleast, it isn’t at all that simple.
When Kazami wanted to become a cyborg like the Double Riders, they made it pretty clear as you can see, that seeking revenge cannot be his only reason. Being a Kamen Rider in the Showa era is a lifetime commitment and sacrifice of all else before others. Its not something that you can make rash decisions of, especially when all you want to do with the power is for personal gain.
Kazami became V3 when he sacrificed himself to save others, and proved he has the potential of being a Rider. Kazami himself visited the graves of his family later to beg their forgiveness and decides to fight evil and protect others.
Riderman, from the later period of the show, also pushed this point home. Riderman, Joji Yuki, was only motivated for seeking revenge against Marshal Armour and gaining back Destron’s favour, of which Kazami strictly argues against, as Yuki is now entering a fight that is much larger with much heavier consequences, which his manpain doesn’t suffice as an answer.
The show then in a symbolic gesture showcased how much of a fool’s endeavor Yuki’s chase was, as Destron reveals its true nature to Yuki. At the end, seeking revenge was not worth it.
Quite telling is also when Riderman was finally proclaimed as a real Kamen Rider is not when he help defeating the villains, but when he chose to sacrifice himself to save millions.
Kamen Rider is not about revenge, or atleast revenge is not the primary motivator. Hongo didn’t fight Shocker for revenge, he fought because he didn’t want humanity to suffer under Shocker like he and so many others did, ditto for Ichimonji, and its the same here as well.
Kamen Rider has, is, and will always be about overcoming tragedy and turn it into something that can help and benefit others.
