Kamen Rider Amazon

After a terrible plane crash in which his parents were presumably
killed, Yamamoto Daisuke was lost in the Amazon jungle when he
was just an infant. Adopted by a native tribe, he became something
of a modern-day Tarzan, growing up in the wild surrounded by many
dangerous animals. Even more dangerous than any hungry forest
critter, though, was Gorgos, the Ten-Faced Demon. He attacked the
village where Yamamoto lived, killing everyone except for our hero.
The reason: to get his hands on the GiGi Bangle, the second of two
ancient artifacts that, when combined, could give the wielder
immense power. A witch doctor named Bago entrusts the GiGi
Bangle to Yamamoto, and performs a strange, mystical “operation”
of sorts on him using a little age-old Incan super science.

Now able to transform, Yamamoto (whose original name having long
been lost, is then referred to only as “Amazon” by most everyone but
the narrator, who happens to be Naya Gorô, better known as the
voice of the Great Leader) sets out for Japan, where he encounters
Doctor Kôsaka Tarô, who coincidentally once knew Yamamoto’s
father, and is able to understand the strange hand gestures that
Amazon uses to communicate (since he doesn’t speak Japanese.)
Unfortunately, the other dude is killed by Kumo-Jûjin, a member of
Gorgos’ evil cult Geddon (short for “Armageddon”). With nobody
else around that can understand his grunting and growling, Amazon’s
only friend is a boy named Okamura Masahiko, whom he saves.

Name: Kamen Rider
Amazon (Amazon)

*Also known as
"Amazon Rider"

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 62 kg

Human Identity:
Amazon (Yamamoto
Daisuke)

Rider Machine:
Jungler

Henshin Belt:
Condora (not used in
transformation)

Henshin Phrase:
"A~MA~ZON!"

Enemy: Geddon &
Garander Empire

Combat Techniques:

-Dai Setsudan (Great
Slice)
-Amazon Kick
-Jaguar Shock
-Condor Jump
-Monkey Attack
-Elbow Slam
-Spin Kick
-Amazon Nage
(Throw), etc.

Special
Equipment/Weapons
& Powers:

-Condora, a special
extendable rope
weapon kept in his belt.

-By combining the
power of the GiGi and
GaGa Bangles, he can
seriously bring down
the hurt on evil, and
perform the Super Dai
Setsudan!

The kid also dubs him “Kamen Rider”, and he thereafter goes by “Kamen Rider Amazon” or “Amazon Rider”. He fights to
protect Masahiko and his older sister Ritsuko, as well as the GiGi Bangle, from Gorgos and his Geddon cronies.

In episode #3, Amazon meets Tachibana Tôbei, and in episode #4 receives Jungler, his motorcycle, from our favorite Oyassan.
As mentioned earlier, at the beginning of the series, Amazon doesn't speak Japanese or dress like your average everyday person.
Throughout the series Masahiko, Ritsuko, and Tachibana teach him the ways of the modern world, and he finally gets a nifty shirt
in episode #9. His fighting style is primitive compared to the other Riders, and he doesn't name any his moves until about episode
#14, by the time he starts becoming near-fluent. By the very end of the series, Amazon wears normal clothes (although keeps his
old duds on underneath) and speaks Japanese with no problem, but he still lets his wild man side show during battle.

If one word could sum up Amazon Rider, it would be “unconventional”. A big difference from previous Riders is that Amazon is
not exactly a cyborg, although he is technically a Kaizô-Ningen, but in a very different way than previous Riders. Also, when he
transforms, he really becomes a whole different creature. So while technically Amazon is not wearing a mask, he is very much still
"masked" by taking on a different form than his normal one. In fact, Amazon is really the beginning of the "Kamen" in Kamen
Rider taking on a more metaphorical meaning than a literal one, a trend continued in later series and movies.

Amazon's fighting techniques and style aren't your average "Rider Punch, Kick and Jump" either. Amazon has primitive fighting
techniques, though they are very effective. His moves are named after animals from the jungle. Actually, despite being based on a
Monitor Lizard or Komodo Dragon (rather than an insect), Amazon is sort of like a sum total of all animals in a way. During
battle, Amazon always hunches over, animal-style. Later in the series he will get a bit more civilized in fighting style (a little...not
much...okay, hardly at all, but he does develop an Rider Kick of his own). Amazon is perhaps best known for the violent deaths
his foes have. In fact, only a few monsters in the show ever explode. The vast majority of them die by dismemberment or
decapitation, bleeding loads of gooey colored stuff in slow-motion as they go down. That'll learn 'em.

Amazon's ride of choice, Jungler, is by far one of the most imaginative and most
colorful Rider Machines to date. Built by Tachibana (although Bago is said to have
originally designed it, oddly enough) Jungler is unique in that unlike past Rider
Machines, it does not transform with Amazon, it just always looks like it does. The
bike has a few neat surprises, including a rope/grappling hook launcher in the “mouth”.

In episode #5, Geddon sends Mogura-Jûjin to kill Amazon. Mogura isn't as tough as
the other Geddon Kaijin, though, and fails his mission. For this, he is sentenced to
death in episode #6. Amazon rescues him, knowing he is not really a bad guy like the
rest of Geddon. Afterwards, he becomes a trusted friend, and helps Amazon out in
nearly every episode (#5~20). He also befriends Tachibana, and provides some
comic relief every now and then. Mogura lives underground and appears when
Amazon needs help. Despite the fact that he betrayed Geddon, they don't seem that
eager to kill him afterwards. They often threaten him, but don't seem too concerned
about him hanging around, even if he's an ex-member...but then again most people
outside Amazon’s gang probably wouldn’t know anyway! While none of the previous
Riders appear in Kamen Rider Amazon, he'll get to meet up with them soon enough.
I like to think they were all off racking up frequent flyer miles for their later
appearances.

Eventually, Amazon has a final showdown with Gorgos himself. Amazon,
along with the traitorous Hebitonbo-Jûjin defeat the big red head, who dies in
a dramatic atomic blast, using the same footage that "killed" the Double Riders
in Kamen Rider V3!

But the story ain't over yet. The GaGa Bangle, which was last seen attached
to Gorgos’ arm when Amazon Dai Setsudan’ed it off, winds up in the hands
of a new group, the Garander Empire, led by Emperor Zero. Amazon
continues his battle against the Garander Empire, and eventually confronts
Zero himself. In the last episode we finally get to see the awesome might of
GiGi & GaGa combined...they might sound goofy, but those things pack a
punch! With Geddon & the Garander Empire destroyed, it's all good, &
Amazon leaves Japan to go see the world. He bids farewell to his friends and
departs in a swanky white suit. Of course, Amazon will return to Japan one
day, in Kamen Rider Stronger!

Given that his usual manner of fighting leaves enemies in pieces, Amazon is a little less violent in most later appearances, but he still
maintains his edge in New Kamen Rider, chopping off arms and in one case, a head (which then explodes!) The Kamen Rider
Spirits comic features Amazon in all his gory glory, but still retains the gentler, quirky side of our favorite wild man. Despite his
inherent differences from most of the other original Riders, he's still readily welcomed into the brotherhood, and has an especially
close friendship with X-Rider. I like to think it's to emulate the Double Riders and V3/Riderman combo.

For many years, actor Okazaki Tôru had seemingly vanished from the public eye, having retired from acting (supposedly to go
into the restaurant business) and rarely being able to do interviews. However, in 2005 he decided it was time to return to the
spotlight with an interview in Figure King magazine. He also recently published two editions of a book about his experiences "in
the Amazon", and launched a website. Nice to have him back, now get him and the other remaining Rider actors in a team-up
special, Toei!

One last thing: Amazon could take Shin, Gills, Chalice, and anybody from Hibiki with one arm tied behind his back. All at the
same time. That's not just my opinion– that's a cold, hard fact, baby. "Gaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

Movies/Specials & Guest Appearances/Cameos

~TV Series~

Kamen Rider Stronger (1975~1976)

Episode 36: Shows up along with Kamen Rider X to help Stronger fight the Delzer Army. Still has that sweet white suit!
Episode 39: Joins the other 6 Riders in defeating the Delzer Army and the Great Leader of the whole thing. Hehe, check it out
when Amazon tries to bite the giant rock dude.

*Okazaki Tôru appears in all above episodes.

New Kamen Rider (1979~1980)

Episodes 27: Amazon & the other Riders arrive just in time for a little tank-bustin' action.
Episode 28: Amazon & the crew still help out Skyrider, first by kicking his butt, then by saving it from a Neoshocker Kaijin army.
Episode 54: Joins the other 7 Riders in defeating Neoshocker's big bad boss for good.

Kamen Rider BLACK RX (1988~1989)

Episode 41: Rider 1 calls Amazon and the others to Arizona for some training.
Episode 42: The Riders are still chillin' in Arizona, and training for the big battles to come.
Episode 43: Yet more training in the desert. In between, I imagine they sit around roasting marsh mellows and singing tunes.
Episode 44: The gang heads back to Japan to save RX from getting hammered into the ground by Granzairus.
Episode 45: Amazon, who has a humorously deep voice, joins the others in averting this Crisis (sorry.)
Episode 46: Amazon & X-Rider help out while V3 & Riderman contend with Jaaku-Midora.
Episode 47: Amazon & his 9 fellow Riders leave the last battle for RX, but they're around for the ending.

~Movies/Specials/Other~

Kamen Rider Amazon (1975): A big-screen, cropped version of episode #16. *Okazaki Tôru appears!

Back Together Again! 7 Kamen Riders!! (1976): Amazon joins Rider 1~Stronger to talk about the good old days and bust
some new evil organization heads. *Okazaki Tôru appears!

JAKQ Electric Shock Force vs. Goranger (1978): Yeah, yeah, yeah. It isn't a Kamen Rider movie per se, but Amazon gets a
shout-out from JAKQ's boss, along with Kamen Rider V3 & fellow Toei hero Kikaida. We also see a photo of each on a map,
and get a little snippet of their theme song. Amazon is said to be fighting Crime (the organization, not the moral concept) in– where
else– the Amazon jungle. Or maybe he wasn't really fighting anybody at the time, but what Joker doesn't know won't hurt him.

8 Riders vs. Milky Way King (1980): Amazon & the other 6 Riders help Skyrider take on Ginga-Ô, aka the Milky Way King,
as well as an entire legion of revived Neoshocker mutants. Amazon fans, take note: Amazon gets to chop a guy's arm off!

Kamen Rider Super-1 (1981): Amazon’s there with the rest of the guys to back Supes up when a random revived Kaijin army
comes out of nowhere!

Number Ten's Birth! Kamen Riders Back Together Again!! (1984): Amazon & the other 9 Riders welcome ZX to the
family, and defeat the Badan Empire– all in just 45 minutes!

Kamen Rider SD (1993): SD Amazon appears briefly at the end along with Stronger & Rider 2. They're chillin' at the pool while
the rest of the gang is fighting for their lives against Grandshocker.