Kaijin Of The Month
► One Month, One Monster
今月の怪人
Kaijin Of The Month
After a long rest, it's baaaaack! The monthly salute to just one of the many Kamen Rider monsters-of-the-week returns in full
force for 2007. Each month, a different Rider Kaijin is profiled. Although I generally pick and choose them at random, suggestions
are welcome, and you might just see your favorite Kaijin filling this spot some day soon.
force for 2007. Each month, a different Rider Kaijin is profiled. Although I generally pick and choose them at random, suggestions
are welcome, and you might just see your favorite Kaijin filling this spot some day soon.
This page owned and operated by Paul Sullivan.
Kamen Rider 1971, 2007 © TOEI / ISHINOMORI SHOTARO. All content and custom graphics © 2007 Igadevil's Kamen Rider Page
Kamen Rider 1971, 2007 © TOEI / ISHINOMORI SHOTARO. All content and custom graphics © 2007 Igadevil's Kamen Rider Page
Kaijin of the Month ~July 2007~
Tokageron
Tokageron
What's in the Name: Tokage (Lizard)
Height/ Weight: 190 cm / 183 kg
Organization: Shocker
Place of Origin: Central America
Objective: Lead Shocker's revived Kaijin army and bust
into an atomic power research facility by destroying the
invisible force field it just happens to have.
Powers: Super-tough guy with a nasty kick, the "Hissatsu
Shoot", which sends rocks and Shocker's "Barrier
Destruction Ball" flyin'. Human shape-shifting powers.
Voice Actor: Hotta Shinzô
Originally Appeared: Kamen Rider Episode #13
"Tokageron and the Great Kaijin Army"
Defeated by: Denkô (Lightning) Rider Kick
Height/ Weight: 190 cm / 183 kg
Organization: Shocker
Place of Origin: Central America
Objective: Lead Shocker's revived Kaijin army and bust
into an atomic power research facility by destroying the
invisible force field it just happens to have.
Powers: Super-tough guy with a nasty kick, the "Hissatsu
Shoot", which sends rocks and Shocker's "Barrier
Destruction Ball" flyin'. Human shape-shifting powers.
Voice Actor: Hotta Shinzô
Originally Appeared: Kamen Rider Episode #13
"Tokageron and the Great Kaijin Army"
Defeated by: Denkô (Lightning) Rider Kick
I know, this is the third Shocker Kaijin that has made KOTM
since its relaunch, but let's face it: they are hands-down the
most fun to write about. One reason I often cite the original
Kamen Rider series as my favorite is the emphasis on the
villains to the point where they're almost like the main
characters of the show. The heroes are there, they get their
little plot lines and all that, but they ultimately are more like the
constant, the thing that ties one episode to the next. Aside
from taking the reins of the show or getting powered-up,
Rider 1 & 2 basically serve as the weekly foil, there to tidy
things up in 25 minutes. The real stars are the monsters; heck,
they even have the episodes named after them! There is a level
of ingenuity to each that some later monsters would lack.
since its relaunch, but let's face it: they are hands-down the
most fun to write about. One reason I often cite the original
Kamen Rider series as my favorite is the emphasis on the
villains to the point where they're almost like the main
characters of the show. The heroes are there, they get their
little plot lines and all that, but they ultimately are more like the
constant, the thing that ties one episode to the next. Aside
from taking the reins of the show or getting powered-up,
Rider 1 & 2 basically serve as the weekly foil, there to tidy
things up in 25 minutes. The real stars are the monsters; heck,
they even have the episodes named after them! There is a level
of ingenuity to each that some later monsters would lack.
Take for example Tokageron. A good part of his episode focuses on the big green guy himself. Created from a cutthroat, hard-
drinking trash-talking soccer player named Nomoto Ken, Shocker's 11th entry into the Kaijin files is brought about because the
villains need someone tough enough to kick what is essentially an explosive ball into an invisible barrier so they can get at the
hapless scientific center behind said barrier.
Now, you would think there would be an easier way to go about doing this; after all, in later stories they're able to literally bust
through the floor, wall, ceiling, or the even the front of the TV screen if need be like it's no big deal. But remember, this is in the
early days, and also at a period of crisis for the series: Fujioka was down for the count, so they have to draw things out a bit more
to fill the episode. So, deciding to do things The Shocker Way™, the bad guys go through all the trouble to kidnap Nomoto and
create Kamen Rider's first Kaijin who neither wore the usual black boots (or white ones, in Hachi-Onna's case) nor the distinctive
Shocker belt buckle. Tokageron is sort of the first true "fully rubber suit" monster in Kamen Rider, but far from the last. And your
mileage may vary, but all the cool people who really matter will back me up when I say it's still a pretty neat costume.
Aside from episode #13, and the Go Go Kamen Rider movie (which is basically the same as the TV episode, and cropped to
make it widescreen), Tokageron has pretty much gone unrecognized, partly due to lack of further appearances and also due to the
fact that #13 is better known as, in this order, "The last one with Rider 1 for a while", "The last one of the original 13", "The one
with all the monsters coming back", "The one where we find out Taki is in the FBI", "The one that got blown up into the first
movie", "The last one without Fujioka in it until the mid-60's, but only Igadevil remembers that", "The one where Hotta got his
Rider acting chops in and probably led to him later getting cast as General Monster years later", and "The one where Ruriko
look's smokin' at the end". As for other appearances, he's in the preview for Kamen Rider vs. Shocker, as part of the big line-up
of revived foes, but unfortunately absent in the finished product. Wonder why?
While Tokageron's one and only real appearance is perhaps better known for its historical context more so than the monster
himself, but all the same Tokageron is a pretty nasty customer, and its arguable that all his scenes are among the classics. Sending
Rider 1 sprawling with a boulder to the gut. The creepy mansion with the not-quite-dummy monsters. And the climactic final battle
with Rider 1 up against nearly everybody in the show up to that point. There's a nice mid-episode confrontation too, and this
leads to our hero spending some time training with Tachibana to perfect an upgraded Rider Kick. Apart from a little "let's record
Rider 1 jumping around so we can figure out how his powers work" moment earlier in the series, this is the first (of many) "train to
learn a new technique" scenes, something Kamen Rider continues to this very day. Well, in Hibiki, anyway.
It's interesting to point out that physical fighting between Rider 1 & the big lizard is fairly limited; my guess has always been that
Tokageron's suit was rather fragile, or they just had filled up all the time with our main man beating up the rehashed villains, who to
some degree do steal the show (even if Kumo-Otoko makes the goofiest sounds... hey, resurrection technology wasn't as
perfected back then.) I do so love how the other 10 Kaijin literally jump in from out of nowhere right before the final battle.
Whatever the case, Tokageron remains a notable monster, unlike any other that came before (and how many Rider monsters
back then had a tail!?) and in some ways unlike any that came later. Well, aside from the below guys! Anways, that's Tokageron,
July 2007's Kaijin of the month.
Click for a sample of Tokageron' voice!
Want more lizards? Check these guys out:
drinking trash-talking soccer player named Nomoto Ken, Shocker's 11th entry into the Kaijin files is brought about because the
villains need someone tough enough to kick what is essentially an explosive ball into an invisible barrier so they can get at the
hapless scientific center behind said barrier.
Now, you would think there would be an easier way to go about doing this; after all, in later stories they're able to literally bust
through the floor, wall, ceiling, or the even the front of the TV screen if need be like it's no big deal. But remember, this is in the
early days, and also at a period of crisis for the series: Fujioka was down for the count, so they have to draw things out a bit more
to fill the episode. So, deciding to do things The Shocker Way™, the bad guys go through all the trouble to kidnap Nomoto and
create Kamen Rider's first Kaijin who neither wore the usual black boots (or white ones, in Hachi-Onna's case) nor the distinctive
Shocker belt buckle. Tokageron is sort of the first true "fully rubber suit" monster in Kamen Rider, but far from the last. And your
mileage may vary, but all the cool people who really matter will back me up when I say it's still a pretty neat costume.
Aside from episode #13, and the Go Go Kamen Rider movie (which is basically the same as the TV episode, and cropped to
make it widescreen), Tokageron has pretty much gone unrecognized, partly due to lack of further appearances and also due to the
fact that #13 is better known as, in this order, "The last one with Rider 1 for a while", "The last one of the original 13", "The one
with all the monsters coming back", "The one where we find out Taki is in the FBI", "The one that got blown up into the first
movie", "The last one without Fujioka in it until the mid-60's, but only Igadevil remembers that", "The one where Hotta got his
Rider acting chops in and probably led to him later getting cast as General Monster years later", and "The one where Ruriko
look's smokin' at the end". As for other appearances, he's in the preview for Kamen Rider vs. Shocker, as part of the big line-up
of revived foes, but unfortunately absent in the finished product. Wonder why?
While Tokageron's one and only real appearance is perhaps better known for its historical context more so than the monster
himself, but all the same Tokageron is a pretty nasty customer, and its arguable that all his scenes are among the classics. Sending
Rider 1 sprawling with a boulder to the gut. The creepy mansion with the not-quite-dummy monsters. And the climactic final battle
with Rider 1 up against nearly everybody in the show up to that point. There's a nice mid-episode confrontation too, and this
leads to our hero spending some time training with Tachibana to perfect an upgraded Rider Kick. Apart from a little "let's record
Rider 1 jumping around so we can figure out how his powers work" moment earlier in the series, this is the first (of many) "train to
learn a new technique" scenes, something Kamen Rider continues to this very day. Well, in Hibiki, anyway.
It's interesting to point out that physical fighting between Rider 1 & the big lizard is fairly limited; my guess has always been that
Tokageron's suit was rather fragile, or they just had filled up all the time with our main man beating up the rehashed villains, who to
some degree do steal the show (even if Kumo-Otoko makes the goofiest sounds... hey, resurrection technology wasn't as
perfected back then.) I do so love how the other 10 Kaijin literally jump in from out of nowhere right before the final battle.
Whatever the case, Tokageron remains a notable monster, unlike any other that came before (and how many Rider monsters
back then had a tail!?) and in some ways unlike any that came later. Well, aside from the below guys! Anways, that's Tokageron,
July 2007's Kaijin of the month.
Click for a sample of Tokageron' voice!
Want more lizards? Check these guys out:
Nokogiri-Tokage
Kamen Rider V3 episode #7~8
V3's sole female opponent, the buzzsaw-wielding miscreant double teamed with
Knife-Armadillo against our hero. She'll be getting an update in the upcoming Kamen Rider
THE NEXT, as Chainsaw Lizard, who sports heels that could kill the sidewalk.
Kamen Rider V3 episode #7~8
V3's sole female opponent, the buzzsaw-wielding miscreant double teamed with
Knife-Armadillo against our hero. She'll be getting an update in the upcoming Kamen Rider
THE NEXT, as Chainsaw Lizard, who sports heels that could kill the sidewalk.
Tokage-Otoko
Kamen Rider J
Want to freak out your Rider newbie friends? Tell 'em that the original Agito was the
human form of this nasty dude! Able to quickly regenerate lost teeth and possessing a strong
tail and sharp claws, he gave J the fight of his life. Well, one of the 4-5 fights of his life.
Kamen Rider J
Want to freak out your Rider newbie friends? Tell 'em that the original Agito was the
human form of this nasty dude! Able to quickly regenerate lost teeth and possessing a strong
tail and sharp claws, he gave J the fight of his life. Well, one of the 4-5 fights of his life.
Lizard Undead
Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace
Although he was already sealed up before the series began, Blade's lizard opponent was
able to put in an appearance in the movie, after he's been let out all over again. He does
eventually pop up in the series, in the epic flashback to the one and only Battle Fight!
Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace
Although he was already sealed up before the series began, Blade's lizard opponent was
able to put in an appearance in the movie, after he's been let out all over again. He does
eventually pop up in the series, in the epic flashback to the one and only Battle Fight!
Past KOTM
January 2007
Shiomaneking
February 2007
Hasami-Jaguar
March 2007
Great Kaijin Darom
April 2007
Spider
May 2007
Egyptas
June 2007
Doras
July 2007
Tokageron
January 2007
Shiomaneking
February 2007
Hasami-Jaguar
March 2007
Great Kaijin Darom
April 2007
Spider
May 2007
Egyptas
June 2007
Doras
July 2007
Tokageron