Kamen Rider (1971) is not for children. It was made for a generation that had known war, occupation, and radical change. It told them: "You have been broken and rebuilt by forces you don't control. But that does not make you a monster. That makes you a Rider."
(1971) is the foundational entry of the massive Japanese tokusatsu (special effects) franchise created by manga artist and producer Toru Hirayama. Initially airing from April 3, 1971, to February 10, 1973, it established the tropes of the "Masked Rider" that persist in pop culture today. Core Series Data Original Run: February 10, 1973. Episode Count: 98 episodes. Protagonists: Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider 1): Played by Hiroshi Fujioka. Hayato Ichimonji (Kamen Rider 2): Played by Takeshi Sasaki. Kamen Rider 1971 - 1973 -English Subbed-