Kamen Rider Amazon ran October 19, 1974 - March 29, 1975 (24 episodes)
| Character | |
Actor |
| Yamamoto, Daisuke (Amazon) | |
Okazaki, Toru |
| Kamen Rider Amazon | |
Nakayashiki, Tetsuya & Nakamura, Bunya |
| Kamen Rider Amazon (motorcycle stunts) | |
Kumasawa, Tushiaki |
| Tachibana, Tobei | |
Kobayashi, Akiji |
| Omamura, Masahiko | |
Yoji Matsuda |
| Mogura Jųjin | |
Ozawa Shôji & Ishizuka Nobuyuki |
| Voice of Mogura Jųjin (episodes 5 & 6) | |
Ryuji Enju |
| Voice of Mogura Jųjin (episodes 7-20) | |
Keiken Mine |
| Gorgos, the Ten-Faced Demon (episodes 1-14) | |
Ozawa, Shôji; Ishizuka, Nobuyuki, |
| |
Yamada, Shigeru & Bunya, Nakamura |
| Emperor Zero (episodes 15-24) | |
Nakata, Hirohisa |
| Narrator | |
Naya, Gorô |
Kamen Rider Amazon is the only Kamen Rider not based on an insect. And the first to have to learn to speak Japanese as a young adult.
As result of a plane crash a Japanese, male infant is lost in the Amazon jungle. The baby is found and raised by an Amazonian witchdoctor. Years later the witchdoctor uses magic to give the young man the power to transform into a reptile-man. Calling himself "Amazon" the young man sneaks on board a ship heading for Japan.
In Japan the young man who calls himself Amazon is befriended by a young boy, Omamura, Masahiko (played by Yoji Matsuda). When the boy is attacked by a man sized spider Amazon transforms into Kamen Rider Amazon and drives the mutant off. It is Masahiko who gives Amazon the titles "Kamen Rider Amazon" and "Amazon Rider". Unlike the previous Kamen Riders who are part human and part machine Kamen Rider Amazon actually transforms into a different creature. I think its therefore accurate to classify him as a Jųjin (beast man) like the monsters he fights (but more powerful). Amazon recognised the spider as the work of Gorgos, the Ten-Faced Demon leader of Geddon, who tried to kill him in the Amazon jungle. Gorgos wants Amazon's armband, Gigi, because linked to his own, Gaga, it will give him great power.
When Amazon first arrives in Japan, he's a wildman, running around almost naked and growling at people. At first he does not speak Japanese, he has to learn it. So it is not until the fourteenth episode that Kamen Rider Amazon gives his killing blow a name, "Dai Setsudan" (Big Slice). In later episodes he occassionally uses "Amazon Kick". As the series progresses Amazon becomes more civilized, at one point he even puts on a sleevless shirt (episode 9) and as he learns to speak Japanese he stops grunting and growling, except at the monsters. In the final episode Kamen Rider Amazon gains the combat technique "Super Dai Setsudan" (Super Big Slice).
Kamen Rider Amazon was unique among the Kamen Riders, in that he was not based on an insect. I'm told he was a chameleon, though he looks fishy to me and bites, like a piranha. Also, unlike the others, he did not ride a motorcycle before he was made a Kamen Rider, but learned how later (episode 3). His motorcyle, Jungler, was given to him by Tachibana, Tobei (episode 4). Jungler's top speed was 300km/h (approx. 184 mph). Jungler did not transform into an ordinary appearing motorcycle. Junger's song is Run Jungler Of Flame
Yamamoto, Daisuke (Okazaki, Toru) did not have a henshin belt. He did wear a belt, "Condora", but it had nothing to do with his transformation into Amazon, it held a rope for climbing and swinging. Amazon gets the energy for the transformation from his armband Gigi. Amazon was also the first Kamen Rider who was not a cyborg and was not wearing a mask (Shin was the second). Kamen Rider means Masked Rider but Amazon doesn't wear a mask, he actually becomes a different creature. Amazon's transformation phrase was simply his name, "Am-a-z-on!"
In episode 5 Mogura Jųjin (Mole Beastman) is assigned the task of killing Amazon. In episode 6 Mogura Jųjin is sentenced to death for failing to kill Amazon. However, Amazon takes pity on his fallen enemy and rescues Mogura Jųjin, who later becomes a trusted friend, coming to Amazon's aid in almost every episode (5-20). Voice of Mogura Jųjin provided by Ryuji Enju episodes 5 & 6 (Sasori-Otoko in Kamen Rider 3), and Keiken Mine episodes 7-20 (Kumo-Otoko in Kamen Rider 1).
Like the previous 5 Kamen Riders, Amazon is befriended by Tachibana, Tobei.
Gorgos, the Ten-Faced Demon is defeated at the end of episode 14, but a new evil has appeared, the Garanda Empire led by Emperor Zero. Geddon's monsters are based on animals and insects. Garanda adds plants as well. Geddon Soldiers were all women. Garanda Soldiers were men.
Kamen Rider Amazon was probably the most violent and bloody of the Kamen Rider series. Amazon bleeds a lot and most of the mutants spray odd colored blood when Amazon shreds them In the first half of the series Amazon bleeds a lot as well. Putting on a shirt, long boots and bracers (leather arm bands) helps to reduce the number of wounds Amazon suffers however.
In episode 23 Kamen Rider Amazon fights Imitation Rider.
Kamen Rider Amazon was the first Kamen Rider sequel not to have previous Riders make appearances.
Kamen Rider Amason Episodes
Kamen Rider Amazon Songs
Other appearances of Kamen Rider Amazon
MOVIE
Kamen Rider Amazon - episode 16 modified to movie format
8 Riders vs. Milky Way King (March 15, 1980)
Kamen Rider Super-1 (March 14, 1981)
Kamen Rider-SD (January 25, 1993) - animation
TV
Kamen Rider Stronger (1975) - episodes 36, 39
Kamen Rider All Back Again! 7 Riders (January 3, 1976) - 45 minute special
New Kamen Rider (1979) - episodes 27, 28, 54
Kamen Rider #10'S Birth! Riders Come Together (January 3, 1984) - 45 minute special
Kamen Rider Black RX (1989) - episodes 41-47
Yamamoto, Daisuke is last seen in Kamen Rider All Back Again! 7 Riders the other tv programs and movies do not show Kamen Rider Amazon unmasked.
Arigatô gozaimasu to KRV for help in identifying some of Geddon and Garanda Empire mutants.