Kamen Rider Gaim, the Fruit Rider

A press conference confirmed details on Kamen Rider Gaim, officially romanized under that spelling, and introduced its lineup of Riders: Griton, Ryugen, Gaim, Baron, and Zangetsu. All share a common transformation belt, the Sengoku Driver, using fruit-themed Lock Seeds to trigger different “Arms” forms, such as Gaim’s Orange Arms via the Orange Lock Seed and Baron’s Banana Arms via the Banana Lock Seed.

The premise centers on an urban setting shaped by corporate influence, particularly the Yggdrasil Corporation, where disaffected youth express themselves through dance and underground fighting after being given Lock Seeds that summon small creatures called Inves. The fighting inadvertently opens a gate to a parallel universe, and the show’s various Rider-aligned dance teams effectively function as warring factions.

Kota Kazuraba, played by Gaku Sano, becomes Kamen Rider Gaim; formerly his dance team’s second-best performer, he takes up the Sengoku Driver by accident while trying to support his sister financially, with the catchphrase “Passing through the audience, on stage!” Kaito Kumon, played by Yutaka Kobayashi, leads rival Team Baron as Kamen Rider Baron, a character shaped by a poor upbringing and a distrustful view of society, using western-styled armor and the catchphrase “Knight of Spear.” Mitsuzane Kureshima, played by Mahiro Takasugi, transforms into the Chinese-armor-based Kamen Rider Ryugen; secretly the son of Yggdrasil’s CEO, he is close to Kota but conflicted by jealousy toward him. Takatora Kureshima, Mitsuzane’s older brother, played by Yuuki Kubota, is Kamen Rider Zangetsu, an Yggdrasil employee and pragmatist whose catchphrase is “Authorized by divine providence.” Supporting cast includes Mai Takatsukasa (Yuumi Shida), a professional dancer and Kota’s childhood friend and rival, and Kota’s sister Akira Kazuraba.

The report closed by naming Puella Magi Madoka Magica writer Gen Urobuchi as the show’s head writer, with Ryuta Tasaki and Takayuki Shibasaki directing and Motoi Sasaki and Naomi Takebe producing, and confirmed a premiere date of October 6, 2013.