In Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, you can frequently spot iconic Japanese superhero Kamen Rider cruising the streets and laying down the law.
Kamen Rider has been an extremely popular superhero in Japan for a solid 45 years now. The premise of the sci-fi, action-packed TV show is about a guy who was mutated into a grasshopper-esqe cyborg by an evil organization and his struggles to defeat them. He also rides a sweet motorcycle/dirt bike called Cyclone (although the bike changes over the years to some extent).
So, Kamen Rider is kind of a big deal in Japan – as in, kids still go nuts over him the same way their parents did when they were kids. Apparently, the love for Kamen Rider never dies, because one full-grown adult has been seen frequently cruising the streets of Kitakyushu watching for drunk-drivers, while dressed in full Kamen Rider 1 gear and riding a Cyclone.
Apparently, Kitakyushu has a famous Buddhist temple in the Hachiman area called Gokurakuji, where Head Priest Fukumitsu is known for being a hardcore Kamen Rider fan. He’s been collecting Kamen goods for over 20 years and has recently taken it a step further… but, he’s not the one riding the 50cc Cyclone. He is however, the sponsor for and good friend of the Kamen Rider of Kitakyushu.
The rider himself is actually an environmental artist named Shinjiro Kumagai, who turns aluminum cans into statues or other artful pieces. On the side, he works with Fukumitsu and rides around as Kamen Rider, stopping people from driving under the influence of alcohol and endlessly entertaining locals. Not a bad life.
The Kitakyushu Kamen Rider has been known to break out of the city limits and even go as far as Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku.
Source: Twitter
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© Japan Today
7 Comments
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M3M3M3
'A' for effort but he's not exactly in the same league as Chiba Batman is he?
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/08/25/batman-spotted-cruising-the-japanese-expressways-as-he-trades-gotham-city-for-chiba-prefecture/
papigiulio
Really? And how does he do that? Does he get of his bike and let people take a breathalyzer test? Does he even have the power to stop people or is this just made up PR bs?
masri
since i show this news to my son, he ask me to find him!anyone here knows how to find him?
nath
And there's always Kitakyuman, the "official" local hero of Kitakyushu. Don't know how or if the two work together, but maybe they should!
http://www.kitaqman.jp/
albaleo
He somehow lacks the seriousness of Osaka's Kamahen Rider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1hISw-l-oA
ArtistAtLarge
Pretty cool.
nath
That's nice we need such people and kamen liooks cool in that outfit !