Hiroshi Fujioka, the legendary actor who originated the role of Takeshi Hongo, the very first Kamen Rider, is set to reprise his iconic character in the upcoming TV anime series, “Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider”. This highly anticipated return will see Fujioka lend his voice to the classic hero in the anime’s inaugural episode, which is slated to broadcast in Japan starting October 4, with Crunchyroll also set to stream the series as part of its fall 2025 anime simulcast lineup.
A Legendary Return: Hiroshi Fujioka as Takeshi Hongo
Fujioka’s reprisal of Takeshi Hongo is a significant event for fans of the long-running Kamen Rider franchise. His portrayal of the cybernetically enhanced hero in the original 1971 “Kamen Rider” TV series cemented his place in tokusatsu history. While Fujioka has returned to the role in various capacities over the years, including other films and voice work, his appearance in “Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider” marks a fresh engagement with the character in an anime format.
The announcement was made during a preview screening in Tokyo for the anime, revealing that Fujioka would voice Kamen Rider/Takeshi Hongo in the first episode. A special comment video featuring Fujioka alongside Katsuyuki Konishi, the voice actor for the anime’s protagonist Tanzaburo Tojima, has also been released, where they discuss the recording experience and share their memories of Kamen Rider.
About “Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider” Anime
The “Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider” anime is based on the tokusatsu-themed seinen manga by Yokusaru Shibata. The story revolves around Tanzaburo Tojima, a 40-year-old man with an fervent obsession for the Kamen Rider franchise and a lifelong dream of becoming a hero. Tojima’s aspirations seem destined to remain a fantasy until a chance encounter with a group calling themselves “Fake Shocker” changes his fate forever.
The manga, which debuted in Monthly Hero’s magazine in May 2018 and later continued serialization on the Comiplex website, is a passionate tale about adults who deeply love Kamen Rider. The anime adaptation aims to capture this fervent spirit, with director Takehiro Ikezoe at the helm at animation studio LIDEN FILMS. Touko Machida is handling series composition, Cindy H. Yamauchi is designing the characters, and TeddyLoid is composing the music.
Key Staff and Cast
The production team brings together experienced individuals to bring Shibata’s manga to life:
- Director: Takehiro Ikezoe (known for Ozma, Show By Rock!!)
- Series Composition: Touko Machida (known for Allison & Lillia, Wake Up, Girls!)
- Character Designs: Cindy H. Yamauchi (known for Blade, Sōten Kōro)
- Music: TeddyLoid
- Animation Studio: LIDEN FILMS
The voice cast includes:
- Tanzaburo Tojima: Katsuyuki Konishi
- Yuriko Okada: Ai Kayano
- Ichiyo Shimamura: Kenichi Suzumura
- Mitsuha Shimamura: Soma Saito
- Yukarisu: Fairouz Ai
- Satoshi Ito: Satoshi Tsuruoka
- Fukushi Ishige: Fukushi Ochiai
- Daisuke Sato: Daisuke Sakaguchi
The anime is poised to resonate with long-time Kamen Rider fans and new audiences alike, offering a unique blend of passion, action, and a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of the Masked Rider. The series will begin broadcasting in Japan on TOKYO MX and other stations in October 2025. Early screenings of the first five episodes are also scheduled to take place in Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo and T-Joy Umeda in Osaka, starting October 3 for one week.
