Saturday, February 15, 1992 – Evening
After securing the deal with Yasu Domachi of YaDo Animation, Zaboru continued working late into the evening. His office was filled with the soft hum of computers and the rustling of papers as he meticulously planned his next projects. Then, suddenly, his office phone rang, interrupting his workflow.
Picking up the receiver, he answered, "Yes, Zaboru Renkonan speaking."
A familiar voice came through the line, one that made Zaboru sit up straight. "Hoho, hello Zaboru-san! Still in the office, I presume?" It was Kyotaro Shinomori, the legendary creator of Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Super Sentai, and a pioneer of Tokusatsu at TOEI.
Zaboru chuckled. "You know me too well, Shinomori-san. Yes, I'm still here. What can I do for you?"
Kyotaro sighed. "I need your help regarding the future of Kamen Rider. Can I come over? There's something important I want to discuss."
Zaboru was surprised. He and Kyotaro had a personal deal—his name would be credited with special honors in any Kamen Rider project he contributed to, but he hadn't expected TOEI's legendary creator to personally reach out for creative advice so soon.
"Of course, Shinomori-san," Zaboru replied. "You're welcome anytime."
Kyotaro's tone brightened. "Great! I'm on my way. And just call me Kyotaro, Zaboru-san."
Not long after, Kyotaro arrived at the ZAGE headquarters. As he stepped inside, he greeted Zaboru with a broad grin. "Hard at work even on the weekend, huh?"
Zaboru chuckled. "For me, weekends are just another workday. Now, what's on your mind?"
Kyotaro took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. "Zaboru-kun, I'll be honest with you—Kamen Rider isn't doing well. The latest installment Kamen Rider Super-1, aren`t doing well and the franchise has been struggling, and TOEI is considering shutting it down entirely. Instead, they're putting all their focus on Metal Heroes, which isn't even my creation."
He clenched his fists, frustration evident in his voice. "TOEI believes that only three major Tokusatsu series should exist at a time, and they're ready to push Kamen Rider out of the picture I had to fight to even get them to consider four, but this year is my last chance. If the next Kamen Rider doesn't succeed, the series will be gone for good."
Kyotaro looked Zaboru straight in the eyes. "I don't understand why Kamen Rider isn't resonating with audiences. I always thought it was the coolest among Sentai and Ultraman. Can you give me your insight, Zaboru-kun?"
Zaboru listened carefully, nodding. This situation mirrored what had happened in his past life—Kamen Rider had gone on hiatus from 1981 to 1987 before Kamen Rider Black revived the franchise. Now, history was repeating itself, but he had the chance to change things. And currently Airing Ultraman are Ultraman 91, Equivalent of Ultraman 80s in his previous world, and Zaboru bet Ultraman will decline too after this series , because that's how they did in previous life, Anime are taking over the TV industry after all, and Now video Games will spread like wildfire too. But Zaboru doesn't want to tell Kyotaro that far ahead. He will focus on Kamen rider first, and act like Ultraman will continue as usual.
The Problem with Kamen Rider
"Kyotaro-san," Zaboru began, "with all due respect, you've been approaching Kamen Rider the wrong way."
Kyotaro sighed. "To hell with respect, Zaboru! Just tell me the truth. I need real advice right now."
Zaboru smirked. "Alright, I'll be blunt. The problem with Kamen Rider is its identity. Right now, it's too similar to Super Sentai but without a team, and it lacks the spectacle of Ultraman's kaiju battles. Sentai has giant robots, colorful squads, and teamwork. Ultraman fights massive monsters with grand visual effects. But what is Kamen Rider offering? A lone hero with a motorcycle who does a Rider Kick? It doesn't stand out."
Kyotaro's eyes widened. "That's... actually true. So, what do you suggest?"
Zaboru leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "What Kamen Rider needs is something that neither Sentai nor Ultraman have—DARKNESS and DRAMA."
Kyotaro looked skeptical. "But Kamen Rider is a kids' show!" Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
Zaboru shook his head. "That's where you're wrong, Kyotaro-san. The kids who loved the original Kamen Rider in 1981 are older now. If you keep making the show the same way, you'll lose them. You need to make Kamen Rider appealing to both kids and young adults. It needs deeper storytelling, emotional weight, and a darker edge to set it apart."
Zaboru pulled out a folder filled with detailed notes, sketches, and character outlines. "Kyotaro-san, here's my vision for Kamen Rider Black. This is the evolution the franchise needs." Zaboru had actually taken the time to develop this concept during his rare moments of free time. Initially, he had planned to create a Kamen Rider Black video game, envisioning a deep, story-driven experience that could revolutionize the franchise's presence in the gaming industry. However, he decided to postpone the game idea, shifting his focus entirely on crafting a compelling television adaptation first.
Kyotaro leaned forward eagerly as Zaboru laid out his plan:
Protagonist: The story follows Minami Kotaro, a young man who is transformed into the cyborg warrior Kamen Rider Black.
Backstory: Kotaro and his adopted brother, Takayuki Toba (later known as Shadow Moon), are kidnapped by the evil cult Gorgom and forced into a deadly competition to become the next Century King.
Transformation: Kotaro escapes before being brainwashed, but his body has already been altered, making him Kamen Rider Black. His mission is to fight Gorgom and save his brother, who has fully transformed into Shadow Moon.
Villains:Gorgom is an ancient cult that worships a sun god and creates monstrous Kaijin to carry out their dark plans.
Tragic Rivalry: Kotaro and Shadow Moon were once brothers, now destined to be mortal enemies.
Powers: Kotaro uses the Kingstone in his Sunrise Belt to transform and gains enhanced cyborg abilities.
Motorcycle Companion:Battle Hopper—a sentient motorcycle that aids Kotaro in battle.
Kyotaro's jaw dropped. "This is incredible! A Kamen Rider with a deep, emotional story and a powerful villain who was once his brother... this could work!" Kyotaro looked at the script and character designs with bright eyes, his excitement growing with each passing moment. "Zaboru, this is incredible! You've truly redefined what Kamen Rider can be!" He flipped through the pages, taking in the details, the depth of the story, and the striking character designs. "This isn't just another Kamen Rider series... this is a revolution! It`s Really interesting!"
Zaboru grinned. "Make sure the casting is perfect, and Kamen Rider Black will be a massive hit."
Kyotaro stood up, filled with newfound determination. "Zaboru, I'm going home right now to finalize this. I'll bet my entire fortune on this show! And don't worry—you'll get your money and your name will be huge in the credits!"
Zaboru smiled and nodded. He trusted Kyotaro's passion. "Do your thing, Kyotaro-san. I'll be waiting to see Kamen Rider Black on air." Zaboru actually really trusts Kyotaro , he always thinks Kyotaro is a person who works with passion that's why he didn't hesitate to lay his plan to him , even without an official contract, Zaboru knows that Kyotaro will fulfill his promise.
Kyotaro grinned. "I promise—it'll be out this year!" With that, he bolted out of the office, leaving Zaboru satisfied.
With that single meeting, Zaboru had just accelerated Kamen Rider's revival by seven years.
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