Kamen Rider Blade (仮面ライダー剣, Kamen Raidā Bureido) is a Japanese tokusatsu series that serves as the 14th installment in the Kamen Rider franchise and the fifth entry in the Heisei era.
Kazuma Kenzaki (剣崎 一真, Kenzaki Kazuma) is a kind-hearted BOARD operative who believes in fighting to protect humanity. He was chosen to use the Rider System 02 to seal the Undead as Kamen Rider Blade. While his Rider powers eventually end up turning him into a Joker over the course of the second half of the series, he uses this to force the Battle Fight into a stalemate and allow his friend Hajime to continue living among humans. During the events of Kamen Rider Zi-O, Kenzaki becomes a human again when Amane uses the powers of Another Blade on him. However, during the events of the stage show Kamen Rider Blade 20th Anniversary STAGE&TALK, the Destroyer (破壊者, Hakaisha) turns him into a Joker again.
Utilizing the Change Beetle card in conjunction with the Blay Buckle (ブレイバックル, Burei Bakkuru) belt, Kenzaki can transform into Kamen Rider Blade. While transformed, he wields the Blay Rouzer (ブレイラウザー, Burei Rauzā) sword and carries a deck of spade-themed Rouse Cards that allow him to channel the Category 2–10 Spade Undeads' powers and augment himself with their special abilities. He can also perform Lightning (ライトニング, Raitoningu) finishers via a combination of the Thunder Deer card and up to two other Rouse Cards. His personal vehicle is the Blue Spader (ブルースペイダー, Burū Supeidā) motorcycle, which similar to Blade himself can be augmented with the Category 2–10 Spade Undeads' special abilities via their corresponding Rouse Cards.
Later in the series, Kenzaki acquires the Rouse Absorber (ラウズアブゾーバー, Rauzu Abuzōbā) bracelet, which he can use in conjunction with the Royal Club Undead's cards to assume the following power-up forms:
During the events of the web series Kamen Sentai Gorider, Kuroto Dan arranges the resurrection of deceased Kamen Riders to lure Emu Hojo into the Game World and kill him. However, Kenzaki arrives to help Emu and the revived Riders stop Kuroto. During the fight, he assumes the form of Aorider (アオライダー, Aoraidā) before the fallen Riders sacrifice themselves to defeat Kuroto and ensure Emu and Kenzaki's escape.
Kazuma Kenzaki is portrayed by Takayuki Tsubaki (椿 隆之, Tsubaki Takayuki).
Sakuya Tachibana (橘 朔也, Tachibana Sakuya) is a BOARD researcher turned field operative who was selected to use the Rider System 01 to seal the Undead as Kamen Rider Garren (仮面ライダーギャレン, Kamen Raidā Gyaren). Unlike Kenzaki, Tachibana fights to seal the Undead to stave off his death from cellular breakdown, which he blames on his superior Karasuma, and displays a rivalry with Kenzaki, who was chosen to provide backup for Tachibana. After learning from a Karasuma body double that his subconscious fears are causing his condition, Tachibana joins forces with Isaka in exchange for Schuld Kestner seaweed to cure himself despite it intensifying his aggression and slowly damaging his nervous system. When Isaka kills his girlfriend, Sayoko Fukasawa, Tachibana overcomes his fear and seals him. Following this, he goes on to take Mutsuki Kamijo under his wing and settle his differences with the Giraffa Undead.
As of the web series Kamen Rider Outsiders, Tachibana has become the president of BOARD.
Utilizing the Change Stag (チェンジスタッグ, Chenji Sutaggu) card in conjunction with the Garren Buckle (ギャレンバックル, Gyaren Bakkuru) belt, Tachibana can transform into Kamen Rider Garren. While transformed, he wields the Garren Rouzer (ギャレンラウザー, Gyaren Rauzā) handgun and carries a deck of diamond-themed Rouse Cards that allow him to channel the Category 2–10 Diamond Undeads' powers and augment himself with their special abilities. He can also perform Burning (バーニング, Bāningu) finishers via a combination of the Fire Fly (ファイアフライ, Faia Furai) card and up to two other Rouse Cards. His personal vehicle is the Red Rhombus (レッドランバス, Reddo Ranbasu) motorcycle, which similar to Garren himself can be augmented with the Category 2–10 Diamond Undeads' special abilities via their corresponding Rouse Cards.
Later in the series, Tachibana acquires his own Rouse Absorber, which he can use in conjunction with the Royal Club Undead's cards to assume the following power-up forms:
Sakuya Tachibana is portrayed by Kousei Amano (天野 浩成, Amano Kōsei).
The Joker (ジョーカー, Jōkā), also known by his human alias of Hajime Aikawa (相川 始, Aikawa Hajime), is a mysterious and infamous longhorn beetle-themed Undead whose victory in the Battle Fight results in the end of all life on Earth. After the Human Undead won the original Battle Fight, he willingly surrendered himself to Joker to help him hide his presence. When the Undead were released two years prior to the series, Joker resealed the Mantis and Human Undead. However, the Royal Club Undead knew of his use of the latter and mounted attempts on Joker's life, with the most recent leading to the death of photographer, Kurihara. Upon learning of the photographer's family, Joker took on the identity of freelance photographer "Hajime Aikawa" and vowed to protect them in atonement. Initially holding a low opinion of humanity, Hajime slowly comes to accept them due to his time with the young Amane Kurihara.
Over the course of the series, Hajime develops rivalries with Kenzaki and Tachibana, though he gradually warms up to them, eventually considering the former a dear friend of his. Once all of the other Undead are sealed, Hajime loses control of his Undead powers until Kenzaki sacrifices his humanity to force the current Battle Fight into a stalemate so Hajime can resume his human life. During the events of Kamen Rider Zi-O, Hajime becomes a true human when Amane uses the powers of Another Blade on him. However, during the events of the stage show Kamen Rider Blade 20th Anniversary STAGE&TALK, the Destroyer turns him back into the Joker.
In an alternate ending depicted in the film Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace, Kenzaki seals Hajime, though he eventually frees him four years later to help defeat the Albino Joker. Ultimately, Hajime sacrifices himself to do so, though his spirit continues to watch over Amane.
Unlike the BOARD-sanctioned Kamen Riders, Hajime utilizes one of several Rouse Cards in conjunction with the Chalice Rouzer (カリスラウザー, Karisu Rauzā) belt to transform into any sealed Undead. As such, he can use either the Change Mantis card to transform into the Mantis Undead, which became known as Kamen Rider Chalice (仮面ライダーカリス, Kamen Raidā Karisu) due to its strong resemblance to the Riders, or the Spirit card to transform into the Human Undead, which became his human form. As Kamen Rider Chalice, he wields the bladed Chalice Arrow (カリスアロー, Karisu Arō) bow, which can be reconfigured from Blade Mode (ブレードモード, Burēdo Mōdo) to Rousing Bow Mode (醒弓モード, Seikyū Mōdo) by combining with the Chalice Rouzer's Rouzer Unit (ラウザーユニット, Rauzā Yunitto) belt buckle, and carries a deck of heart-themed Rouse Cards that allow him to channel the Category 2–10 Heart Undeads' powers and augment himself with their special abilities. He can also perform Spinning (スピニング, Supiningu) finishers via a combination of the Tornado Hawk (トルネード・ホーク, Torunēdo Hōku) card and up to two other Rouse Cards. His personal vehicle is the Shadow Chaser (シャドーチェイサー, Shadō Cheisā) motorcycle, which similar to Chalice himself can be augmented with the Category 2–10 Heart Undeads' special abilities via their corresponding Rouse Cards.
Using the Evolution Paradoxa card, Hajime can fuse himself with all 13 Undead in the Category Heart suit to transform into his final form; Kamen Rider Wild Chalice (仮面ライダーワイルドカリス, Kamen Raidā Wairudo Karisu). While transformed, he wields the Wild Slasher (ワイルドスラッシャー, Wairudo Surasshā) kama, which can be reconfigured from its two-piece Rousing Sickle Mode (醒鎌モード, Seiren Mōdo) to its one-piece Rousing Bow Mode by combining with the Chalice Arrow where it allows him to perform the Wild Cyclone (ワイルドサイクロン, Wairudo Saikuron) finisher via a fusion of his Rouse Cards called the Wild (ワイルド, Wairudo) card.
Hajime Aikawa is portrayed by Ryoji Morimoto (森本 亮治, Morimoto Ryōji).
Mutsuki Kamijo (上城 睦月, Kamijō Mutsuki) is a weak-willed high school student who was chosen by the improperly sealed Spider Undead to reluctantly utilize the Rider System 03 and become Kamen Rider Leangle (仮面ライダーレンゲル, Kamen Raidā Rengeru). While under the monster's control, he battles the other Kamen Riders until the sealed Tiger and Tarantula Undead give him the strength to fight under his own power, overcome the Spider Undead, and seal it properly. Soon after, Mutsuki joins the other Riders in their fight against the remaining Undead.
Utilizing the Change Spider card in conjunction with the Leangle Buckle (レンゲルバックル, Rengeru Bakkuru) belt, Mutsuki can transform into Kamen Rider Leangle. While transformed, he wields the extendable Leangle Rouzer (レンゲルラウザー, Rengeru Rauzā) staff and carries a deck of club-themed Rouse Cards that allow him to channel the Category 2–10 Club Undeads' powers and augment himself with their special abilities. He can also perform Blizzard (ブリザード, Burizādo) finishers via a combination of the Blizzard Polar (ブリザード・ポーラー, Burizādo Pōrā) card and up to two other Rouse Cards. His personal vehicle is the Green Clover (グリンクローバー, Gurin Kurōbā) motorcycle, which similar to Leangle himself can be augmented with the Category 2–10 Club Undeads' special abilities via their corresponding Rouse Cards.
During the events of the stage show Kamen Rider Blade 20th Anniversary STAGE&TALK, Mutsuki acquires his own Rouse Absorber, which he can use in conjunction with the Absorb Tiger and Evolution Tarantula cards to assume his King Form. Like Tachibana's version, Mutsuki's does not carry the risk of transforming into a Joker, as it only fuses him with the Tarantula Undead, but it is highly taxing on his body. In this form, he wields a spear version of the King Rouzer, which allows him to perform the Royal Straight Flush.
Mutsuki Kamijo is portrayed by Takahiro Hōjō (北条 隆博, Hōjō Takahiro).
Shiori Hirose (広瀬 栞, Hirose Shiori) is a member of BOARD and a survivor of the Undead's initial release who assists the BOARD Riders in detecting Undead.
Shiori Hirose is portrayed by Yumi Egawa (江川 有未, Egawa Yumi).
Kotaro Shirai (白井 虎太郎, Shirai Kotarō) is an aspiring writer and milk addict who provides housing for Kenzaki and Shiori.
Kotaro Shirai is portrayed by Terunosuke Takezai (竹財 輝之助, Takezai Terunosuke).
The Undead (アンデッド, Andeddo) are 54 immortal animal/plant-themed monsters who originated several species that inhabit Earth and were created by the Monolith (モノリス, Monorisu) 10,000 years ago to determine which of their descendants would become the dominant species as part of a battle royal called the Battle Fight (バトルファイト, Batoru Faito). While the Human Undead won, allowing humanity to flourish, and the majority were sealed by the Monolith into Rouse Cards (ラウズカード, Rauzu Kādo) upon their defeat, the Undead were released two years prior to the series by Yoshito Hirose, which Hiroshi Tennoji took advantage of to stage his own Battle Fight and steal the Monolith, intending to use both for his own ends.
The Undead are categorized based on card suits, with the Royal Club Undead (上級アンデッド, Jōkyū Andeddo) being the most powerful. The Category Jack (ジャック, Jakku), Queen (クイーン, Kuīn), and King (キング, Kingu) Undead are all capable of disguising themselves as humans and possess higher forms of thought compared to their weaker feral brethren. Additionally, despite possessing an equivalent amount of power as the other Royal Club Undead and being among their kind's greatest warriors, the Category Ace (エース, Ēsu) Undead lack the ability to shapeshift.
The Category Jack of Diamonds: Peacock Undead (ピーコックアンデッド, Pīkokku Andeddo), also known by his human alias of Isaka (伊坂), is the creator of the Rider System 03. He assists the Spider Undead in finding an ideal host for him and deceives Kamen Rider Garren into working for him. After he kills Garren's girlfriend, Sayako Fukasawa, for interfering with his plans, Isaka is sealed into the Fusion Peacock (フュージョンピーコック, Fyūjon Pīkokku) card by Garren.
In his human form, Isaka possesses telekinesis, the ability to create fireballs, and mass hypnosis.
Isaka is portrayed by Yasukaze Motomiya (本宮 泰風, Motomiya Yasukaze).
The Category Ace of Clubs: Spider Undead (スパイダーアンデッド, Supaidā Andeddo) is Isaka's accomplice who can produce webbing from his mouth capable of siphoning victims' life forces. Initially working to find ideal hosts for Rider System 03, the Spider Undead eventually allows itself to be partially sealed into the Change Spider (チェンジスパイダー, Chenji Supaidā) card by Kamen Rider Garren so it can possess Mutsuki Kamijo in the hopes of winning the modern Battle Fight. However, Kamijo receives help from the Tarantula and Tiger Undead in overcoming the Spider Undead's influence and properly sealing it.
The Spider Undead is voiced by Katsumi Shiono (塩野 勝美, Shiono Katsumi) in episodes 11-14 and Missing Ace while Kiyoyuki Yanada (梁田 清之, Yanada Kiyoyuki) took over the role in episodes 17-42.
The Category Queen of Hearts: Orchid Undead (オーキッドアンデッド, Ōkiddo Andeddo), also known by her human alias of Miyuki Yoshinaga (吉永 みゆき, Yoshinaga Miyuki), is a manipulative individual who becomes the target of Kotaro Shirai's affections. Unable to cope with human emotions, she battles and is sealed into the Absorb Orchid by Kamen Rider Leangle.
Miyuki Yoshinaga is portrayed by Mika Hijii (肘井 美佳, Hijii Mika).
The Category King of Diamonds: Giraffa Undead (ギラファアンデッド, Girafa Andeddo), also known by his human alias of Kanai (金居), is a stoic individual and the first to learn that the modern Battle Fight is being fought under false pretenses. He manipulates the Riders into weakening Hiroshi Tennoji before killing him himself and stealing the Kerberos card to gain the power necessary to seal the Joker. After blackmailing Hajime Aikawa into fighting him, Kanai battles Kamen Rider Garren, who eventually seals him into the Evolution Giraffa (エボリューションギラファ, Eboryūshon Girafa) card.
Kanai is portrayed by Akira Kubodera (窪寺 昭, Kubodera Akira).
The Board of Archaeological Research Department (人類基盤史研究所, Jinrui Kibanshi Kenkyūjo), abbreviated as BOARD (ボード, Bōdo), is an organization dedicated to combating and sealing the Undead via Rider Systems (ライダーシステム, Raidā Shisutemu) capable of fusing humans with Undead DNA.
Kei Karasuma (烏丸 啓, Karasuma Kei) is the president of BOARD and a professor who created Kamen Riders Blade, Garren, and Leangle's Rider Systems while under Isaka's control. During his travels, he befriended Noboru Shima, whom he entrusted with the Rouse Absorbers despite knowing he was an Undead.
Kei Karasuma is portrayed by Kazuhiro Yamaji (山路 和弘, Yamaji Kazuhiro).
Yoshito Hirose (広瀬 義人, Hirose Yoshito) is Shiori's father who released the Undead in a fit of madness, dying in the process. Prior to this, the former created Undead Trial B in his image to protect Shiori and gave it all of his memories up to that point.
Yoshito Hirose is portrayed by Junichi Haruta (春田 純一, Haruta Jun'ichi).
Hiroshi Tennoji (天王路 博史, Ten'nōji Hiroshi) is the chairman of BOARD who manipulated the series' events and the creation of the artificial Undead Kerberos to realize his dream of a new world order with himself as its ruler. Despite merging himself with Kerberos, he is defeated by the Kamen Riders and killed by the Giraffa Undead.
Hiroshi Tennoji is portrayed by Kohji Moritsugu (森次 晃嗣, Moritsugu Kōji).
Nozomi Yamanaka (山中 望美, Yamanaka Nozomi) is Mutsuki's girlfriend who became indirectly involved with and supports his journey as a Kamen Rider.
Nozomi Yamanaka is portrayed by Arisa Miyazawa (宮澤 亜理沙, Miyazawa Arisa).
Haruka Kurihara (栗原 遥香, Kurihara Haruka) is Kotaro's older sister and owner of the Jacaranda Cafe.
Haruka Kurihara is portrayed by Kaori Yamaguchi (山口 香緒里, Yamaguchi Kaori).
Amane Kurihara (栗原 天音, Kurihara Amane) is Haruka's rude nine-year-old daughter and Kotaro's niece who develops feelings for Hajime, which contributes to his changing attitude towards humanity.
Amane Kurihara is portrayed by Hikari Kajiwara (梶原 ひかり, Kajiwara Hikari) as a child and by Miku Ishida (石田 未来, Ishida Miku) as a teenager.
The Albino Joker (アルビノジョーカー, Arubino Jōkā), also known by his human alias of Junichi Shimura (志村 純一, Shimura Jun'ichi), is a secondary Joker who appears exclusively in an alternate ending depicted in the film Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace. Following Hajime Aikawa's sealing, Shimura emerged to attack Karasuma and release the other Undead once more. Taking on a human form, the former joins BOARD to reseal the Undead, becoming Kamen Rider Glaive (仮面ライダーグレイブ, Kamen Raidā Gureibu) and recruiting Natsumi Miwa and Shin Magaki to help him in the process. Once the job is complete, Shimura kills his partners, but is eventually exposed by Shiori Hirose. Mutsuki Kamijo unseals Hajime to help the Riders, but Shimura uses the Category King Undeads' Rouse Cards to create the Vanity (バニティ, Baniti) card, seals Amane Kurihara in it, and uses them to summon the monstrous Jashin 14 (邪神14, Jashin Fōtīn) and fuse with it to gain its power. Using his new form, he tries to kill the Riders, but Hajime sacrifices himself to help Kenzaki destroy the Vanity card, freeing Amane and weakening Shimura enough for Kenzaki to kill him.
Utilizing the Change Kerberos (チェンジケルベロス, Chenji Keruberosu) card in conjunction with the Glaive Buckle (グレイブバックル, Gureibu Bakkuru) belt, Shimura can transform into Kamen Rider Glaive. While transformed, he wields the Glaive Rouzer (グレイブラウザー, Gureibu Rauzā) sword, which allows him to perform the Gravity Slash (グラビティスラッシュ, Gurabiti Surasshu) finisher via the Mighty Gravity (マイティ・グラビティ, Maiti Gurabiti) card.
As the Albino Joker, Shimura can summon white-colored versions of the Darkroaches called Albiroaches (アルビローチ, Arubirōchi) to aid him.
Junichi Shimura is portrayed by Yuuki Kuroda (黒田 勇樹, Kuroda Yūki).
Natsumi Miwa (三輪 夏美, Miwa Natsumi) is a former officer worker turned BOARD member who appears exclusively in the film Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace. At her former job, she was berated by her boss until she had enough and knocked him out. Following this, she was handpicked by Junichi Shimura to join him at BOARD as Kamen Rider Larc (仮面ライダーラルク, Kamen Raidā Raruku) to capture the Undead released by the Albino Joker. She is later killed by Shimura after discovering he was the Albino Joker.
Utilizing her own copy of Shimura's Change Kerberos card in conjunction with the Larc Buckle (ラルクバックル, Raruku Bakkuru) belt, Miwa can transform into Kamen Rider Larc. While transformed, she wields the Larc Rouzer (ラルクラウザー, Raruku Rauzā) crossbow, which allows her to perform the Ray Bullet (レイバレット, Rei Baretto) finisher via the Mighty Ray (マイティ・レイ, Maiti Rei) card.
Natsumi Miwa is portrayed by Yoko Mitsuya (三津谷 葉子, Mitsuya Yoko).
Shin Magaki (禍木 慎, Magaki Shin) is a former waiter turned BOARD member who appears exclusively in the film Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace. After being fired from his previous job for yelling at a rude customer, he was handpicked by Junichi Shimura to join him at BOARD as Kamen Rider Lance (仮面ライダーランス, Kamen Raidā Ransu) to capture the Undead released by the Albino Joker. While Magaki is later killed by Shimura, having discovered the latter was the Albino Joker, he is able to provide clues to the other Riders pointing to Shimura's true identity.
Utilizing his own copy of Shimura's Change Kerberos card in conjunction with the Lance Buckle (ランスバックル, Ransu Bakkuru) belt, Magaki can transform into Kamen Rider Lance. While transformed, he wields the Lance Rouzer (ランスラウザー, Ransu Rauzā) spear, which allows him to perform the Impact Stab (インパクトスタッブ, Inpakuto Sutabbu) finisher via the Mighty Impact (マイティ・インパクト, Maiti Inpakuto) card.
Shin Magaki is portrayed by Takao Sugiura (杉浦 太雄, Sugiura Takao).