Kamen Rider W, which aired in 2009 and is one of the most popular Heisei Rider series, actually has an official sequel serialized in Big Spirits Comics under the title "Fuuto Tantei"! It has been decided that Fuuto Tantei will be made into an anime, and it will be streamed and broadcast from August 2022. This is essentially the first time a Kamen Rider has been made into an anime, and the title W shows just how popular the series is. You can enjoy Fuuto Tantei even if you haven't seen Kamen Rider W, but it's even more fun if you have some basic knowledge of W! So, in this article, we'll introduce some background information about the previous work, Kamen Rider W, to help you enjoy Fuuto Tantei!
An ultra-innovative and ambitious work! Overview of Kamen Rider W
Kamen Rider W is the 11th Heisei Kamen Rider series, first aired in 2009. The Heisei Kamen Rider series reached a major milestone in its 10th year, and this 11th installment took on a major challenge unlike any previous work. It features two protagonists, a buddy story in which the two transform into a single Kamen Rider. The series stars Ren Kiriyama (as Shotaro Hidari) and Masaki Suda (as Philip).
A Brief Introduction to the Kamen Rider W Story!
One year ago, private detective Soukichi Narumi and his apprentice, Shotaro Hidari, rescued a boy from a mysterious organization during an incident. However, Soukichi was shot and killed during the incident, and Shotaro was in dire straits. The mysterious boy handed Shotaro a strange device, and the two transformed into Kamen Rider suits and escaped the crisis. Now, in Wind City, a city where windmills spin everywhere, Soukichi Narumi's daughter, Akiko Narumi, has come to demand eviction as she is closing down her office. However, there, Akiko learns of the existence of Dopants and Gaia Memories rampant in Wind City, and becomes deeply involved with Shotaro Hidari, the detective who succeeded Shokichi, and his partner, Philip.
About Wind City, the setting of Kamen Rider W and Fuuto Detective
Wind City, the setting of Kamen Rider W and Fuuto Detective, is (presumably) a coastal city near Tokyo. Due to its windy terrain, windmills can be seen throughout the city, as the city relies on wind power for its electricity. As the name suggests, the names of the shops, symbols, and even the mascot characters are all related to wind. In Kamen Rider W, biological devices called Gaia Memories are traded on the black market like drugs, creating a crime-ridden city with major incidents occurring all over the place. In Fuuto Detective, the Gaia Memory bosses are eliminated, and new Gaia Memories are no longer circulating. However, the Gaia Memories remaining in the city are traded at higher prices than before, and such incidents have not ceased.
The Darkness Lurking in Fuuto: Gaia Memories and Dopants
For many years, USB-like devices called Gaia Memories have been traded and circulated in Fuuto City. Gaia Memories are devices containing the "Earth's memories." Inserting them into the human body and reading the data awakens the human as a superhuman. A connector is required for insertion, and the Museum, an organization that distributes Gaia Memories, installs these connectors in the human body. The protagonists are transformed using Gaia Memories. However, Gaia Memories are toxic to the human body and primarily erode the mind, causing significant harm without a filter called a Driver. The protagonists neutralize these effects with the Driver.
Dopants: Superhumans Mutated by Gaia Memories
Those who become superhumans through Gaia Memories are called Dopants. Dopants can take on various forms depending on the "Memories of Earth" stored in the Gaia Memory, and by becoming a Dopant they can gain extremely powerful powers. However, using a Gaia Memory without the aid of a Driver has a significant negative impact on the mind, and this often leads to major incidents. Those who have become Dopants can be memory-broken by a Kamen Rider's special move, which expels the memory from the body and destroys the connector. While there may be after-effects from becoming a Dopant, they generally do not die.
How does the story of Kamen Rider W progress? Each person's position!
The story of Kamen Rider W basically revolves around the protagonist, detective Shotaro Hidari, who receives requests from clients and heads out into the city to gather information for investigations. He also occasionally obtains information from his collaborators, the Fuuto Irregulars. This information reveals the connection between the Gaia Memory and Dopants, and using these keywords, the other protagonist, Philip, accesses a bookshelf on Earth and approaches the heart of the case. The story ultimately ends with a confrontation with the user of the Gaia Memory, and the case is resolved. Each episode is self-contained, but the existence of the organization behind them is gradually revealed.
Two Kamen Riders, One!
Kamen Rider W transforms when Shotaro Hidari and Philip insert Gaia Memory into their Double Drivers (transformation belts). When one attempts to transform, a belt automatically appears on the other. During the transformation, one of the two acts as the main body, possessed by the consciousness of the other. The possessed individual falls into a coma somewhere else, but Philip is usually the one who is possessed and collapses at the Narumi Detective Agency. The Double's abilities change depending on the Gaia Memory inserted. Shotaro possesses Joker, Metal, and Trigger, while Philip possesses Cyclone, Heat, and Luna. There is also an exceptional Fang Joker form in which Philip is the main form. His catchphrase is, "Now, count your sins!"
About the Other Kamen Rider, Accel, AKA Ryu Terui
Kamen Rider W also features another rider, Kamen Rider Accel. Like Shotaro and the others, Ryu Terui is a character who is given a Driver and belongs to the police organization. Unlike the Doubles, Accel is a rider with complete capabilities, but this makes him extremely difficult to control, and mastering his trump card, the Accel Trial, was extremely difficult. However, Accel specializes in speed, giving him exceptional combat ability.
The Man You Shouldn't Ask Questions About
Terui Ryu, a police officer, prefers to act alone, and is cool and often responds to questions with "Don't ask me questions!" At first glance, he appears to be a hard-boiled and troubled individual. However, not only does he possess Axel's combat prowess, but he also boasts a reputation for being an elite, having been appointed superintendent at a young age and establishing the "Paranormal Crimes Division." He's an indispensable asset in Wind City, where crimes perpetrated by Dopants are on the rise. However, this wasn't his original nature, and the brutal murder of his entire family, including his father, a police officer, by the Dopant (Isaka Shinkuro), a year ago cast a dark shadow over him.
A Very Rounded Man
As another Kamen Rider, Ryu Terui is crucial to the storyline and a reliable companion to the main characters in Fuuto Tantei. However, he initially wasn't particularly friendly with Shotaro and his friends. However, he gradually came to accept them as allies, and continued to interact with them even after finally settling the score with Isaka Shinkurou, the murderer of his family. From then on, he began to show his humanity. However, since he was originally a good-natured young man before losing his family, it might be more accurate to say that he achieved his revenge and returned to his old self. Eventually, he marries Akiko Narumi of the Narumi Detective Agency. In Fuuto Tantei, he still calls his new wife Akiko "Director."
[Fuuto Detective] Summary of Kamen Rider W
Here's a summary of Kamen Rider W, the predecessor to Fuuto Detective! Fuuto Detective is serialized in a young adult magazine, so it feels like it's doing things that the Sunday Morning Kamen Rider couldn't do, but it still doesn't destroy the worldview of Kamen Rider W and feels like a legitimate sequel! Of course, you can enjoy it even if you haven't seen W, but it'll be even more enjoyable if you have!
