Kamen Rider Saber


Kamen Rider Saber is a Japanese tokusatsu drama, the 31st entry of Toei Company's Kamen Rider franchise, and the second series to debut during the Reiwa period. The series premiered on September 6, 2020, joining Mashin Sentai Kiramager, and later, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger in the Super Hero Time line-up after the finale of Kamen Rider Zero-One before being succeeded by Kamen Rider Revice on September 5, 2021. The series is notable for its use of a fantasy setting and its storybook theming.
WWW Official Site𝕏 saber_toei

Premise

The human world collides with Wonder World, a realm of fairy tales, because of a conflict over the Almighty Book – a legendary artifact of great power that a trio of monsters known as the Megids seek to acquire in order to create more of their kind, and that an organization of swordsmen known as the Sword of Logos seeks to protect. Two millennia later, the Dark Swordsman Hayato Fukamiya, also known as Kamen Rider Calibur, betrayed his comrades after learning a terrible truth and was seemingly killed by the Flame Swordsman Daichi Kamijo, with a girl named Luna being an apparent causality of their fight. Daichi gave his Wonder Ride Book to a boy named Touma Kamiyama before leaving his sword behind.
Fifteen years later, Touma has become a novelist and bookstore owner. After being caught in a Megid attack, his attempt to stop it causes him to inherit Kamijo's title as Kamen Rider Saber and he resolves to end the conflict after the Water Swordsman, Rintaro Shindo, recruits him to join the Sword of Logos. Among the other swordsmen Touma meets while recovering his memories and the lost Wonder Ride Books is his childhood friend, Kento Fukamiya, who wishes to understand his father's actions after Calibur reappears as an ally of the Megids.

Production

The Kamen Rider Saber trademark was registered by Toei on May 29, 2020.
On 22 July 2020, Kamen Rider Saber was officially announced during a press conference alongside its cast, and it was announced that the show was planned to feature at least 10 Riders. Along with the titular character, five other Riders were confirmed: Blades, Espada, Buster, Kenzan, and Calibur. Following the series premiere, additional Riders Slash, Falchion, Saikou, Sabela, Durandal, Solomon, and Storious were announced to be part of the cast.
The opening theme song "ALMIGHTY ~Kamen no Yakusoku" is performed by the band Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with the band Alexandros' Yoohei Kawakami, who provides the vocals. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra also performs the ending theme song, with Kinichi Motegi, the band's drummer, providing the vocals.

Films

''The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin''

Kamen Rider Saber Theatrical Short Story: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin was released on December 18, 2020, double billed with Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time. Actor Masashi Taniguchi portrays the film's main antagonist, Bahato, who also appears in the series as a recurring character. The theme song is "Taju Roko" performed by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with Yoohei Kawakami. The events of the film take place between episodes 9–11.

''Super Hero Senki''

Saber + Zenkaiger: Super Hero Senki is a crossover film released on July 22, 2021, starring the casts from Saber and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger and featuring characters from past entries of the franchises involved. The film is part of the celebrations for both the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider franchise and the 45th anniversary of the Super Sentai franchise, and serves as the final crossover between them. Actors Fuku Suzuki and Ayumi Tanida portray Shotaro Ishinomori and the film's main antagonist, Asmodeus, respectively. Kenjirō Ishimaru of Kamen Rider Den-O; Takashi Ukaji of Kamen Rider OOO; So Okuno of Kamen Rider Zi-O; Fumiya Takahashi of Kamen Rider Zero-One; Shogo Suzuki of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger; Atomu Mizuishi of Mashin Sentai Kiramager; and Hiroshi Fujioka of Kamen Rider reprised their respective roles while Naoya Makoto of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger; Toshihiko Seki, Kōji Yusa, Masaki Terasoma, and Kenichi Suzumura of Kamen Rider Den-O; Tetsu Inada of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger; M·A·O and Hiroshi Kamiya of Uchu Sentai Kyuranger; and Rikiya Koyama of Kamen Rider Zi-O reprise their respective voice roles. Additionally, the two main characters of Kamen Rider Revice make their first appearances and a special film for the series was double billed with Super Hero Senki. The theme song is "SPARK" performed by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. The events of the film take place after the two-part Movie Release Commemorative Combo Special, which itself takes place between episodes 39 and 40.

''Beyond Generations''

Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations is a crossover film released on December 17, 2021, starring the casts of Saber and Kamen Rider Revice. The film features a new Kamen Rider from a possible future in the year 2071, 100 years after the debut of the first Kamen Rider television series. Akiyoshi Nakao and Arata Furuta portray the film's guest characters and Hiroshi Fujioka's son, Maito, portrays Takeshi Hongo's younger self.

Web-exclusive series

  • Kamen Rider Saber Spin-off: Swordsman History is a web-exclusive series released on Telasa on November 8, 2020. It comprises four episodes and focuses on Rintaro Shindo, Kento Fukamiya, Ryo Ogami, Ren Akamichi, and Tetsuo Daishinji.
  1. Chapter 8.5: An Episode of Kamen Riders Slash & Buster
  2. The Other Side of Chapter 9: An Episode of Kamen Rider Kenzan
  3. Behind the Chapter 13: An Episode of Kamen Rider Espada
  4. Chapter 15.5: An Episode of Kamen Rider Blades
  • Separate Volume Kamen Rider Saber: Short Animation Collection is a web-exclusive animated short series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on February 1, 2021.
  1. Dance Performance, Just Before It.
  2. Rock, Scissors, and Paper.
  3. Save Sophia, the Electric Shock Escape Game: Part 1.
  4. Save Sophia, the Electric Shock Escape Game: Part 2.
  5. Le Grand Supermarché.
  6. 2021, We Will Show You Everything! NG Award.
  • Kamen Rider Saber × Ghost is a web-exclusive series of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club serves as a crossover between Saber and Kamen Rider Ghost, with Shun Nishime and Mio Kudo reprising their respective roles as Takeru Tenkūji and Kanon Fukami: The events of the series take place between episodes 38 and 39.
  • *Kamen Rider Saber × Ghost is the titular first entry of the web-series released on May 23, 2021, with Sotaro returning to reprise his role as Javel.
  • *Kamen Rider Specter × Blades is a sequel to the titular first entry of the web-series released on June 27, 2021, with Ryosuke Yamamoto returning to reprise his role as Makoto Fukami.
  • Kamen Rider Saber Spin-off: Kamen Rider Sabela & Durendal is a web-exclusive special released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on November 20, 2022. The events of the special take place a year after the end of the main series.

DVD and Blu-ray-exclusive series

  • Sword of Logos Saga is included as part of the Blu-ray releases of Kamen Rider Saber. This storyline focuses on the lives of three known bearers of the Kamen Rider Calibur title:
  • *Part 1 serves as a prequel to the main series and focuses on Hayato Fukamiya and Daichi Kamijo.
  • *Part 2 takes place during episodes 17–35, and focuses on Kento Fukamiya. It was released on August 4, 2021.
  • Gather! Hero!! The Explosive Birth of Dragon Televi-Kun is Televi-Kuns "Hyper Battle DVD".

V-Cinema

Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin is a V-Cinema release which received a limited theatrical release on January 28, 2022, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on May 11, 2022. The events of the V-Cinema take place eight years after the end of the main series. The V-Cinema was written by Takuro Fukuda and directed by Kazuya Kamihoriuchi. The theme song is "Bittersweet" performed by Asuka Kawazu, Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, and Ryo Aoki.

Manga

Supplementary Volume Kamen Rider Saber: Kamen Rider Buster the Comic is a manga adaptation that focuses on Ryo Ogami's past, including his high school days two decades prior and the birth of his son, Sora, six years after Daichi Kamijo defeated Hayato Fukamiya. The manga is written by Kaori Kaneko and illustrated by Keitarō Kumatsuki, and was serialized on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club from February 28, 2021, to May 30, 2021. Each arc of the manga consists of three chapters.
  1. Strongest Youth
  2. Ultimate King of Parenting

Cast

  • Touma Kamiyama: Shuichiro Naito
  • Rintaro Shindo: Takaya Yamaguchi
  • Mei Sudo: Asuka Kawazu
  • Kento Fukamiya: Ryo Aoki
  • Ryo Ogami: Yuki Ikushima
  • Ren Akamichi: Eiji Togashi
  • Tetsuo Daishinji: Hiroaki Oka
  • Yuri: Tomohiro Ichikawa
  • Reika Shindai: Mei Angela
  • Ryoga Shindai: Ken Shonozaki
  • Storious: Robin Furuya
  • Legeiel: Kyle Takano
  • Zooous: Koji Saikawa
  • Isaac, Original Master Logos: Keisuke Sohma
  • Bahato: Masashi Taniguchi
  • Luna: Miku Okamoto, Mayuu Yokota
  • Sora Ogami: Tenta Banka
  • Tassel: Les Romanesques
  • Daichi Kamijo: Hiroyuki Hirayama
  • Sophia, Another Sophia, Priestess: Rina Chinen
  • Desast: Kōki Uchiyama
  • Charybdis: Ryota Iwasaki
  • Seiken Rider System Singing Voice: Eizo Sakamoto
  • Kamen Rider Sabela's Equipment Voice: Miyu Fukuda
  • Narration, Seiken Rider System Speaking Voice, Wonder Ride Books Voice: Akio Ōtsuka

Guest cast

Theme songs

;Opening theme
;Ending theme
  • "Kamen Rider Saber"
  • *Lyrics: Atsushi Yanaka
  • *Composition: Takashi Kato
  • *Artist & Arrangement: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
  • *Vocals: Kinichi Motegi
  • :Episodes 15, 44, 47 and Special Issue do not feature the ending sequence. The song is also entirely absent in episode 44 and 47.
;Insert themes
  • "Rewrite the story"
  • *Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • *Composition: tatsuo
  • *Artist: Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, & Ryo Aoki
  • *Episodes: 38–40
  • "Will save us"
  • *Lyrics: Shio Watanabe, Kazuya Kamihoriuchi
  • *Composition: Shuhei Naruse
  • *Artist: Asuka Kawazu
  • *Episodes: 43
  • "The story never ends"
  • *Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • *Composition: Kousuke Yamashita
  • *Artist: Rina Chinen
  • *Episodes: 44
  • "BOOK OF POWER"
  • *Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
  • *Composition: tatsuo
  • *Artist: Masanori Kobayashi
  • *Episodes: 45
  • :An instrumental version of this song is used.
  • "Timeless Story"
  • *Lyrics: Isa Takinoo
  • *Composition: Kousuke Yamashita
  • *Artist: Utabito Zanmai Samady
  • *Episodes: 45, 47

Broadcast, Home Video and Streaming

  • In its home country of Japan, it originally aired on the Super Hero Time block on TV Asahi and other ANN affiliates starting from September 6, 2020, and concluding on August 29, 2021, with 48 episodes. Episodes 1, 2, and 28 were streamed in their entirety for free on the Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official channel. Near the end of the series run, Toei Video released the full series on DVD and Blu-ray in 2021. For the DVD release, it spawned across 12 volumes, with each holding four episodes. For the Blu-Ray release, it spawned three separate Collections throughout that year, with Volume 1 released on May 21, Volume 2 on August 4 and Volume 3 on November 10, just a little over two months after the series concluded.
  • Thailand was the first international country in the world to have a release of this series outside of Japan. It was shown as Masked Rider Saber and Dream Express owns the rights to the broadcasting of this series. It first aired on October 3, 2021, on Channel 7 HD and was also broadcast via streaming on the Flixer app, starting with the first episode airing on the same day. The Thai subtitled release came out first, and then November 7, was when they started publishing a Thai dub. In 2024, the dub was re-broadcast on the Boomerang channel and also on GMM 25.
  • *In the Chinese-speaking world, Both Mandarin and Cantonese dubs were produced and aired in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively.
  • **In Hong Kong, the series aired with a Cantonese Chinese dub starting on October 24, 2021, and finished on September 18, 2022, covering all 48 episodes, by airing once a week.
  • **In Taiwan, the series aired with a Taiwanese Mandarin dub on the CHT MOD service starting on January 28, 2022 and concluded on April 15, 2022, covering all 48 episodes, by airing on the weeknights.
  • In South Korea, the series was translated directly to Korean and it premiered on January 15, 2022, and ran until April 30, 2022, on Daewon Broadcasting's three channels. It was broadcast with a Korean dub that covered all 48 episodes.
  • In Vietnam on February 9, 2023, it was announced that Skyline Media had the rights from Toei and ADK to bring the series over to the region on Netflix, as Kamen Rider Saber: Hiệp Sĩ Mặt Nạ: Thánh Kiếm and was shown on March of that year with English fansubs being copied and also displayed with Vietnamese subtitles.
  • In Indonesia, the series premiered on July 10, 2023, on RTV with an Indonesian dub and it also received an English language-styled logo for advertisements. All 48 episodes were covered.
  • In the Philippines, it was aired on GMA Network's FantaSeries block with a Tagalog dub from January 1 to March 7, 2025, with all 48 episodes covered.