This year marks the 25th anniversary of "Kamen Rider Kuuga," the groundbreaking first entry in the "Kamen Rider Series" Heisei era. Beloved by many, this cross-century masterpiece revolutionized the franchise.
Recently, Joe Odagiri, who played the lead role of Yusuke Godai, appeared on the TBS radio program "Bakusho Mondai no Nichiyo Sunday" and candidly admitted that he never actually wanted to be in a "Kamen Rider" series. He just went to the audition, unexpectedly got the part, and had no choice but to take it.
Odagiri starred in "Kamen Rider Kuuga" from 2000 to 2001, marking his very first leading role. However, he revealed, "Back then, I wasn't really interested in tokusatsu. To be honest, I didn't want to do 'Kamen Rider.' But I got the part in the audition, so I had to take it. At the time, I really wanted to focus on what I truly wanted to do."
He even described how he intentionally acted unenthusiastic during the audition, only for producer Shigenori Takatera to see it as a perfect fit for their vision of "breaking the mold of the traditional hero image." This unexpected turn of events led him to become the iconic Yusuke Godai.
Some netizens believe this anecdote highlights Odagiri's professionalism even back then; despite his lack of interest, he took the job and absolutely crushed it, making Kuuga one of the most cherished works of the Heisei era. They emphasize that the character and the actor are separate, and no tokusatsu fan would ever criticize him for it.
Of course, for seasoned Kamen Rider fans, this isn't exactly breaking news. But they still hold Odagiri's portrayal of Kuuga in high regard, praising and affirming his performance.
Many longtime fans commented, "It's common knowledge among old fans that Joe Odagiri wasn't keen on Kamen Rider; we've known for ages," and "It was precisely because he wasn't interested in traditional tokusatsu that he clicked with the producer's concept, giving birth to 'Kuuga,' a truly special work." Another fan added, "Regardless of whether he wanted the role or not, he perfected the character, arguably making it the greatest masterpiece of the Heisei Riders."
While Joe Odagiri admits he "initially didn't want the role," his affection for "Kamen Rider Kuuga" runs surprisingly deep. His appearance at this year's 25th-anniversary exhibition clearly shows he still holds the series close to his heart.
Fans also point out that he subtly included monster characters in a film he directed – a thoughtful detail that could only come from genuine love for the franchise.
For many viewers, "Kamen Rider Kuuga" isn't just the beginning of the Heisei Kamen Rider series; it's a pivotal turning point that propelled tokusatsu works into a new era, making it a truly epoch-making production.
It's a fascinating case study: an actor who didn't want the role met a producer who didn't want to make a traditional hero show, and together they birthed "Kuuga," a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that pushed the history of Kamen Rider into a new generation.
via： togetter