Kamen Rider Hibiki (character)

Kamen Rider Hibiki (仮面ライダー響鬼 Kamen Raidā Hibiki) is the eponymous and lead protagonist of the 2005 Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Hibiki. His name literally means "Echo Demon" (響鬼 Hibiki).

Hitoshi Hidaka - Hibiki

Hitoshi Hidaka (日高 仁志 Hidaka Hitoshi, portrayed by Shigeki Hosokawa), known as Hibiki (ヒビキ) is one of the most seasoned Oni currently in service. It is not known exactly when he began his training, but it is said that Hibiki became an Oni training alone and has surpassed all former Oni by being the first to wield the Armed Saber. Hibiki has a strong sense of ethics and believes constantly training oneself to keep up their strength. Throughout the series he is seen training by himself and with other Oni. He is seen as somewhat of a teacher by other Oni, even though Hibiki sees himself as just another fighter in the war against the Makamou. Due to his training, he is seldom seen worrying, he believes that with constant training, he will always come out on top and does not need to worry about his safety. His trademark is his special salute which he does every time to either greet other or bid them farewell.

Fictional character biography

Hibiki is a calm and nonchalant Oni. Not much is known about his past, but when he was young, he appeared to act the same as Asumu. He had worries and doubts and wanted to protect his friends, which is what led to him becoming an Oni. He takes Asumu (whom he calls simply as "Shōnen" (少年 Shōnen, "Boy" or, more informally translating, "Kid")) under his wing and helps him and gives him advice when needed. Of the three main riders, Hibiki is the most experienced, even though he says otherwise, he is the wisest of the current Oni and his friends look up to him as if he were a teacher. He has a long friendship with Midori, who is Takeshi's weapon designer, who've been friends since they were children.

When Kogure appears, he gives Hibiki a hard time in training. Wanting Hibiki to be stronger than he is, he pushes him as hard as he can. Hibiki, although on friendly terms with Kogure, was still one of the first to encounter his eccentric form of training. Kogure then reveals his training is meant to allow Hibiki to wield the Armed Saber, a weapon that will allow him to become even more powerful than his Kurenai form. During a battle later on, Todoroki uses the Armed Saber and is sent flying by its power. In an act of desperation, Hibiki picks the saber up an attempts to use it, only to meet the same result as Todoroki.

The two Oni then lose the ability to transform. In the past when this has happened, Oni were unable to ever regain their powers, but as Danki and Shouki revealed, when Kogure used them as his guinea pigs, if an Oni is put through intense training, their powers will eventually return. Danki and Shouki regain their powers after a month of training, a time frame that Hibiki needed to beat. Through his training with Kogure, Hibiki, along with Todoroki, regain their powers.

In the next battle after regaining their powers, Hibiki and Todoroki are pit against one of the strongest known Makamou. A three headed gigantic demon whose sole purpose is to kill. Kogure appears and throws Hibiki the Armed Saber, telling him that it was always destined to be used by him and that it will unlock his true power. A hesitant Hibiki finally uses the saber and easily defeats the Makamou.

During the second half of the series, Hibiki meets another boy named Kyosuke Kiriya. Kyosuke was estranged from his father and when he met Hibiki, he began pursuing him to allow him to be his student. Only knowing of what his father had done in life, Kyosuke saw becoming an Oni as his chance to be greater than his father. Hibiki claimed this was a selfish reason for wanting to be an Oni and would not allow him to become his student, but Kyosuke was adamant about becoming his student. Eventually Kyosuke's rivalry with Asumu became a partnership as the two began pledging to Hibiki to allow them to become his students.

Unsure of his skills as a teacher and not wanting to lose another student as he once did, Hibiki denies every plea they make. Later on when Akira Amami gives up being a student of Ibuki, she persuades Hibiki to let Asumu and Kyosuke become his students. Under Hibiki, Asumu was the better student with Kyosuke struggling in nearly every training session. Even though Asumu was clearly better physically suited to be an Oni, he was not in the right mindset to be one. Hibiki talks Asumu into him continuing to be his student. For a while longer, the three continue their training before Hibiki finally realizes that Asumu's place in this world is not as an Oni. He allows Asumu to quit but feels great regret for being the one to push him to stay his student.

Following the great battle against the Makamou in the "Orochi sealing", Hibiki and Asumu have lost touch with each other and share some awkward moments when they meet each other at a hospital that Asumu works at a year later. In the end, Hibiki and Asumu reconnect with each other. Hibiki says that even though he cannot be Asumu's mentor as an Oni, he can be his mentor in life and help him be a better person. The two watch a sunrise as they remember their first meeting and Hibiki reveals to Asumu that he was his apprentice from the start, with Asumu agreeing to stay by Hibiki's side despite choosing not to become an Oni himself.

Kamen Rider Hibiki

In this form, Hibiki is a purple oni with red accent. This is his basic form and the easiest form for him to reach. To become this form, Hibiki simply needs to tap his tuning fork against a solid surface then put it in front of his head. The vibrations from the fork causing his body to be engulfed in a fiery purple aura. Hibiki also gains a second "oni face" which is a crest that forms on his forehead. Unlike most Kamen Riders, Hibiki does not wear a suit, rather his demon form is his true form.

Hibiki Kurenai

Hibiki's second form, also known as Hibiki Kurenai (響鬼紅, Crimson Hibiki), was introduced in episode 24. He became aware of this form during the summer of training when his arms changed while under attack from Makamou. The effort left Hibiki exhausted, so he began training to meet the physical demands of the transformation. Hibiki would then successfully complete the transformation in the misted of an ensuing attack by Summer Makamou. He stands as red fumes rise up from the ground and cause his body to change. In this form, Hibiki's powers are all nearly doubled from his basic form. He can easily defeat many different types of Makamou with a single attack in this form.

Armed Hibiki

The third and final form of Hibiki, Armed Hibiki (装甲（アームド）響鬼 Āmudo Hibiki), announced by the call "Hibiki Armored!" (響鬼 装甲! Hibiki Sōkō!), is created when Hibiki uses the Armed Saber's power with the Disc Animals merging with his armor, making it samurai-like with his oni face covered with a samurai like shield and his horns expand a bit. He automatically changes to Hibiki Kurenai prior to the transformation. In this state, Hibiki is able to destroy most lower level Makamou easily. Armed Hibiki is also able to execute an aflame Rider Punch; shown on Movie War 2010.

Equipment

Onkaku

The Transformation Tuning Fork Onkaku (変身音叉・音角 Henshin Onsa Onkaku) gives Hibiki the ability to transform into an Oni, using special sound waves. He taps it on a hard surface and places it in front of his forehead forming an Oni face. Purple flames engulf his transformation into an Oni. In addition, the Onkaku can also playback the sound or video data collected by the Disc Animals. During the events of the movie, the earlier model can be used as the Echo Sword Onsaken (鳴刀・音叉剣 Meitō Onsaken)

Arsenal

Attacks

Hibiki has a variety of attacking styles, ranging from small one handed beats to more complicated Armed Saber techniques. Each attack can only be wielded in certain forms, making each upgrade somewhat of a disadvantage in the loss of attacks.

Ongeki Da Finishers

Kurenai Form Ongeki Da Finishers

Armed Form Ongeki Da Finishers

Support Vehicles

Shiranui (不知火 Shiranui, "Phosphorescent Light") Make: HONDA Element

Gaika (凱火 Gaika, "Victory Fire") Make: HONDA Valkyrie Rune

Disc Animals

Produced mainly for reconnaissance purpose, the Disk Animals (ディスクアニマル Disuku Animaru) that Hibiki uses first are the Akanetaka, followed by the Ryokuōzaru, Ruriōkami, Kihadagani, Kiakashishi, and Asagiwashi. While in Armed Form, Hibiki uses the Armed Disc Animals (アームドディスクアニマル Āmudo Disuku Animaru), which are stronger versions of Hibiki's Disc Animals that are in a uniformed black and red color.

Armed Disc Animals Motif Meaning Japanese
Haganetaka Hawk Steel Hawk 鋼鷹
Kabutoozaru Ape Shell Ape 兜大猿
Yoroigani Fiddler crab Armor Crab 鎧蟹
  1. ↑ The name of Hibiki's Rider Kick comes from the Ganbaride card 4-014.