Kamen Rider Ixa

Kamen Rider Ixa (Burst Mode) at a live stage show in Japan

Kamen Rider Ixa (仮面ライダーイクサ, Kamen Raidā Ikusa) (often stylized as Kamen Rider IXA) is a fictional character that appears in Kamen Rider Kiva, a Japanese tokusatsu television drama in the Kamen Rider Series. Ixa is the second Rider in Kiva. "IXA" is an acronym for "Intercept X Attacker." Whereas Kiva is based on various monsters, Ixa's motif is that of a knight and the Christian cross. Ixa's name in Japanese comes from one of the readings of the kanji for "fighting," "war," and "battle" (戦, ikusa).

Keisuke Nago

Keisuke Nago (名護 啓介, Nago Keisuke, portrayed by Keisuke Kato) is a 22-year-old elite member of the Wonderful Blue Sky Organization and former member of the 3WA (World Wide Wing Association), a loser at that time who left the organization due to his animosity towards its top agent Takato Shiramine who never respected him. He is the primary user of the Ixa System in the year 2008, working as a bounty hunter by capturing criminals and taking a button from them as a memento. He originally had an intense hatred towards Kiva due to what he heard of the previous one, intending to kill him until he learns of Kiva's true identity and sees him as an ally to mankind. He also has a belief in "humanity's full potential", which gives him the impression of a superiority complex to some people with the ideal that he's always right. He has a prejudice for certain people like Wataru, as he believes they are everything his ideology of "humanity's full potential" is against. Because of this ideology, he has a distaste for music, as he feels it is a waste of that potential. It was due to his intolerance for sinners that Nago played a part in the suicide of his father years ago, exposing him to the media for taking a bribe. However, though he has a sense of righteousness, Nago's perspective on it is warped in his desire to purge the world of evil, refusing to accept the world in grey and going berserk whenever he loses a fight or is denied his quarry. Over time, most of these personality traits would eventually wane, although his sense of justice has not changed. When Nago transforms to Ixa, he first says, "Fangire... Return that life to God!" (ファンガイア…その命、神に返しなさい！, Fangaia… Sono inochi, Kami ni kaeshinasai!)

Other users

1986

While the Ixa System is promised to Yuri Aso, Jiro is the first user of the System in 1986, using it to save Yuri from the Earwig Fangire. It is initially meant for Yuri to use as she sees it as a memento of her late mother, but after learning of its flaws and seeing Jiro's resolve, Yuri allows him to keep the Ixa System. When Otoya Kurenai learns of Jiro's plans, he takes the Ixa System to fight Jiro as its second user. After Basshaa's intervention between Jiro and Otoya, Jiro once again acquires the Ixa System, using it to fight the Lion Fangire Rook in revenge for the slaughter of the Wolfen Race. However, Otoya briefly regains the System after the Rook defeats Jiro as Ixa, with he and Jiro arguing who is its rightful user soon after. After Yuri's attempt to use the Ixa Knuckle, and Jiro leaving after revealing his true identity to her, Otoya becomes the official user of the Ixa System. After briefly being used by Rook, Otoya regains the belt and then luse against the Rook in battle, succeeding in wounding the Lion Fangire instead of the intended goal to kill him. Although the system is returned to Otoya afterwards, Yuri steals it once more in her attempt to destroy Maya, the Fangire Queen, out of jealousy. During Yuri's third attempt to destroy Maya, the King of Fangire, Dark Kiva, interfered and forces Yuri to retreat. Otoya uses the system to battle Dark Kiva, but is defeated easily and held captive within Castle Doran. He is rescued by Yuri and uses the system to defeat the Silkmoth Fangire. Otoya would use the Ixa system one final time to battle the Bat Fangire in a beachside battle, but he is again overpowered and the armor is severely damaged. Over time, the Ixa System is retrieved and perfected, with Keisuke Nago eventually becoming the system's main user in 2008.

2008

In 2008, the original official user for the Ixa System was Keisuke Nago. However, Ryo Itoya steals the Ixa Knucle from Nago and uses it in an attempt to impress Megumi, only to be tricked by Megumi and the system is returned to Nago soon after. Megumi borrows the System once to kill the Rook to finally finish what her mother started years ago. Due to Nago's incapacitation, Kengo Eritate is appointed a new primary user for Ixa, although his ability to use the system is quickly cast into doubt after his failure to destroy Kiva. After being defeated by Bishop, Nago relieves Kengo of the Ixa System, becoming its primary user once more.

Kamen Rider Ixa

Ixa does not have forms as the biologically/mystically powered Kiva does, but instead has two Modes as he uses a Rider System (ライダーシステム, Raidā Shisutemu).

Although the Ixa System prototype was present in 1986, it had only Save Mode as Burst Mode was still in development. As such, technical problems were frequent like the armor shooting out steam, a constant beeping, a different tone of voice for the Ixa Belt, a bronze projection for the Ixa System's transformation and the availability of only one Fuestle: the Knuckle Fuestle. The Ixa prototype exhausts a qualified person's body considerably even if they are not human, as the System still managed to harm Jiro despite being a Wolfen, and it harmed Otoya to the point of total memory loss. Ixa has been continuously updated since 1986 and with the tenth model used until it is upgraded to the eleventh model with a new mode.

Both Ver.X and Ver.XI have a golden projection of the Ixa System instead of the original's bronze color. A total of six Fuestles are available to the user as well as a new weapon: Ixa Calibur. It does not exhaust the user's body like the prototype, though any other side effects are not revealed in the series run.

Save Mode

Save Mode (セーブモード, Sēbu Mōdo) is the mode used by Ixa mostly in the year 1986 in one of its early prototypes referred as the "Proto Ixa" (プロトイクサ, Purotō Ikusa).

Burst Mode

Burst Mode (バーストモード, Bāsuto Mōdo) is the first of Ixa's modes to appear. As the name suggests, Burst Mode creates a burst of heat that damages everything in range when transforming from Save Mode.^[1] It uses the Ixa Calibur to perform Ixa Judgement (イクサ・ジャッジメント, Ikusa Jajjimento) and the Ixa Knuckle to perform Broken Fang (ブロウクン・ファング, Burōkun Fangu). When performing the Ixa Judgement, a vision of the sun appears behind Ixa.^[2]

Rising Ixa

Kamen Rider Rising Ixa (仮面ライダーライジングイクサ, Kamen Raidā Raijingu Ikusa) is the upgrade to the Ixa System, known as Intercept X Attacker Ver.XI. As it is the perfected version, Ixa's power is at maximum strength. This mode is accessed through the new Ixariser and the Ixa Knuckle Ver.XI. After inputting the code, Ixa's outer armor is ejected and the head crest changes once again. In this form, Ixa can perform the Final Rising Blast (ファイナルライジングブラスト, Fainaru Raijingu Burasuto). The armor of this form has far more blue on the arms, legs, and head. The chest is primarily white with a red sun-like shape in the center, the core exposed due to the removal of most of the armor plating. The Ixa system would receive one final upgrade which allows the user to transform directly into Rising Ixa, using a blue projection system.^[3][4] The rising system was so powerful at first that it knocked Nago out of transformation the first time it was used from the massive recoil but eventually he learned how to overcome it and use it effectively.

Equipment

Ixa Belt

The Ixa Belt (イクサベルト, Ikusa Beruto) is a necessary piece of equipment for the Ixa Rider System. In conjunction with the Ixa Knuckle, the Belt lets the user transform to Ixa. The belt's change announcement is "Fist On" (フィストオン, Fisuto On). It also stores the Fuestles designed for the Ixa Rider System. Unlike Kiva, the ones who become Ixa are seen to manually put the belt on themselves. The way a user wears the belt varies; Jiro tends to wear it with the Fueslots attached while Otoya wore it on his first two occasions (against Jiro) without them. Every other time after that, Otoya had the Fueslots attached.^[5]

Ixa Knuckle

Ixa also has an item called the Ixa Knuckle (イクサナックル, Ikusa Nakkuru) that serves as his transformation device and becomes the Broken Fang (ブロウクン・ファング, Burōkun Fangu) with the use of the Knuckle Fuestle (ナックルフエッスル, Nakkuru Fuessuru), where the Ixa Knuckle charges up and releases a spreading burst of heat energy on the target, leaving the Fangire in the fragile state without the Knuckle coming in contact with the target. This burst of energy can also take the form of a sphere that flies into the target. When used without the Knuckle Fuestle, even while not transformed into Ixa, the user can use a much weaker but still effective version of the Broken Fang. When the user pushes the knuckle into another part of their body (typically the other hand, although Kengo used it against his boot), it announces "Ready" (レディー, Redī). Unlike most devices with electronic voices in the franchise, the Ixa Knuckle says its phrases one character/syllable at a time. In the 2008 storyline, it undergoes an upgrade from Ver.X to Ver.XI.^[5]

Fuestles

Ixa has six Fuestles like Kiva, stored in silver Fueslots. They include:

• Knuckle (ナックル, Nakkuru): This powers up the Ixa Knuckle to become the Broken Fang. When activated, the Ixa Belt announces "Ixa Knuckle - Rise Up" (イクサナックル・ライズアップ, Ikusa Nakkuru Raizu Appu) prior to the execution of the Broken Fang finisher, primarily used in 1986.
• Calibur (カリバー, Karibā): This powers up the Ixa Calibur in Calibur Mode. When activated, the Ixa Belt announces "Ixa Calibur - Rise Up" (イクサカリバー・ライズアップ, Ikusa Karibā Raizu Appu) prior to the execution of the Ixa Judgement finisher, primarily used in 2008.
• Powerd (パワード, Pawādo): This Fuestle summons Powerd Ixer.
• Garulu Fake (ガルルフェイク, Garuru Feiku): A Fuestle that copies the frequency of Kiva's Garulu Fuestle, with the Ixa Belt announcing "Garulu Fake" as Ixa hijacks the Garulu Saber when it is summoned by Kiva.
• Basshaa Fake (バッシャーフェイク, Basshā Feiku): A Fuestle that copies the frequency of Kiva's Basshaa Fuestle, allowing Ixa to hijack the Basshaa Magnum when summoned. This Fuestle was not used in the series' run.
• Dogga Fake (ドッガフェイク, Dogga Feiku): A Fuestle that copies the frequency of Kiva's Dogga Fuestle, allowing Ixa to hijack the Dogga Hammer when summoned. This Fuestle was not used during the series' run.
• Riser (ライザー, Raizā): A Fuestle found in the grip of the Ixariser that allows Rising Ixa to perform the Final Rising Blast (ファイナルライジングブラスト, Fainaru Raijingu Burasuto) finisher.

Ixa Calibur

Ixa's weapon is known as the Ixa Calibur (イクサカリバー, Ikusakaribā) which has a Gun Mode (ガンモード, Gan Mōdo) and a sword-like Calibur Mode (カリバーモード, Karibā Mōdo). While in Calibur Mode and after using the Calibur Fuestle (カリバーフエッスル, Karibā Fuessuru), the Ixa Calibur can perform its finisher known as the Ixa Judgement (イクサ・ジャッジメント, Ikusa Jajjimento), where Calibur Mode is charged, showing the sun (instead of the moon in Kiva's case), blinding the target before Ixa hits with a powerful slash. When Megumi uses the Ixa System, she defeats the Rook with an alternate variation of the Ixa Judgement finisher. While Ixa is in Rising Ixa mode, the Ixa Calibur can perform Ixa Judgement without the use of the Calibur Fuestle, performed in a forward-flipping slash. On the toy version of the Ixa Calibur, it had the ability to connect with Tatsulot similarly to the Arms Monsters. However this ability was never shown or deemed possible in the show. The name of the sword is based on King Arthur's sword, Excalibur.^[4][6]

Garulu Saber

The Garulu Saber (ガルルセイバー, Garuru Seibā) is a weapon that Garulu assumes for Kiva to change into Garulu Form. However, due to the Garulu Fake Fuestle tracing Garulu's frequency, the Garulu Saber can be used by Ixa. Although it does not cause Ixa to change into a new form as Kiva does, it retains its power and effect regardless. Ixa is capable of doing this with the Bashaa Magnum and Dogga Hammer as well, though it was not shown in the series' run.^[7]

Ixariser

The Ixariser (イクサライザー, Ikusaraizā) is a cellphone-like gun weapon that detaches from Ixa's mouth piece, allowing him to transform into Rising Ixa along with the new Ixa Knuckle Ver.XI. Its gun mode is accessed by inserting a Fuestle into the slot on the back of the Ixariser and rotating the slot around the side to become the handle. Initially the Ixariser was uncalibrated and its blasts had massive recoil, as seen in its first deployment when a single shot knocked Nago onto his back and de-activated the transformation. In a later battle Nago would offset the recoil by vaulting off of a nearby wall and performing an impromptu Rider Kick, but by the time he went into battle against Rook, the recoil is no longer an issue. Ixa receives one final upgrade near the end of the series, allowing the user to transform directly into Rising Ixa without having to assume Burst Mode first; this transformation uses a blue manifestation system. By inputting several numeric codes known as Ixariser Blast Commands (イクサライザー・ブラストコマンド, Ikusaraizā Burasuto Komando), Rising Ixa can access the Ixariser's alternate combat modes:^[8]

• 1-9-3 followed by Enter initiates Rising Ixa Rise Up (ライジングイクサ・ライズアップ, Raijingu Ikusa Raizu Appu) for the transformation into Rising Ixa. In goroawase, "193" can be read as "Ixa" (イクサ, Ikusa).
• 5-6-7-8 followed by a pull of the Ixariser's trigger initiates Scouter Mode (スカウターモード, Sukautā Mōdo)
• 0 followed by a pull of the trigger initiates Corona Flame Mode (コロナフレイムモード, Korona Fureimu Mōdo), which can overheat.
• 2 followed by a pull of the trigger initiates Rise Blizzard Mode (ライズブリザードモード, Raizu Burizādo Mōdo).
• 4 followed by a pull of the trigger initiates Laser Net Mode (レーザーネットモード, Rēzā Netto Mōdo).

Ixalion

The Ixalion (イクサリオン, Ikusarion) is Ixa's personal Honda CBR1000RR motorcycle,^[9] a MotoGP style bike, dubbed as the "Stallion" to his White Knight motif.^[10]

Powerd Ixer

The Powerd Ixer (パワードイクサー, Pawādo Ikusā) is Ixa's mechanical dragon developed by the Wonderful Blue Sky Organization as a means to combat a Sabbat, and Kiva's Castle Doran. Piloted by Ixa, the Ixer's mouth functions as a robotic arm to either fling Sabbats and Castle Doran around or like a catapult to launch orbs at an enemy. Although only half as large as Castle Doran, it has proven to be both a formidable ally and nuisance to it. The arm can also propel Ixa towards a Sabbat, enabling him to perform a high speed Rider Kick.^[11]

References