Ride Kamens: The Stage - Stage Show Summary

[27twinsister]

This is a summary of the stage show and live show of Ride Kamens: The Stage, performed in Tokyo from January 11-January 25 and Osaka from January 30-February 2, 2025. I don’t speak Japanese but I did watch a performance (two, actually! January 25 at 1 PM and February 2 at 12 noon) and rewatched them a few times via the archived streams. I wrote this before the Osaka February 2 stream archives became inaccessible on February 16.
 

The show is approximately 3 hours long- 2 hours for the main story/play and 40 minutes for the live show, with an intermission in between. The entire thing is in-character (of course for the first part, that’s just how plays work, but they’re still in-character for the live show performance.) minus the bows and stuff at the very end. If you want to read about the premium stage, you can read about it here.

 

The characters in the show are Justice Ride (Mikami Saigo, Iori Haruma, Fukami Shion, Gamo Jigen), MadGuy (Araki Kyosuke, Agata Matsunosuke, Kamui Narushi), Takato Uryu (note: Uryu is not a Kamen Rider in this show), Aijo Leon, Kuon Shunto (character exclusive to the stage show, has not been in the game), a few background characters (other students at the academy, members of Chaosism,) and the Agent. The audience collectively is the Agent, so there’s effectively no fourth wall- they don’t acknowledge the Agent super often but they establish that you are the Agent at the start of the show.

 

The plot of the main show is below. Obviously contains spoilers.

The show starts with the stage completely dark as the theme plays with no words/music. After about 20 seconds, the song ends and lights come up on Chaosism. They explain that they're evil and spreading chaos and looking for chaos stones around the city. We see a map of Nijigao City projected onscreen, followed by chaos stones falling from the sky. We never see any of Ulseven onstage, though Pias (Mask of Peace) has a minor voice role, including at the start.

 

The stage goes dark again, and when the lights come up, Leon is there, waking us up after we fell asleep in the car.

 

(There aren't really any physical sets by the way- we see different images projected onscreen, which is the set, but there aren't large set pieces being brought on and offstage. Like, there were sound effects to indicate a car stopping and door opening, but no physical set piece or prop.)

 

Anyways, Leon explains to us that you're the Agent. And you're the Agent, and you are, and you, (Leon runs back and forth gesturing to different audience members) and he ends up saying that everyone is the Agent, heir to the Cosmos Zaibatsu. There's a scream from offstage as members of Chaosism attack. They know who we and Leon are and are looking for chaos stones.

Before the combatant can attack us, someone shows up. We see a projection of a boy in a shade of teal. Leon tells us this is a Kamen Rider, and they play a video of Saigo transforming before he appears onstage. Saigo fights combatants as track 4 (the theme song) plays. We also see Haruma, Shion, and Jigen (all transformed already) fight combatants, and Justice Ride poses in the center for a moment (about 1 minute into the song) as MadGuy comes onstage (not transformed) and fights combatants as well. Visuals onscreen show us that all these characters are Kamen Riders, with images of them transformed if they're a Rider, so I consider this like a theme song in a tv show. At about 1:34 in the song, Kuon Shunto, Takato Uryu, and Aijo Leon each come out as well and have images onscreen, though they don't have images of them transformed. Everyone dances onstage, including the members of Chaosism, and then everyone leaves except Leon, Saigo, and Chaosism. Saigo protects Leon (and us) and Leon runs into the audience for safety. The Chaosism combatant taps his right foot twice before attacking. They add a sound effect so you notice it.

 

The rest of Justice Ride shows up late, in a similar way to Saigo- projections, video, and then transformed. They all fight together, but the member of Chaosism escapes. Jigen wants to follow him but Haruma says no. Leon comes back onstage and uses the AI Siru to see if there are any chaos stones nearby. There are, at the skatepark. Saigo and Leon go to find it, and run into more members of Chaosism. Leon picks up the chaos stones (one red and one green, an image is shown onscreen) once Chaosism leaves the stage.

 

Araki Kyosuke shows up, followed by Kamui Narushi. They have the exact chemistry you want them to have. Agata Matsunosuke shows up a moment later and makes sure they aren't fighting. Leon introduces them as MadGuy, and on the February 2 performances, says Kyosuke's line, making him annoyed. On the January 25 performance, Narushi and Agata correct Kyosuke's pose (he was doing it correctly). Anyways, MadGuy all want the chaos stones for their own reasons but I don't think they get them? Chaos stones are really small and hard to see.
 

Kyosuke and Narushi leave, but Uryu texts Leon before Agata can leave. He wants to discuss an event to be held at the Kamen Cafe. Agata is glad to hear Uryu's doing well.

 

We meet up with Uryu in the VIP room and after an intro moment for Uryu, discuss doing Kamen Cafe: Premium Stage, where they shall do musical performances. Like this one- Leon's song Perfect Assistant starts playing, and though Leon tries to convince/peer pressure Uryu into performing (is it peer pressure if they're 17 and 32), he realizes this is his song and Uryu tells him to sing it. The music stops right before Leon needs to sing, but sometimes he starts singing anyway. Anyways, the Premium Stage and the songs they sing during it exist in Stage Kamens canon, probably set after the events of the stage show.

 

Saigo meets up with Justice Ride, and they've found a chaos stone. I think it's blue because that's the colour of the effects. Saigo says that's good, though he doesn't act very happy about it. Haruma holds his fingers up to Saigo's mouth to make him smile, but when he takes his hands away Saigo instantly stops.

 

They talk for a bit about the chaos stone before it starts glowing, and then they all react in shock and then the stage goes black. Pias talks a bit, and then the lights come up on everyone is in Rider Academy uniforms and doing Rider Academy things. Narushi is drawing pictures of himself, Kyosuke is exercising, they're annoying each other, Agata is making them stop. Normal MadGuy stuff. Kyosuke is hyped about being the strongest. Justice Ride comes onstage a bit later. Kyosuke and Jigen almost fight but Shion stops them. Saigo says something about training and the vibe I get is Kyosuke asking Saigo if he thinks he's better than him and grabs Saigo, who stays completely calm. Agata warns him to stop and he does.

 

Kuon Shunto shows up a bit late (with Uryu and some background classmates) and asks if the guys were fighting. They weren't really, but Kuon Shunto suggests they do a duel if they need to settle this.

 

We then get a training montage with Kyosuke showing off how strong he is (he can life 4 tons!), Narushi explaining his beauty is his strength, and Agata getting the two of them to do image training with him to calm down. The MadGuy trio (plus four background characters) end up forming a pyramid pose. Kyosuke and Narushi seem shocked that they did that.

 

Haruma and Shunto do a duel with swords, with Shunto winning. (All civilian duels use swords.) Shunto says they're rivals, but Haruma says they're friends. Saigo requests a duel with Shunto and Shion and Jigen duel background characters. They bump into each other by accident. Shion and Jigen lose and face criticism from their peers. Uryu duels another background character. Uryu loses or they tie I'm not sure.

 

Shunto and Saigo duel intensely. Shunto taps his right foot twice before charging at Saigo. Shunto wins.

 

They talk for a bit, about the academy and why they want to become Riders and their dreams and power of friendship. I wish I had this scene in particular subtitled. I think Saigo says that he wants to protect people's smiles even though he doesn't smile.

 

Saigo goes running through the forest as training and runs into Leon. Saigo, a student at the Rider Academy, doesn't know who Leon or the Agent are. But we know who he is because, as Leon explains, Justice Ride already exists and we saw them fight earlier. Leon tries to get him to remember, and then the Agent's Memento Stone starts shining (the pen lights). They flash white for a moment, and Saigo gets all his memories of his life after the academy back.

 

I don't have context for Leon making gibberish noises and neither do you but it sure does happen. And Saigo just stands there with a straight face while it happens.

 

Anyways, Saigo determines that they're in a chaos world based on the academy and class 5's time there. He finds the rest of Justice Ride and tries to tell them about it, but Haruma thinks Saigo has made an elaborate lie and Shion asks if Saigo's telling the truth. He is, though they still don't believe him, wondering if Saigo had a dream or something. Saigo insists it wasn't a dream. When the bell rings, the rest of Justice Ride runs off, and Shunto appears. He talks with Saigo about the lore and then looks for the Agent. Leon comes onstage and Shunto can't believe this. Saigo runs offstage and quickly gets the rest of Justice Ride as the bell rings again. We use our Memento Stones again to get Justice Ride and MadGuy's memories back to where they should be.

 

Uryu comes onstage after everyone else and is clearly not well, randomly attacking the others. He then turns into a gaonax (the big one) portrayed by an onscreen video, that attacks the others. Everyone worries about Uryu but they're overpowered. Saigo and Shunto attack with swords, and some toe taps, and the gaonax is gone. (Uryu is not present onstage once defeated but I promise he's okay.)

 

Saigo holds a sword to Shunto's neck. I don't know exactly why Saigo doesn't trust Shunto but I guess it is kinda weird that Shunto didn't know Leon and the Agent even after everyone (minus Uryu) got their memories back. Like, Shunto was onstage for that, he should have his memories back if he graduated the academy and knows us, but he's never met us. Why?

 

Saigo does the toe tap that Shunto does and somehow comes to the conclusion that Shunto doesn't become a Kamen Rider, and joins Chaosism. (He explains his logic I just don't know Japanese.) And the worst part is: he isn't wrong. Shunto admits he willingly becomes (became?) a Chaos Rider after graduation, and everyone starts fighting. Shunto overpowers everyone and has Pias (and Chaosism) on his side. He uses chaos stones (one of each colour) and the scene fades to black as everyone screams.
 

(We are just over halfway into this ~2-hour show.)

 

At the Kamen Cafe, Leon wakes up in the VIP room and asks if we (the Agent) are okay. Of course we are, so that's good. MadGuy shows up, really living up to their name right now, followed by Justice Ride. Kyosuke is raring to go fight, but he's obviously hurt and falls over.

 

Haruma and Kyosuke argue about what to do (basically "is Kuon Shunto redeemable?" Haruma says yes and Kyosuke says no). It's not only them but they're mainly the ones yelling at each other. I thought for a bit that Agata was being way too chill but he yells a bit too. He is not chill. Justice Ride and MadGuy have opposite views on what to do, and MadGuy leave.

Leon enters the VIP room with a cart of food and asks if anyone wants a snack. They do not.

 

As Justice Ride try to decide what to do ("how will we save Kuon Shunto?") Leon gets a call from Uryu, who appears on the opposite side of the stage under a spotlight. He explains that Chaosism is attacking the city, and Justice Ride runs off to fight, with Saigo taking an extra moment before going.

 

Once Saigo is gone, we get to see Kuon Shunto! He looks like a combatant from the games but without the mask or hat. Pias talks to him and Shunto confirms he will follow the will of Chaos and he does an evil laugh.

 

Leon runs into MadGuy and as Leon tells them Kuon Shunto has become evil, Shunto approaches in his combatant outfit. MadGuy wants to fight him, and do so unmorphed. He's too strong for them, but they keep getting up and trying again.

 

Then, Shunto transforms into his evil Rider form. This is played by a suit actor, both because it would be super difficult as a quick-change and for reasons I'll mention later. He doesn't get a transformation sequence, just a visual effect and then the stage goes dark for a moment. The bottom half is mostly just black, but his helmet, chest, and shoulders are primarily silver, with spikes coming out of the shoulders (one spike each pointing left or right) and top of the helmet (one spike pointing up). There are some chains hanging from his chest and his belt. There's also armor on his forearms and coattails on the side of his legs. His chaos stones make it so MadGuy can't transform (or it's because they can't leave the stage right now, lol). But they still refuse to give up. Kamui Narushi punches him in the face.

 

As MadGuy are still struggling, all of Justice Ride except Saigo show up transformed. They have the sound of the transformation sequence but not the visuals. Justice Ride makes sure MadGuy are okay and help them get offstage before fighting Shunto.

 

Four combatants show up to help Shunto in battle. Kyosuke comes back to fight, still unmorphed, because he's reckless and not giving up. Haruma protects him and the two of them chat once they're safe. They get over their fight from earlier and agree to work together. We then get Shion and Jigen fighting combatants alongside each other.

 

Haruma finds Shunto on the Academic District's Main Street I think, and combatants beat Haruma up. Shunto is demorphed. He offers to let Haruma join Chaosism, and Haruma refuses. Saigo then shows up transformed, and helps Haruma.

 

Uryu shows up with Leon and confirms the existence of Slam Days, Wisdom Thinks, GambiTwin, and...Tower Emblem. Sure I guess? Don't know when that one was established in this universe.

 

Kuon transforms again, and has combatants to back him up. Uryu fights unmorphed in the business district, and is sad to be fighting his old classmates (the background characters). Leon steps in to make sure Uryu's okay and we get MadGuy silhouettes and transformation sequences before they fight. They also use videos of their rises to attack using those.

 

Justice Ride fights Kuon Shunto, who calls in combatants to protect him. The battle pauses for a moment and when Saigo declares that they shall all fight, they do. Everyone but Saigo uses their rises via video like MadGuy earlier.

 

Saigo and Shuon fistfight. Saigo is losing but keeps getting back up. We see Kuon Shunto (completely unmorphed, regular clothes) providing his dialogue as he fights. Kuon Shunto (transformed) does two toe taps and then punches Saigo really hard. They stand still for a moment, before Saigo gets pushed to the ground.

 

Saigo is sad and really angry that this happened. You have probably never heard Saigo yell but he definitely can. He wants everyone to live in harmony and protect their smiles even though he has never genuinely smiled. He punches (transformed) Shunto a few times.

 

Leon prompts us to use our Memento Stones again and Saigo Rider Punches Shunto to (possibly) make him demorph. (Unmorphed Kuon Shunto has been onstage for a while to say lines, but we see him fall over from the impact of the hit.) Both Shuntos get back up and walk over to the same part of the stage, holding their sides. Demorphed Kuon Shunto faces Saigo, while Transformed Kuon Shunto faces away. Saigo goes to the other end of the stage and just as Haruma shows up (transformed), Saigo is ready to attack. Haruma tries to convince him otherwise, but when Demorphed Kuon Shunto faces away from Saigo and Transformed Shunto faces him, Saigo Rider Kicks him.

 

Kuon Shunto doesn't die, well, not right away. He demorphs and though Haruma checks on Saigo, Saigo checks on Shunto. Shunto thanks him. Pias attacks all three of them, and then attacks Shunto specifically. Saigo tries to protect him, but once Pias is gone, Shunto is dying on the ground. Saigo holds him and tries to call for help, but Shunto tells him not to. Saigo holds Shunto's hand until it goes limp.

 

At the Kamen Cafe, Uryu tells Leon that he met the other classes, including Tower Emblem (I sure hope you did?). Leon is glad Uryu's been doing okay after turning into a monster, which Uryu does not remember at all. When Shion and Jigen show up with white flowers, Uryu asks them if he became a monster. They're like, yeah that did happen, but you're okay now so don't worry about it.

 

MadGuy has a scene reflecting on what happened in the play and also bickering with each other. They then go to meet up with Justice Ride.
 

Shion, Haruma and Jigen arrive to the next scene. Saigo arrives a moment later, and bows deeply. He's feeling conflicted ever since Kuon Shunto died. His friends try to comfort him, and the rest of the main cast shows up. Shion gives Saigo the flowers, and Saigo places them at the front of the stage, where I assume Kuon Shunto's grave is. Everyone prays, and Saigo does so out loud, and when he's done, everyone chats for a bit about taking down Chaosism and then they stand in a line onstage, facing away from the audience. Saigo takes a second to do two toe taps with his right foot before joining everyone.

 

Lights go down, but come up a moment later with everyone facing the audience. They bow and then leave. The main story ends.

This final section is not very plot-relevant but are some notes I wanted to keep for myself regarding music. The songs used in the stage show portion are instrumental, and usually background music while characters talk or do things.

• Track 17 (カオストーン) is used multiple times when using the memento stone to restore people's memories/make them realize they're in a Chaos World.
• Track 27 (葛藤と決意) plays before Kuon Shunto dies, when he and Saigo are fighting.
• Track 28 (必ず守る) starts only after Kuon Shunto dies. It ruined my life to realize nothing plays during his death. (It's silent except for the dialogue).
• Track 31 (Memories) plays during what I call the "gravestone scene". There isn't a gravestone onstage but it feels like they're visiting wherever Kuon Shunto died. The song starts when Saigo starts praying out loud.