Live action TV
Description
Kintaros is an Imagin, a being from the future who travels to the past to form contracts with humans. He first appears in the story of Kamen Rider Den-O and later appears within the narrative of Kamen Rider Decade. He is the third of four main Imagin allied with the primary Rider from his original world and is visually characterized by a large, bear-like build with golden-yellow coloration. His name is derived from the Japanese folk hero Kintaro, known for his superhuman strength, and his appearance is modeled after a bear.
Kintaros has a warm and earnest personality. He is a figure of great strength and a strong sense of chivalry, finding it impossible to ignore someone in need. Despite his imposing power, he has a gentle and人情家 (ninjoka), or empathetic, nature. However, when his emotions run high, he can become prone to reckless,暴走 (bousou), or out-of-control behavior, which often confuses his allies. He speaks with a Kansai dialect and has a habit of cracking his neck before a fight. One of his most distinctive traits is his sleeping pattern; he can fall into a very deep sleep instantly, often in the DenLiner's dining car, and is incredibly difficult to wake up unless he hears a word that sounds like naku, the Japanese word for cry. When he hears this, he will instantly wake up, declaring that his strength has made someone cry, and will offer tissues to wipe away tears. He refers to his fellow Imagin by nicknames, calling Momotaros peach and Urataros turtle.
Kintaros originally formed a contract with a karateka named Masaru Honjo, and his goal was to sincerely fulfill Honjos wish to practice karate again, prioritizing this over the destruction of time. During a fight to protect his contractor, he was mortally wounded, and the protagonist Ryotaro Nogami offered his own body for Kintaros to form a new contract, saving his life. From that point, his motivation shifted to helping Ryotaro protect the timestream and repaying the kindness shown to him. This loyalty extends to his allies, who travel with him on the DenLiner, a train that moves through time.
In the events of Kamen Rider Decade, Kintaros appears alongside his fellow Imagin Momotaros, Urataros, and Ryutaros. They find themselves unable to maintain their physical forms properly in the world of Decade and initially suspect that Kamen Rider Decade himself is responsible for their predicament. As a result, Kintaros takes action by possessing the series protagonist, Tsukasa Kadoya, to track down Decade. At another point, he also possesses the female lead, Natsumi Hikari, intending to defeat Decade. In this world, Kintaros and the other Imagin must navigate a reality where their original history has been altered, and their interactions are often antagonistic toward the visiting Rider. A Rider Card exists that allows Kamen Rider Decade to transform into Den-O Ax Form, utilizing Kintaros power, although this specific transformation is not extensively used. He also demonstrates the ability to possess summoned Riders, such as possessing Kamen Rider Caucasus to fight. Through these actions, he serves as both an obstacle and a reluctant ally, showcasing his unwavering strength and his groups singular focus on finding a way to survive.
Kintaros is defined by his key relationships with the other Taros Imagin. He is often the strong, silent counterpoint to the hot-headed Momotaros, whom he can easily overpower. While they bicker, they form a cohesive fighting unit. His most significant bond is with Ryotaro Nogami, whom he respects as his恩人 (onjin), or benefactor, for saving his existence. Over the course of his story, he shows little personal development as his core character is already one of nobility and strength. Instead, his narrative arc focuses on his acceptance as a member of the DenLiner crew and his unwavering commitment to his friends. In his original series, he once risked fading from existence by altering the timeline to help a girl reunite with her father, an act of compassion that paradoxically allowed him to remain.
Kintaros possesses immense physical strength, which is his primary and most notable ability. In his natural Imagin form, he wields a massive weapon called the Kintaros Ax and uses a fighting style that incorporates sumo wrestling techniques, such as powerful palm strikes and throws. He is exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding significant enemy attacks without flinching. When possessing a human, he can transform them into Kamen Rider Den-O Ax Form, which is considered the physically strongest of Den-Os basic forms, specializing in powerful, heavy attacks at the cost of speed. His signature finishing move is the Dynamic Chop, where he leaps into the air and delivers a powerful, axe-like chop with his weapon, often announcing the technique's name after he has already executed it. Despite his raw power, he can be clumsy, often unable to finely control his strength, which leads to unintentional destruction. Kintaros can also transform his own body into an axe weapon, known as the Kintaono, for an ally to wield.
Kintaros has a warm and earnest personality. He is a figure of great strength and a strong sense of chivalry, finding it impossible to ignore someone in need. Despite his imposing power, he has a gentle and人情家 (ninjoka), or empathetic, nature. However, when his emotions run high, he can become prone to reckless,暴走 (bousou), or out-of-control behavior, which often confuses his allies. He speaks with a Kansai dialect and has a habit of cracking his neck before a fight. One of his most distinctive traits is his sleeping pattern; he can fall into a very deep sleep instantly, often in the DenLiner's dining car, and is incredibly difficult to wake up unless he hears a word that sounds like naku, the Japanese word for cry. When he hears this, he will instantly wake up, declaring that his strength has made someone cry, and will offer tissues to wipe away tears. He refers to his fellow Imagin by nicknames, calling Momotaros peach and Urataros turtle.
Kintaros originally formed a contract with a karateka named Masaru Honjo, and his goal was to sincerely fulfill Honjos wish to practice karate again, prioritizing this over the destruction of time. During a fight to protect his contractor, he was mortally wounded, and the protagonist Ryotaro Nogami offered his own body for Kintaros to form a new contract, saving his life. From that point, his motivation shifted to helping Ryotaro protect the timestream and repaying the kindness shown to him. This loyalty extends to his allies, who travel with him on the DenLiner, a train that moves through time.
In the events of Kamen Rider Decade, Kintaros appears alongside his fellow Imagin Momotaros, Urataros, and Ryutaros. They find themselves unable to maintain their physical forms properly in the world of Decade and initially suspect that Kamen Rider Decade himself is responsible for their predicament. As a result, Kintaros takes action by possessing the series protagonist, Tsukasa Kadoya, to track down Decade. At another point, he also possesses the female lead, Natsumi Hikari, intending to defeat Decade. In this world, Kintaros and the other Imagin must navigate a reality where their original history has been altered, and their interactions are often antagonistic toward the visiting Rider. A Rider Card exists that allows Kamen Rider Decade to transform into Den-O Ax Form, utilizing Kintaros power, although this specific transformation is not extensively used. He also demonstrates the ability to possess summoned Riders, such as possessing Kamen Rider Caucasus to fight. Through these actions, he serves as both an obstacle and a reluctant ally, showcasing his unwavering strength and his groups singular focus on finding a way to survive.
Kintaros is defined by his key relationships with the other Taros Imagin. He is often the strong, silent counterpoint to the hot-headed Momotaros, whom he can easily overpower. While they bicker, they form a cohesive fighting unit. His most significant bond is with Ryotaro Nogami, whom he respects as his恩人 (onjin), or benefactor, for saving his existence. Over the course of his story, he shows little personal development as his core character is already one of nobility and strength. Instead, his narrative arc focuses on his acceptance as a member of the DenLiner crew and his unwavering commitment to his friends. In his original series, he once risked fading from existence by altering the timeline to help a girl reunite with her father, an act of compassion that paradoxically allowed him to remain.
Kintaros possesses immense physical strength, which is his primary and most notable ability. In his natural Imagin form, he wields a massive weapon called the Kintaros Ax and uses a fighting style that incorporates sumo wrestling techniques, such as powerful palm strikes and throws. He is exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding significant enemy attacks without flinching. When possessing a human, he can transform them into Kamen Rider Den-O Ax Form, which is considered the physically strongest of Den-Os basic forms, specializing in powerful, heavy attacks at the cost of speed. His signature finishing move is the Dynamic Chop, where he leaps into the air and delivers a powerful, axe-like chop with his weapon, often announcing the technique's name after he has already executed it. Despite his raw power, he can be clumsy, often unable to finely control his strength, which leads to unintentional destruction. Kintaros can also transform his own body into an axe weapon, known as the Kintaono, for an ally to wield.