Hey, I got 39 minutes before the SHF Saber orders open up on AmiAmi, let's talk about Hibiki!

The way that scene is laid out is just the cherry on this episode's delicious sundae. You've got the Makamou in the distance, with Sabaki in its grasp. You've got the Douji and Hime, prowling on the outskirts. And then Zanki and Todoyama walk up, Zanki puts down his guitar, they strum their bracelets, LIGHTNING. STRIKE. And then superheroes. Chills, man! I got chills!

They are so boss, and they instantly kick this show up a level. We've basically got a full band, now!

The editing in that scene is priceless. All over this episode, for sure, but that sequence hits all of the comedy beats perfectly. I'm also a fan of how flustered and embarrassed Todoyama is, trying to give his official report while Zanki watches, and Hinaka is just like No We Are Talking About Our Date Now. He's, like, the anti-Ibuki.

Thanks! Fixed! Also, OH GOD, it would not be cool for Midori and Asumu to be flirting on the phone! Big nope!

That's the thing, though: the Zanki/Todoyama stuff is 100% about Hibiki and Asumu. (And Ibuki and Akira, but that's not as big of a deal.) Like, this story is about masters and apprentices, and about how the Oni tradition/skillset is kept in continuity. Zanki is able to step down because Todoyama is ready to take over. Eventually, Akira will succeed Ibuki. (I sort-of love how accepted it is that Akira will eventually become an Oni. For a franchise that ain't especially good at letting female characters fight as superheroes, this was fairly progressive!) Hibiki needs to figure out what Asumu is to him, and how he can best keep the Oni tradition alive. The idea of Zanki knowing he can step down because he trained a replacement... that seems like a very important thing for Hibiki and Asumu to address!

I feel almost bad saying it, but, yeah! Guitars are objectively cooler! Everyone on this show is great, no bum notes, but those Zanki fight scenes just ruled.

To clarify, Todoyama isn’t a full Oni yet. He’s still using the training henshin item similar to Akira. But unlike Akira, his training is at the point where Zanki things he’s ready to enter what the official design calls a “henshintai” (transformed) state.

And the “guitar is an axe” thing? That kind of seems like a lame and obvious thing to do, especially since we got a more-original idea for a guitar weapon in Super Sentai 10 years later https://youtube.com/watch?v=eGPp74jWX9g

And this episode also features the debut of Sabaki (I haven’t looked up what that means yet, I’ll get back to you on that one). As someone I follow on Twitter pointed out, he must’ve been someone on the crew’s favourite, since he appears in more episodes than the other non-regular Oni (even after the staff turnover mostly drops the minor Oni in favour of more focus on the main ones) he appears in the HBV and a post-show stage show. All he hasn’t received is an appearance in Decade and a Ridewatch in Zi-O’s toyline.

Okay, so I said wind instruments are Toshihiko Sahashi's thing, and I stand by that (Ibuki is still awesome!), but guitars aren't exactly outside his skill set either. Die will already know this if he still remembers his favorite track from Kuuga. Or, heck, I guess just anyone who's watched Kuuga would know.

Zanki and Todoyama are great. Going back to that idea that Ibuki and Akira are like, the baseline, ideal mentor/student combo, it was super interesting to introduce this grizzled legend past his prime and his apprentice who's maybe become a bit too comfortable standing in his shadow despite having talents of his own. It's a cool dynamic, and just as Riders, I mean, come on. It baffles me to think sometimes the merch for this show didn't sell like hotcakes. How did every kid on the block not want a monster-slaying axe/axe?

This is also Ishida's next set of episodes, which is very apparent not only when Clockamou's scene here straight up brings back the evil TV static effect from Kuuga, but from the impeccable timing of all the gags. I also like to think other directors probably wouldn't have been insistent on having those practical explosions mixed in when Zanki and Todoyama transform (both times!), which adds a lot of weight and impact to the scene. Again, these guys make a strong first impression.

Found out what Sabaki means. It’s shorthand for Sabaki no Oni (Judgement Demon)

I think I’ll point out that this was their main competition. https://youtube.com/watch?v=uG-2jXggn_U

And that the Super Sentai for that year put out a set based on what would otherwise be a normal show-exclusive power that can’t be replicated adequately with regular toys (believe me, I tried) https://youtube.com/watch?v=P5bs-pJGB4s

Meanwhile Hibiki wasn’t offering anything more impressive than a couple of transforming CDs… which 75% of the items designed to work with them couldn’t read in any way.

I'm very into Sabaki being the Oni who always needs saving, but is also constantly tasked with fighting the largest Makamou single-handed. All the other Oni showing up, shaking their heads, that Sabaki, and he's like SCREW YOU GUYS THAT MONSTER WAS AS BIG AS A VILLAGE. Hibiki, all pleased with himself for defeating a 20-foot ant, while Sabaki's trying to bring down a monster that has its own postal code and municipal government.

I really think the show did a great job in casting Zanki, because, like, I would be okay living in that dude's shadow! I'd feel like a Sabaki-monster-sized asshole if I told Zanki that I didn't need him anymore. While it's slightly embarrassing for Todoyama to, basically, throw a tantrum when Zanki says he's retiring, it does manage to feel inconceivable after just a couple scenes of Zanki at work. He's way too cool to stop fighting!

Plus, I mostly just love how this extra information about how the Oni training program works is something we get to see in action, probably right before it's about to be relevant for Hibiki and Asumu. This isn't just some weird thing Hibiki might bring up out of nowhere, or some talk Ichiro has with Hibiki. We get to see how their world works, so we understand the moves they make in it. I really love that way of telling a story!

So, obviously, money left on the table by not having Hibiki go with origami helpers, but... I don't think the CDs are that bad? I like that in the show you can just spin them and listen to some random noises to get information. That seems designed to get kids playing around with them in imaginative ways. I think I like them a lot more than some later series' plastic monster helpers.

Probably yeah, Asumu getting sick just happened in a sudden and it didn't add anything meaningful to anyone, seeing how he's not related to the Takeshi group here, unlike, Asumu's choking tendency before to make him learn that Hibiki's not perfect. And Hitomi outgrowing the drama club also isn't an insight or learning anything? And well, dunno, you say the Asumu one isn't worth spending time here, but if it doesn't exist and it's about monster hunting, well, it's not your cup of tea?

And in the inverse, Kasumi asked Hibiki to keep away from Asumu as much as possible, like how he shouldn't reveal about the Oni and Makamou, and that it'll distract Asumu in his studies. It's probably conflicting for Hibiki to take or leave him. And just yeah, Asumu was on hospital, he can't even move around, don't even get started on going on missions.

Professional yeah, this speaks of how these kind of plots are routinely done similar way most of the time (eh, and I'm not into formulaic show that is seen in other tokus, sorry for the reason of not following Shinkenger, but for Kamen Rider, uh...), though again, just like comedy in a story part, to chide this one for not having (one element you enjoy, but that's still subjective) drama... sometimes having not as much of the jaded stuff are advantages to some people. Otherwise, probably to suit your needs, the show can put on the 'drama' (dunno which kind you refer here though) on Akira learning stuff from Ibuki like Asumu from Hibiki? As Akira is also Ibuki's apprentice.

Oh yeah. Actually, when I watched this part I didn't even expect of Asumu's pain to be that severe. And probably Asumu too? He thought he was just having an ordinary stomachache, and he did take a medicine, but it turns to be a case that needs freaking surgery.

In retrospect from a merchandise perspective, Hibiki was lacking. The henshin belt that is meant to be the flagship merch was replaced with tuning forks, whistles, and a wristband, what came close to a belt was a loincloth with a drum for a buckle and two drumsticks, though the roleplay weapons department I will give credit. And the disk animals were heavily underutilized as gimmick items. Meanwhile, we got a 5 sibling sentai team that was Harry Potter-ing it up with a feature phone that doubles as a wand, kickass robots, and let us not forget a magic lamp with a cat genie inside that doubles as a gun and is voiced by the dude who is Trunks and MMPR Japanese dub's Billy/Blue Ranger. And the studio behind Godzilla was doing their own thing with a show about a trio of heroes who also ride giant robots, etc. TL;DR the show under Takatera was gorgeous but merch was lacking except for the roleplay weapon toys.

If I may add, there was also Nexus and Max, Sazer X, and Kamen Rider The First looking back.

It probably helped that his suit looks like way more effort was put into it than Danki's. Danki just wore an Ibuki suit with a different chest piece, Sabaki was wholly unique. Plus he was a string user and you'd have to really try hard to make one of those terrible (spoilers for 21 episodes from now).

I can't speak for Sazer X, but I'm not sure how merch-driven those other shows were. That said, I'd have bought the hell out of Nexus's multi-form separating jet/tank.

The Hitomi thing is nice, but it's not something that's going to carry an episode. It's, what, three lines of dialogue? In one scene? And it's her quitting one club we've never seen her attend for another club we've never seen her attend? And we already had her talking about this with Asumu a ways back? It's a cute moment, but that's it.

For Asumu, I don't think the choice is between a go-nowhere plot or nothing? We've had plenty of plots with Asumu that work great. This just wasn't one of them.

I think what I meant by 'drama' was that there really isn't any conflict to the Hibiki/Ibuki/Akira team, which is heart-warming, but also leaves their scenes without much to talk about. A little drama is necessary. The Oni getting along and doing their jobs well with no disagreement or conflict is great for Takeshi, but it doesn't really fill out a TV show.

Yeah, I suppose you're right. I don't really have a great insight into what a 7 to 10-year old Japanese child in 2005 would've made of all of this stuff. The drumsticks and guitars and CDs don't strike me as being any worse than Ryuki or Blade's weaponry. It seems just as cool?

I will say that the lack of a Henshin belt (and someone saying Henshin) will never not bother me. I can understand every reason why it's not in this show, but it still bothers me.

Well Heisei Rider is sponsored by Honda after all! There are a few exceptions like the Mercedes NEXT Tridoron though. People take for granted that Kamen Riders just know how to drive. Learning to drive is hard and just like the feeling of pride after passing the test and getting a license, the payoff will be even better when Hibiki finally gets his bike and a great inspiration to pedestrians who need a confidence boost that with training, they can drive as well! I didn't truly appreciate that when I first watched the show, since I was a pedestrian back then and long-time drivers made it look easy, but I see it in a new light now and I love that this show allows us to share Hibiki's experience.

Hibiki insists that being a mentor isn't his thing, referring to himself as "lonely wolf". But he just can't help himself from giving out advice. He's right to point out that Ibuki and Akira are totally in sync, they're a good team and maybe that's a subconscious desire to have one of his own, even if he won't admit it.

Zanki is a bad*ss for sure and even Hibiki has a high respect for him. Unfortunately, his skill is undermined by his crippled body so he has to step back from active duty. You probably know this already from peaking at the wiki but as Zanki's pupil, Todoyama is currently an unnamed Rider, still using his human name. Pupils only get their new Oni names after graduating from their mentors and given Zanki's upcoming retirement, Todoyama will be getting his soon.

I prefer the aesthetic of Percussion and Wind Oni but I do get excited whenever Zanki henshins, considering how his retirement means he won't be as active from now on compared to the other main Oni. Same goes for Sabaki, the oldest active Oni in Kanto who is skilled in using all instruments!