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Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider: Facts, Age, Season 2 & More

James Oliver Carter Parker • 2026-07-08 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Few dreams stick around from childhood into middle age — but for Tanzaburo Tojima, the dream of becoming a Kamen Rider has never faded. At 40, he’s still chasing that transformation — and his story has become one of the most talked-about anime of 2025, covering everything from whether he becomes a Rider to season 2 prospects.

Manga author: Yokusaru Shibata ·
Cooperation: Toei Company and Ishimori Productions ·
Protagonist age: 40 ·
Anime premiere year: 2025 ·
Streaming platform: Crunchyroll

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Season 2 renewal — not yet announced
  • Exact total episode count (24 listed, but subject to change)
  • Manga start date unknown
  • Anime announcement date approximate (2024)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Season 2 depends on manga sales and anime reception
  • More episodes possible if source material supports it

Eight key details about the series, one pattern: the show deliberately flips the typical young-hero setup by centering on a middle-aged protagonist who refuses to give up his superhero dream.

Label Value
Full Title Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider
Author Yokusaru Shibata
Cooperation Toei Company and Ishimori Productions
Protagonist Name Tanzaburo Tojima
Age 40
Genre Comedy, Superhero, Slice of Life
Anime Premiere 2025
Streaming Crunchyroll

Does Tojima really become a Kamen Rider?

This is the central question of the series — and the answer is not what most fans expect.

Spoiler: Tojima’s fate in the manga

  • Tojima does not become a real Kamen Rider. Instead, he uses a fake Shocker-inspired suit to gain media attention as a “fake Kamen Rider” (Nerds and Beyond (pop culture outlet)).
  • The story subverts the traditional transformation — it’s about the dream itself, not the actual heroics.

Does he gain a Rider form?

  • No official Rider form appears for Tojima. The series focuses on his amateur attempts to live out the fantasy, often with comedic and heartwarming results (Crunchyroll synopsis).
Bottom line: Tojima is a fan who plays pretend for real. He never earns a Rider belt — and that is exactly the point.

The implication: The series dares to tell a superhero story without the superhero powers, using the absence of transformation to explore what the symbol of Kamen Rider means to an adult fan.

Is Tojima wanting to be a Kamen Rider good?

Early responses suggest the show has struck a chord with audiences looking for something different in the tokusatsu-inspired genre.

Critical reception

  • Reviewers praise the series for its comedic timing and heartwarming portrayal of adult fandom (Nerds and Beyond (pop culture outlet)).
  • The Netflix Japan description calls it “a heartfelt tale about adults who love Kamen Rider and start playing pretend for real” (Netflix Japan).

Audience ratings on MyAnimeList and IMDb

  • MyAnimeList lists the series with a TV rating of R – 17+ for violence and profanity (MyAnimeList).
  • IMDb records a release date of October 4, 2025, and lists the production company as Liden Films (IMDb (film database)).

What makes the series unique

  • The protagonist is 40 — a radical departure from the typical teenage heroes of most Kamen Rider and tokusatsu shows (Netflix Japan).
  • The comedy arises from a grown man trying to re-enact childhood fantasies in a real-world setting.
Why this matters

By making the protagonist a 40-year-old office worker, the show opens a conversation about aging, passion, and the quiet dignity of holding onto a childhood dream — a rarity in superhero media.

The pattern: The series uses its unconventional premise to challenge assumptions about age and fandom.

Is Tojima wanting to be a Kamen Rider still going?

The series is very much alive, but the anime and manga have different timelines.

Current status of the manga

  • The manga by Yokusaru Shibata is ongoing. No conclusion has been announced (MyAnimeList).

Anime season 1 completion

  • The anime season 1 runs from October 2025 to March 2026, with 24 episodes scheduled (MyAnimeList).

Future plans

  • No official announcement for season 2 has been made as of late 2025 (Nerds and Beyond).
  • Fans speculate that if the manga provides enough material and the anime performs well, a second season could follow.
Bottom line: The manga continues to publish. The anime will finish its first season in March 2026. A season 2 decision likely depends on viewership and source material availability.

The implication: The show’s future depends on audience reception and source material.

How old is Tojima who wants to be a Kamen Rider?

Age is not just a number in this story — it is the entire premise.

Protagonist’s age and background

  • Tanzaburo Tojima is 40 years old (Netflix Japan).
  • He has dreamed of becoming a Kamen Rider since childhood, but life — job, responsibilities — kept him from acting on it until now.

Significance of age in the story

  • His age is a central theme: the show examines what it means to be an adult fan of a children’s franchise and whether it’s ever too late to chase a fantasy (Nerds and Beyond).
  • By setting the protagonist in his 40s, the series creates a contrast with the typical young Kamen Rider protagonists, adding layers of comedy and pathos.
The trade-off

Viewers expecting a standard teenage hero origin story may be disappointed — but those open to a midlife crisis comedy about fandom will find a warm, cleverly written alternative.

The catch: The age theme may alienate fans expecting a traditional young hero.

Will there be a season 2 of Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider?

The question of a second season is on many fans’ minds as the first season airs.

Renewal status

  • As of late 2025, season 2 has not been announced (Anime Trending).

Source material availability

  • The manga is still ongoing, so there is potential for more anime content if the production team decides to continue.

Expected timeline

  • If a renewal comes, it would likely be announced after the first season concludes in March 2026, based on typical industry patterns.
  • Fans should watch for official announcements from Crunchyroll, Toei, or Ishimori Productions.

The pattern: Anime sequels often hinge on streaming performance and manga volume sales. Without numbers, season 2 remains a hope — but a plausible one given the niche success.

Upsides

  • Unique age perspective — a 40-year-old protagonist is rare in anime
  • Heartfelt comedy that respects the Kamen Rider legacy
  • Produced with cooperation from Toei and Ishimori Productions, lending authenticity
  • Broad accessibility via Crunchyroll and Netflix Japan

Downsides

  • No actual transformation — may disappoint fans expecting traditional Rider action
  • Limited episode count (24) may feel short for the story it wants to tell
  • R-rated content (violence, profanity) not suitable for younger tokusatsu fans
  • Season 2 uncertainty leaves the story’s continuation in limbo

“A heartfelt tale about adults who love Kamen Rider and start playing pretend for real.”

— Netflix Japan description

“The show is a delightful surprise — a 40-year-old main character? Count me in.”

— Nerds and Beyond

At its heart, Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is not about the suit or the belt — it is about the stubborn, beautiful refusal to let go of a dream just because society says you should have outgrown it. For fans of tokusatsu who crave something real and funny, the choice is clear: give this 40-year-old office worker one episode, and you will likely stay for all 24 — or risk missing the most honest superhero story of the year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the premise of Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider?

The series follows Tanzaburo Tojima, a 40-year-old man who has always dreamed of becoming a Kamen Rider. When he gets caught up in a Shocker-inspired robbery scheme, he begins living out his superhero fantasy — without ever gaining real powers.

Who is the manga author of Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider?

The manga is created by Yokusaru Shibata, with cooperation from Toei Company and Ishimori Productions.

Which anime character is the protagonist?

The protagonist is Tanzaburo Tojima, a 40-year-old office worker who has loved Kamen Rider since childhood.

Does Tojima ever get a real Kamen Rider suit?

No. In the manga and anime, Tojima uses a fake Shocker-style costume and never receives an official Rider transformation. The story focuses on his amateur attempts to play the hero.

Is the series finished?

The manga is still ongoing. The anime’s first season is set to run from October 2025 to March 2026. No second season has been announced.

Where can I watch the anime?

Outside Japan, the anime streams on Crunchyroll. In Japan, it is also available on Netflix Japan.

For more anime guides, see our analysis of Spider-Man: Far From Home – Cast, Plot, Streaming Guide and Is Avatar the Last Airbender an Anime.



James Oliver Carter Parker

About the author

James Oliver Carter Parker

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