I want to become Kamen Rider──How long do you remember such a childhood dream? The protagonist of this work, “Toujima Tanzaburou wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai,” Toujima Tanzaburou, is a middle-aged “eternal aspiring hero” who is still seriously pursuing that dream even after turning 40. The author is Mr. Shibata Yokusaru, known for “Air Master” and “81 Diver.” His unique intensity and rich character depiction explode once again. The story begins with a shocking development where Tanzaburou, who admires Kamen Rider, unexpectedly encounters a real-life “Shocker.”

The beginning of the story appears to be a gag at first glance. Tanzaburou encounters a robber dressed in a Shocker costume and confronts him wearing the mask of Rider 1. However, the reader quickly realizes this is not merely a comedy. Shocker “actually” existed. His “love” for Kamen Rider does not remain just a hobby or a delusion, but develops into a real threat that changes the daily lives of Tanzaburou and his companions. This exquisite intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary creates a unique tension in this work.

The charm of this work is not limited to Toujima Tanzaburou. Companions who share an equally passionate love for Kamen Rider gather around him. Keeping questions in their hearts—what is justice, what is power, what is a hero to me—they train themselves and grow through near-death training and strength comparisons. Although it is centered on the fictional world of Kamen Rider, the readers’ hearts are naturally drawn to their figures, which are always realistic, passionate, and sometimes so serious they are laughable.

A characteristic of the characters appearing in the story is their deep affection for Showa Riders. However, the existence of Heisei and Reiwa Riders is also mentioned in the story, making the composition resonate with tokusatsu fans of a wide range of generations. In the world of the story, “Kamen Rider” is treated as mere fiction, but even so, they are true heroes for Tanzaburou and his companions, and they are the guiding principle of their lives. The philosophy of this work seems to be hidden in the way this Kamen Rider “make-believe,” which could be called a “game of pretend,” transcends the realm of “pretend” the more you read it.

“Toujima Tanzaburou wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai” is not merely a parody work for tokusatsu fans. This is a story that depicts the dignity of “continuing to pursue a dream.” Even if one is over 40 and is socially regarded as an eccentric, the sight of them pursuing the hero image they believe in should appeal to something in everyone's heart. It is easy to laugh and say, “They are still childish,” but being serious about a dream might, by itself, be a commendable “battle.”