“Kamen Rider Gav” Finale: “Kamen Rider Vrum” Dominates Social Media Trends

The finale of “Kamen Rider Gav,” which aired on TV Asahi, saw one of its main characters, “Kamen Rider Vrum,” take over X (formerly Twitter) as a trending topic. The immense reaction was also evident as it ranked high on Yahoo! Japan’s trending words. Many viewers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the character and unreserved praise for Kohei Shoji, who played him.

In the story, his final fate, as he transformed from the avenger Rager 9 into Rakia Amarga / Kamen Rider Vrum, garnered particularly strong emotional responses. Many fans expressed relief, saying, “I’m so glad he’s alive,” and Rakia’s decision to choose “his own optimal path” and live in the Granute world rather than the human world deeply resonated with viewers. Comments like, “It might not be a perfect happy ending, but this is what’s best for Rakia,” expressed empathy for this complex yet satisfying conclusion.

To Kohei Shoji, who portrayed Rakia Amarga for a year, countless “Otsukaresama deshita” (Good job/Thank you for your hard work) messages were sent by fans, along with gratitude for his own message expressing how happy he was “to be a hero for children again.” Shoji shared a message written in hiragana for children on his own social media, and his warm personality further moved fans. With comments praising him as “my favorite Rider of the Reiwa era,” it’s clear that the soul Kohei Shoji breathed into Rakia Amarga / Kamen Rider Vrum was deeply loved by many.

While the excitement of the finale is still fresh, anticipation for spin-offs and V-cinema productions is already growing on social media. Many voices are eagerly looking forward to future developments, such as new stories centered around characters like “Kamen Rider Valen” and “Kamen Rider Vrum,” and the fate of “Granutes who haven’t escaped Dark Sweets addiction” left hanging in the finale. Furthermore, the “bucket pudding,” an item symbolizing Rakia, has become a symbol of emotion and gratitude for fans, with many posts like “Deliver the bucket pudding!!!!” and “Let’s make bucket pudding!!!!”

Many fans have expressed their gratitude for encountering “Kamen Rider Gav” as a series and the captivating hero, Rakia Amarga / Kamen Rider Vrum. The year-long story has concluded, but the message “until we meet again” contains unwavering love for the work and anticipation for future developments.

The Context

“Kamen Rider Gav” is the latest installment in the long-running “Kamen Rider” franchise, a staple of Japanese tokusatsu (special effects) superhero television. These series typically feature a masked hero (or heroes) who fight monstrous villains, often with unique powers and vehicles. “Kamen Rider Gav” aired in the Reiwa era, the current imperial era of Japan that began in 2019, making it one of the newer entries in a franchise that has been running since the early 1970s.

The article highlights the significant fan engagement and emotional investment in a key character, Kamen Rider Vrum (Rakia Amarga), and the actor who portrayed him, Kohei Shoji. The mention of “Granute world” and “Dark Sweets” refers to specific fantastical elements within the “Kamen Rider Gav” storyline. “V-cinemas” are direct-to-video film releases, a common practice in the tokusatsu genre for expanding on a series’ story or featuring spin-off characters, demonstrating the ongoing popularity and commercial potential of the franchise even after a TV series concludes.