Short interview
Just a few questions that I answered for someone's homework.
1. Has 'Kamen Rider' affected you in any way? If so, how?
Well, it has given me something to look forward to on a weekly basis for the last 10+years. I'm sure over the years, I've applied some moral conundrum from the show to my real life.
2. What made you decide to start doing subs for 'Kamen Rider'?
Well, before we started working on tokusatsu, the fansubbing scene was pretty much nonexistent for this genre. There were anime fansub groups and even Jdorama fansub groups, but tokusatsu was always overlooked. I guess most people thought it was for kids?
It just seemed like a shame, since I was a part of a small IRC chat community that enjoyed trading and watching the raw videos. It just seemed like a natural transition to go "If these things had translations on them, a lot more people would enjoy them."
3. Who is your favorite 'Kamen Rider' and why?
Probably Kamen Rider Blade. In general the story has a nice arc and I really enjoyed the complex relationships that existed between the different Riders. Plus the series went from being unpopular and impenetrable to being something people genuinely got into on a character and story level. After Faiz, a lot of people wanted more of the same style and coolness that Faiz had, but Blade didn't have that. Heck, most people hated the card theme and the designs of the suits at first.
As you get older, you notice that there's a strong timeliness component to how you enjoy things. For me, Blade was one of the first Rider series I translated to completion. I only worked on the last ten or so episodes for Faiz. So that was my first big step into the spotlight of Rider translation. The group was also relatively new and we were meeting new people. It was just a fun time in general.
4. What does 'Kamen Rider' mean to you beyond the show?
I think it's important to keep in touch with the kid inside of you. And something about Kamen Rider as a series is just appealing to both children and adult a like. I just like that. It's just a nice bridge between generations. The heroes are still heroes for the most part and they all shout Henshin. Things are always changing, so it's nice when there's something that stays the same.
5. Do you think there should be more adaptations of 'Kamen Rider' in America? Why or why not?
I don't think so. Most people in America will think it's just Power Rangers and assume it's for kids. I think the barrier is harder to get around in America. There's grown-up entertainment and there's kid's entertainment. With the exception of My Little Pony, I can't think of many communities that gather around a show directed mainly at kids like that.
