This article is about a Kamen Rider in the Kamen Rider Series.
Kohtaro Minami (南 光太郎, Minami Kōtarō) is the protagonist of the Kamen Rider Black manga. After being kidnapped by Gorgom, he was experimented on, altering him into a heavily modified cyborg and erasing his memories. Before more can be done on him, he escapes from Gorgom where he'd meet two people named Sam and Heather. Later onwards, he transforms into Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBLACK, Kamen Raidā Burakku).
Contents
History[]
Background[]
Kohtaro Minami was born on the day of a solar eclipse alongside his stepbrother Nobuhiko Akizuki. At a young age, Kohtaro tragically lost his parents to a plane crash, prompting him to be adopted by the Akizuki family where he'd spent the majority of his childhood up until he turned 19 years old. During high school, Kohtaro would join in a karate club alongside his stepbrother and eventually the two would be invited to a karate competition being held in New York. However, this all turned out to be a trap for both Kohtaro and Nobuhiko set up by a criminal group known as Gorgom. When the two were asleep, they both were drugged and kidnapped by the group where they were heavily experimented on.
During the experiment, both Kohtaro and Nobuhiko were informed by Gorgom that the two were chosen to undergo metamorphic surgery and that soon one of them can become the new leader of the organization. With no other choice, Kohtaro escapes from Gorgom's clutches, leaving Nobuhiko alone and taking off into the streets of Manhattan, naked and with no memories of what had been done to him. Soon after, one of the mutants sent by Gorgom recaptures the man and attempts to take him back to the group, only to be sidetracked by a camera crew and temporarily subdued by Kohtaro who transformed into Kamen Rider Black without realizing. After being encountered by his saviors and learning his name, Kohtaro navigates the pair through the sewers and soon to the headquarters of Gorgom where they'd encounter the same mutant that had kidnapped Kohtaro. Right before going into battle, Kohtaro transforms into Kamen Rider Black right before everyone's eyes and battles against the mutant while it counts down a self destruction. Kohtaro manages to come out on top of the battle and soon guides his new friends out of the sewers.
Traveling to Europe[]
The next morning, Kohtaro is tasked with becoming the cameraman for the group, named Sam and Heather, after the previous one was killed off by the mutant that Gorgom had send to recapture Kohtaro. Feeling hopeful, Kohtaro takes on the job and the three of them all travel around various parts of the world in hopes of recovering his memories. The first spot that Kohtaro, Sam, and Heather would travel to is France to uncover the mysteries of the paranormal for their show, "Strange World". After being taken into a theater by one of the residents who had described his encounter to the pair where they'd meet a mutant on the stage who turned out to be one of the many sent by Gorgom. It'd soon kidnap Heather and take off. With no other choice, Kohtaro combats the mutant where it'd escape, leaving its companions to fight him off. After saving Heather and taking down the mutants, the trio all decide to head off to England. On the plane heading straight to the country, they'd encounter the mutant from before and Kotaro fights against it while on top of it. As the plane begins to makes its descent down to the airport, the mutant gets incinerated by one of the flames thus saving everyone on board.
Kohtaro, Sam, and Heather all head to go visit a university scientist that goes by the name of Bronn to get Kohtaro studied. Kohtaro soon comes to learn that his cells have altered drastically and that he's able to switch from a human to an insect rapidly if put into a dire situation. Despite being put through tests, he was unable to transform. It wouldn't be after witnessing Professor Bronn shooting his friends with a tranquilizer and forcing him to fight one of his creations, is when his transformation would be triggered. However, the colorization resembled that of a green color instead of the usual black that Kohtaro had prior whenever he transformed. Learning more about Bronn's experiments, Kohtaro's anger peaks and the usual colorization of his Kamen Rider Black form returns. Before he could do more, Bronn gets decapitated by a new mutant named, "Jack the Ripper", sent in by Gorgom to kill Kohtaro. Now powered up, Kohtaro takes down the mutant with ease and entraps him in a pile of large vegetables, leaving him and the rest of Professor Bronn's creations to be burnt away.
Back in Japan[]
Landing in Kyoto, Kohtaro hitches a taxi over to the Akizuki residence, his home prior to being kidnapped by Gorgom, alongside Sam and Heather. Once home, Kohtaro meets with is adopted sister, Kyoko. Surprised at seeing her adopted sibling, she screams out, believing that he had died in a car accident once he had got to New York. As Kohtaro converses more with Kyoko and head around the house he begins to learn more about his past and slowly start to piece things together up until his adopted father, Soichiro Akizuki, meets him again. Angered to see Kohtaro back, Soichiro attempts to convince Kyoko that he was an imposter and that he had been cremated. After being pressured more by Soichiro, Kohtaro gets kicked out of the house along with Sam and Heather where they'd roam around. Kohtaro soon starts to learn more his past.
Family[]
- Nobuhiko Akizuki - Adopted Brother
- Kyoko Akizuki - Adopted Stepsister
- Souichiro Akizuki Adopted Father
- Kouun Minami - Father
- Tomoko Minami - Mother
Fighting Style[]
Kohtaro is a master at karate and has been taking it alongside Nobuhiko ever since high school. Even after being wiped of his memories, he still was able to preform karate moves whilst being tested.
Powers[]
- Superhuman Strength: Kohtaro has strength that greatly exceeds that of a human's. He can overpower most or if not all of the mutants that Gorgom sends to him.
- Enhanced Senses: Kohtaro is able to sense the life energy of any living thing that's of close proximity to him. He's also able to see in the dark, even while in his human form.
- Enhanced Jaws: Kohtaro has incredible bite strength. During his fight with Ogre-Face Spider, he bit off one of his arms whilst escaping from his webs.
- Energy Manipulation: Kohtaro is able to unleash energy attacks via the gem attached to his head. He can also manipulate the energy of his own body to not only make another living being go unconscious, but even kill them if he focuses hard enough.
Forms[]
Kamen Rider Black
Manga
Real life
