Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider Episode 1 Anime Review

Tanzaburo Tojima is 40 and still carries the spark of his childhood: an unbreakable admiration for Kamen Rider. He’s devoted years to training, collecting, and mimicry, but growing older has squeezed that dream. Just as he's ready to let it all go, a rash of robberies by people dressed like Shocker pushes him back toward the idea of becoming a hero for real.

Tojima isn’t a teenager. He’s not a chosen one. He’s just someone who grew up, but can’t forget. That kind of protagonist is rare. If you ever daydreamed of being a hero, this episode hits home. 

There are laughs (his gear-and-mask antics, his over-the-top Kamen Rider poses), physical confrontations with “fake Shocker” thugs, and even emotional moments of insecurity. It never lingers too long in one mood keeps you invested. 

The direction, animation, and voices elevate what could’ve been a cheesy parody. Especially Fujioka’s cameo it’s a bridge between past and present. Seeing Tojima train, struggle, and fight with earnest energy feels more polished than expected. 

Childhood backstory, workout scenes, collector life, imposters, moral struggle, all in a single episode. Some of it feels squeezed. Maybe it needed a slower buildup.

At times, it’s inspiring; at others, it leans into cringe comedy. That roller-coaster works for some, but may throw off others expecting a more consistent vibe.

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider starts strong. It’s not just about masks, belts, or nostalgia, it’s about identity, dreams deferred, and what it means to fight even when life has already marched on.

Whether you grew up with Kamen Rider, or are just curious what “adult hero worship” feels like depicted in anime, this is an episode that holds up. I’m excited to see where Tojima’s path goes.