Kusaka Masato

Overview

Kusaka Masato is a central character in Kamen Rider 555 and related works, including the manga Kamen Rider 913. As a former student of the Ryusei School, he serves as the primary user of the Kaixa Gear to fight against the Orphnoch threat. Attending Keisen University, he is an exceptionally talented student who holds captain positions in multiple sports clubs. While presenting himself as a polite and refined young man, he hides a intensely self-centered and cunning personality beneath his refined exterior.

Appearance

Kusaka is a young man with short black hair and dark eyes. In his daily life at university, he wears stylish attire suited for his athletic activities. When engaging in battle, he equips a Rider Belt that covers his body in a powered armor suit complete with a specialized helmet and protective plating. A defining visual habit of his is adjusting his shirt collar during fight sequences. Due to past trauma, he is frequently seen carrying and using wet wipes to clean his hands.

Personality

Though he maintains a polite, dependable facade, Kusaka is deeply selfish, manipulative, and territorial. He harbors an intense animosity toward anyone who does not view him favorably or who stands in his way, often orchestrating deceptive schemes to isolate his targets. He displays an unhealthy, possessive obsession with Sonoda Mari, viewing her with a desire for maternal affection and treating any man who approaches her as a threat. His hatred for Orphnochs is absolute, driving him to eliminate them without hesitation or sympathy.

Abilities

Kusaka possesses remarkable physical capabilities and martial arts skill even in his human form. Due to his strong compatibility with the Orphnoch mark implanted within him, he holds the unique distinction of having successfully transformed using all three primary Rider Gears: Kaixa, Faiz, and Delta. In combat as Kamen Rider Kaixa, he wields the versatile Kaixa Blaygun, proficiently switching between firearm and sword modes to dominate both ranged and close-quarters engagements.

Background

After losing his parents in an accident during childhood, Kusaka grew up in the Ryusei School orphanage. During a tragic incident involving his classmates, he was subjected to an experiment by Smart Brain that implanted him with an Orphnoch mark, though he escaped before his memories could be altered. As a university student, he rediscovers the secret battle over the Rider Belts and steps forward as Kamen Rider Kaixa. Even as repeated transformations wear down his Orphnoch mark and risk turning his body to ash, he continues fighting out of a desire to protect Mari and eradicate the Orphnochs.

Relationships

He harbors a deep, obsessive affection for Sonoda Mari, relying on her emotionally above all others. He maintains a turbulent, antagonistic dynamic with Inui Takumi, frequently working behind the scenes to undermine him despite their effective teamwork in battle. He views Kiba Yuji with intense hostility due to Kiba's Orphnoch nature and closeness to Mari. Among his former Ryusei School peers, such as Mihara Shuji and Abe Rina, he is generally regarded as a strong and dependable ally in battle.

Trivia

He is the only character in the series who has successfully donned and transformed with all three major Rider Belts: Kaixa, Faiz, and Delta. His distinct habits of tugging his shirt collar and compulsively cleaning his hands with wet wipes remain iconic signature traits associated with his character.