Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 2/Hayato Ichimonji (Kamen Rider: The Next)

Release Date: February 2026

RRP: 9900 yen

The reveal of S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider 1/Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider: The Next) as the 100th Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider release came as quite a pleasant surprise, even though it absolutely deserved its place given it was the figure that kicked off the whole S.H. Figuarts toy line. Of course it was also far too good of a figure to be left on its own as well, so after a slight wait Bandai Tamashii Nations have returned to the world of 2008's Kamen Rider: The Next with the release of S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 2/Hayato Ichimonji (Kamen Rider: The Next). In the film, Hayato returns on the brink of death, his wasting disease becoming more debilitating without regular transfusions from Shocker. Nevertheless he fights alongside Hongo once more, even at the cost of his own life. As with the Rider 1 figure, this new version of The Next's Kamen Rider 2 was released as a Tamashii web exclusive.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 1/Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider: The Next)

Release Date: December 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

In 2024 Bandai Tamashii Nations began a countdown to their 100th Kamen Rider S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou figure, with fans all over the world speculating on what this milestone release could be. The reveal itself was one many had considered, but perhaps never thought would be reality. All the way back in February 2008 the S.H. Figuarts line began, and now its very first figure has been reborn in Figuarts' premium "true bone carving" range. S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 1/Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider: The Next) breathes new life into a figure that has been long forgotten by many, despite being the foundation for everything the line has done since. If that's not the perfect reason to make it the 100th Kamen Rider release, then I don't know what is. A Tamashii web exclusive release, the lead Rider from 2007's Kamen Rider: The Next is a new twist on a classic in a number of ways.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider V3 (THE NEXT)

Release Date: February 2008

RRP: 2420 yen

In 2008 Bandai Tamashii Nations introduced a whole new line of Kamen Rider action figures - S.H. Figuarts, the spiritual successor to their previous Souchaku Henshin line. Originally the "S.H" in the name even stood for "Souchaku Henshin", but since then Bandai have also said it stands for "Simple style and Heroic Action - the motto which has accompanied the line since its very beginning. With S.H. Figuarts now having stretched far beyond Kamen Rider also all include a number of other tokusatsu, anime and Western properties, it's a little strange to think that it all began with figures from Kamen Rider: The Next. The 2007 sequel to Kamen Rider: The First had been released in Japanese cinemas just a few months prior, and so Figuarts launched onto the scene with a double bill of releases - S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider V3 (THE NEXT) and also the film's version of Kamen Rider 1. Either could feasibly be consider the very first release from the line, but there's just something fitting considering the next Rider to be the next step in Kamen Rider action figures.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Shocker Rider (THE NEXT)

Release Date: June 2008

RRP: 2420 yen

With fewer and fewer Kamen Riders left to bring out in the S.H. Figuarts line, a lot of collectors are turning their attention towards who will be the next character Bandai Tamashii Nations REmake – be it as part of the regular line or the Shinkocchou Seihou range. But while it's fair to say most titular series Riders have a pretty good chance of getting a new figure, not all of the really old releases are likely to be on the cards – the S.H. Figuarts Shocker Rider (THE NEXT) being one such example. The mass-produced foot soldiers of the evil organisation in 2007's Kamen Rider: The Next, the Shocker Rider was the fourth release in the S.H. Figuarts line all the way back in 2008 – following on of course from Kamen Rider V3 as well as The Next versions of Riders 1 and 2.

Movie REVIEW: Kamen Rider: The Next

After retelling the origin story of double Riders Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji in Kamen Rider: The First, Toei decided to push on with the story of this cinematic reboot - releasing Kamen Rider: The Next in 2007. The film was once again written by Toshiki Inoue, with both Masaya Kikawada and Hassei Takano reprising their roles as Hongo/Rider 1 and Ichimonji/Rider 2 respectively. This time around though the film was directed by Ryuta Tasaki, a regular to the world of tokusatsu who continues to direct episodes of both Kamen Rider and Super Sentai to this day. As well as continuing the story of the double Riders, The Next also brings Shiro Kazami aka Kamen Rider V3 into the mix - portrayed by actor Kazuki Kato (Daisuke Kazama/Kamen Rider Drake in Kamen Rider Kabuto, as well as Blue in the Sentai parody series Kanpai Senshi After V).