Second Season of the Highly-Rated Series Features New Stars You Maejima and Ayana Shiramoto Source: Amazon Prime Video, Wright Film Inc. press releases Official Site: amazon.co.jp/???????????, toei.co.jp/tv/amazons (Japan) Special Thanks to Ayame Yamamoto, Richard Jeffery and Sarasa Saiki
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
Amazon Prime Video (Japan) has provided SciFi Japan with a press release, trailer and high-res images for the upcoming Season 2 of their streaming series, KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS (???????????, Kamen Raidaa Amazonzu)... TOKYO -- March 7, 2017 -- Amazon announced that the second season of KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS, the first Japanese Original and one of the most-watched and highly-rated series on Amazon Prime Video in Japan, is to start streaming exclusively beginning April 7 with unlimited viewing on Amazon Prime Video. The 13-episode series will stream with new episodes every week on Fridays. Amazon Prime members can watch and download the series via the free Amazon Prime Video app for iOS and Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablets, game consoles, smart TVs and online at amazon.co.jp/primevideo.
Launched in the 45th anniversary year of the Masked Rider franchise, KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS was the first Japanese Original series for Amazon Prime Video. Featuring two impressive Kamen Riders as heroes, its dark, hard-boiled worldview won many fans on Amazon Prime Video and garnered 417 5-star customer reviews with an average rating of 4.3 (out of 5) as of March 6, 2017. “We’re delighted to be back with a second season of our highly-rated KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS series,” said James Farrell, Head of Asia Pacific, Amazon Prime Video. “It was our first original series in Japan for Amazon Prime Video and the terrific response encouraged us to get involved in production of a second season. We owe a big thanks to the creative team of Shinichiro Shirakura and Yasuko Kobayashi who helped us launch Amazon Originals in Japan with such a great series.” “If Season 1 shone a spotlight on ‘surviving,’ then Season 2 is about ‘being human,’” commented producer Shinichiro Shirakura (Toei). “A boy raised by Amazons and a girl revived as an Amazon. The story that fate has in store for them is more brutal than Season 1 and heartbreaking. Please expect a brand new Amazons.” “Season 1 was a tale of ‘wild vs. cultured,’ but Season 2 is a tale of ‘a boy and a girl,’” commented screenwriter Yasuko Kobayashi. “While it’s connected to the original, I hope you enjoy the new world of the Amazons.” “I play the role of Chihiro,” commented leading actor You Maejima. “Everything was new to me, including acting, but with the support of everyone around me I took on the role of Chihiro. While paying homage to Season 1, I think I can say with pride that this series exceeds it. I may not know up from down, but I hope you enjoy watching KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS Season 2.” “I play the role of Iyu,” commented leading actress Ayana Shiramoto. “Each time we had costume fittings and camera tests, I learned the importance of Iyu to the story and felt the weight of the role. No matter how many times I read the script, I couldn’t grasp her completely. Everyone will have different ideas about Iyu, but there’s an Iyu only I can understand, an Iyuonly I can act, and I played the roleto the best of my ability. Please watch KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS Season 2. Enjoy it to the fullest!” KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS Season 2 depicts a tale of two completely new Amazons: Chihiro/Kamen Rider Neo, a boy raised by Amazons, and Iyu/Crow Amazon, a girl killed by Amazons but revived as a biological weapon to fight Amazons. Newcomer You Maejima of JUNON SUPERBOY ANOTHERS stars as Chihiro or Kamen Rider Neo, while actress Ayana Shiramoto, MC of the NHK program SUIENSAA and an actress who specializes in middle-school roles, stars as Iyu or Crow Amazon. The supporting cast includes Kouta Miura, Yoshito Momiki, Eiji Akaso, Kairi Miura and Shohei Doumoto. In addition, many actors who played popular characters in Season 1 return for the new series: Tom Fujita as Haruka Misuzawa/Kamen Rider Omega, Masashi Taniguchi as Jin Takayama/Kamen Rider Alpha, along with Rena Takeda as Mizuki Misuzawa and Ayu Higashi as Nanaha Izumi. In addition, the extermination team of Shundo Mitsutoshi, Kazuya Tanabe, Katsuya, Kanon Miyahara, Ryota Kobayashi are back, along with Takako Kato and Yuu Kamio as the Nozama Pharmaceuticals’ employees. Taro Kobayashi returns to perform the opening song.
? Season 2 Story In the past, a massive spill occurred at the Amazon experimental lab. Most of the survivors were destroyed, hot-blooded young men enjoyed hunting Amazons and the experiment seemed to be drawing to an end. Far than ending, however, it was entering a completely new phase. The number of cases of ordinary people turning into Amazons without warning was rising. The government formed a new extermination unit to assassinate people who had turned into Amazons secretly and struggled to hide the truth. Chihiro/Kamen Rider Neo is a loner, a boy raised by Amazons who hates them but must suppress his cannibalistic urges. One day he meets Iyu, an Amazon girl who transforms into Crow Amazon and vanquishes Amazon enemies with her awesome fighting power. Chihiro is amazed at his first glance of Iyu, because she’s the first human he’s met without thinking, “I want to eat her.” She’s the first opponent he’s ever wanted to get close to, but Chihiro is unaware of her story. Iyu is a “Sigma,” a biological weapon brought back to life after her parents turned Amazon and killed her.
? Opening Theme Song The opening theme song “DIE SET DOWN” is performed by Taro Kobayashi, composed by Nobuo Yamada, lyrics written by Mike Sugiyama, arranged by Tetsuya Takahashi and produced by Project R. The CD release of the new theme song also includes “Armour Zone,” the theme song to the first season of KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS. Title: “KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS Season 2 Theme Song” (TBD) Release date: May 24, 2017 Price: 1,500 yen (Approximately $11.91 US) plus tax
? Kamen Rider Belt Available at Premium Bandai “Neo Amazons Driver,” the belt that appears in KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS that allows one to transform into Kamen Rider Amazon Neo and Kamen Rider Amazon New Omega will be available for pre-order purchase at Premium Bandai from April 6.
? Customer Reviews Customer reviews of the first season of KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS from Amazon Prime members: 5 Stars (out of 5) I can`t wait until Spring I hope all the cast continue. Your performances make this the best series of KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS. That`s why I think a second season is essential. I want Spring to come quickly! - Amazon customer, Xkai, June 24, 2016 5 Stars (out of 5) Amazon!!!! Wow this is intriguing! For me, this is the best of the Heisei Rider series. The solid story, the well-developed characters, the differences between the heroes and rivals, they all pull you in. Another impressive point is that it shows things that could never be shown in recent Heisei Rider series. Season 2 has also been announced. You can`t miss Amazons next time! - Amazon Video customer, Torisugari, June 3, 2016 5 Stars (out of 5) I enjoy it every week This is a fantastic story-driven Rider series, reminiscent of the early days of Heisei Rider. Young victims of their own circumstances and desperately overlooked middle-aged people. The contrast between the heroes and the dark storyline is intriguing. - Amazon Video customer, Umitaro, June 9, 2016 5 Stars (out of 5) I wanted to see this I was waiting for the return of the Kamen Rider. It`s really fascinating. I love the new episodes weekly. - Amazon customer, April 8, 2016 5 Stars (out of 5) Awesome To watch it, you have to become an Amazon Prime member. It`s a serious Kamen Rider series that could not be produced for TV. Besides, it`s cool. - Amazon customer, June 11, 2016
Amazon is investing heavily in the development of original series for Prime Video, including Japanese dramas, comedies, documentaries, kids and variety shows. Amazon has announced more than 20 new shows, including KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS, PRIME JAPAN, HAPIMARI (Happy Marriage), BUSINESSMEN VS. ALIENS, FUKUYADO HONPO KYOTO LOVE STORY, HARUMI`S KITCHEN, CRAYON SHIN-CHAN Spinoff series, Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents DOCUMENTAL, ULTRAMAN ORB: THE ORIGIN SAGA, Hidehiko Ishizuka’s SAKE TOUR, THE BACHELOR JAPAN and more available or coming soon for Prime members in Japan. To learn more, visit amazon.co.jp/primevideo.
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About Toei Company, Ltd.
Established in 1951, Toei Company is not only producing and distributing films, but is also one of the major exhibitors in Japan. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. The films produced cover wide range of genres, exceeding 20,000 titles.