50 Years Later, Kamen Rider Finally Rides Again in First-Time North American Release

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After 50 years, the beloved 1974 Japanese sci-fi series Amazon is now available on Blu-ray in North America for the first time. Discotek Media released the complete, original version of this fourth installment, giving fans in the West a chance to finally own it.

Discotek Media has released the complete Kamen Rider Amazon series on Blu-ray, and it’s now available from retailers like Amazon, Crunchyroll Store, and MediaOCD. This set includes all 24 episodes in Japanese with newly translated English subtitles, plus a wealth of bonus content for fans. You’ll find vintage promotional material, a classic commercial for the series’ belt, and a gallery of photos and artwork. The release also features several new interviews, including separate conversations with actor Toru Okazaki (who played Amazon/Daisuke Yamamoto) and Yoji Matsuda (who played Masahiko). There’s even a joint interview with both actors, and a new essay about the series written by voice actor Mike Dent.

Kamen Rider Amazon Gets First U.S. Blu-ray Release After 50 Years

Kamen Rider Amazon follows Daisuke Yamamoto, who is raised by an Incan tribe after surviving a plane crash in the Amazon rainforest. When the villainous Gedon organization, led by the Ten-Faced Demon, attacks his village, Daisuke is transformed into the warrior Amazon by an Incan elder to safeguard the powerful Gigi Armlet. He then travels to Japan, where he fights Gedon’s monsters while also adjusting to modern life. When it first aired, the series was known for its darker themes and intense action. Amazon himself was portrayed as more animalistic and wild, a big change from previous Kamen Riders.

The show’s distinct, raw feel was intentional, according to details on the Blu-ray release. Director Yusaku Uchida specifically asked for a suit that was hard to move in, hoping to make the action sequences feel fresh and exciting. Stunt performers confirmed the Amazon suit had poor visibility, forcing them to focus on their footing, and this actually contributed to the character’s recognizable, animalistic fighting style in the early episodes. Interestingly, the hero’s signature round eyes were inspired by the famous monster Mothra from Toho films.

Kamen Rider Amazon is the fourth installment in the original Kamen Rider series, which started in 1971 and continued through Kamen Rider Black RX in 1989. Amazon is unique for having only 24 episodes. After Black RX ended, the series took a long break, with no new seasons for over ten years. It was brought back in 2000, successfully introducing the hero to a new audience.

I’ve been a Kamen Rider fan for years, and it’s amazing to see how popular it’s finally becoming here in the West! For a long time, it was really hard to find anything outside of Japan. The first thing most North American fans saw was a version of Kamen Rider Black RX that was completely changed and made into a Power Rangers spin-off – it barely looked like the original! Thankfully, things are changing. Over the last few years, we’ve finally started getting the real, unaltered Kamen Rider series thanks to companies like Shout! Factory, Media Blasters, and Crunchyroll. It’s a dream come true!

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2025-11-10 02:39