Japanese Era Words Are Confusing*

I think the most amazing thing about the first Kamen Rider is how young his actor still looks.



If you look at some of the other old Kamen Rider actors, they look... pretty worn. And then there's Hiroshi Fujioka as Takeshi Hongo:



Dude does not look almost seventy (he's 68). Granted, there's a better than average chance he's dyeing his hair, but even so, a lot of fifty-year-olds would be glad to look that young.

Incidentally, if one believes his statements on the matter, he's been eagerly anticipating reprising his role as the first Kamen Rider for probably decades, and has stated that he stays in shape for that very reason.

*Being into Japanese media makes this much more bewildering: Several of the so-called Showa Riders are, as I understand it, actually from the Heisei Era, and I've also seen references to the idea that the Heisei era isn't going anymore even though it is, in references to the "Millennium Era" Godzilla and Gamera films. Sheesh, Japan, why you gotta be so confusing?

For those who need an explanation: The Japanese eras are named in reference to the reigning Japanese Emperors of those times. Since Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, the 90s on are the Heisei era; the previous era was retroactively labeled the Showa era. I find myself wondering (in a non-serious way) if people in Japan need to buy new calendars when royalty passes on.

-Signing off.