The Kamen Rider Series (translated as Masked Rider Series) is the overall name of a franchise of Japanese tokusatsu which generally features an insect-themed, motorcycle-riding superhero who fights supervillains referred to as kaijin. The franchise began in 1971, and over the years, its popularity has grown and the original series has spawned many television and theatrical sequels. The cultural impact in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura naming two minor planets in honor of the series.
