Shotaro Hidari

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Shotaro Hidari is one of the two heroes of Kamen Rider W. He’s a hard-boiled private detective in Fuuto who teams up with Philip, a man who carries Gaia Memories. Using these memories, they can transform into Kamen Rider W, a two-person superhero—the left half is Shotaro’s body memories and the right half is Philip’s memories. Together they investigate Dopant crimes in the city.

Shotaro is serious and sharp but also has a warm, sometimes goofy side. He was inspired by classic detective stories and wears a 1940s-style look, including a fedora that his mentor Sokichi Narumi passed on to him after Narumi dies. Shotaro’s vow to protect others and become worthy of Narumi’s legacy drives him as W.

In Fuuto PI, the story continues with Shotaro taking on an assistant, Tokime, an amnesiac woman tied to their enemies. Tokime helps deepen Shotaro’s backstory and his relationships.

Portrayals: Renn Kiriyama played Shotaro in the live-action series. Yoshimasa Hosoya voices adult Shotaro in the Fuuto PI anime and some video games, while Ayumu Murase voices the younger version. Shotaro’s character has been well received for balancing seriousness and humor and for the strong partnership with Philip, as well as for expanding his story in Fuuto PI.