Kaijin — tvdatabase

Kaijin (怪人)is a Japanese term, which translates as "mysterious person". It is a rather broad term that mostly applies to beings of superhuman or supernatural origin, usually embodying a monstrous appearance. Individuals defined as kaijin differ from that of kaiju, which is the term used to describe a giant monster. Unlike kaiju, kaijin are usually human-sized and humanoid in appearance but possess monstrous traits or abilities. Kaijin and kaiju often appear in television programs of the tokusatsu subgenre such as Kamen Rider or Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

On Kamen Rider, kaijin villains were separated into two distinctive groups known as Shocker kaijin and Gel-shocker kaijin. They’re both remodeled humans, most of which were chosen for their excellent intellect and physical strength, who were modified and brainwashed into cyborgs. Each Kaijin explodes upon being defeated due to a self-destruct device installed in the buckle of their belts for confidentiality. Although, some of them were able to return back to being a human being upon being defeated and released from the influence of the brain remodeling.