I heard from a friend who got information from a Japanese website that the end of Kabuto is going to be very dramatic, far from the expectation of a kid TV show.

The dark Tendou is actually the king of the worm and it overpower the real Tendou a lot. There will be a lot of battles going on in the coming episodes and all the other riders will be killed. In the final battle, the dark Tendou has got the most powerful form (looks more organic like Gils from Agito) and it is far more powerful than Tendou. In the end, Kagami sacrifice himself in stopping the hyper mode of the dark Tendou. Finally, both Tendou died. Hiyori is finally saved and all the other characters died.

Toei expects that this is too much for kids so the final episode will be 1.5 hour long scheduled at night in the New Year Eve. I do cast some doubt on this arrangement as it is highly unusual.

I hope this is not true and the end is too trageic :ba. I wonder whether Toei will take business risk this time to follow the idea of the creator of Kamen Rider. If you look at his comics, he is a very pessimistic person, writing stories that are dark and disturbing.

Can someone who know Japanese check out if there is any related information in the Japanese websites?

These rumors were taken from Hyperdash over at Rangerboard:

Kamen Rider Tau

A new age Hibiki style show with ninja styled riders. The main story will revolve around a father and a son. Hiroshi Fujioka will be playing the father as well as one of the original ninja riders.

The ninja riders will have ranks amongst the ninja organization. They use ancient techniques with modern day technology.

The enemies will be a group called the 鬼哭獣, they are normal humans who have given their souls away in order to have more power.

The protagonisit - 刄 (Tau/Sword, double meaning here) will start out cool and heartless but will learn about humanity through the course of the story, a personal development like Asumu which was likeable to viewers in Japan.

He will henshin with a belt and wrist brace and the poses and the movement will be ninja like, with sound effects during henshin. His equipment includes double swords and shuriken and also 'Ninja Beast', this year's version of the contract animal/disc animal/zecter.

A recent poll taken says that the characters and story of Hibiki were the most popular to Japanese fans, but the lack of action lead to its downfall. So this time TOEI will mix Kamen Rider Blade and Kabuto style action and more Hibiki styled characters and story.




"Kamen Rider SDF. S D and F stand for the first letter in three different Ninja groups. Kamen Rider Tau comes from the Siegfried Ninja Group, Kamen Rider Raigeki comes from the Daishinsei Ninja Group and the Daigeki Ninja Group is the name of the enemy of the series.

A long time ago, four Ninja groups were made to protect the four areas of earth. East, West, South, North, the fourth group was destroyed by a strange force and only Siegfriend, Daishinsei and Daigeki survived. Over time, the strange force took over Daigeki Ninja Group and tainted their name, causing havoic and chaos in Japan. It is now the mission of Siegfried and Daishinsei to stop Daigeki.

Each group has three different Katanas. These can be attached to a belt and when done so and the word "Transformation!" is spoken, a change happens

Kamen Rider Tau - Shuji Ryushi
A 17 year old hero. He is like Todoroki, a new warrior who has just become a Kamen Rider and has let go of his teacher. His father is the second commander of the Siegfried Ninja Group. He wants to save people but he is also too hot blooded for his own good, often causing problems.

Kamen Rider Tao - Sen Ryushi
He is the main character of the series. He is 38 years and like Hibiki in personality and the father of Roi. His wife died in an attack by Daigeki when Roi was a young boy. After this he was offered the position of leader but turned it down to stay at his post of second in command. He uses the Murasame Katana.

Kamen Rider Raigeki - Daisuke Araashi
Currently the only rider of the Daishinsei Group. He is like Zanki and Kiriyama in personality. When dealing with human affairs, he is a smart and calm man, when in battle, he lets his rage take control. He is 23 years old and uses the Kyoteki Murasame. Appearing from episode 4 he will not be a rival, but not a friend either.

Kamen Rider Kai - Dao Kyoshi
A 26 year old Kamen Rider. It is not known why he is evil, but he will do anything to reach his goals. He no longer bares the mark of "Seigi" that all riders have on their sword. In personality, he is like Ren of Kamen Rider Ryuki. Appearing in episode 2, he will be the first evil rider."

Ryuuzou Shiragumo (52 years): Scientist. Investigates and tries to discover the origin of the virus.

The genius IQ college studend, Ryuujin Moro-oka, obtains a strange mask after his best friends funeral. When, just for fun, Morooka wore it, his spirit possessed a mysterious being he had never seen!
Meanwhile, in some tall building, six people glare at each other. Each had a strange mask in their hands...

Edit:
Stuff we kinda already know, tis what the post says:
Literate Translation/ Name
Futoshi of Id Kudo/Shouta Kudou (22 years old)... Man who transforms to rider, and fights
against virus Kedamono (alias "Ashura").

Snow Shimacaori/Saori Yukishima (19 years old)... Woman who acts with Kudo and supports it.

Sub-Shiba/Shintarou Ashiba (22 years old)... Man rolled in fight of Ashura with rider.

White clouds dragon warehouse/Ryuuzou Shiragumo (52 years old)... Scientist who ascertains cause
of virus.


People to whom my mind is kept though it is Ashura(alias "Neoashura")

Eglashura, Takashi Sawamura (20 years old) Rabittoashura, Kijo (18
years old) Octopasashura, and Cami Futoshi(25 years old)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_dpORYXFkg

Ultra Stats
Height: 40 meters
Weight: 35,000 tons
Flight Speed: mach 5
Running Speed: 700 kph
Home Planet: The Land of Light, Nebula M78
Human Form: Hayata

Transformation Item: Beta Capsule
Team: Science Patrol (Kagaku Tokusoh Tai)--Captain Muramatsu, Hayata, Ide, Arashi, Akiko Fuji, Hoshino

Episodes: 39 (Episode Guide)
Air Dates: July 17, 1966-April 9, 1967
Weapons

* SPECIUM RAY: The hallmark Ultra weapon... crossed plus-style forearms... beam fired from vertical right hand.
* Ultra Slash (Yatsuzaki Kohrin): A ring of light that cuts through everything but a Baltan barrier.
* Attack Beam: Emitted from an extended arm... used only once, against Keronia.
* Ultra See-Through Beam: Used to see the invisible ship of those sneaky little Baltans.
* Anti-gravity ray: Used against Red King II.
* Ultra water stream (suiyryuh): A stream of water that he emits from his hands to put out fires.
* Teleportation: Ultraman can travel instantaneously across the galaxy (as he did between Earth and Planet R... this must be quite taxing, because usually he flies across the universe in a red ball).
* Ultraman can shrink to human size (vs. Dada).
* A. Grogan also says that Ultraman has a rectangular laser shield, although I don't remember seeing this one.

Wayne's Comments
The one that started it all. The incredible originality of this show is evident by the longevity of the franchise. Ultraman is the core concept, to which all of the other series add on. After seeing most of the other series, I really appreciate the bare simplicity of Ultraman... Hayata's life IS the Science Patrol, in a world where monster and alien appearances are commonplace. He doesn't moonlight as a mechanic, aspiring boxer, gymnast, or teacher. The stories are focused and crisp... not watered down with trying to be a kid's best friend, being another Ultraman's disciple, having rivalries with hot-headed team members, having a lame love interest. He's just Hayata of the Science Patrol and Ultraman, doing his job.

What kid saw the show and didn't want to own a Beta Capsule? So much cooler than the transformation talismans that would follow: glasses, force of will, rings, badge, stick, bracelet, pendant, toothbrush, chocolate balls, the cookie-cutter-like Esplender...

Each team member had a distinct personality. Muramatsu (Captain Mura), the consummate captain. Hayata the hero (his usual grim seriousness made it all the more comical in episode 35 when he inadvertently tries to transform with a spoon instead of the Beta Capsule). Arashi the strongman. Ide (Ito) the quirky gadget man. Fuji the Uhura. The token kid, Hoshino, who wasn't all that annoying. No annoying mascots. (unless you count Pigmon, who shows up only twice and gets squashed by a rock in the end).

His weapons were simple. The iconic Specium Ray. The ring of light for slicing. No sissy Ultra bracelets.

The monsters were great. Baltan-seijin is iconic, and has reappeared several times as Ultraman's greatest rival.

The vehicles were simple. The Jet Beetle, the mini Beetle, the S-16 sub, the drilling machine, and the car. And the rocket that looked like a coffee pot. No transformations, no planes that split into several pieces.

The orange suits were cool.

Though most Japanese shows last a full year, Ultraman ended early at 39 episodes because the people at Tsuburaya Productions were exhausted from the effort and refused to make any more. But you can't keep a good thing down forever. Six months later, they followed up with a new series, 'Ultraseven.'

See more on the origins of Ultraman.
Trivia
E. Bernhard Warg points out that the end of the original series, "...TBS ran a Toei series called "Captain Ultra" in the same timeslot (7PM Sundays), thus causing some sources (like the liner notes to "Otaku no Video") to mistake it for a Tsuburaya [Productions] Ultraseries."
Cameos
Episode 7: A statue of Noah is found in the Middle Eastern town of Baraj.

Episode 39: Zoffy returns Ultraman to M78 after Zetton damages our hero's ColorTimer.
Crossovers
Ultraseven:
Sandayuh Dokumamushi (Arashi) plays Furuhashi. Satoshi Furuya, the dude inside Ultraman, sheds the rubber suit to play Ultra Garrison team member Amagi.
Episode 12: Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji) plays a character in this episode.
Episode 47: Shohji Kobayashi (Captain Muramatsu) plays a drunken man who returns home late at night to discover that his wife, child, and neigbors do not recognize him, because they've been replaced during the night by the Hook-seijin.

Ultraman Jack:
Episode 38: Appears with Ultraseven to save Jack from execution by the Knuckle-seijin. Brief appearance by a slightly portlier Hayata in Science Patrol uniform.

Ultraman Ace:
Episode 1: Appears with Zoffy, Seven, Jack, and Ace to merge the latter with Hokuto and Minami.
Episodes 13-4: Crucified with Zoffy, Seven, and Jack, on the planet Golgota, by Ace Killer.
Episode 26-7: Trapped with his four brothers by Hippolito-seijin and turned into a bronze statue.

Ultraman Taro:
Episode 1: Appears with the Five Ultra Brothers to assist the Ultra Mother in giving birth to Ultraman #6.
Episode 25: Along with the other Ultra Brothers, merges with Taro so that, with their combined purity of soul, he can plunge into the flames of the Ultra Tower for one minute to acquire the Ultra Bell. They all carry the Ultra Bell back to Earth, and Taro rings it, so that it dissipates the dark cloud of Mururoa that has enveloped the Earth.
Episode 33-4: Appears with the Six Ultra Brothers against Tempera-seijin. Hayata also appears with his fellow human forms.
Episode 40: The Ultra brothers get beat up by Tyrant, a vengeful monster created by parts of many past monsters.

Ultraman Leo
Episode 30: Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji) plays the human form of Rolan, the "most beautiful monster in the world." Susumu Kurobe (Hayata) makes a cameo as the farmer father of some boy.
Episodes 38-9: Appears with Zoffy, Jack, Ace, and the Ultra Father, in a rumble with Leo and a fake Astra over the stolen Ultra Key... the issue is resolved by Ultraman King and the real Astra.

Ultraman 80
Episode 41: Hiroko Sakurai once again makes a perennial cameo... this time as the mother of a young boy obsessed with vintage Zero fighter planes. Her husband is also obsessed, but with golf.

Ultraman Zearth:
The Movie: Cameos by actor Susumu Kurobe and the Science Patrol gang.

Ultraman Tiga:
Episode 49: Helps Tiga defeat Yanakahgi.

Ultraman Nice:
Susumu Kurobe (Hayata) and Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji) play grandparents and GOKAZOKU team members.

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Ultra Stats

Height: 45 meters
Weight: 45,000 tons
Flight Speed: mach 10
Running Speed: 900 kph
Home Planet: The Land of Light, Nebula M78
Position: Space Garrison Leader
Weapons

* M87 Ray: Often said to be the most powerful in the universe.
* Ultra Converter: Given to Ultraman Ace to restore his power, which was almost deleted when he was trapped underground by Giron-jin.
* Ultra Frost

The Big Man on Campus, Zoffy is the leader of the Ultra brothers and the Space Garrison. You know, the guy who saves Ultraman and takes him back to M78 in the last episode of the original series. He doesn't show up very often, but when he does, it's usually for some real dire emergency.

He is the mack daddy, but then again, he doesn't get his own TV show. You want to believe he's really strong, but mostly he just gets crucified, encased in bronze, and even killed by a bird (don't worry... he's revived).
Appearances
Ultraman:
Episode 39: Came to Earth to rush Ultraman home after his ColorTimer was destroyed by Zetton. He also gave a spare life to Hayata so that the two could be separated.

Ultraman Ace:
Episode 1: Appears with Ultraman, Seven, Jack, and Ace to merge the latter with Hokuto and Minami.
Episode 5: Saves Ace from Giron-jin's underground prison, delivers the Ultra Converter, and helps defeat Aribunta.
Episodes 13-4: Crucified with Ultraman, Seven, and Jack, on the planet Golgota, by Ace Killer.
Episode 23: Versus Giant Yapool.
Episode 26-7: Trapped with his four brothers by Hippolito-seijin and turned into a bronze statue.
Episode 35: Versus Dreamgillas

Ultraman Taro:
Episode 1: Appears with the Five Ultra Brothers to assist the Ultra Mother in giving birth to Ultraman #6.
Episodes 18-9: Tries to save Taro from Birdon but gets killed himself. Revived by the Ultra Mother.
Episode 25: Fires off an Ultra Sign that commands all Ultra Brothers to meet him and Ultra Taro at the Ultra Tower. The Brothers merge with Taro so that, with their combined purity of soul, he can plunge into the flames of the Ultra Tower for one minute to acquire the Ultra Bell. They all carry the Ultra Bell back to Earth, and Taro rings it, so that it dissipates the dark cloud of Mururoa that has enveloped the Earth.
Episode 33-4: Appears with the Five Ultra Brothers on Earth for a reunion, and fights against Tempera-seijin. I believe he merges with a human in this episode.
Episode 40: The Ultra brothers get beat up by Tyrant, a vengeful monster created by parts of many past monsters.

Ultraman Leo
Episodes 38-9: Appears with Ultraman, Jack, Ace, and the Ultra Father, in a rumble with Leo and a fake Astra over the stolen Ultra Key... the issue is resolved by Ultraman King and the real Astra.

Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Great Monster Army
Zoffy looks top-notch in his very own movie, although he does little more than be a narrator for a a bunch of recycled battles from past TV series, which are intended to represent a monster army.

The only new scenes are of Zoffy posturing for the camera while serving as a segue between footage. We are also treated to a scene where he uses his M87 Ray, the ultimate weapon in the universe, to blow up a dinky little UFO.

The good news is, I got to see a lot of legendary fights, some of which I had wanted to see since childhood. The bad news is, the sound was all dubbed over and they even added an sportscast-type announcer reminiscent of the one in the parody, "Ultra Fight."

Some of the show's highlights included:

* Ultra Q footage of Mongular, Pagos, #M1, Kanegon, Kemur-jin
* Red King vs. Gigas vs. Dorako
* Ultraman vs. Giant Ragon, Gyango, Baltan-seijin II, Zambolar, Geronimon, and Zetton
* Ultraseven vs. King Joe and Pedan-seijin, and Guts-seijin
* Ultraman Jack vs. Bemstar, and Nackle-seijin and Black King
* Ultraman Ace vs. Baraba
* Ultraman Ace and Zoffy vs. Aribunta and Giron-jin
* Ultraman Taro vs. Birdon
* The Five Ultra Brothers unite with Taro to retrieve the Ultra Bell
* The Six Ultra Brothers against Tempera-seijin
* Ultraman Leo and Astra vs. Galon and Little
* Ultraman King reveals to some of the Ultra Brothers that fake Astra is Babalou-seijin in disguise
* Ultraman 80 and Yullian vs. Plazma and Minazma