Former TOEI producer, and the co-creator of the Kamen Rider series and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, Tohru Hirayama passed away this Wednesday due to heart failure. He was 84 years old. A private funeral service for close relatives will be held in the next few days, with Mitsuru, his eldest son, as the chief mourner.
Source: Yomiuri Online via Anime News Network
UPDATED: Thanks to August Ragone for the additional information.
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Buddha, have mercy on his soul.
RIP, Hirayama-san.
R.I.P :'(
Rest in Peace sir. you brought joy to a lot of children and people, something you should be quite proud of.
R.I.P. Hirayama-san.
To Whom It May Concern,
The quotes from Anime News Network are wrong; Mr. Hirayama was THE producer for all of Toei's Tokusatsu series from the '60s-'80s. He is cited as the co-creator of the KAMEN RIDER series, not just STRONGER.
He was instrumental in the creation and development of the Toei Hero series and without his efforts in creating SECRET TASK FORCE: GORANGER with Shotaro Ishimori, there would be no Super Sentai and certainly no POWER RANGERS.
Mr. Hirayama was the most important figure in Tokusatsu next to Eiji Tsuburaya, but he was also very shy and humble about it. Fans in Japan called him "Kamen Rider's Papa." And more importantly, I was privileged to me his friend.
He will be greatly missed.
August Ragone
The Good, The Bad, and Godzilla
I blame Karmen Rider Gaim it is already killing those who produced wonderful shows. The Fruit Ninja strikes again. How many lives will it take.
R.I.P
Rest peacefully, Hirayama-san. Thank you for helping make Kamen Rider awesome.
R.I.P you will be missed by kamen rider fans worldwide.
Thank you so much Mr.Hirayama for helping bring to life these series that have brought the extent to our wonder and imagination,and these heroes who are signs of hope. May you rest in peace.
In a sense he is also the father of power rangers if you think of it, now when i hear the "we are brothers" song from the first super hero taisen, i think it of a tribute to this genius of a producer, your touch of inspiration of generations will be missed