In this film, a shocking scene involving Takeshi Hongo is depicted. Was this part of the plot you originally discussed with Mr. Fujioka during the planning stage?

No, it wasn’t. That part was actually conceived by the screenwriter, Toshiki Inoue. According to Inoue-san, if Kamen Rider Ghost were to appear in the movie, then there would inevitably be aspects in which Ichigo (No. 1) simply couldn’t compete with him. That’s because Ghost is a being that transcends life and death.

For Takeru to be resurrected, there’s a certain logic behind it. In contrast, with Hongo, it transcends logic. By doing so, it emphasizes Hongo's transcendence. The fact that such depth of thought was put into it shows just how significant it was for the screenwriter to create a film with Takeshi Hongo as the protagonist.