Did Kamen Rider Actually Plagiarize From Berserk Co-Creator’s New Series? Koji Mori Speaks Out

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I’ve been following the new *Kamen Rider Zeztz* series, which started airing on September 7th. It’s definitely different from past seasons – it’s got a much darker look and a really unique belt design. However, there’s been some controversy lately. Koji Mori, who now oversees the *Berserk* manga after Kentaro Miura’s passing, has pointed out some striking similarities between *Zeztz* and his own manga, *D. Diver*. He shared his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), and it’s led a lot of people to wonder if the new *Kamen Rider* series might have borrowed a bit too much from his work.

It’s important to understand that Mori didn’t directly accuse *Kamen Rider Zeztz* of plagiarism. His main issue was a lack of communication and the frustrating conversations he had with the show’s producers after pointing out the similarities between *Zeztz* and his work, *D. Diver*. Mori says he was discussing a potential *Kamen Rider* movie project with a producer and shared the details of *D. Diver*. When *Zeztz* turned out to have a similar idea, he contacted the producer, but the response he received was discouraging.

How Are Kamen Rider Zeztz and D. Diver Similar?

Kamen Rider Zeztz tells the story of Baku Yorozu, an ordinary young man who often dreams of being a powerful warrior. When dangerous creatures called Nightmares begin crossing over from dreams into reality, Baku receives a special belt that transforms him into the new Kamen Rider. D. Diver is an action manga series created by Mori, which began in 2023. The manga shares similar themes of dream-based powers, with its main character gaining abilities and battling enemies within the dream world.

Mori recently shared his thoughts on social media regarding the new shows *Zeztz* and *D. Diver*. He explained that a few years ago, he met with a producer involved with *Kamen Rider* about a possible movie project. They had a good rapport, and Mori even gave the producer the first volume of *D. Diver*. Although the movie didn’t happen, Mori thought they parted ways amicably. When he learned about the new *Kamen Rider* show, he contacted the producer to address any potential overlaps in ideas. He was initially reassured that everything would be sorted out. However, the original producer then got back to him with his supervisor, explaining that he only worked on films and wasn’t involved with the television show.

Mori was originally told the producer of the *Kamen Rider* series would reach out to him. When several days passed without contact, Mori messaged Toei to connect with the producer directly. That producer responded, saying they were unfamiliar with Mori’s previous work before producing *Kamen Rider Zeztz*. They also pointed out that the idea of a warrior fighting in dreams isn’t unique, appearing in many stories. This advice didn’t satisfy Mori, who firmly believed he independently came up with the core concept for *D. Diver* and hadn’t heard it anywhere else.

Did Kamen Rider Zeztz Copy D. Diver?

Mori has decided not to pursue the issue any further, understanding it’s difficult to challenge a large company like Toei. He explained that his online posts were simply to voice his disappointment with the lack of communication from the producers. He had hoped for a straightforward explanation of how *Kamen Rider Zeztz* differed from his own work, *D. Diver*, and wanted to maintain a positive working relationship. He initially believed that as he learned more about the new *Kamen Rider* series, any similarities would be understandable, and he’d feel less like his idea had been copied. However, he felt the producers weren’t being truthful or keeping him informed.

When Mori created *D. Diver*, he thought the idea of fighting in dreams was unique. However, a *Kamen Rider* producer pointed out that this concept had appeared in other works before. For example, the third *Nightmare on Elm Street* movie featured characters who battled Freddy Krueger *inside* dreams. There were also the *Dream Hunter Rem* animated series from the 80s and 90s, which followed hunters who could enter people’s dreams. Dreams have even been explored in other *Kamen Rider* shows, with some fans considering *Kamen Rider Zeztz* to be a successor to those dream-based storylines. While *Zeztz* and *D. Diver* share some similarities – like both featuring an ordinary young man as the main character – *Zeztz* doesn’t seem to have taken much inspiration from *D. Diver* so far.

You can read Mori’s full messages on X, yet they are in Japanese.

Just picking up where I left off yesterday. This is going to be a pretty lengthy post, and honestly, the story is a bit of a sensitive one, so I’d suggest only reading on if you’re really interested. It all started when a friend of mine asked if I could possibly get help from Mr. Mori on a Kamen Rider movie project…

— 森恒二　Ｄダイバー　創世のタイガ　ベルセルク監修 (@morichankenchan) September 5, 2025

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2025-09-14 18:43