《假面騎士BLACK》主演演員倉田哲夫（本名為「柿本哲夫」）多年來屢次捲入爭議，外界對他的負面評價，主要集中在過度商業化操作、未經授權使用角色名義，以及他與粉絲之間逐漸緊張的關係。不過，若從他的立場與長期言行來看，這些爭議背後其實反映的是他對官方製作公司東映累積多年的失望與不滿，而非單純對《假面騎士》或粉絲的否定。

在爭議行為方面，最常被提及的是他未經版權方授權，將《假面騎士BLACK》的形象直接用於個人商業活動之中。例如，他曾在自己經營的牛排店推出所謂的「BLACK 牛排」，並在店內擺放自行委託製作的等身大假面騎士模型作為裝飾。這類行為被認為明顯踩踏智慧財產權紅線，也讓部分粉絲覺得他是在消費角色情懷來牟利。此外，他過去在經營粉絲互動時，曾因意見不合封鎖部分支持者，甚至有應援相關活動被質疑涉及違反日本旅行業法的灰色地帶，進一步加深外界對他「對粉絲態度不佳」的印象。

真正引爆輿論的轉捩點，發生在《假面騎士BLACK SUN》重啟企劃公開前後。當外界期待老演員能給予祝福時，倉田哲夫卻公開表示自己「不喜歡假面騎士」，並對重啟作品持負面態度，這番言論在粉絲圈內引起極大反彈，許多人認為他否定整個系列與長年支持他的觀眾。然而，從他隨後的說法與過往訪談來看，這句「不喜歡」其實並非針對粉絲，而是指向他與東映之間長期緊繃的關係。

在倉田哲夫的認知中，他始終對東映多年來對《假面騎士BLACK》這個角色及其主演演員的態度感到不滿。他認為官方在作品結束後，並未妥善經營角色價值，也缺乏對演員應有的尊重與照顧，卻在合適的時機反覆利用IP進行商業開發。這種「角色被消費、演員卻被忽視」的落差，讓他逐漸對這個曾經代表自身演藝高峰的作品產生疏離感，甚至轉化為情緒化的反彈。

因此，倉田哲夫所引發的爭議，本質上是一場將個人對官方製作方的不滿，錯位地投射到公眾與粉絲視野中的結果。他的行為與言論確實傷害部分支持者，也在法律與道德層面站不住腳，但從他自身的角度來看，這更像是一種對東映經營方式與長期不公平對待的抗議。這種未能清楚區分「對官方的不滿」與「對作品與粉絲的情感」的表達方式，最終也讓他在假面騎士粉絲圈中留下極具爭議、難以翻轉的評價。

The controversies surrounding Tetsuo Kurata, the lead actor of Kamen Rider BLACK (real name:“Kakimoto Tetsuo”), have accumulated over many years. Public criticism of him has largely focused on excessive commercialization, the unauthorized use of the character’s name and image, and an increasingly strained relationship with fans. However, when his words and actions are viewed in a broader context, these disputes reflect a deep-seated disappointment with the official production company, Toei, rather than a simple rejection of Kamen Rider itself or of its fanbase.

One of the most frequently cited issues involves Kurata’s use of Kamen Rider BLACK imagery for personal business purposes without obtaining proper authorization. For example, he once sold a so-called “BLACK Steak” at a steakhouse he operated and displayed a life-size model of the character that he had privately commissioned as part of the restaurant’s décor. Such actions were widely criticized as clear infringements of intellectual property rights and led some fans to feel that he was exploiting the character’s legacy for profit. In addition, his management of fan interactions has been contentious: he has blocked certain supporters after disagreements, and some fan-related events associated with him were accused of operating in legally questionable gray areas under Japan’s travel industry regulations. These incidents reinforced the perception that his attitude toward fans was dismissive or problematic.

Public backlash intensified around the time Kamen Rider BLACK SUN was announced as a reboot. While many expected Kurata to offer words of support, he instead stated openly that he “does not like Kamen Rider” and expressed skepticism toward the reboot project. This remark provoked strong reactions within the fandom, with many interpreting it as a denial of the entire series and of the fans who had supported him for decades. Yet, according to his later explanations and past interviews, this statement was not directed at fans but was instead rooted in his long-standing frustration with Toei.

From Kurata’s perspective, his resentment stems from what he sees as Toei’s persistent neglect of both the Kamen Rider BLACK character and the actors associated with it after the original series ended. He has argued that the company failed to properly value or support the performers, while continuing to commercially exploit the intellectual property whenever it proved profitable. This imbalance—feeling that the character was repeatedly monetized while his own contributions and rights were overlooked—gradually created a sense of alienation, which eventually manifested as open hostility toward the franchise itself.

In the end, Kurata Tetsuo’s controversies can be understood as the result of personal grievances with the rights holder being misdirected into the public sphere. While his conduct and statements undeniably hurt many fans and are difficult to justify on legal and ethical grounds, he has consistently maintained that his actions were a protest against Toei’s management practices rather than an attack on the audience. This inability to clearly separate criticism of the production company from his relationship with the work and its supporters has ultimately left him with a deeply polarized and largely negative reputation within the Kamen Rider fan community.