JANUARY 1: A Big Day for Two Toho Icons!

  

Your humble blogmeister poses with actress Kumi Mizuno at Shimo-Kitazawa Station in Tokyo, May 2012.

January 1 is almost upon us, and aside from ushering in the year 2013, it marks the birthdays of two of Toho's most popular alumni: Kumi Mizuno and Haruo Nakajima.

Yours truly with Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima, October 2012.

Nakajima-san turns 84 on January 1. As all of us ought to know by now, Nakajima-san played Godzilla from 1954 to 1972 and also portrayed a number of other kaiju, including: Gaira, King Kong (in King Kong Escapes), Gezora, and Baragon, among countless others.

Also on New Year's Day, Kumi Mizuno turns 76. Mizuno-san remains Toho's most popular actress, having starred in such films as: Gorath, Matango, Monster Zero, War of the Gargantuas, and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster.

Please join me in wishing these two icons of the silver screen a happy and healthy birthday on January 1!