THE FINAL WARS CONTINUE! Looking Back on GFW!

Tsuomu Kitagawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, August 25, I attended a special event regarding Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Toho's controversial 50th anniversary celebration of Godzilla. In attendance were two very notable special guests.

Tsutomu "Tom" Kitagawa was one of the guests, and he was the "man in the Godzilla suit" for all the Millennium series films between Godzilla 2000 (1999) and Godzilla: Final Wars (minus GMK). It had been just under four years since I'd last seen Kitagawa-san, and I was surprised that he recognized me.

Eiichi Asada. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was Eiichi Asada. Asada-san served as an assistant director on numerous Toho movies, including: Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), Submersion of Japan (1973), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), Espy (1974), Conflagration (1975), Zero Pilot (1976), The War in Space (1977), Deathquake (1980), The Imperial Navy (1981), Sayonara Jupiter (1984), and Godzilla 1985, among others. During the Millennium series, he was the special effects director on Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) and Godzilla: Final Wars. 

Asada-san is a lot of fun to hang out with, and whenever he's a guest, I always make an effort to see him. It was a fun, low-key affair with nothing but great people all around.

SHINJUKU AT NIGHT! Revisiting Godzilla Locations!

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (left) next to the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While in Shinjuku, I photographed two notable buildings associated with the Godzilla series. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (a.k.a. Tax Towers) is featured in the climactic battle of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), and the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building is the structure collapses onto in Godzilla 1985 (1984). Both buildings look quite nice at night. Enjoy!

THE MONSTERS OF SHINJUKU! Godzilla and Predator Take Things Over!

The Godzilla head atop the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Wednesday, I roamed around Shinjuku and photographed some of the monsters on display, including the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku and the Godzilla Store. Check 'em out!

THE KING OF JAZZ! Shinichi Yanagisawa in Concert!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday night, August 21, I went back to the HUB Asakusa to see Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars in concert. It was another great night of jazz. 

Yanagisawa-san's performance as Miyamoto is one of my favorite parts of The X from Outer Space (1967). If you haven't seen the movie, and you love kaiju, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san again for a great evening!

Japanese Actress Kin Sugai Passes Away at Age 92

Actress Kin Sugai in her brief (but memorable) performance in Godzilla (1954).

Award-winning actress Kin Sugai passed away on August 10 of heart failure. She was 92. Although she is best known for her work with directors Akira Kurosawa (dating back to 1952's Ikiru) and Juzo Itami (for her award-winning performance in The Funeral), Godzilla fans will no doubt recognize her from her mercurial performance in Godzilla (1954) as Ozawa, the fiery female representative in the Diet.

According to NHK, "Sugai had been living in a nursing care facility in Tokyo for around 5 years before her death." Rest in peace.

REVISITING SANGENJAYA'S GORILLA BUILDING! There Goes the Neighborhood!

Located atop Silver Wolf Gym (a.k.a. K-1 Gym Sangenjaya Silver Wolf) near Sangenjaya Station is what's commonly referred to as "Gorilla Building." It's pretty easy to see why this location is an attraction for monster movie fans of every stripe. I first visited Gorilla Building about three years ago, but when I was back in Sangenjaya the other day, I decided to snap some more photos. Enjoy!

A New Interview Is Coming Soon

 Wakako Tanabe. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On August 12, I had the privilege of conducting an interview with former Toho actress Wakako Tanabe, whose notable roles include Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), War of the Gargantuas (1966), and Destroy All Monsters (1968). 

The interview covers numerous aspects of her life and career and was quite informative. She has some entertaining stories to tell. Look for it on Vantage Point Interviews soon!

WEVE GOT A CHANCE! Taking in an '80s Toho Flick!

Director Omori (left) with his former assistant director Akira Ogata. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I had the good fortune to see the Toho release of You Gotta Chance (1985), directed by Kazuki (Heisei Godzilla series) Omori. The movie was quite amusing and contained quite a few parodies and references to other films (most notably the James Bond series). The story chronicles the over-the-top adventures experienced by a popular male idol. Toshio (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) Shiba has a featured role, and director Omori himself has a Hitchcock-style cameo as a painter.  

The movie was surprisingly funny, and I quite enjoyed it. It was also cool to see Omori-san again.

With Two Toho Greats!

With Teruyoshi Nakano.

On Sunday, August 5, I attended another nice event with the one and only Teruyoshi Nakano, along with Toho SFX technician Takashi Naganuma.

It was another great time (aren't they all?), and I look forward to doing it all over again.