A Heisei Ultraman Experience!

Ryuki Kitaoka (left) and Kazuya Konaka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I attended a special event with an emphasis on the Heisei-era Ultra-series with several special guests. While my familiarity with that era of Ultraman is admittedly limited, it was interesting to explore a new avenue of tokusatsu.

Ryuki Kitaoka, Mai Saito (in character), and Kazuya Konaka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The guest of honor was director Kazuya Konaka  Konaka-san helmed episodes of Ultraman Dyna (1997-98), Ultraman Cosmos (2001-02), Ultraman Nexus (2004-05), Ultraman Mebius (2006-07), Ultraseven X (2007), Ultraman Ginga S (2014), and Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016-17). 

With Ryuki Kitaoka, Mai Saito, and Kazuya Konaka.

Konaka-san also directed the feature films: Ultraman Zearth 2 (1997), Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna (1998), Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace (1999), Ultraman: The Next (2004), Mirrorman Reflex (2006), and Ultraman Mebius and Ultra Brothers (2006). 

Ryuki Kitaoka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was actress Mai Saito. Saito-san appears in the movies Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace as Risa Nanase, as well as Ultraman Cosmos 2: The Blue Planet (2002) and Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice: The Final Battle (2003) as Shau. 

With Ryuki Kitaoka.

On television, she plays Sayaka on Booska! Booska!! (1999-2000), Saya Kimura on episodes 26, 27, 28, 35, and 36 of Kamen Rider 555 (2003-04), Ano on episode 13 of Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004), Lilika on episode 28 of Ultraman Max (2005-06), and Misa Takamura on episode 33 of Ultraman Mebius.

Kazuya Konaka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Suit actor extradordinaire Ryuki Kitaoka was there, as well. Among his numerous credits, Kitaoka-san plays a mutant X-Seijin in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004),  but his suit-acting career includes appearances on Ultraman Tiga (1996-97), Ultraman Dyna, among many others.

With Kazuya Konaka.

 All in all, it was a fun time, Kitaoka-san, in particular, was very warm and friendly. I should give the Heisei Ultra-series a closer look!