Ultra-Series Director Akio Jissoji Celebrated in Kawasaki!

Akio Jissoji celebrated at the movie theater Cinecitta in Kawasaki! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night, I went to a movie theater in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, called Cinecitta in order to attend a special event honoring Ultra-series director Akio Jissoji. Episodes 15 and 23 of Ultraman (1966-67), both directed by Jissoji, were screened, as was a brand-new documentary about his career (featuring interviews with the likes of Bin Furuya, Hiroko Sakurai, Sandayu Dokumamushi, Toshihiro Iijima, and many others). After the documentary, actor Minori Terada (who appears in episode 14 of Ultraman) and veteran cameraman Masao Nakabori held an in-person Q&A about Jissoji.

Out in the hallway was a corner featuring several bits of memorabilia related to Jissoji's work on the Ultra-series. In particular, the French-inscribed Jamila plate from the last scene of Ultraman episode 23 ("My Home Is Earth") was on display, along with the French inscription as it appeared on the last page of the shooting script. Other scripts, storyboard drawings, and props were on display, as well. Below are a few of the photos I took of the gallery. Enjoy!