A Special 'Ultraman Ace' 50th Anniversary Event in Tokyo!

Shunichi Okita. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Sunday, July 3, I attended a special book-launch event for a new tome chronicling the history of Ultraman Ace (1972-73), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

One of the guests on hand was Shunichi Okita. Okita-san portrayed TAC member Ichiro Yamanaka in Ultraman Ace, but, prior to his signature role, Okita-san began as a Nikkatsu actor. He appears in the highly acclaimed crime thriller Tokyo Drifter (1966) and later appeared in a couple of Kihachi Okamoto films at Toho: Red Lion (1969) and Battle of Okinawa (1971). It had been years since I last saw Okita-san, so it was great to see him again.

Eizo Yamagiwa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Another great guest was Tsuburaya Productions director Eizo Yamagiwa. Earlier in his career at Shintoho, Yamagiwa-san worked on the seventh Starman actioner, Super Giant: The Space Mutant Appears (1958), which was later edited into the cult classic Evil Brain from Outer Space. At the end of the 1960s, Yamagiwa-san joined Tsuburaya Productions as a director, helming such TV programs as Return of Ultraman (1971-72), Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro (1973-74), and Ultraman Leo (1974-75), among others. He also directed episodes of Silver Kamen (1971-72) and the Submersion of Japan TV series (1974-75).

I brought a DVD sleeve from the Tales of Terror Mill Creek Entertainment 50-movie pack that had Evil Brain from Outer Space for Yamagiwa-san to sign. I explained that it was the American version of the Starman movie he worked on, and he read out the title of the movie in English. 

Eiichi Kikuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

A surprise guest was Eiichi Kikuchi, who is principally known as Ultraman Jack's suit actor in Return of Ultraman. Kikuchi-san also donned the Ultra Seven suit in Ultra Seven (1967-68) for two episodes (14 and 15). He also tussles with Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice (1967).

As you can see, he loves striking various Ultra-poses for the gathered paparazzi!

There were also some cool items on display, like Okita-san's TAC uniform from Ultraman Ace.

Various scripts from the show were on display, too.

In the end, though, hanging out is what it's all about! That's the highlight of any such event for me, and I think these photos demonstrate that very well.

I was especially happy to see Yamagiwa-san doing well. He turns 90 years old later this month!

Yes, I'd say the guests had a great time...

... by looking at these photos.

 And that's all for now. See you next time!