An Ultra-Cool Evening with Two Icons of Japanese Television!

Bin Furuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, February 18, I was lucky to attend a special dinner party with none other than Bin Furuya, the legendary Ultraman suit actor from the original Ultraman (1966-67) series, as well as a bevy of other movie and television roles at Toho and Tsuburaya Productions throughout the 1960s. To be honest, I hadn't been expecting to attend this event due to my work schedule. But then I found out that a dinner party would be held after the event itself, which meant that I could attend after all once I'd finished work.

I last met Furuya-san briefly in December 2021, but our time at that event was so brief that it wasn't very memorable. I was a bit surprised that Furuya-san seemed so glad to see me again, as it appeared he was a bit concerned (I'm not sure that's the right word to use, but I'm having trouble coming up with something more appropriate) that he hadn't seen or heard from me in a while.

Well, I mailed him a New Year's greeting card, as I always do, as well as sending my best wishes to him for a happy New Year via email. But it's true that I've missed all his events since the end of 2021. It was really just a timing issue. Suffice it to say, though, that I was more than impressed that he genuinely seemed to care so much. 

Furuya-san was in a great mood, and his energy rubbed off on me. He introduced me to several new faces and told them about the time I escorted him and Akira Takarada around Chicago in July 2012, pitting his hands on my shoulders as he recounted his memories. For someone who has done as many events in the U.S. as Furuya-san has, it also impressed me that his first visit still holds such a prominent spot in his heart. 

With Mari Shimizu.

Also on hand was another legend -- voice actress Mari Shimizu. Shimizu-san is certainly best known as the original voice of Astro Boy in the 1963-66 anime series of the same name. I hadn't seen her in many years, and unfortunately she didn't recognize me when we met. No worries, though -- our last encounter was a long time ago. Prior to meeting her again, though, I was surprised to find that her father was actor Gen Shimizu. 

Who is Gen Shimizu? Well, it's great you asked. Gen Shimizu appears in numerous Akira Kurosawa films, including Stray Dog (1949), Seven Samurai (1954), I Live in Fear (1955), Throne of Blood (1957), The Bad Sleep Well (1960), Yojimbo (1961), Sanjuro (1962), and High and Low (1963).

Other notable films on Mr. Shimizu's resume include Gate of Hell (1953), Chushingura (1962), A Woman's Story (1963), and Rise against the Sword (1966). He even appeared in the occasional tokusatsu outing, including Ghost Man (1954), Buddha (1961), Monster Zero (1965), Ultra Q episode 8 (1966), The Space Giants (1966-67), and Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) as the commander of the Self-Defense Force. Mr. Shimizu passed away on December 20, 1972, at the age of 65, just months after Godzilla vs. Gigan was released in theaters.

I mentioned to her that her father appeared in Gigan, but she wasn't aware, pointing out that he is much better known for his Kurosawa roles, which naturally makes a lot of sense. But I can't help it if his most iconic role for me was his part in Jun Fukuda's 1972 kaiju romp. As cool as it is that she is an anime icon, her being Gen Shimizu's daughter is right up there, too.

What a fun evening! It certainly had been too long, so let's all do it again soon!