Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker: May 2023

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Attending a Live Performance That Was All the Way Live!

Masanori Machida. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier tonight (Sunday, May 28), I attended another live performance by Masanori Machida. These events are always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon or evening. Machida-san is always a cool cat.

I actually wasn't sure whether I would attend just because I found myself a bit busy earlier in the day, but, when I finished with enough time to attend, I decided to do it. I couldn't attend last month's performance because it was held on a Thursday, and it interfered with my work schedule.

Tonight more than made up for that, however. As always, it was great to spend some time with Machida-san. Can't wait to do it again!

Ultraman and Godzilla Team Up at Seibuen!

Godzilla and Ultraman at Seibuen! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I was out and about on the Seibu Shinjuku Line and saw this poster hanging in not one but two train stations -- namely Seibu Shinjuku Station and Nogata Station.

As you can see, Ultraman has finally joined the fun at the Seibuen amusement park. Ultraman and Godzilla really ought to make one heck of a tag team.

Would you believe I've still never been to Seibuen? I guess I should try to go there sometime!

Friday, May 26, 2023

Paying a Visit to Dracula's Former Home in Tokyo!

The Western-style house in Kyu-Furukawa Gardens. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I paid another visit to Kyu-Furukawa Gardens in Kita, Tokyo, near Nishigahara Station. The park features a Western-style house whose construction was completed in May 1917. It was originally built as a private residence but was opened as a public park on April 30, 1956. I last visited the park in May 2016, so I figured I was long overdue for another look.

What's so special about this place? Well, the house in question was used as a filming location for numerous genre movies and TV shows. It was used as Shin Kishida's vampiric principal character's residence in Evil of Dracula (1974), the spooky house in the Hajime Sato-directed House of Terrors (a.k.a. The Ghost of the Hunchback, 1965), and it also turns up in the Toho mystery Murders in the Doll House (a.k.a. Crazy Doll Trick, 1979), starring Yusaku Matsuda.

It was great to walk around the property and take in some excellent tokusatsu history. In particular, it was fascinating to see the house's carriage porch up close and personal, which is prominently featured in Evil of Dracula. (The car driving Toshio Kurosawa's character to the university pulls into the carriage porch.)

The photos below will tell the story. Enjoy!

Revisiting Hibiya's Famed Godzilla Statue!

The Godzilla statue in Hibiya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today (Friday, May 26), I went to Toho Cinemas Hibiya and took some photos of the Godzilla statue. The background was quite cool, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap some photos. Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

A Lively Q&A with a Legend of the Silver Screen!

Yoko Takahashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (Wednesday, May 24), I had the distinct privilege of interviewing actress Yoko Takahashi. I've blogged about Takahashi-san many times in the past, but, for those of you not in the know, she has worked with directors Kon Ichikawa, Kinji Fukasaku, and Kei Kumai -- as well as actors Tetsuro Tamba, Kunie Tanaka, Ken Tanaka, and Rentaro Mikuni -- throughout her illustrious career, during which she was usually the lead actress.

The interview covered a lot of ground, and Takahashi-san spoke a lot about her childhood. Naturally, hearing about her star-making turn in Journey into Solitude (1972) and her memories of working on the Oscar-nominated Sandakan 8 (1974) were also enlightening. I'd love to publish the interview right away, but, as readers of this blog know by now, the process will take a while before it's ready.

Many thanks to Takahashi-san and her agency for their hospitality -- and for allotting way more time for the interview than I could have expected. I'm very grateful!

Sunday, May 21, 2023

An Evening with Veterans of Godzilla's Heisei and Millennium Series!

Toshio Miike, Kenji Suzuki, and Eiichi Asada. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight (Sunday, May 21), I attended a great event with three great guests: Toshio Miike, Kenji Suzuki, and Eiichi Asada. These Godzilla series alumni were a lot of fun to spend the evening with. So, with that said, let's get to the highlights!

Toshio Miike, Kenji Suzuki, and Eiichi Asada. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Toshio Miike poses with his birthday cake. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kenji Suzuki. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Toshio Miike. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Eiichi Asada. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Two Godzilla series tokusatsu directors talk shop. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Photo by Brett Homenick.

Godzilla series SFX directors Kenji Suzuki and Eiichi Asada pay tribute to Teruyoshi Nakano. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Monday, May 15, 2023

Ultraman Great Flies into Tokyo!

Dore Kraus poses with Ultraman at a Mandarake shop at the Nakano Broadway shopping mall. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Actor Dore Kraus, who played Ultraman Great's alter ego, Jack Shindo, in Ultraman: Towards the Future (1992), came to Tokyo in April of this year, and I had the distinct privilege of spending time with him during his vacation on two separate days. Dore contacted me a few days before arriving, and, when I knew he would be coming to my neck of the woods, I made sure to set aside plenty of time.

We first got together on Saturday, April 22, in Nakano after I finished work. Then we met up again on Sunday, April 30, in Ebisu (before moving on to Ultraman Street and Toho Studios) and spent most of the day together. There's a lot to see, so let's get right to the photos!