Spending a Scorcher with a Suit Actor!

Akira Ohashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Sunday, July 10, was a very hot day in Tokyo. However, the coolest part of it was that I got to spend the afternoon with suit actor and stunt man Akira Ohashi!

Ohashi-san would be best known in the West for playing Gamera in Gamera 2 (1996) and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999). Naturally, his suit-acting and stunt credits are far more extensive. It was fun hearing just some of his stories.

Suffice it to say, it was well worth braving with scorching heat to spend an afternoon in Ohashi-san's company. I hope to have many more such opportunities in the future!

Gamera Alums Gather!

Akira Ohashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On December 5, I attended another fun event with a couple of Gamera series veterans. The first was Akira Ohashi, the suit actor who played Gamera in Gamera 2 (1996) and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999). 

I first met Ohashi-san just a month ago, so I was surprised that he was returning to another event so quickly. But it was too great an opportunity to pass up!

Himawari Ono. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The other guest on hand was Himawari Ono, a former child actress who appeared in Gamera the Brave (2006). Ono-san is quite fluent in English, so it was a joy to speak with her and to know more about her previous acting career and future ambitions.

 And that's a wrap! It was a wonderful evening with more wonderful people. 

Celebrating Godzilla's Birthday in a Kaiju-Sized Way!

From left to right: Mizuho Yoshida, Toshio Miike, and Akira Ohashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

November 3 marks Godzilla's 67th birthday, and, while it may seem that celebrations of this milestone are limited to online gatherings, think again! One event was held live and in person and featured no fewer than three kaiju eiga luminaries!

One of the guests was veteran SFX art director and production designer Toshio Miike, who has worked on: Gunhed (1989), Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Zeiram (1991), Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), Gamera 2 (1996), Gamera 3 (1999), GMK (2001), Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002), Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003), Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), and Shin Godzilla (2016).

Akira Ohashi with a Gamera 2 toy. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was suit actor Akira Ohashi. Ohashi-san played Gamera in Gamera 2, Irys in Gamera 3, King Ghidorah in GMK, and a bevy of other characters in both movies and television.

Akira Ohashi, ready for battle! Photo by Brett Homenick.

It was my first time to meet Ohashi-san, but he couldn't have been nicer, and he isn't afraid to mug for the camera, which makes for some interesting shots!

In that sense, he shares a lot in common with Yoshida-san!

Last but cretianly not least was suit actor Mizuho Yoshida. Yoshida-san portrays Zeiram in both Zeiram and Zeiram 2 (1994), Legion in Gamera 2, Death Ghidorah (a.k.a. Desghidorah) in Rebirth of Mothra (1996), Dagahra in Rebirth of Mothra 2 (1997), and Godzilla in GMK, among other suit-acting roles.

We took a few fun photos together, but I decided to go with the more relaxed ones. Maybe someday I'll post the shot where it looks like we're brawling!

What a way to celebrate Godzilla's birthday! I couldn't think of a better way to have done it. I'm so glad to be a part of these events again!