A Jazzy Christmastime in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars returned to the HUB Asakusa tonight for another performance. Just like two months ago, there were only two sets, but the show was still quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, I missed the first set due to work.

It was great to see Yanagisawa-san still in good health and spirits, and he was right at home (as usual) on the drums and the mike. 

After the performance, I said a few words to Yanagisawa-san before heading back home. I'm grateful to attend each of his shows, and I hope they continue for a long time to come.

Tokyo's King of Jazz Is Back!

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tuesday, October 20, saw my first visit to the HUB Asakusa since February. It was long overdue. The April and June shows were cancelled due to COVID-19, but I was surprised to find out (after the fact) that the August actually happened. For a variety of reasons, I just assumed that performance would have been postponed, as well, so I didn't even bother to check to see if it would happen. Suffice it to say, I really regretted that.

As a result, I made it a point to attend the October performance of Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Attendance was much smaller than usual (for obvious reasons), but the usual attendees were all there. It was also great to see Yanagisawa-san again for the first time since February. Yanagisawa-san, of course, is one of the stars of The X from Outer Space (1967).

Shinichi Yanagisawa after the show. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The performance ended a bit earlier than usual, which given the situation, isn't all that surprising. I'm just glad they're still happening at all. I certainly hope all goes well for the next concert in two months. If it's still on, I plan to be there.

Jazz Returns to Asakusa, Courtesy of the Swing All-Stars!

Shinichi Yamagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night (February 18, to be precise), I was able to return to the HUB in Asakusa for another live performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Due to work commitments, I missed the previous one in December, the first time I had missed a performance since October 2014.

Shinichi Yanagisawa on drums. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

This was actually a rare opportunity for me because I was able to attend all three sets in their entirety. (I usually arrive toward the end of the first set or beginning of the second one.) As usual, it was another excellent show.

Yanagisawa-san is best known for his role as Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), but he's so much more than that. He's also talented drummer and vocalist who can sing in Japanese and English. I'm very fortunate to know him.

Japanese Movie Stars Give Asakusa Public Hall a Hand!

Asakusa Public Hall. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After Hibiya Chanter Square was renovated and renamed Godzilla Square, its Walk of Fame of Toho star was unceremoniously discarded. Thankfully, Asakusa Public Hall still maintains its Plaza of Stars, a similar area honoring many of Japan's biggest names in entertainment. Among them are a few performers familiar to readers of this blog. Let's check them out.

Asakusa Public Hall's Plaza of Stars. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kon Omura, star of Gamera vs. Guiron (1969) and Gamera vs. Jiger (1970).

Izumi Yukimura, star of The Princess of Badger Palace (1958), Desperado Outpost (1959), Ichimatsu Travels with Ghosts (1959), and You Can Succeed, Too (1964).

Norihei Miki, star of Songoku: The Road to the West (1959), The Three Treasures (1959), and Deathquake (1980).

Toshiro Mifune, star of Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954), and The Three Treasures (1959).

Frankie Sakai, star of The Last War (1961) and Mothra (1961).

Machiko Kyo, star of Rashomon, Gate of Hell (1953), and Ugetsu (1953).

Yuzo Kayama, star of the Young Guy series and Espy (1974).

Out and About in Asakusa!

While walking around Asakusa last night, I snapped some photos of some of the more famous landmarks in the area. Although I visit Asakusa several times a year, it'd been a long time since I'd seen the area around the Asahi Flame and Kaminarimon. It seems to have undergone quite a few changes. Anyway, here's what I saw. Enjoy!

A Comedic Start to 2020!

 Fumio Ishimori. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Over the holidays, I received a letter from Fumio Ishimori, who invited me to attend a play in Asakusa for which he wrote the script. Today was the first performance, and Ishimori-san was in attendance, so naturally I went, too. I've seen several of Ishimori-san's plays in Asakusa. He often writes scripts for this comedy troupe. I hadn't seen Ishimori-san since June, so I was especially pleased to attend. Besides, I really wanted to greet him and personally wish him a happy New Year.

Ishimori-san was a screenwriter who wrote many scripts for Shochiku and Nikkatsu, including Toshio Masuda's war film Monument to the Girls' Corps (1968). Genre fans might know Ishimori-san as co-screenwriter of the Toho horror film Crest of the Wolf (1973) with Jun Fukuda. He also penned numerous episodes of Kamen Rider (1971-73), along with episodes of Ultraman Ace (1972-73) and Zone Fighter (1973).

Ishimori-san was a true gentleman, as he always is. I had a great time in his company, and I hope to see him again very soon.

Another Jazzy Evening in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight was another night at the HUB in Asakusa, listening to some live jazz as performed by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Suffice it to say, it was another great evening of entertainment.

At this point, I really hope I don't have to explain who Yanagisawa-san is. I blog about him all the time, and I've attended his performances for nearly five years. But yes, he was Miyamto in The X from Outer Space (1967), though there's much, much more to his career.

Best of all, I get to spend a bit of time in the company of such a wonderful gentleman. His fellow band members are great, too. I always look forward to attending these shows. I hope there will be many more to come in the future.

The Swing All-Stars Swing Again!

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night, June 18, was another night of jazz with Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars. It was another excellent night of music, for sure. There were many old favorites performed during the course of the evening.

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), one of the funnest kaiju movies of the '60s. His character in the film was always my favorite, but since he has all the best lines, that should probably go without saying.

It was another entertaining evening, which made the fact that I got home somewhere around midnight mostly bearable. I love attending these performances and will continue to do so as long as they have them.

They're Back -- and Better Than Ever!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Well, it had been a while, but Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars finally returned to the HUB Asakusa on Tuesday, April 16. That's because the HIB underwent some major renovations during the winter and was closed in February, when they would have held their usual performance.

I got a lucky with my work schedule and was able to attend just about all three sets. It was great to see so many familiar faces again and to have a lengthy chat with Kyoichi, the saxophonist.

Yanagisawa-san, of course, was great on the drums and the vocals. His new movie, Portrait of Brothers, opens in Japan next month, and I encourage everyone to see it. (Details in the following blog post.)

Getting into the Christmas Spirit, Asakusa-Style!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday evening, I attended the last performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. I particularly enjoyed Yanagisawa-san's rendition of classic Christmas tunes. It's the season for them after all.

In February, the HUB Asakusa will be undergoing renovation, so there won't be any performance that month by Yanagisawa-san. I was disappointed by the news, but he and his band mates will be back in action in April. I'll just have to wait a little longer until then.

Another Night of Jazz in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday, October 16, I paid another visit to the HUB in Asakusa for another great night of jazz with Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. Although it seems like I'd just gotten done celebrating my third anniversary of attending each of these shows, this one marked my fourth anniversary. 

Yanagisawa-san was doing quite well and recently attended the world premiere in Kyoto of his most recent movie (which translates into English as "Brother Disappears"), which is essentially a Japanese retelling of The Whales of August (1987). The movie co-stars Choei (Lake of Dracula) Takahashi.

Not bad for an 85-year-old! Here's to many more!

THE KING OF JAZZ! Shinichi Yanagisawa in Concert!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday night, August 21, I went back to the HUB Asakusa to see Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars in concert. It was another great night of jazz. 

Yanagisawa-san's performance as Miyamoto is one of my favorite parts of The X from Outer Space (1967). If you haven't seen the movie, and you love kaiju, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san again for a great evening!

BACK IN CONCERT! Yanagisawa-san and His Swing All-Stars Have Come Back to Asakusa!

 Shinichi Yanagisawa, having a great time at the HUB in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight, I had a great evening at the HIB in Asakusa, watching Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars performing live jazz. Many of the numbers have become quite familiar to me, but I suppose that's natural after attending these shows for more than three years.

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967). His career encompasses much more than just that movie, however, and I'm lucky to have gotten to find that out directly. Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san for another wonderful evening!

A Jazzy Night with Shinichi Yanagisawa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

On April 17, I returned to the HUB Asakusa to attend the latest performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars. It was another great evening of classic jazz tunes.

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), and later this year, he will return to the big screen in a family drama with Choei Takahashi (the star of Toho's Lake of Dracula). I'm sure I'll have more to say about it in the months to come.

Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san for another great evening of entertainment. Can't wait to see him again at the next show!