Out and About in Roppongi Hills!

Mori Tower. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I went to Roppongi Hills, and I decided to snap a few photos of the familiar sights there, including Tokyo Tower and Mori Tower. Enjoy!

Could this be Biollante? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tokyo Tower. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Spending an Afternoon with the Modern-Day Master of Monsters!

Fuyuki Shinada. Photo by Brett Homenick.

This afternoon (Sunday, January 7), I was privileged to spend a couple of hours in the company of Fuyuki Shinada, a legendary kaiju suitmaker who has made some of the most impressive monsters in Japanese film history.

Among many others, Shinada-san made Biollante in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), Godzillasaurus in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Legion in Gamera 2 (1996), Irys in Gamera 3 (1999), and the title monsters in GMK: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).

Shinada-san became particularly animated when discussing the kaiju productions he grew up watching. As you'd imagine, he's as much a Monster Kid as any you've ever read about in the pages of Famous Monsters.

One amusing moment came when Shinada-san asked if I was married, to which I replied that I wasn't. He seemed a bit surprised and commented that I was handsome but then reason that I'm probably single because I'm an otaku. In any case, I got a kick out of the fact that the maker of Biollante called me handsome! 

It was a fun afternoon with a true legend of the genre and an all-around nice guy. Couldn't have had a better Sunday if I tried!

Godzilla Ballyhoo in and around Hibiya!

Yours truly on the red carpet in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.  

Earlier today (Wednesday, November 1), I had a great time checking out some of the Godzilla Minus One (2023) ballyhoo around Hibiya, some of which was actually new for me. There was also this red carpet setup near the entrance of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya for the Tokyo International Film Festival, of which Minus One is a part, so maybe it counts, too. The Biollante diorama (seen below) in Hibiya Chanter was new for me, as was the Minus One (and Ichizo Kobayashi gallery) posters on the side of the Yurakucho Mullion building. Here's what I saw. Enjoy!

GODZILLA SHOW SPACE! Checking Out Godzilla's History Up Close and Personal!

With special thanks to a friend of mine who gave me a ticket to this exhibit, I made plans to view Godzilla Show Space in Yurakucho today. Unlike most other exhibits I've attended in Japan, photography was allowed in all areas. In fact, you were even allowed to touch some props from the Godzilla films! It doesn't get any fan-friendlier than that. Anyway, with all that out of the way, let's get on to the photos!