CHRISTMAS, TOKYO-STYLE! Fun Holiday Activities in the Land of the Rising Sun!

Merry Christmas from Kadokawa Daiei Studios in Tokyo!

Christmas is quickly approaching, and while Japan doesn't celebrate the holiday the same way the U.S. does, its presence is felt wherever you go. Kadokawa Daiei Studios has even gotten in on the fun, as its two Majin statues are (temporarily, of course) made up to look like Santa Claus and Rudolph (that red nose is a dead giveaway)!

If you've been naughty, beware! You don't want this guy (um, the taller one!) sliding down your chimney this holiday season!

On December 8, a group of us wanted to see the Majin statues' new clothes up close and personal. And, after taking in the sights at Kadokawa Daiei Studios, we headed to Chofu's tourist information center (more info on that can be found here) to show the members of our party (including SFX director Yoshikazu Ishii, G-TOUR 2011 guide Hidesada Shimazaki, and globe-trotting Godzilla fan Michael Field) the cool movie memorabilia to be seen there.

Michael Field clowns around with a Gamera attraction display.

While Shop Majin at Kadokawa Daiei Studios was closed when we visited, the tourist center offered many of the same items (shirts, Majin cookies, etc.) for sale, which gave Michael an opportunity to pick up some cool souvenirs.

SFX director Yoshikazu Ishii is haunted by the specter of Sadako in Chofu, Tokyo!

The evening also saw us visit a couple of Tower Records in Tokyo for (what else?) more shopping. We ended up eating some tasty ramen for dinner, which we then followed up with Subway sandwiches a bit later. Mm, yummy!

Yours truly with Yoshikazu Ishii in Shibuya.

To close the night, our slightly smaller party (Hide-san and Ishii-san called it a night a bit earlier) stopped at Kaiju-ya in Shibuya. Suit actor Toshio Miyake was in the house, and he was a perfect host for us American tokusatsu fans. All in all, a great evening was had by all!

Toshio Miyake holds court in Kaiju-ya, by far the coolest bar in Shibuya!

The next evening, Daiei's 1956 sci-fi classic Warning from Space screened at Yurakucho's Kadokawa Cinema. This screening was part of the current 70th anniversary tribute to Daiei Studios taking place this month. Even though the print was faded and scratchy, it was a rare treat to see this film on the big screen. And some friends showed up!

Gamera crashes the party...

... and he brought Majin with him!

But wait! That's not all ... not by a long shot. More to come soon!

Memories of Toho Studios

If you need me to explain this picture, why are you reading this blog? The sign says it all!

The August 4 tour of Toho Studios, which was organized and arranged by Akira Takarada, will go down as one of the greatest events in kaiju fandom history. If you weren't there -- well, there's no other way to put this -- you truly missed out. Plain and simple.

Walking alongside the likes of Mr. Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, and Yosuke Natsuki in the studio that made them famous ... words can't describe what an honor it truly was. It was the first (and almost certainly) the last time such an event will take place.

Lots of other G-fans have had their pictures taken at the Godzilla statue located at Toho's front gate, but how many of them have actually passed through the gate?

While the tour of Toho Studios is something I'll never forget, I prefer to let the pictures do the talking. I took so many photos and shot so much video that I hardly need to explain any of it. But I'll fill in the blanks where necessary. On to the good stuff!

Can you spot me in this photo? I'm in the Seven Samurai mural somewhere!

Shortly after the group arrived, Mr. Takarada came out with the special guests he arranged for us to meet. And what a lineup it was!

Yoshimitsu Banno, Bin Furuya, Akira Takarada, Yosuke Natsuki, and Haruo Nakajima greet their fans. Koichi Kawakita joined the festivities a bit later.

Once the celebrity guests made their appearance, obligatory photos were taken by the tour members. Mr. Takarada, through his able translator totorom, told us what to expect on the tour. With the introduction finished, it was time to go inside!

The group enters Toho Studios.

Our first stop was to Toho's Post-Production Center 1 for a special screening of a 20- or 30-minute edit of Godzilla: Final Wars. The film boasts a great supporting part played by Mr. Takarada, which made the showing of the film all the more special.

Sitting next to Yosuke Natsuki for the screening of Godzilla: Final Wars.

Although Mr. Takarada joked that the film was just a little too loud, the screening was well-received by the attendees. From there, Mr. Takarada led us to Stages 8 and 9.

Ground zero for kaiju history: Toho's drama scenes were filmed in Stage 8, and its SFX scenes were filmed in Stage 9.

Entering Stage 8 was especially exciting, and it was made even more so by the fact that we were accompanied by two of Toho's best leading men, Mr. Takarada and Yosuke Natsuki!

Where it all happened: Standing inside Stage 8.

The original Ultraman (Bin Furuya) and I bring a bit of Tsuburaya Pro magic to Toho Studios.

Elsewhere on this blog you can find the video I took inside Stage 8. The link is here. I encourage you to view it. As I've said countless times, a picture's worth a thousand words!

Inside Toho's Actors Center: The stars assemble for a Q&A.

The next stop on our tour was Toho's Actors Center, in which Mr. Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Bin Furuya, Yosuke Natsuki, Yoshimitsu Banno, and Koichi Kawakita answered questions posed by their fans. The event has been recorded for posterity by several fans in attendance, including yours truly. You can watch the Q&A here.

The holy grail: Akira Takarada unveils the original Oxygen Destroyer to an audience in total awe.

Following the Q&A, Mr. Takarada surprised the entire tour by bringing out the Oxygen Destroyer (as seen in Godzilla '54). Although I had a feeling we'd be seeing the most famous prop in the series' history, I had no idea what was in store until the moment it was unveiled. Thankfully, the moment was recorded on video and can be viewed in Part 7 of the Toho Q&A!

Holding the Oxygen Destroyer next to Koichi Kawakita, with Serizawa's diving helmet from Godzilla (1954) on the table nearby.

With the surprise addition of the Oxygen Destroyer to the proceedings, the tour of Toho wrapped up. I must thank Mr. Takarada for making it all happen. Big shout-outs go to J.D. Lees and Yoshi Mukai of MYK for making G-TOUR II a big success. As always, totorom worked diligently in his capacity as translator.

I hope this blog post was able to convey a fraction of the excitement we all felt. It was an afternoon I'll never forget. I'll always be grateful I got to see Kaiju Heaven!

Toho Studios: In living color!

Bin Furuya, Haruo Nakajima, Yosuke Natsuki, Akira Takarada, Yoshimitsu Banno, and Koichi Kawakita answer questions posed by the fans at Toho Studios during G-TOUR II. 

During our visit to Toho Studios, I brought my video camera and made sure to record as much of the action as possible. Below are the remaining bits of footage I took at the studio. The last video with Mr. Nakajima and me was recorded at the hotel in Shinagawa, but everything else was filmed at Toho.

Ultraman Street in Setagaya, Tokyo

Shoowatch! Ultraman takes flight on Ultraman Street.

Down the road from Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo, is what promises to be a major tourist destination for kaiju eiga fans. Ultraman Street truly lives up to its name with decor straight from M78!

G-TOUR II members photograph the entrance to Ultraman Street. 

Like most kaiju-related sights worth seeing in Japan, Ultraman Street isn't well-known in the West. But, unlike this building or that bridge featured in the background of a monster movie, Ultraman Street is a must-see attraction for G-fans visiting Tokyo.

Are street lights this cool in your neighborhood?

Ultraman Street is a walk down memory lane for kaiju enthusiasts!

Look out! Baltan Seijin wreaks havoc in Ultraman Street!

It's not just the CBC Building in Nagoya; Ultraman Street has its own Ultraman statue!

Worth the trip itself: How come kaiju fans who tour Japan don't know about Ultraman Street?

A picture is worth a thousand words, but there's video, too! Here's a look at Ultraman Street, featuring G-FAN regulars J.D. Lees and Skip Peel. Enjoy!

Rushing into G-TOUR II?

"Now look what you've done!!" Pam Arlt, Martin Arlt, Ruth Lees, J.D. Lees, and Brett relax in the G-TOUR hotel lobby in Nagoya, Japan.

G-TOUR II is now in the history books, although some tourists will stay in Japan for several more days. After meeting up with the group in Nagoya last night, I learned that the tour as a whole was a smashing success by all accounts. In fact, all the veterans of the first G-TOUR rated this one higher than the original.

Contrary to what others have said, G-TOUR II was anything but "rushed."

There's no word on a G-TOUR III at this point, but with the success of the tour's sequel, it would seem like a sure bet. Keep your eyes on G-FAN magazine for any official announcement.

Tokyo Tower

Your humble blogmeister, visiting Tokyo Tower for the first time.

The first stop on G-TOUR's itinerary was the iconic Tokyo Tower, seen in such kaiju eiga classics as Mothra (1961) and King Kong Escapes (1967). The tower is a breathtaking sight, but as impressive as it is, the new broadcasting tower Tokyo Sky Tree, which is currently being constructed, will ultimately replace Tokyo Tower, as Tokyo Tower is not tall enough (!) keep up with Tokyo's broadcasting needs.

Now, on to the photos!

The view from on high: Inside Tokyo Tower.

A happy moment: Enjoying the sights to be seen.

G-TOURists Skip Peel and Michael Field, taking in the excitement of Tokyo Tower.

Don't fall! King Kong ain't there to catch ya!

The kiss of death? Re-enacting a scene from The Godfather, Part II? Not sure, but from what I was told at G-TOUR, taking this picture entitles me to a free travel guide...

Though I've been to Tokyo once before, I never visited Tokyo Tower. I certainly enjoyed experiencing all that the tower has to offer. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to any Tokyo traveler.

Q&A session at Toho Studios

The gang's all here! G-TOUR attendees and special guests are set to storm the gates at Toho Studios!

G-TOUR II saw a guided tour of Toho Studios, led by the series' biggest star, Akira Takarada. Mr. Takarada brought a few friends with him for the tour, namely: Yosuke Natsuki, Haruo Nakajima, Koichi Kawakita, Bin Furuya, and Yoshimitsu Banno! All these Toho legends participated in a Q&A ssession held inside the studio itself.

For those of you not fortunate enough to attend (for shame!), the once-in-a-lifetime event was recorded, and you can watch it in the links below.

Please note that Mr. Takarada unveils the Oxygen Destroyer in Part 7!

G-TOUR kicks off in Tokyo

Overwhelmed with the success of G-TOUR II, a happy J.D. Lees poses with yours truly on August 4, as the day's festivities are about to get under way!

Proving the naysayers (er, okay, the naysayer) wrong, G-TOUR II kicked off on August 4 at the Takanawa Tobu Hotel in Tokyo, right outside Shinagawa Station. Spirits were exceptionally high, as the day's itinerary would make kaiju history!

Skip Peel addresses the gathered G-TOURists, getting each one to introduce him- or herself to the group.

The day began with the G-TOUR members introducing themselves to entire group, an important detail overlooked during the first G-TOUR. Thankfully, the mistakes of the first tour were corrected, paving the way for much smoother sailing this trip.

G-TOURists gather around the lobby.

Get on the bus! The tour heads to Tokyo Tower!

The G-FAN Writers Guild? A shot across the bow? Skip Peel, J.D. Lees, Brett, and Martin Arlt, in a photo updated (and improved!) from 2004.

Congratulations to J.D. Lees and Yoshi Mukai for pulling it off!

Below is some footage of the tour bus, as it approaches Tokyo Tower. Stay tuned to this blog for more updates!

Easing into G-TOUR II

Akira Takarada accepts the Mangled Skyscraper Award at G-FEST XVII.

G-FAN editor J.D. Lees announced a few months ago that G-TOUR II will take place from August 2 to 12 in 2011. The official G-FAN Web site contains all the info that's currently available about the tour.

One of the most exciting aspects of the tour is Akira Takarada's interest in participating. As a matter of fact, Mr. Takarada reconfirmed his interest in an e-mail he sent to me the other night. While it's still too early to make any concrete plans, and while G-TOUR cannot yet guarantee Mr. Takarada's participation, this is certainly something to be excited about! More details will be released as soon as they are available.

Besides, you never know who else might show up...