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!

A Former Toho SFX Director Is in the House!

Yuichi Kikuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 Earlier today (Wednesday, April 19), I spent a fun afternoon with former Toho special effects director Yuichi Kikuchi. It was great to hear so many stories about Toho, Tsuburaya Pro, and beyond!

Yuichi Kikuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The meeting lasted in excess of four hours, which surprised even me. But Kikuchi-san said that, after being busy for much of the year so far, he finally has some down time, so he was able to hang out for quite a bit. Well, it certainly works for me!

I was floored by Kikuchi-san's generosity and kindness. What a day it was -- and definitely informational! I really look forward to seeing him again!

HOORAY FOR CHOFU! Paying a Visit to Japan's Answer to Hollywood!

A map of Chofu, Japan's version of Hollywood. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On my travels on Friday, September 30, I visited Chofu, which is where Nikkatsu Studios and Kadokawa Daiei Studios are located. Chofu Station has a Daiei tokusatsu theme to it, which the pictures I took below will demonstrate. I've posted about Chofu Station before a few years ago, but I thought it was worth revisiting. Enjoy!

A Showa Hero Event Brings Gamera and Yoshito Chujo Together!

Noboru Kaneko. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While I was in between events on Sunday, September 25, I figured I had just enough time to stop by the Showa Hero event in Nakano to meet the guests, neither of whom I'd ever met before. Who were they, you ask? Why, Noboru Kaneko and Hirofumi Fukuzawa!

Noboru Kaneko played Gao Red in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger (2001-02), but Godzilla fans know him for playing Yoshito Chujo in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). My interaction with him was brief but pleasant. There just wasn't any time for anything else!

Hirofumi Fukuzawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Hirofumi Fukuzawa is a suit actor best known for his appearances in the Super Sentai series (where he often plays the Red Ranger of the series), as well the Kamen Rider series. However, most kaiju fans will recognize him as the Gamera suit actor from Gamera 3 (1999). Suffice it to say, I was quite interested to meet him. And he was a very cool guy, just like most other suit actors you're likely to meet.

And that's a wrap! I was basically in and out because everything was basically over by the time I arrived. But I had just enough time to meet the guests. A very cool way to spend the few moments I had there!

Heisei Gamera Tokusatsu DNA, Part II!

Legion is ready to attack! Photo by Brett Homenick.

The second part of my pictures from the Heisei Gamera Tokusatsu DNA exhibit at Tokyo Tower. Enjoy!

Heisei Gamera Tokusatsu DNA, Part I!

Heisei Gamera Tokusatsu DNA! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I returned to Tokyo Tower to check out the Heisei Gamera Tokusatsu DNA exhibit that runs through the end of the month. Here's the first part of what I saw. Enjoy!