Revisiting Another 'Godzilla's Revenge' Filming Location!

Signage for Kawasaki Freight Station. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (Wednesday, July 5), I paid another visit to Kawasaki Freight Station (a.k.a. Kawasaki Kamotsu Station), located appropriately enough in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. It was my first time to visit the area in more than eight years.

You might be wondering why I would go out of my way to visit a random rail yard. The answer is quite simple: It was used as a filming location in Godzilla's Revenge (1969).

Ichiro's father, played by Kenji Sahara, is a train driver in this rail yard. It's also the location where the shenanigans with the billboard painter takes place at the end of the film.

Just as I did eight years prior, I took a taxi from Kawasaki Station to the rail yard. In fact, the taxi driver was concerned that I was going to the wrong place, so he told me that this station was not for commuters. I told him I was well aware of that and that I going there because it was used as a filming location in an old movie. He seemed quite relieved!

While walking around the rail yard, I realized that I needn't have spent the 2,100 yen on cab fare. Conveniently located next to Kawasaki Freight Station was Kojimashinden Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line, which takes commuters to Keikyu Kawasaki Station, which is an easy walk from JR Kawasaki Station. Ah, well.

Just as there was the last time I visited the area, it was lightly raining. Maybe someday I'll walk around the rail yard on a sunny day. So far, it hasn't happened.

I remember getting a sketchy vibe from the rail yard the last time I went there. There were few (if any) station employees around at the time, and it seemed there might have been a shantytown in the area.

This time, however, the atmosphere was much more positive, as there were numerous rail yard employees out and about. While the area itself is far from ideal, it seemed like a much safer place this time around.

One interesting memory from my April 2015 visit was that I had a huge nail stuck in the bottom of my shoe after walking around. This time, my shoes didn't take any souvenirs with them.

Given that more than 50 years have passed since the making of Godzilla's Revenge, it's more than a little difficult to pinpoint exact locations. I'm afraid I just couldn't do it, though the rail yard, in many ways, seems basically the same as it did in the film.

Now that I have a much more convenient way to return in the future, I just might do that -- hopefully with better weather next time! 

And that's a wrap! I've run out of things to talk about, but I still have a few pictures left to share. Bu I'll just let them do the rest of talking.

My Interview with Machiko Naka Is Now Live!

Machiko Naka in October 2021. Photo by Brett Homenick.

My October 2021 interview with the late Machiko Naka, who played Ichiro's mother in Godzilla's Revenge (1969), has finally been published at Vantage Point Interviews. Content is always king at Vantage Point Interviews, and this Q&A is certainly no exception!

The Revenge of the 'Godzilla's Revenge' Footbridge!

The footbridge seen in Godzilla's Revenge (1969). Photo by Brett Homenick.

Given that it had been nearly three years to the day that I lasted visited it, I decided to make another pilgrimage to the footbridge in Kawasaki seen at the beginning of Godzilla's Revenge (1969). It's still standing after all these years, and it's one of the more interesting filming locations to visit. A picture's worth a thousand words, so let's get to the highlights.

 

Godzilla Series Actress Machiko Naka Passes Away at Age 86

Machiko Naka in October 2021. Photo by Brett Homenick.

It's being reported by film researcher Toshiaki Sato that former Toho actress Machiko Naka passed away on March 4. She was 86.

Machiko Naka was born on October 12, 1936, in China under her real name Machiko Nakabayashi. After the war, her family moved to Hiroshima in 1947, and she would join the Takarazuka Revue in 1957. In 1960, she signed a contract with Toho where she became best known for playing Yuzo Kayama's younger sister Teruko in the Young Guy series. 

Nami Tamura, Hiroko Sakurai, Machiko Naka, and Yasuhiko Saijo celebrate Saijo-san's birthday in February 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

But she became best known around the world for playing Ichiro's busy mother in Godzilla's Revenge (1969). She only appears in two scenes in the film, but her second scene is one of the most emotional of the Showa era.

Naka-san also appears in episode 22 of Ultra Q (1966), episode 2 of Ultra Seven (1967-68), and episode 36 of Ultraman Tiga (1996-97). 

In between Machiko Naka and Nami Tamura in February 2016.

I was fortunate enough to meet Naka-san several times over the years. Before I ever met, I was able to do an interview with her via correspondence, which you can find here. 

Teruyoshi Nakano and Machiko Naka in November 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In October 2021, I conducted a much more in-depth interview that should come out sometime later this year. Last fall, I contacted her manager about doing a photoshoot with Naka-san but was told that she was not doing so well at the time. Given her age, I was worried about the seriousness of her condition, and unfortunately it seems that it was as serious as I feared.

With Machiko Naka in October 2021.

I'll certainly miss seeing her at events and other such gatherings. What a sweet lady she was. RIP, Naka-san.

UPDATE (3/12): Naka-san's official website confirms that she passed away on March 4 due to old age.

Her website also announced that it will close on March 25. Such a shame. It would have made a wonderful memorial to her life and career.

An Afternoon with a Toho Actress!

Machiko Naka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with former Toho actress Machiko Naka, best known for playing Ichiro's mother in Godzilla's Revenge (1969). Of course, she appeared in many other Toho films, including the Young Guy series and the Shacho (Company President) series.

I had a great time interviewing her about her life and career. Hopefully, that interview will be available in a few months. All I have to do is find the time to get it done!

 Many thanks to Naka-san for her help. I look forward to sharing the interview when it's finished. 

Secrets of Americanizations Revealed on Vantage Point Interviews!

A recent photo of Richard Krown. Photo © Richard Krown.

First up is a brand-new interview with Richard Krown, UPA's post-production supervisor on the company's various Japanese releases, including Monster Zero (1965), The War of the Gargantuas (1966), Godzilla's Revenge (1969), and Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). He was also heavily involved in the American releases of Woody Allen's What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966) and the Toho war epic Retreat from Kiska (1965), about whose Americanization he goes into great detail.

Also on deck is a brand-new interview with director R. J. Kizer, who Americanized Godzilla 1985 (1984) for American release. This is the most in-depth director Kizer has ever gotten about the making of the film, and he reveals many new details for the first time. Who was the Roger Corman regular up for the role of General Goodhue? Read the interview to find out!

If you didn't already know that content is king on Vantage Point Interviews, you do now!

On the Trail of the Footbridge from Godzilla's Revenge!

On Wednesday, June 3, I went out to Kawasaki to check out the footbridge from Godzilla's Revenge (1969) again, the first time in a little more than five years. Not much had changed in the intervening years, and it was just as dirty as I remembered.

It's definitely very cool to see where the opening scene of Revenge was shot, even if the physical location itself leaves a lot to be desired. The filmmakers certainly picked a good area to showcase the unpleasantness of Japan's industrialization.

It was a humid day, too, so the conditions weren't exactly ideal. At least it was overcast, so the heat was kept to a minimum.

And there you have it. Despite what I wrote above, it was fun seeing this location again in person.

An Evening with Toho Greats!

Machiko Naka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, November 24, I was fortunate enough to attend a dinner event with actress Machiko Naka and Toho SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano.

I hadn't seen Naka-san since the memorial event for Yosuke Natsuki in April. Naka-san doesn't attend that many events in Japan, but when she does, I always make an effort to see her. I had a great time chatting with her on a variety of subjects.

Teruyoshi Nakano. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Nakano-san was in great spirits, as usual. When the time came to take photos, he suggested I sit down while he stood. It's certainly a fun visual, and I think we all know how good at creating visuals Nakano-san is. 

And that's a wrap. Due to my work schedule, my time at the event was limited, but it was a lot of fun. Short but sweet!

CELEBRATING TERUYOSHI NAKANO'S CAREER! Fans and Colleagues Turn Out to Salute the Toho SFX Director!

SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano and Toho actress Machiko Naka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The main event of the day was a special celebration of Teruyoshi Nakano's career as a Toho SFX director. Another featured guest was Toho actress Machiko Naka, who played the mother in Godzilla's Revenge (1969) and was a regular in the successful Young Guy and Company President series.

Things began with a special performance of "Save the Earth" performed on a koto, which was (to say the very least) an interesting way to hear the song. It was obviously played at a much slower tempo than the original, but it was very enjoyable.

The music only continued from there, as Teruyoshi Nakano (and his backup singers!) performed the "We Are Space Pilots" song from Gorath (1962). Of course, longtime readers of this blog know that this wasn't the first time Nakano-san has performed this song at a similar event.

Noriko Sato (left) and Kyoko Ifukube. Photo by Brett Homenick.

There was also a big musical connection with two other guests in attendance. Akira Ifukube's daughter Kyoko was on hand, as was Noriko Sato, who of course comes from the family of the Godzilla series' other major composer, Masaru Sato. 

I had a great time speaking with a lot of the folks there. I was fortunate to sit next to Naka-san for an extended period, as we discussed her career, and I showed her photos of some of her old colleagues from Toho, particularly Tatsuyoshi Ehara, who (like her) was also a regular on the Young Guy series.

Teruyoshi Nakano, Machiko Naka, and yours truly. 

Even though I'd attended the Masaru Sato concert in July, I didn't have a chance to meet Noriko Sato, who was at the event, but this time I most certainly did, and I got to know her quite well. Masaru Sato is actually my favorite Japanese composer.

The event was held on the 58th floor of Sunshine 60 in Ikebukuro, and as you can see from the picture above, we were rather high up. This was an extremely fun event with a lot of variety and friendly people. I hope we can all do it again soon!