THREE YEARS (AND COUNTING)! Taking in Shinichi Yanagisawa's Live Jazz Show in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier this evening, I returned to the HUB in Asakusa to catch Shinichi Yanagisawa's latest jazz show with his All-Stars. What was particularly special about tonight's performance is that it marked three years of coming to the HUB to see Yanagisawa-san's shows.

My first visit to the HUB was in October 2014. The previous month, I'd interviewed Yanagisawa-san about his career. I haven't missed a show since my first visit. I've enjoyed myself immensely every time I've gone there.

I hope I don't need to remind anyone by this point, but Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967). His "plastic water" line (in the AIP-TV release) is still among my favorites in the entire genre.

Many thanks for the last three years, Yanagisawa-san!

YANAGISAWA-SAN SIZZLES IN HIS SUMMER SHOW! The All-Stars Return to Asakusa!

 Shinichi Yanagisawa, giving it his all! Photo by Brett Homenick.

It was that time again. I returned to the HUB Asakusa to catch the live performance of Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. As usual, they were great.

Yanagisawa-san on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

If you're not familiar with Yanagisawa-san by now, for shame. He played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), but these days he keeps busy as a jazz singer and drummer. I've been attending his shows for almost three years, and he never misses a beat.

He's also a heck of a nice guy. It's always wonderful to pay him a visit. I'll certainly be back in two months, and I can't wait!

SHINICHI YANAGISAWA RETURNS! The Guilala Actor Is Back in 2017!

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On February 21, I was privileged to attend anothe live performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and his jazz band. This time, I was able to attend practically the entire show, as some well timed work cancellations gave me an early start. 

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinichi Yanagisawa, of course, played Miyamoto in Shochiku's The X from Outer Space (1967), but his acting career dates back to the 1950s with Nikkastu Studios. It's always a treat to see the multi-talented Yanagisawa-san perform live!

In between Shinichi Yanagisawa and saxophonist Kyoichi Watanabe. 

I've attended every HUB show with Yanagisawa-san since October 2014, so at this point, it's difficult to find something new to say, other than it was a blast. I've gotten to know some of the regulars there quite well, and it's always fun to catch up with them. 

That's all for this month. I can't wait to do it all over again in the spring. See you then!

SHINICHI YANAGISAWA RIDES HIGH IN ASAKUSA! The All-Stars Are the Kings of Jazz!

Shinichi Yanagisawa performs English-language jazz songs live at the HUB in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight I spent an enjoyable evening at the HUB in Asakusa, listening to Shinichi Yanagisawa and the All-Stars perform jazz music. It's always something I look forward to seeing every time they put on a show.

The All-Stars do their thing onstage at the HUB in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinichi Yanagisawa starred as Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), but his lengthy and varied career covers a lot of ground in the world of entertainment. In 2014, I conducted an interview with Yanagisawa-san, who gave me insightful answers about his acting career. I'm extremely proud to have published it on Vantage Point Interviews.

Suffice it to say, I love seeing Yanagisawa-san every chance I get. He is a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I can't wait for the next show!

Yasuhiko Fukuda puts his Kyoto fans in a Neci-Coma!

Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda performed live kaiju music at the Kyoto Minami Kaikan on December 10, 2011.

A name with which most Western kaiju eiga enthusiasts are likely unfamiliar is that of Yasuhiko Fukuda. No surprise, as Fukuda's tokusatsu credits are rather sparse. That said, even if most U.S. fans haven't heard his name, they most certainly know his music.

One of the last honest-to-goodness giant monster movies to come from Japan in recent years was Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008), Minoru Kawasaki's feature-length parody of the kaiju eiga genre. While the film is mostly held in low regard by practically everyone who's seen it, one aspect of the movie has tended to fare a bit better.

That would be the infectious Take-Majin chant ("Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma!"), which is probably going to be Monster X's enduring legacy (if such a word can apply to a movie like that!).

Attendees at Kyoto Minami Kaikan's December 10 kaiju all-nighter got a rare treat. Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda, who penned the music to Monster X Strikes Back, was invited as a special guest, and he performed various bits of monster movie music. This included a live performance of that catchy Take-Majin chant, which I was able to record. The video of the performance is below:

I also captured other parts of Fukuda's talk show/musical demonstration, and those videos are included for your viewing pleasure!