A VERY YANAGISAWA CHRISTMAS! Japan's Jazz Singer Performs Christmas Songs Live!

Yours truly poses with actor-singer Shinichi Yanagisawa in Asakusa, Tokyo.

I just returned home from another live performance by the Shinichi Yanagisawa All-Stars at the HUB in Asakusa, Tokyo. Since Christmas is quickly approaching, an entire set was devoted to famous Christmas songs, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and several others. Naturally, these songs were done in a jazzy style that was very enjoyable.

The Shinichi Yanagisawa All-Stars perform Christmas music in front of an appreciative audience. Note Yanagisawa-san on the drums. 

In between sets, I was visited by Yanagisawa-san, who signed my Blu-ray sleeve of The X from Outer Space (1967), in which he plays Miyamoto. Yanagisawa-san's signature joins that of co-star Itoko Harada, whom I met last week.

Yanagisawa-san perfectly signs English-language Christmas songs for the packed crowd.

The music certainly put me in the mood for Christmas, as did Yanagisawa-san's kindness. I presented him with a Christmas card during the evening, which he was happy to receive. Being a fan of Yanagisawa-san's acting has led to my becoming a fan of his singing, and I eagerly anticipate seeing his next live performance in Asakusa!

MEETING ITOKO HARADA! Guilala's Gal Remembers Her Famous Starring Role!

Meeting former Shochiku Studios actress Itoko Harada in Funabashi, Chiba. 

Today I was very pleased to meet Itoko Harada, a former actress at Shochiku Studios during the late 1960s. Although she decided to leave the entertainment business by the end of the '60s, Harada-san is remembered by kaiju eiga fans all over the world for her leading role in The X from Outer Space (1967).

These days she is involved in pottery, but Harada-san still has fond memories of her acting career. When I brought her my Blu-ray sleeve of the film for her to sign, she enjoyed looking at it and showing it to her friends before adding her signature to it.

On top of having a successful singing career, Harada-san is also notable for starring as one of the members of the all-female spy team in Shotaro Ishinomori's Flower Action 009-1 (1969), in which she appears alongside Kaoru Yumi (Espy, Prophecies of Nostradamus).

Harada-san was very friendly, and I enjoyed having the chance to meet her. It certainly was flattering being called "ikemen" by the star of one of my favorite monster romps! I hope for other such meetings in the future!