HENSHIN! An Afternoon with Toei Heroes!

In the back row (from left to right): Hitomi Yoshii, Kihachiro Uemura, Ryosuke Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Takano, Toshimichi Takahashi, Mai Oishi, Sumiko Tanaka, Kenju Hayashi, and Koji Unoki. In the front row (from left to right): Sayoko Hagiwara, Yumiko Tanaka, yours truly, Juri Miyazawa, and Lisa Komaki. Whew!

Today I attended another special event featuring many cast members from Toei superhero series. The number of guests was by far the largest I've attended so far. Anyway, here's the breakdown.

Here I am with Mai Oishi who played Change Phoenix in Dengeki Sentai Changeman (1985-86). She also portrayed one of the young guardians of the Iga Crystal on episodes 19, 20, 31, 49, 50, and 51 of Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-84), as well as the villainous Girl 2 (a member of the deadly Girls Army) on Space Sheriff Shaider (1984-85) from episodes 10 through 35.

On the right is suit actor/actor Toshimichi Takahashi, whose credits include: Wolf Guy (1975), Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), Mechanical Violator Hakaider (1995), the Toho superhero series Megaloman (1979), and numerous Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Metal Hero series, starting with Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77). He plays the evil High Priest Baraom from Kamen Rider Black (1987-88). On the left is Hitomi Yoshii, who acts as High Priestess Bishium on Kamen Rider Black.

Yumiko Tanaka (far left) stars in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami and also appears in a small role in Toho's Godzilla (1984). Juri Miyazawa plays Ginga Pink on Seiju Sentai Gingaman (1998-99). Sayoko Hagiwara portrays Ryoko Hoshi, Yullian's alter ego, on Ultraman 80 (1980-81), starting with episode 43, as well as Dyna Pink in Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983-84). She also appears on Choushinsei Flashman (1986-87) as Leh Nafel.

Finally, I'm in between two of the regulars from Choudenshi Bioman (1984-85). Ryosuke Sakamoto is Red One on the series, and Sumiko Tanaka essays the role of Yellow Four II from episode 11 until 51.

And that's it! See y'all again next time!

SENTAI HEROES, ASSEMBLE! A Great Afternoon with Toei Stars!

From left to right: Ryosuke Sakamoto, Juri Miyazawa, Hitomi Yoshii, yours truly, Kihachiro Uemura, Lisa Komaki, Yumiko Tanaka, Kenju Hayashi, Koji Unoki, and Sayoko Hagiwara.

Today, I was privileged to attend another dramatic reading performed by alumni of various Toei Super Sentai and Kamen Rider programs. I've blogged about most of the participants before, but I'll recap their most notable credits here for easy reference. With that out of the way, let's begin.

With Yumiko Tanaka (left) and Hitomi Yoshii (right). 

Yumiko Tanaka starred in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami and also appears in Godzilla (1984).

Hitomi Yoshii played High Priestess Bishium on Kamen Rider Black (1987-88).

With Ryosuke Sakamoto, Kihachiro Uemura, and Koji Unoki. 

Ryosuke Sakamoto stars in Choudenshi Bioman (1984-85) as Red One.

Kihachiro Uemura plays Green Flash on Choushinsei Flashman (1986-87).

Koji Unoki portrays Dyna Blue on Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983-84).

With Juri Miyazawa, Lisa Komaki, and Sayoko Hagiwara. 

Lisa Komaki plays Peggy Matsuyama on Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77) and is the suit actor and voice for Miss America (as played by Diane Martin) on Battle Fever J (1979-80).

Sayoko Hagiwara essays the role of Ryoko Hoshi, Yullian's human form, on Ultraman 80 (1980-81) from episode 43, as well as Dyna Pink in Dynaman. She also appears on Flashman as the villain Leh Nafel.

Juri Miyazawa plays Ginga Pink on Seiju Sentai Gingaman (1998-99).

With Kenju Hayashi, Koji Unoki, and Sayoko Hagiwara. 

Kenju Hayashi plays Prince Megiddo on Dynaman.

With Yumiko Tanaka, Juri Miyazawa, and Sayoko Hagiwara.

This photo, of course, is my favorite. Hagiwara-san asked me what kind of pose I wanted. I said that any pose would be fine. This was her suggestion, and the other actresses followed suit. It doesn't get any better than this!

THE LADIES OF SUPER SENTAI! Three Decades of Toei Action Heroines in the House!

Yours truly with Ultraman 80 and Dynaman actress Sayoko Hagiwara. 

Today, I attended an event with a plethora of alumni from Toei's long-running Super Sentai series. of course, most Americans are only familiar with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but Super Sentai is where it all started.

One of the guests I was interested in seeing again was Sayoko Hagiwara. As readers of this blog ought to know by now, Hagiwara-san played Yullian on Ultraman 80 (1980-81) and Dyna Pink on Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983-84). I was rather surprised when Hagiwara-san greeted me with a hug. Suffice it to say, that's not something one often gets an event like this!

With Goranger and Battle Fever J star Lisa Komaki. 

Also on hand was Lisa Komaki. Komaki-san played Peggy Matsuyama on Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77), the original Super Sentai series. She was also the suit actor for and voice of actress Diane Martin as the heroine Miss America on Battle Fever J (1979-80).

With Gingaman actress Juri Miyazawa.

Finally, I enjoyed meeting actress Juri Miyazawa for the first time. Miyazawa-san played Ginga Pink on Seiju Sentai Gingaman (1998-99). It was a great event with very friendly guests. Can't wait to do it again in the future!