Kamen Rider and Ultra-Heroes Unite for One Night!

Mitsuhiro Sano, Yumiko Tanaka, and Keiko Nishi pose for pictures. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, July 15, I attended a special event with some surprise guests. The main event was the variety show in which actress Yumiko Tanaka performed onstage with a number of other actors. After the show, I was invited to a dinner with Tanaka-san's friends and supporters. That, for me, was the real attraction.

Yumiko Tanaka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

If you don't know by now, Tanaka-san stars in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami and also appears in a small role toward the beginning of Godzilla 1985 (1984) in a scene with Ken Tanaka (which was edited out of the American release). 

At the end of the show, Tanaka-san and her co-stars sang and danced to the Japanese version of the Village People classic "YMCA." I thought that was quite amusing. After the show, our group gathered in front of the venue, which was in Tsukiji, before heading off to dinner. Before I knew it, actress Keiko Nishi joined our group and greeted me by touching my arm. (It's always a plus when the most beautiful woman in the history of the Ultra-series makes contact!)

Actor Mitsuhiro San wasn't too far behind Nishi-san. He and I talked about the song "YMCA," but he's a much bigger fan of the song "Massachusetts" by the Bee Gees, which he can do a pretty good job of singing in English. After that, we headed to the restaurant.

Mitsuhiro Sano. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Of course, Sano-san TAC member Kozo Yoshimura in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). I sat across from Sano-san at the table and close to Nishi-san. Naturally, it was a great experience to be in the presence of such Ultra-series royalty! 

Sano-san commented that he was good at signing in English but not good at English conversation. Well, I hope one day he can master English conversation, too. But, in any case, it's always a blast hanging out with him.

With Keiko Nishi.

Nishi-san appears in Ultraman Ace as TAC member Noriko Mikawa. Even though her cafe closed a while back, it's a joy to see Nishi-san attend events like these. 

And that's a wrap! It was a much more fun evening than I expected, but I'm definitely not complaining! Hope we can do it again soon.

'Ultraman Ace' Alums Reunite in Jimbocho!

Keiko Nishi and Mitsuhiro Sano. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today (Friday, May 5), I attended an Ultraman Ace-themed event headlined by two actors from the show: Mitsuhiro Sano and Keiko Nishi. Last year, there was a similar event held at the same venue, featuring a different cast member from the show (Shunichi Okita), as well as director Eizo Yamagiwa. That fun event was arranged by a different group, and the differences certainly showed today.

Keiko Nishi and Mitsuhiro Sano. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While I'm sure today's event was fun for the sold-out audience of 40 attendees, I must admit I found it rather lackluster. I make no secret on this blog that I judge events by the amount of personal interaction I can have with guests. Other than a quick greeting from Sano-san when I entered the venue, there was zero. The event was organized with having essentially no contact with the featured guests. And the event was almost twice the cost I usually pay! So it wasn't great...

I don't have much else to say about it, but, since I took time out of my schedule to attend and took some photos, I thought I'd share them here. And I also wanted to highlight the fact that some events do indeed disappoint, as I'm usually rather upbeat in my assessments. Here, though, I just don't have any way to spin this as anything other than a letdown. Oh, well. Live and learn!

SHOWA SONGS! Attending a Live Performance Featuring a Tokusatsu Actress!

Tsukiji Hongan-ji. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday evening, January 14, I attended a performance featuring actress Yumiko Tanaka. The show was held next to Tsukiji Hongan-ji, a beautiful Buddhist temple, in Tsukiji. Due to my work schedule, I missed the first half of the show and arrived during intermission. I only caught the second half of the performance, which was essentially a comedic variety show that featured a lot of Showa-era songs, styles, and dances.

Yumiko Tanaka (right) sings onstage with her fellow performers. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tanaka-san stars in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami and also appears in a small role toward the beginning of Godzilla 1985 (1984) in a scene with Ken Tanaka (which was edited out of the American release). Tanaka-san's various performances during the show were highly entertaining. She's certainly a multi-talented performer! 

The main reason I attended the show was to participate in the dinner that was being organized by one of my friends. After the performance, a group of us headed to a nearby izakaya for a special New Year's celebration. At the dinner, I became acquainted with a couple of fellow tokusatsu fans whom I'd never met before at any other event.

Tanaka-san sat at the table next to mine, so I was able to communicate with her fairly easily. She's just as friendly as she's always been. I always get a kick out of seeing her.

She signed autographs for anyone who brought items for her to sign. I've had her sign a few things over the years, so I didn't bring anything to get autographed. But it turns out I didn't have to. My friend gave out a signed photo to each attendee featuring both Tanaka-san and actress Keiko Nishi, who played TAC member Noriko Mikawa on Ultraman Ace (1972-73).

Yumiko Tanaka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Speaking of Nishi-san, she also attended the show and dinner, which was a big surprise to me. I hadn't seen her since her cafe in Ginza closed a couple of years ago. When she saw me just after the show got out, she mentioned that it had been a long time since we last met.

Yumiko Tanaka signs Kamen Rider Super-1 memorabilia for a fan. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Nishi-san joined the dinner on the private basis, i.e., not as a featured guest, but she was still friendly enough to sign the photos for attendees and posed for the photo below. Also there was actor Mitsuhiro Sano, who played TAC member Kozo Yoshimura in Ultraman Ace, who was just as awesome. It's always great to spend an evening with such friendly people.

With Keiko Nishi.

And that's a wrap! It was a fun evening, and, even though I got home close to midnight, it was a great time. Hope to do it again!

After a Long Absence, TAC Is Back!

Keiko Nishi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While on a work break, I made a trek to Keiko Nishi's cafe, and with a bit of luck on my side, she was there. (The last few times I visited the cafe, she wasn't.) It was great to see her again. The last time was almost exactly two years ago! I hadn't planned such a long gap; things just worked out that way.

For those of you not in the know, Nishi-san played TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). Recently, she's been spending more time away from her cafe, so the timing has to be perfect in order for you to see her there. Thankfully, that's the way it was for me today.

GETTING A SNACK WITH TAC! Visiting Ultraman Ace's Keiko Nishi!

Yours truly with actress Keiko Nishi.

During a break at work, I made another visit to Keiko Nishi's cafe. Readers of this blog ought to know by now that Nishi-san appeared on Ultraman Ace (1972-73) as TAC member Noriko Mikawa. Every time I see her at the cafe is a lot of fun.

Nishi-san told me that her cafe will be featured on TV Tokyo this Friday evening. If I have time, I'll certainly check it out! 

VISITING KEIKO NISHI! Returning to Ginza!

Yours truly with Ultraman Ace actress Keiko Nishi.

While on a break from work, I traveled to Ginza to spend some time at Keiko Nishi's cafe. Nishi-san, of course, played TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). As expected, she was at the cafe when I arrived, and we had a nice chat. 

Despite being a rather busy day at the cafe, she set aside some time to take these photos. Nishi-san is always extremely friendly whenever I see her. Thank you very much!

KEIKO NISHI IS BACK WITH TAC! Seeing the Actress Again in Tokyo!

On Monday, I paid another visit to Keiko Nishi's cafe. Nishi-san played TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73), and while she made an appearance at Super Festival the day before, I missed her there.

As always, she was very kind and generous with her time, which makes every trip worth it. Thank you again, Nishi-san!

KEIKO NISHI RETURNS! Catching Up The Ultraman Ace Star!

My main goal for visiting Ginza today was to visit actress Keiko Nishi, best known for playing TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). We had a great time catching up.

Once again, I wish my command of Japanese was much better than it is, but we're always able to make it work. Thank you again, Nishi-san!

A SURPRISE MEETING IN SHIBUYA! Seeing Ultra-Actress Keiko Nishi at the Hachiko Statue!

A selfie's worth a thousand words! Taking a picture with Ultraman Ace actress Keiko Nishi in Shibuya.

Tonight, while waiting to meet a friend at the Hachiko Statue in Shibuya, I suddenly noticed a familiar face standing just a few feet away. It was actress Keiko Nishi, who played TAC member Noriko Mikawa on Ultraman Ace (1972-73)!

I've met Nishi-san many times in the last few years, but this one was completely unplanned! We had a good laugh about our chance encounter. We took a few photos, and then we both went on with our scheduled appointments.

Many thanks to Nishi-san for spending a few surprise moments with me at the Hachiko Statue!

RETURN TO TAC! Visiting Ultraman Ace's Keiko Nishi!

Yours truly with Ultraman Ace actress Keiko Nishi, who played TAC member Noriko Mikawa on the show.

Today, during my lunch break, I made a quick visit to Ginza to stop by Keiko Nishi's cafe. Nishi-san played Terrible Monster Attacking Crew (TAC) member Noriko Mikawa on Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Ace (1972-73).

I've blogged about the cafe countless times here, so I won't repeat myself. But it was a great way to spend about 30 minutes before eventually returning to work. Special thanks to Nishi-san for her hospitality, as always!

ULTRAMAN ACE REUNION! TAC Members Share a Grand Evening Together!

Actors Keiko Nishi (left) and Shunichi Okita (right) pose for the cameras at La Shion. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I've just gotten back home from a small Ultraman Ace (1972-73) reunion at La Shion, a small restaurant in Tokyo. The reunion involved two actors who played TAC members on the show: Shunichi Okita (who played Ichiro Yamanaka) and Keiko Nishi (who portrayed Noriko Mikawa).

When I arrived, I had no idea that Nishi-san would be in attendance, too. It was a very small gathering with very few fans in attendance. In fact, there was really just one other fan there. Nishi-san was there with her son and his wife, as well as a friend of theirs. It was great to be part of such a small and intimate gathering.

While there, Okita-san invited me to attend a very special event next month. Suffice it to say, I'm very excited. Stay tuned for a full report!

AN AFTERNOON WITH ACTRESS KEIKO NISHI! The Ultra-Series Veteran Meets Her Fans!

Posing with actress Keiko Nishi at her cafe in Tokyo. 

Today I paid a visit to the cafe of actress Keiko Nishi, who is best remembered by tokusatsu fans in Japan and the U.S. as TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). In the late 1960s, she began her career as an actress for Nikkatsu Studios, appearing in several movies before the end of the decade. She also guest-starred in episodes of Ultraman Taro (1973-1974) and Silver Kamen (1971-72).

Even though the cafe was very busy by the time I came in, Nishi-san found the time to talk with me about various things, ranging from news in Japanese fandom to what we've been doing recently. It was an enjoyable conversation, and Nishi-san is always a gracious host.

CATCHING UP WITH TAC! Keiko Nishi Keeps a Watchful Eye in Ginza!

Yours truly with Ultraman Ace actress Keiko Nishi at her Ginza cafe.

Today I paid a visit to actress Keiko Nishi's cafe in Ginza. Nishi-san played TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). She's always friendly and happy to greet fans.

 

Nishi-san signs my commemorative book from the Genesis of Ultraman 1966-1980 exhibit in Yokosuka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While there, I was able to catch up with a couple of other friendly Ultra-fans who happened to be there. Take my word for it, folks: Japanese tokusatsu fans are the best in the world -- bar none!

This was just the beginning of a major week. A lot will be happening, so keep a close eye on this blog in the days to come for the report!

IT'S ULTRA-GOOD! Hanging Out with Ultraman Ace Stars!

Spending time with retired actress Keiko Nishi, one of the stars of Ultraman Ace.

Today I got a few autographs for a friend of mine who's a big fan of the Showa Ultra-series. Specifically, I got him the signatures of two Ultraman Ace (1972-73) stars. The first was Keiko Nishi, who played TAC member Noriko Mikawa. It was great to see Nishi-san again after the event with Koji Moritsugu. We talked about that and several other topics in her cafe.

With Ultraman Ace regular Shunichi Okita at his bar in Futako-Tamagawa. 

After that, I got the signature of Shunichi Okita, who portrayed TAC member Ichiro Yamanaka on the show. It had been a few months since I last saw Okita-san, but I was happy to catch up with him. I'm sure my friend will be quite excited to receive his Japanese-style shikishi board with the signatures in the mail!

ULTRA SEVEN AND ULTRAMAN ACE JOIN FORCES! Joli Chapeau Hosts Ultra-Legends!

Ultra Seven stands on guard in front of Joli Chapeau in Fujisawa, Kanagawa! Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Joli Chapeau played host to another Ultra-fan event on March 21, and this time the special guest was Keiko Nishi, who played Terrible Monster Attacking Crew (TAC) member Noriko Mikawa on Ultraman Ace (1972-73). The event was hosted by Koji Moritsugu, who, as Dan Moroboshi in Ultra Seven (1967-68), is easily one of the most popular figures in the Ultraman universe.

I've met Nishi-san several times at her cafe in Ginza over the years and have gotten to know her rather well. When I stepped in the door, she instantly recognized me. This was my third time meeting Moritsugu-san, and he is always a joy to meet. He is as approachable as he is energetic, which makes for a rather fun combination. He certainly enjoys mixing with his fans.

The event began with an autograph signing and was followed by a talk show, which naturally focused on their respective careers in the Ultra-series. The audience was enthusiastic and participated throughout the Q&A session.

After that, it was picture time! Everybody lined up for the obligatory photo sessions. The guests were happy to pose for photos, which is not always the case at such events in Japan. But, at Joli Chapeau, it is always guaranteed, which puts it above the others that don't.

The photos speak for themselves, so there isn't much need to elaborate. Overall, it was a fun event, and the guests were very friendly. Nishi-san and Moritsugu-san are always a blast to hang out with, and if my schedule permits, I'd love to attend the next event. Hopefully that can be arranged.

See you next time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2015 Kicks Off in a Big Way!

Visiting Godzilla series composer Riichiro Manabe in Kanagawa Prefecture.

January has finally arrived, and with it has come a new year. Things have already gotten busy. On January 2, I went to Kanagawa to see composer Riichiro Manabe and give him my holiday greetings personally. I brought him two boxes of manju, which he always enjoys. It's always a treat to see Manabe-san.

On the way back, I snapped a few photos of Odawara Castle from Odawara Station. With the birds flying nearby and sunset taking place, I thought the photos turned out rather well.

On January 3, my friend Yasushi and I paid a visit to Ultraman Ace actress Keiko Nishi at her cafe. Yasushi and I spent an enjoyable morning chatting with her and catching up on several topics. It was wonderful to she how well she was doing at the start of the new year.

We finished the morning taking some obligatory photos at the Godzilla statue at Hibiya Chanter Square. See how I dressed up for the occasion?

January is already off to a great start. Other events are in the works, so stay tuned!