Celebrating the New Year with a Toho VIP!

Toru Ibuki. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight (Wednesday, January 10), I had the distinct privilege of spending the evening with former Toho actor Toru Ibuki. Would you believe it had been about five years since I last met him? Ibuki-san turns 84 at the end of the month, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was still looking well. 

Toru Ibuki signs autographs. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Ibuki-san stays healthy by going for long walks and doing squats every day, which is hard even for me at my age!

I was able to attend a beginning-of-the-year party, at which Ibuki-san was the guest of honor. Ibuki-san and his daughter gave me a Godzilla-themed T-shirt as a gift, which I wasn't expecting but was more than pleased to receive. In honor of Ibuki-san's upcoming birthday, I presented him with not one but two omiyage boxes.

Of his own movies, Ibuki-san named Operation Enemy Fort (1962) as his favorite, as well as talking about some of his memories of Frank Sinatra in America. I asked Ibuki-san if he'd seen any movies recently, which he hasn't. I also enjoyed speaking to Ibuki-san's daughter on a wide range of topics.

Naturally, I couldn't resist bringing a few items to get signed, which Ibuki-san graciously did. The items were Blu-ray sleeves (of Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster and Terror of Mechagodzilla), as well as Godzilla Store cards of Sea Monster and Monster Zero. I told the attendees that Ibuki-san had a beard in Terror of Mechagodzilla, and, when I asked him if it was a real beard, he said it was.

The party lasted just over two hours, and I enjoyed every bit of it. I can't tell you how good it was to see Ibuki-san again after such a long time. It felt even better to see that he was doing well. Tonight was certainly an evening for the history books.

A Salute to Nobuyuki Yasumaru

Nobuyuki Yasumaru in September 2021. Photo by Brett Homenick.

January 24 marks what would have been Toho suitmaker Nobuyuki Yasumaru's 88th birthday. I was privileged to visit with him in late September 2021, which turned out to be mere months before he passed away on March 1, 2022. 

Safety first is the way it goes. Yasumaru-san wanted us to wear masks in this photo.

I interviewed him that day about a variety of topics I wasn't able to cover when I first interviewed him in December 2018. The second interview will hopefully be published in the next couple of months. Yasumaru-san discussed a variety of projects he worked on that usually don't get much coverage, so I think folks will enjoy it. We conducted the interview in a cafe near his home and changed locations afterward to continue the conversation. The photo above was taken in the second location.

During the time of COVID, first bumps have become more common in Japan. When Yasumaru-san met me at the train station on the day of the interview, he offered a fist bump, which I thought was extremely cool. I definitely wanted to recreate it in the photo above.

We exchanged New Year's cards a few months later. It turned out he sent his New Year's greetings to me literally just two months before he passed. I'm extremely grateful I got to spend time with Yasumaru-san, and I still miss him to this day. 

I just wanted to say a few words to celebrate his memory on what would have been his 88th birthday.

DEEP DIVE: Why Did Gorosaurus Replace Baragon in 'Destroy All Monsters'?

Nobuyuki Yasumaru in December 2018. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The topic of Gorosaurus' unexplained substitution for Baragon when the Arc of Triumph collapses in Destroy All Monsters (1968) has been the subject of speculation for decades. In the West, the most common explanation is that the Baragon suit, having been reused and recycled so many times since its debut in Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), just wasn't ready in time for the shoot, so the filmmakers decided to use Gorosaurus instead.

This, however, is not what happened, according to Gorosaurus suitmaker Nobuyuki Yasumaru. In December 2018, I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Yasumaru, who recounted the situation.

In the interview, Mr. Yasumaru states:

[T]he monster Baragon was supposed to destroy the Arc of Triumph in Destroy All Monsters (1968). However, he had big ears like an elephant that would get stuck inside the Arc of Triumph. So they decided to use Gorosaurus instead of Baragon.

This seems rather definitive to me, especially coming from the man who created the Gorosaurus suit. Of course, I would welcome any additional citations, as opposed to idle speculation and connecting-the-dots guesswork, to paint a fuller picture. It's always difficult to say with complete certainty what happened on movie sets 50 or 60 years ago, as participants pass away, and memories fade. But Mr. Yasumaru's recollections are probably about as close as we will come to knowing for sure.

In the Company of a Toho Legend!

With Nobuyuki Yasumaru.

On Sunday, September 26, I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with Toho suitmaker Nobuyuki Yasumaru. We spent the first few hours hanging out at a cafe before switching locations for an early pasta dinner. 

It was my first time seeing Yasumaru-san in three years. When we met at the train station, he gave me a fist bump, which we recreated for the photo above. 

This photo was taken after dinner. It was great to see Yasumaru-san again after such a long time. He truly is a Toho legend.

Japanese Superstars Gather at the Hotel New Otani!

Kon Omura, Takashi Sasano, Mitsuko Kusabue, and Akiko Santo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier tonight, I attended a special event featuring a bevy of Japanese luminaries from the entertainment and political world. It was held at the Hotel New Otani, and it was certainly one for the ages.

Kon Omura. Photo by Brett Homenick.

One of the headliners was actor Kon Omura, who is best known in the West for his comic-relief roles in Gamera vs. Guiron (1969) and Gamera vs. Jiger (1970). I had the privilege of meeting Omura-san last year, and I jumped at the chance of meeting him again, which is why I decided to attend. But there were a couple of cool surprises in store.

Mitsuko Kusabue. Photo by Brett Homenick.

A surprise guest who was presented a special award was Toho actress Mitsuko Kusabue. Kusabue-san isn't a name very familiar to Godzilla or tokusatsu fans. In terms of genre output, she appeared in the Toho SFX fantasy The Lost World of Sinbad (1963), but she is better known for her roles in dramas and comedies, such as Mikio Naruse's Yearning (1964) and the Shacho series of salaryman comedies.

Kon Omura, Takashi Sasano, and Mitsuko Kusabue talk onstage. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kusabue-san was given her award, delivered a speech, briefly socialized with the other guests, and was promptly whisked away, never to be seen again. Granted, that wasn't unexpected, but suffice it to say, it would have been great had she stuck around and mingled with the attendees. She's one of the few Toho actresses left who acted in the 1950s, so I'd definitely love the chance to pick her brain.

Mitsuko Kusabue. Photo by Brett Homenick.

But hey, seeing her in person was quite cool, and I did get to snap some photos of her, so considering I didn't expect to see her at all, anyway, it was a great bonus.

Akiko Santo. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

The other surprise for me was the presence of former actress (and current politician) Akiko Santo. Santo-san appeared in episode 28 of Kaiju Booska (1966-67), episode 3 of Mighty Jack (1968), and a couple of Moonlight Mask movies. However, his biggest genre credit is voicing Susan Watson (Linda Miller) in the Japanese release of King Kong Escapes (1967). She is currently a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet.

Naturally, a lot of people wanted to take photos of Santo-san, but when I finally had a chance, the first thing I did was mention that I was a big fan of King Kong Escapes, which of course amused her. Despite so many people vying for her attention, she spent a good amount of time with me and was very accommodating, so I'm especially grateful to her for her kindness.

Kon Omura. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last (but certainly not least) is the man himself, Kon Omura. Omura-san was also constantly being asked for photos by attendees, so his time was limited. But he couldn't have been any friendlier. When a bingo game was being played, Omura-san approached me and asked me if I was having a good time. I answered in the affirmative. It was things like that that made me appreciate him all the more.

I had a longer chat with Omura-san's wife, Yoko. I explained the Gamera series' popularity in the West and that Omura-san was dubbed into English in his Gamera films (which piqued her curiosity). I enjoyed getting the chance to talk about growing up with Gamera films with the wife of one of the series' most iconic performers.

When Omura-san stepped off the stage at the end of the event, I shook his hand and thanked him again for being such an incredible special guest. It was a great evening and actually much more fun than last year's event.

A Return to Tokyo Tower!

A nighttime view of Tokyo Tower. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Tokyo Tower is one of the most iconic locations in the genre of kaiju films, having been prominently featured in Mothra (1961) and King Kong Escapes (1967), among other films. On Friday evening, November 2, Jacob and I ascended the tower to take in the view, which was my first time in many years. Here's a sample of what we saw.

A Great Afternoon in Even Greater Company

On May 20, I once again had the distinct privilege of meeting former Toho actress Mie Hama again. Of course, most folks know her from either her Toho days or other film roles she's had, but these days she pursues a different path and has left her acting career happily in the past. It's always great to have a chance to meet her.

Celebrating 50 Years of Greatness

With actress Mie Hama. 

Today, I had the privilege of attending a special event with actress Mie Hama, the retired Toho star who appeared in the films King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and King Kong Escapes (1967), which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Of course, Hama-san's other international hit film, You Only Live Twice, is also celebrating 50 years.

The event itself was quite enjoyable. There was a rakugo performance followed by a lunch made with local cuisine. The highlight, of course, was meeting Hama-san again, who is always incredibly friendly.

Haruo Nakajima: A Monster Life Remembered

 Haruo Nakajima onstage at an event in Tokyo in March 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Word has started circulating that Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor who portrayed the King of the Monsters from 1954 until 1972, has just passed away at the age of 88. While Nakajima-san's uncanny acting ability inside the monster suit is what attracted his legions of fans around the world in the beginning, it was his warmth and friendliness outside the suit that made him an international legend.

I'm a firm believer that a picture is worth a thousand words (and then some), so I'd like to take this moment to share a few of the photos I've taken of Nakajima-san over the years.

Nakajima-san discusses the art of suit-acting at a Godzilla-related event in March 2015.

The year 1954 was a big one in the life of Nakajima-san. Not only did he play Godzilla in the King of the Monsters' first film, he also appeared in Akira Kurosawa's seminal Seven Samurai, often called the greatest Japanese film of all time.

Two heroes, coming to the rescue!

Nakajima-san and assistant SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano discuss working on King Kong Escapes (1967) under the direction of Eiji Tsuburaya in September 2015.

Suit-acting explained: Nakajima-san gesticulates as he demonstrates the finer points of bringing monsters to life.

"Two Godzillas! What does it mean?!" It means that Nakajima-san and his suit-acting successor Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla from 1984 until 1995) show the audience how to move like the King of the Monsters in October 2014.

Nakajima-san remembers working on his last film as Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) in September 2014.

Godzilla vs. Gigan star Hiroshi Ishikawa helps Nakajima-san with his microphone during a Q&A.

Nakajima-san talks shop next to Godzilla series star Akira Takarada at Super Festival in January 2016.

Nakajima-san joins King Kong Escapes co-stars Linda Miller and Akira Takarada at Super Festival.

Thank you for the memories, Nakajima-san. Rest in peace.

SPENDING AN AFTERNOON WITH A TOHO LEGEND! The Famed Actress Discusses Art and Culture!

With actress Mie Hama. 

On November 19, I was privileged to attend another event with actress Mie Hama. Hama-san is best known around the world as Kissy Suzuki from the James Bond thriller You Only Live Twice (1967), but for us Toho fans, nothing will top her roles in such films as King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and King Kong Escapes (1967). I've also been fortunate to see her acting in a myriad of other films, such as various Crazy Cats comedies.

The event had nothing at all to do with movies, and it was centered on gosho ningyo (palace dolls). As the only American in attendance, I stood out rather easily, and Hama-san called on me during her presentation, asking me several questions in Japanese. I did my best to answer, which was still quite lacking, but it was a memorable (and fun) experience indeed.

After her talk ended, we took a few photos together. It's always a great experience to see Hama-san, and I hope to have another chance next year.

THREE GIANT STARS: THE GREATEST REUNION ON EARTH! Akira Takarada, Yosuke Natsuki, and Linda Miller Join Forces in Tokyo!

Yosuke Natsuki, Linda Miller, and Akira Takarada pose for pictures at a special event in Nakano, Tokyo. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

January 11 saw the final of three events in Tokyo for Linda Miller during this visit. It was particularly special for Linda, as it was the first time she'd seen her old friend, Toho star Yosuke Natsuki, in more than 40 years.

The event took place on the 11th floor of the Nakano Sun Plaza, and (for my money) it was much more fun than yesterday's Super Festival.

Before the event, a Japanese fan sitting next to me asked me a question. He wanted to know if I was an actor in Japanese films. I laughed and assured him I wasn't. Last month, I was asked the same question at a different event. I wonder if a pattern is starting to develop.

Yosuke Natsuki signs autographs for the fans in attedance. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shortly thereafter, the three actors took the stage, and the Q&A session was hosted by Akira Takarada himself. (There was no other moderator; Takarada-san himself was it!) Linda recalled her memories of King Kong Escapes (1967), and then Takarada-san went over Natsuki-san's filmography. Takarada-san worked from a few notes, and it was clear he had done his homework. He came prepared with many facts and figures, even King Kong's weight and height!

Several times during the talk, I was asked questions by the actors onstage. For example, Takarada-san asked me who the monsters were in Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (since the Japanese title doesn't exactly make it clear). Much to my surprise, Takarada-san spent some time talking about me to the audience (describing my time in Nakatsugawa, etc.).

Natsuki-san asked Linda some questions about her experience making King Kong Escapes and then talked about the conversation that he and I had, which eventually led to Linda's discovery. In addition, when he mentioned that he was in the movie The H-Man (1958) for one cut, he looked at me for conformation. (Since Natsuki-san appears in two different scenes, it's a bit more accurate to say he was in two cuts.) Suffice it to say, it was a lot of fun to interact with three great Toho stars from the audience.

Once the Q&A wrapped, it was time for autographs. Shortly going through everybody's line, I had to leave for work.

It was a great event, and before I left, I commended Ms. Kojima on another job well done. I had a great time, and I look forward to attending other such events in the future.

MORE PHOTOS! Super Festival Lives Up to Its Name!

Linda Miller and Akira Takarada share a laugh about King Kong Escapes (1967).

Haruo Nakajima discusses playing King Kong, as Akira Takarada listens in.

Almost 50 years later, Akira Takarada and Linda Miller still look great!

Yuuta Mochizuki discusses Kamen Rider J (1994) and Keita Amemiya.

With Return of Ultraman suit actor Eiichi Kikuchi.

Nobuyuki Ishida and Mirrorman wow the audience at Super Festival.

With Akira Takarada.

With Haruo Nakajima.

Jirass invades Super Festival!

Ultra Seven and Red King bury the hatchet long enough to shop for toys.

Mirrorman masks!