WALKING WITH A FRIEND! Two Toho Veterans Talk About Their Film Together!

Choei Takahashi (left) looks on as Koichi Ueda (right) signs an autograph. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight, I was pleased to attend a special dinner event with two special actors. The event followed a screening of their film Walking with a Friend (2013), which I had to miss due to my work schedule. But the dinner event was well worth attending.

Actor Choei Takahashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was particularly eager to meet actor Choei Takahashi. Takahashi-san played the lead role in the Toho thriller Lake of Dracula (1971), the middle entry in the great Bloodthirsty trilogy. Actors from that film are especially difficult to meet, so the chance to meet the film's star was one I couldn't pass up. I brought a couple of Lake of Dracula stills for him to sign.

Actor Koichi Ueda. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was Koichi Ueda, a prolific Japanese actor whose career still thrives to this day. Most tokusatsu fans in the West probably know that Ueda-san appeared in every Godzilla movie from Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) through Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). (He told me that his role in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah was his favorite of all his Godzilla appearances.) His other SFX and fantasy credits include: Kaiju Booska (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Ultraman Taro (1973-74), Jumborg Ace (1973), and Barom-1 (1972). However, his best-known credit of all would likely be Shall We Dance? (1996).

I especially had a great time speaking with Ueda-san, who is extremely approachable and friendly. I certainly hope to have another chance to visit with him some day. Likewise, I hope to have another chance to see Takahashi-san again. I'd sure love to hear his stories from the set of Lake of Dracula!

That's all for now. Stay tuned to this blog for all the latest happenings!

GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH! A Special Screening with Very Special Guests!

Writer-director Kazuki Omori (left) and actor Koichi Ueda (right) reminisce about making Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Today, I attended a great screening of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) in 35mm. Attending the screening were writer-director Kazuki Omori and actor Koichi Ueda.

Director Kazuki Omori describes filming Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The film print was showing some wear and tear, but overall it looked very good. I hadn't seen the film in its entirety for a long time, so there were a few things I'd forgotten. Overall, despite some glaring SFX flaws, I think the film holds up well.  

Actor Koichi Ueda recalls his many Godzilla films. Photo by Brett Homenick.

This was my second time meeting Koichi Ueda. I first met him two years ago at the memorial event for Koichi Kawakita at Toho Studios. I found him to be a kind, soft-spoken gentleman at the time, and that impression was only reinforced at this event. 

Yours truly in between Kazuki Omori and Koichi Ueda. 

Godzilla fans may know Koichi Ueda from his various supporting roles in the Godzilla series (he appears in every Godzilla film between Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla: Final Wars), and general audiences may recognize him from his turns in prestige pictures like Shall We Dance? (1996), but Ueda-san actually got his start in acting by apprearing in tokusatsu TV programs. With appearances in series like Kaiju Booska (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Ultraman Taro (1973-74), Jumborg Ace (1973), and even Barom-1 (1972), among others, it's interesting to note that Ueda-san's tokusatsu career isn't more appreciated in the West.

Ueda-san had to leave a bit early, but I was able to spend a bit of time in his company. He's a very soft-spoken gentleman, much different from his onscreen role in King Ghidorah as the Lagos Island veteran who yells about the existence of dinosaurs through a loudspeaker.

Over the past couple of days, I've been able to spend quite a bit of time in Kazuki Omori's company, and even though I've met him twice before, I've never seen him in a better mood. Of course, I last met him at Koichi Kawakita's memorial event at Toho Studios, and it's easy to see why a person might not be in the best of spirits at such an occasion. So it's a very positive difference. It certainly made for an incredible weekend!

HONORING KOICHI KAWAKITA: Toho Studios Hosts a Memorial Ceremony for the Late SFX Director

With actor Koichi Ueda at the Koichi Kawakita memorial celebration, taking place at Toho Studios.

I've just returned home from a moving celebration honoring the life and career of Godzilla series SFX director Koichi Kawakita. For me, things got started on the Odakyu Line platform at Noborito Station. There I happened upon Heisei series director Takao Okawara, who was also waiting for the train to arrive. After we entered, Millennium series SFX director Eiichi Asada boarded the train, wearing a surgical mask. I watched as Asada-san approached Okawara-san and introduce himself. The two talked until getting off at Seijo-gakuen-mae Station, at which point I shook hands with the gentlemen and introduced myself. Both were surprised that I recognized them and knew who they were!

Former Toho SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano poses in front of the memorial. Nakano-san gave a moving speech, honoring his colleague.

When I arrived at Toho, screenwriter Wataru Mimura was also making his way there. I also ran into my friend Yasushi. The celebration was a veritable who's who of Toho, including: Godzilla suit actors Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma, directors Yoshimitsu Banno and Kazuki Omori, producer Shogo Tomiyama, SFX directors Teruysohi Nakano, Kenji Suzuki, and Eiichi Asada, actor Koichi Ueda, Shinichi Wakasa, Hurricane Ryu, Yoshikazu Ishii, Hiroshi Sagae, and many others.

As you can see above, Godzilla was even on hand, smashing a city. It was an appropriate tribute to a man who had directed the Big G in many such situations.

With writer-director Kazuki Omori, who wrote and directed Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991).

Before the ceremony got under way, attendees met and mingled with one another. It was quite nice to see old friends and colleagues excitedly coming up to one another and reminiscing about old times. I walked around the studio and caught up with a number of old friends and acquaintances.

With Millennium series SFX director Eiichi Asada.

I introduced myself to actor Koichi Ueda, who was in numerous Heisei and Millennium Godzilla films, not to mention the original version of Shall We Dance? (1996). Ueda-san was very friendly and a pleasure to speak with.

Hanging out with a man who needs no introduction, Haruo Nakajima.

After the memorial began, Teruyoshi Nakano, Kazuki Omori, and Shogo Tomiyama addressed the audience and paid tribute to Kawakita-san. Nakano-san's speech in particular was quite moving. When he finished by saying "Kawakita-kun, sayonara," the finality of Kawakita-san's passing swept through the studio.

Director Masaaki Tezuka, the most prolific of the Millennium series directors.

Following the speeches, when I was taking pictures around the studio, I got a tap on the shoulder. It was Sonoe Nakajima, Haruo Nakajima's daughter. We said hello, and of course I greeted Nakajima-san himself, who was in great spirits.

SFX director Kenji Suzuki and screenwriter Wataru Mimura.

As I was leaving, I got another tap on the shoulder. This time it was Shogo Tomiyama, who thanked me for coming. What better way to end the evening?

Suit actors Hurricane Ryu (left) and Kenpachiro Satsuma (right) reminisce about their Toho days.

When the event finished, Wataru Mimura, Yasushi, and scenario writer Fuko Takano went to the Italian restaurant Saizeriya for dinner. The food was delicious, and the mood was light. I think we all needed to lighten the mood after the attending the ceremony.

Rest in peace, Kawakita-san. Thank you for the memories and the movies.