Ultra Seven Is Back!

Koji Moritsugu (left) poses with actor Hassei Takano. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

On Saturday, November 10, I attended another event with Koji Moritsugu, the actor who starred in Ultra Seven (1967-68) as Dan Moroboshi. It'd been a year since my last visit, and I was long overdue for a return.

Hassei Takano can be seen in Ultraman Gaia (1998-99) as Hiroya Fujimiya (Ultraman Agul), Kamen Rider Ryuki (2002-03) as Miyuki Tezuka (Kamen Rider Raia), Kamen Rider: The First (2005) and Kamen Rider: The Next (2007) as Hayato Ichimonji, Ultraseven X (2007) as Saku's humanSuperior Ultraman 8 Brothers (2008) as Hiroya Fujimiya once again, among other tokusatsu appearances.

Moritsugu-san, as always, was a lot of fun, and my interactions with him were hilarious. He enjoys mingling with the fans and is always quick with a joke.

I think you can see the evidence in my expression in the above photo, as I was reacting to something he said to me. Suffice it to say, he's a blast!

ULTRA SEVEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE! Koji Moritsugu Looks Back with an Ultra Eye!

Actor Koji Moritsugu poses for the paparazzi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Ultra Seven celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, and who better to celebrate it with than Koji Moritsugu, who starred on the series as Dan Moroboshi, the human form of Ultra Seven. Moritsugu-san held another event at his restaurant, and for the first time in a long time, the timing worked out in my favor.

Koji Moritsugu: Then and now! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Because there was no other guest (as there usual are at the shindigs), the focus was on the fans to ask questions of Moritsugu-san. When my turn came, I asked him whom he thought was the best director on Ultra Seven. He answered that Kazuho Mitsuta was the best. However, he said that Akio Jissoji was also quite good, even though he was a bit strange!

It was another fun evening at Moritsugu-san's restaurant with many friendly people. I hope it's not another several months before I'm able to return!

ULTRA SEVEN IN CONCERT! From the Eye Slugger to Chanson!

Actor Koji Moritsugu performs chanson live. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On the evening of July 22, I was fortunate to see actor Koji Moritsugu (who starred as Dan Moroboshi on Ultra Seven) perform chanson at his restaurant. Moritsugu-san really threw himself into his performance.

I recognized a few of my friends and acquaintances at the event, and even was able to say hello to another actor, Hiroyuki Takano, who was in attendance for the chanson performance.

Afterwards, I was able to greet Moritsugu-san and exchange a few words with him. But, given his enduring popularity and all the other fans vying for his attention, it was difficult to do more than that. Still, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the other side of Ultra Seven!

YURIKO HISHIMI'S NEW BOOK! 50 Years of Ultra Seven!

The year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the superhero classic Ultra Seven (1967-68), which remains widely popular in Japan. In honor of the show's milestone, Shogakukan has published a brand-new, 256-page softcover memoir by actress Yuriko Hishimi, who played Anne Yuri on the series. (Hishimi-san would be better known to Westerners as the karate-kickin' Tomoko Tomoe in Godzilla vs. Gigan.)

I'm pleased to report that the publisher mailed me a copy of the book today and that my name is listed among the contributors. (You can read it in katakana in the image above.) Suffice it to say, I was happy to help. The book can be ordered on amazon.com here.

Here's to 50 years of Ultra Seven! Congratulations to Hishimi-san!

DAN MOROBOSHI AND AKIKO FUJI TEAM UP IN FUJISAWA! Two Popular Ultra-Stars Share the Stage!

Koji Moritsugu and Hiroko Sakurai talk to the audience about the Ultra-memories. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, September 12, I traveled to Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture to attend a talk show event hosted at Joli Chapeau. Actor Koji Moritsugu (Ultra Seven's Dan Moroboshi) and actress Hiroko Sakurai (Ultra Q's Yuriko Edogawa and Ultraman's Akiko Fuji) were scheduled to sign autographs and meet their fans at a special event with limited attendance.

Koji Moritsugu remains one of the most popular alumni from the entire Ultra-series. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Actors from Ultraman (1966-67) and Ultra Seven (1967-68) tend to be the most popular from the decades-long series among Japanese fans, and it is always a treat when actors from the two shows share the stage. It also means it's usually difficult to see, as tickets for such events sell out extremely quickly.

Actress Hiroko Sakurai was in great spirits, often laughing with Moritsugu-san. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The event started with autograph signings, and it's always interesting to see the memorabilia that Japanese fans bring to get signed. I brought in my trusty The Genesis of Ultraman 1966-1980 book for both guests to sign. Moritsugu-san signed another page of the book (he signed it elsewhere last month), and Sakurai-san added her signature to it.

Coming to the rescue! Photo by Brett Homenick.

I also asked Sakurai-san to sign my DVD sleeve of the Toho comedy Aloha 3 Gents (1963), directed by Shue Matsubayashi. Along with Machiko Naka (Godzilla's Revenge), Sakurai-san plays one of Hisaya Morishige's daughters. Sakurai-san was quite surprised to see the DVD sleeve and commented on how nostalgic it made her feel.

After that, the guests sat down and had a free-flowing conversation. They compared it to manzai, a two-person form of Japanese comedy, and after seeing it, that's not a bad description at all! Sakurai-san could not keep a straight face, as she was laughing most of the time. Moritsugu-san is quite a jokester, and he kept Sakurai-san in stitches.

Once the two guests had finished their interview, it was time for pictures to be taken. If you thought I was kidding about Moritsugu-san's comedic antics, well, just look at the photo below. I think a picture really is worth a thousand words!

Overall, I had a fantastic time. Moritsugu-san is always a blast to hang out with, and Sakurai-san is always a joy to see. As usual, more cool things are in the works, so keep it here for all the inside info!

KOJI MORITSUGU AND MASANARI NIHEI JOIN FORCES! The Legendary Tsuburaya Actors Team Up in Fujisawa!

Koji Moritsugu (left) and Masanari Nihei (right) reminisce their heroic outings at Tsuburaya Productions. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

August 15 saw a special event at Joli Chapeau in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, that brought Koji Moritsugu (Ultra Seven's Dan Moroboshi) and Masanari Nihei (Ito/Ide from Ultraman) together for a Q&A and signing event.

Masanari Nihei spoke about working for Toho and Tsuburaya Productions. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Nihei-san began by talking about his film career at Toho, working on tokusatsu classics like Mothra (1961) and Gorath (1962). After that, the conversation shifted to Tsuburaya Productions, which is, of course, what the audience wanted to hear.

Koji Moritsugu offers his thoughts during the Q&A session. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Overall, the event was another success, and it followed the usual pattern of fan events organized by Joli Chapeau. The first event is the autograph session, followed by the Q&A, and the final event is the photo session.

Yours truly with Masanari Nihei. Although he is mostly celebrated for his roles in Tsuburaya TV productions, I have to admit that I'm more a fan of his Toho film work.

Nihei-san was every bit as jolly and gregarious as I expected him to be. Moritsugu-san was as friendly as usual. At one point during the photo session, he was humming John Barry's James Bond theme music! Suffice it to say, he's a fun guy to hang around.

Your humble blogmeister with Dan Moroboshi himself, Koji Moritsugu.

I had a blast, and I'm very thankful for finally having a chance to meet Nihei-san. It's always great to meet Toho actors, and he appears in quite a few classics. His work on Ultraman will always be his most famous work, but as a movie guy, I have to give the nod to his Toho films.

That's a wrap! See you all next time!

ULTRA SEVEN RETURNS! Koji Moritsugu Hosts Fans in Fujisawa!

Ultra-stars Koji Moritsugu (left) and Shota Minami (right) pose for photos after a recent talk show event at Joli Chapeau. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

May 23 saw a joint talk show and autograph event at Koji Moritsugu's cafe Joli Chapeau in Fujisawa, Kanagawa. Moritsugu-san played Dan Moroboshi in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Seven (1967-68), which is perhaps the most popular Ultra-series of them all.

Moritsugu-san usually has an Ultra-related guest to join him for his fan events, and this time he was joined by actor Shota Minami. Minami-san played Rei in the TV series Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2008–2009), as well as Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends - The Movie (2009). Minami-san seemed to attract several younger women to the event who were rather eager to meet him.

After signing autographs for the attendees, Moritsugu-san and Minami-san settled in for their talk show. Led by Moritsugu-san, the pair swapped stories about working in the Ultra-series, as well as attending the various fan events related to the franchise. At one point, on the subject of Hong Kong, Moritsugu-san started using a few random English phrases, which drew laughter from the audience. Naturally, I laughed, too!

After the two fielded questions from the audience, the two guests posed for photos. As usual, Moritsugu-san was extremely friendly and outgoing, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Minami-san was, too. He certainly seemed very appreciative of his fans.

Another successful event wrapped, and I had another wonderful time. I must thank Moritsugu-san for his hospitality and Minami-san for being a wonderful guest. I am looking forward to the next time I can attend Moritsugu-san's fan meetings. They're Ultra-good!

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!

ULTRA-COOL! Koji Moritsugu and Hiroko Sakurai Rock Fujisawa!

Ultra-icons Koji Moritsugu and Hiroko Sakurai recall their Tsuburaya days at Joli Chapeau in Fujisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On August 16, the Joli Chapeau cafe in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, played host to two of the biggest icons in the history of Tsuburaya Productions. Koji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi in Ultra Seven) and Hiroko Sakurai (Yuriko Edogawa in Ultra Q and Akiko Fuji in Ultraman) held a talk show and signing event at the cafe. And what a perfect location it was, considering that it's owned by Moritsugu-san himself!

I had a bit of trouble finding the cafe, but with an assist from Moritsugu-san's daughter, Aya, I was able to make it to the venue just in time. The autograph session was first, so I brought a couple of Ultra Seven items (a DVD sleeve previously signed by Yuriko Hishimi and a magazine) for Moritsugu's signature. For Sakurai-san, I brought a Japanese book on the heroines of the Ultra-series (already signed by Yuriko Hishimi and Keiko Nishi), as well as a DVD sleeve of 3 Gents in Hawaii (1963).

What is 3 Gents in Hawaii, you ask? It's an entry in the long-running Shacho series, with Hisaya Morishige, Keiju Kobayashi, and Daisuke Kato. In the film, she plays one of the daughters of Morishige's company-president character. Sakurai-san laughed when she saw the DVD sleeve and was amazed that I knew about the film. She showed the DVD sleeve to Moritsugu-san, who was just as surprised as she was! Sakurai-san asked me where I was from in America, and when I mentioned San Diego, she recalled that she attended the San Diego Comic-Con several years ago.

I last met Moritsugu-san at a special talk show event at Ultra Festival two years ago. Our meeting at that time was very brief, but Aya explained to me that Moritsugu-san remembered me from that event! I was quite surprised, to say the least. I told him that I also admired his performance in Zero (1984), which he was surprised (there's that word again!) I had seen it.

Overall, it was a fantastic event, and I'm very glad I went. I had never met Hiroko Sakurai prior to this occasion. Even though she had been a staple on the fan-event circuit in Japan for many years, I just never had the opportunity to meet her. I'm so glad to have finally changed that.

When she was leaving, she sought me out and shook my hand. Naturally, I was very honored. Sakurai-san and Moritsugu-san are the real deals. I hope to attend another event at Joli Chapeau in the future!

ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012: 45 Years of Ultra Seven!

This year's Ultraman Festival in Ikebukuro focused on the 45th anniversary of Ultra Seven (1967-68). In attendance on August 10 was Koji Moritsugu, who starred as Dan Moroboshi (Ultra Seven's alter ego) in the series. Not only did I meet Mr. Moritsugu, but I also met his daughter, Aya, who was there to assist him. Aya was very friendly and spoke very good English, having lived in the U.S. for some time. It was a fun event, so I'll let the photos speak for themselves!