TOEI KYOTO STUDIO PARK! Revisiting This Kyoto-Based Ninja and Superhero Theme Park!

Welcome to Toei Kyoto Studio Park! Photo by Brett Homenick. 

In the summer of 2011, I made my first trip to Toei Kyoto Studio Park, taking in all the sights there were to see. Six years later, I wanted to do it all over again, so during my recent trip to Kansai, I set aside a couple of hours for my return to the theme park.

Don't let the "theme park" description mislead you, though. This isn't anything like Universal Studios. For one thing, the Edo-era sets seen in the park are actually used for the filming of Japanese TV shows and movies. (This is still a working studio.)

There are live ninja stage shows, a spooky haunted house, a film archive with movie memorabilia on display, a museum dedicated to actress/singer Hibari Misora (complete with a statue of the Japanese icon), and an area of the park called Hero Land with live-size replicas of the various incarnations of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. There's something for everyone here, and if you look hard enough, you can even find Godzilla and Eiji Tsuburaya! Follow this link for more info about the park.

Now, on to the photos.

NARA PARK! Feeding Wild Deer Some Delicious Shika Sembei!

 Signage in Nara Park warns visitors of the potential dangers of interacting with the wild deer. Photo by Brett Homenick.

During my trip to Kansai, I made a brief visit to Nara, which is accessible from Kyoto on the JR Nara Line. One of my goals was to visit Nara Park where wild sika deer roam freely and can be fed shika sembei (deer crackers) that can be purchased by visitors at the park. While some deer are well behaved and perform a bow to show their desire for a cracker, others are not so calm. It's not uncommon for deer to tug at your shirt or to try to snatch the crackers from your hand. Remember, these are wild animals. Treat them as such. 

Here are my photos from my wild sika deer encounter. Enjoy!

FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA! Walking Through a Sea of Torii Gates in Kyoto!

Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Despite having visited Kyoto in the past, one tourist location that I'd missed was Fushimi Inari Taisha, located just outside of Inari Station on the JR Nara Line. What sets this shrine apart from all the rest are the seemingly endless torii gates you pass through on the hike along Inariyama. While Fushimi Inari Taisha may not be as well known as the Golden Pavilion or many of the the other more famous tourist spots in Kyoto, it still gets very crowded. Luckily, I was able to take a few photos of the torii gates without any tourists in them -- but just a few!

Unwrapping Bob Strickland, Kyoto's Resident Mummy Actor and Restaurateur

Bob Strickland (center) poses for a photo with rock star David Bowie, who often visited Kyoto.

In 2015, I blogged about the Japanese horror TV series Kyofu no Miira (1961), which is about a reanimated mummy. The series starred an American named Bob Strickland in the role of the mummy, and shortly after I became aware of his part in the series, I set out to contact him.

After doing some research, I found that he lived in Kyoto and owned a restaurant in the area. I made a call to the restaurant and spoke with his widow, Tokiko, who informed me that Strickland had died the year before.

Bob Strickland (second from the left) at his company, Continental Trailways Bus System.

It wasn't until the end of last month that I was able to return to Kyoto and set aside enough time to visit the restaurant myself in an attempt to find out more about Bob Strickland. I was warmly welcomed by Tokiko, who made available her various scrapbooks about her late husband and their restaurant. The following information about Strickland and his restaurant were culled from the various clippings found in the scrapbooks, as well as my conversations with Tokiko.

Bob Strickland in between former Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Muriel Humphrey.

Bob Strickland was born in Capitol Hill, Oklahoma. His family moved to California during his youth. There he attended Long Beach City College and Long Beach State College, from which he graduated in 1956. During his time in Los Angeles, Strickland worked as a bank clerk.

Former President Bill Clinton and Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks (and his family) have been among the many patrons at Ashiya Steak House.

In the beginning, Strickland arrived in Japan with the intention of becoming a student and probably had no expectations of becoming an entertainer. After arriving, he learned Japanese for about three years at the Kyoto Japanese Language School. He also studied Japanese art history simultaneously at Kyoto University. While a student, Strickland worked various jobs in the area to earn a living.

Bob Strickland and his wife, Tokiko.

Strickland eventually became a member of a comedy troupe called Warai no Okoku (Kingdom of Laughter) in Osaka where he apprenticed under Gannosuke Ashiya, a popular Osaka comedian. This apprenticeship more or less required Bob to become a gofer for Ashiya. Together, the two appeared on TV, the stage, and in three movies, and Bob drew attention for his performing in a regional Japanese dialect.

 The outside of Ashiya Steak House in Kyoto. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Two and a half years later, Bob was presented with the stage name Ashiya Ganta, which was likely the first time an American (or even a foreigner) was given such an honor. Given the boundless appreciation that Strickland had for his mentor, Bob legally changed his name to Robert Ashiya Ganta Strickland.

Tokiko remains busy at Ashiya Steak House to this day. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Not long thereafter, Strickland became the president of Continental Trailways Bus System. Moreover, Strickland and his wife, Tokiko, also founded Ashiya Steak House in Kyoto. Strickland designed the restaurant himself down to the smallest detail. The building itself was extremely old, having been unoccupied for about 10 years. His wife wanted to modernize the restaurant, but Strickland refused and wanted it to remain as authentic as possible. He even went so far as to wear a kimono and bow to his patrons in the traditional Japanese way.

Yours truly with Tokiko at Ashiya Steak House.

The high-priced steakhouse and gallery has attracted a number of celebrities and luminaries since its opening in the 1960s, including: former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Fowler, former Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott (R-PA), former U.S. ambassador to Italy Clare Boothe Luce, and of course many Japanese movie stars like Ken Takakura. More recently, former President Bill Clinton and actors Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood have dined there.

I had a wonderful time meeting Tokiko at Ashiya Steak House, and I'd recommend it to anyone who can afford spending a couple of hundreds of dollars on a delicious steak dinner. (Suffice it to say, it is most certainly not for travelers on a budget.) I'm also pleased to have unwrapped the mystery of the American actor who starred as a mummy in a Japan TV series more than 50 years ago.

ALL-NIGHT FILM FEST IN KYOTO! Actor Teruo Yoshida Greets Fans in Kansai!

Actor Teruo Yoshida ponders a question about his career in Kyoto. Photo by Brett Homenick.

During the evening of August 15 (and the morning of August 16), the Kyoto Minami Kaikan hosted an all-night film festival devoted to Japanese horror movies. The three features on tap were Goke Body Snatcher from Hell (1968), House of Terrors (a.k.a. The Ghost of the Hunchback, 1965), and The Ring (1998).

The first feature of the evening was Goke, and while the print was a bit worn, it still was a sight to behold on the big screen. Following the movie, a Q&A session with the film's star, Teruo Yoshida, was held onstage. Yoshida-san also starred in the controversial Horrors of the Malformed Men (1969) and appears in Yasujiro Ozu's An Autumn Afternoon (1962).

Yoshida-san spoke for a while about his career, but after his interview was finished, he left the stage, and that was it. The staff then distributed pre-signed autographs from Yoshida-san to those who purchased them. Naturally, it was disappointing not to meet the guest of honor, but this seems to be the norm with events sponsored by Cast Co.

The next feature was the rarely seen Toei thriller House of Terrors, which can only be viewed these days via an Italian-dubbed release. The print screened at the festival was beautiful, and it was great to see the film on the big screen the way it was meant to be seen.

Following House of Terrors, I did my best to get some sleep, completely missing out on The Ring. I still had a full day ahead of me, so I had to try to get some shut-eye!

By the way, when I was browsing the merchandise tables, I saw some copies of Ifukube 100 CD for sale. Obviously, folks in Japan have taken notice! From what I understand, this year's Symphonic Fury concert was by far the coolest kaiju-related event in Chicago all summer. That's not hard to believe at all.

All-night film festivals are not my cup of tea, but once in a while they can be fun. The last time I attended one was in 2011 at the same venue. Akira Kubo was the guest of honor. While I'm not sure if I'd return to Kyoto for another such event, I'll keep my options open. If it's a good lineup, I may just hop on the shinkansen again!

SCENES FROM KYOTO! A Brief Stop in Japan's Old Capital!

A beautiful nighttime view of Toji Temple in Kyoto. Photo by Brett Homenick.

For the first time in nearly four years, I paid a visit to Kyoto, Japan, on August 15, staying overnight until the early morning of August 16. (More on that in an upcoming blog post.) As Kyoto is Japan's former capital (and it was spared the worst of World War II), it is replete with history.

A daytime view of Toji Temple. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I wasn't in Kyoto to sight-see, and I had very little time to do much more than visit the surrounding areas near Kyoto Station. But it was great to see Toji Temple again after so many years. It was certainly nice to photograph it with my upgraded camera.

I hope I'll get another chance to look around at the city in greater detail. Kyoto has so much to offer, and even though I was there for three days in 2011, I still missed quite a bit (such as Kiyomizu-dera). If only shinkansen tickets weren't so expensive!

As much as I wanted to go up Kyoto Tower (which Godzilla destroyed in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II with his atomic ray), circumstances prevented that. At least that was something I did get to do back in 2011. That will have to be added to the to-do list for next time!

Kyoto Tower's observation deck gives its patrons an excellent view of the city. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Naturally, I couldn't go to Kyoto without actually visiting Kyoto Station, itself a location of the climactic battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3 (1999). While I'm not a huge fan of that film, it's always interesting to see such pieces of kaiju eiga history in person.

Kyoto Station, as seen from the outside. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After leaving Kyoto, I made my way to Osaka. It was actually my first time to visit the city, which was always something I wanted to do. Stay tuned for more details!

Gamera and Irys once battled here: An inside view of Kyoto Station. Photo by Brett Homenick.

All in all, I truly enjoyed revisiting Kyoto, as bleary-eyed as I was to be there. Why was I so bleary-eyed? Keep it here for the full report!

JAPAN MUMMY MYSTERY! The American Star of a Japanese Mummy Series IDed!

Flipping through a book on obscure Japanese hero programs that I bought today, I found a show called Kyofu no Miira (1961), which was a short-lived horror drama about a mummy.

What really caught my eye, though, was that the mummy was played by an American! His name (which was rendered in katakana) is Bob Strickland, and once I realized that I could actually speak to Kharis' Japanese counterpart directly, I made a mad dash to try to find him.

It turns out he owned a rather famous steakhouse in Kyoto with his Japanese wife, and once I got the number, I gave the restaurant a call. I spoke with his wife Tokiko who informed me that Bob died last year.

While I was certainly let down by the news, Tokiko was a sweet lady, and I enjoyed speaking with her. But it looks like the mystery of the Japanese mummy will live on forever...

Yasuhiko Fukuda puts his Kyoto fans in a Neci-Coma!

Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda performed live kaiju music at the Kyoto Minami Kaikan on December 10, 2011.

A name with which most Western kaiju eiga enthusiasts are likely unfamiliar is that of Yasuhiko Fukuda. No surprise, as Fukuda's tokusatsu credits are rather sparse. That said, even if most U.S. fans haven't heard his name, they most certainly know his music.

One of the last honest-to-goodness giant monster movies to come from Japan in recent years was Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008), Minoru Kawasaki's feature-length parody of the kaiju eiga genre. While the film is mostly held in low regard by practically everyone who's seen it, one aspect of the movie has tended to fare a bit better.

That would be the infectious Take-Majin chant ("Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma!"), which is probably going to be Monster X's enduring legacy (if such a word can apply to a movie like that!).

Attendees at Kyoto Minami Kaikan's December 10 kaiju all-nighter got a rare treat. Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda, who penned the music to Monster X Strikes Back, was invited as a special guest, and he performed various bits of monster movie music. This included a live performance of that catchy Take-Majin chant, which I was able to record. The video of the performance is below:

I also captured other parts of Fukuda's talk show/musical demonstration, and those videos are included for your viewing pleasure!