Roll with the Changeman!

 From left to right: Jun Fujimaki, Mai Oishi, and Shiro Izumi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I'm not the world's biggest Super Sentai fan, but even I know when such an event is just too good to pass up. Today's Showa Hero event was just that. The focus was Dengeki Sentai Changeman (1985-86), and the presence of one guest in particular was more than enough to motivate me to attend.

Jun Fujimaki. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

That guest was Jun Fujimaki. Fujimaki-san played Kogenta Sarumaru in Daimajin (1966), Yasutaro Oki in 100 Monsters (1968), JGSDF officer Okazaki from Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), and Commander Yui Ibuki in Changeman. Suffice it to say, that is an impressive list of credits,  and Fujimaki-san's appearance is what put it over the top for me.

I brought a few items for him to sign. One was a foldout poster of 100 Monsters (already signed by composer Chumei Watanabe), and after he signed it, he spent a few moments taking a close look at it. When I brought out my DVD sleeve of the Daiei flick The Falcon Fighters (1969) for him to sign, he was pleasantly surprised and commented on how nostalgic it was for him. He also signed a DVD sleeve of 100 Monsters, which I previously had signed by the female lead, Miwa Takada. Fujimaki-san was a total gentleman, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to meet him.

Mai Oishi. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

The next guest was Mai Oishi, who starred as Change Phoenix on Changeman. Even though I hadn't seen year for a while, she remembered me from the previous time we met.

Oishi-san is a great lady, and it's the fine folks like her who've made me more interesting in checking out Super Sentai.

Shiro Izumi. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

The final guest was Shiro Izumi, who was Change Pegasus from Dengeki Sentai Changeman and Dragon Ranger from Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (1992-93).

And that's a wrap! It was another fun event, and a great way to spend an afternoon. Many thanks to the hard-working staff who made this event possible. Looking forward to the next one!

SUPER SENTAI IN A FLASH! Flashman Alums Team Up with the Toei All-Stars!

Now that's a photo that puts the "super" in Super Sentai! Who are all these actors? Keep reading to find out! 

Today I attended another performance by various alumni of the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series. It was a lot of fun, as usual, and in particular I enjoyed a rather lengthy chat with actress Hitomi Yoshii. Anyway, with that said, let's get on to the photos!

A Flashman reunion! With Tota Tarumi (Red Flash), Miyuki Nagato (Wolk), Sayoko Hagiwara (Leh Nafel), and Kihachiro Uemura (Green Flash).

The ladies of Toei! Mai Oishi (Change Phoenix from Changeman), Miyuki Nagato, Sayoko Hagiwara (Dyna Pink from Dynaman), and Yumiko Tanaka (Harumi Kusanami from Kamen Rider Super-1).

From left to right: Koji Unoki (Dyna Blue from Dynaman), Mai Oishi, Hitomi Yoshii (High Priestess Bishium from Kamen Rider Black), and Kenju Hayashi (Prince Megiddo from Dynaman).

From left to right: Ryosuke Sakamoto (Red One from Bioman), Lisa Komaki (Peggy Matsuyama from Goranger), Hiroyuki Takano (Kentaro Shiratori from Barom-1), and Toshimichi Takahashi (from just about everything!).

HENSHIN! An Afternoon with Toei Heroes!

In the back row (from left to right): Hitomi Yoshii, Kihachiro Uemura, Ryosuke Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Takano, Toshimichi Takahashi, Mai Oishi, Sumiko Tanaka, Kenju Hayashi, and Koji Unoki. In the front row (from left to right): Sayoko Hagiwara, Yumiko Tanaka, yours truly, Juri Miyazawa, and Lisa Komaki. Whew!

Today I attended another special event featuring many cast members from Toei superhero series. The number of guests was by far the largest I've attended so far. Anyway, here's the breakdown.

Here I am with Mai Oishi who played Change Phoenix in Dengeki Sentai Changeman (1985-86). She also portrayed one of the young guardians of the Iga Crystal on episodes 19, 20, 31, 49, 50, and 51 of Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-84), as well as the villainous Girl 2 (a member of the deadly Girls Army) on Space Sheriff Shaider (1984-85) from episodes 10 through 35.

On the right is suit actor/actor Toshimichi Takahashi, whose credits include: Wolf Guy (1975), Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), Mechanical Violator Hakaider (1995), the Toho superhero series Megaloman (1979), and numerous Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Metal Hero series, starting with Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77). He plays the evil High Priest Baraom from Kamen Rider Black (1987-88). On the left is Hitomi Yoshii, who acts as High Priestess Bishium on Kamen Rider Black.

Yumiko Tanaka (far left) stars in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami and also appears in a small role in Toho's Godzilla (1984). Juri Miyazawa plays Ginga Pink on Seiju Sentai Gingaman (1998-99). Sayoko Hagiwara portrays Ryoko Hoshi, Yullian's alter ego, on Ultraman 80 (1980-81), starting with episode 43, as well as Dyna Pink in Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983-84). She also appears on Choushinsei Flashman (1986-87) as Leh Nafel.

Finally, I'm in between two of the regulars from Choudenshi Bioman (1984-85). Ryosuke Sakamoto is Red One on the series, and Sumiko Tanaka essays the role of Yellow Four II from episode 11 until 51.

And that's it! See y'all again next time!