The Return of Ultraman Gaia!

Takeshi Yoshioka. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 Also on Wednesday, I paid another visit to the bar owned and operated by actor Takeshi Yoshioka, who played Ultraman Gaia's human alter ego on Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Gaia (1998-99). Although it had been a long time since I set foot in his establishment, Yoshioka-san immediately recognized me and commented that I'm "forever young." Hey, those were his words, not mine!

It was a lot of fun hanging out with Yoshioka-san again. At one point, he picked up his smartphone and called Maria Theresa Gow, his Ultraman Gaia co-star, whom I've met several times. Then he handed the phone over to me for me to chat with her. That was certainly unexpected, but it was another fun memory from the evening. Many thanks to Yoshioka-san for his unparalleled hospitality!

Postscript: On Saturday night (March 30), when I entered the train to go home, Ms. Gow was standing right there on the train. So we had another nice chat. Quite a coincidence!

MARIA THERESA GOW IN CONCERT! A Birthday Celebration for an Ultra-Heroine!

Maria Theresa Gow in concert. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Tonight I attended a special birthday concert hosted by Maria Theresa Gow, who Westerners would know as Georgie Leland in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Gaia (1998-99). The event was held at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo, right in the shadow of Tokyo Tower.

The concert was a lot of fun and very energetic, with many concert-goers getting up from their tables and dancing in the aisles. I'm happy to report that I stayed seated the whole time!

After the show, I was able to have a brief conversation with Gow, and naturally I wished her a happy birthday. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen her since the last birthday show of hers that I attended! Can't wait for next year!

ULTRAMAN GAIA IN TOKYO! Seeing Two Cast Members in the Big City!

Taking a selfie with Ultraman Gaia star Takeshi Yoshioka. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

On Saturday, I went to the bar owned and operated by actor Takeshi Yoshioka, Ultraman Gaia's alter ego from Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Gaia (1998-99). Although the place was crowded due to some live musical performances that were taking place, I still managed to have a nice chat with Yoshioka-san.

Ultraman Gaia actress Maria Theresa Gow performs live. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Friday evening, I attended a live performance in Ginza by Maria Theresa Gow, who sang a variety of songs (jazz, pop, you name it) and entertained the packed audience. Gow-san played Georgie Leland in Ultraman Gaia. Likewise, I enjoyed chatting with her for a bit.

A BUSY DAY IN TOKYO! Some Highlights From This Cold December Day!

Yup, that's your humble blogmeister in a big frog mask at the Shop Majin booth near Chofu Station.

Today was a busy with many events happening all over Tokyo. After visiting Kadokawa Daiei Studios, I visited the Shop Majin booth near Chofu Station.

The shop's booth was not just selling its usual Gamera/Daimajin merchandise, but was also highlighting some spooky yokai creatures as part of an exhibit that's currently being held in Chofu. I was able to get in on the fun by wearing an enormous frog mask they had on display!

Just some of the merchandise available at the Shop Majin booth.

Even though I could barely see (or even hear) anything while I had the mask on, it was a fun experience, and the photos turned out quite well.

You talkin' to me?

Some of the masks were intriguing designs I'd never seen before (see below). My interest in yokai more or less ends with the trilogy of films Daiei produced in the late 1960s, but it was cool to be exposed to another side of Japanese monsters.

While I was walking around Ningyocho, I stumbled upon a restaurant called Mifune. At first glance, I thought it was an interesting coincidence, but no, it really is a Toshiro Mifune-themed restaurant!

I didn't go in to sample the food, so I'll do that another time. It's a good thing I remember how to get there!

After making that discovery, I went to a live house called Akasaka Graffiti for a Christmas concert of sorts. The program was made up of various singers who took turns signing (mostly) Christmas songs, karaoke-style. While I enjoyed the bevy of singers who sang familiar Christmas tunes, I came specifically to see Maria Theresa Gow.

Tokusatsu fans may know Ms. Gow from her turn as GUARD member Georgie Leland in Ultraman Gaia (1998-99). She's always very friendly, and it was a blast to see her again. Naturally, she did an excellent job onstage!

A DAY WITH ULTRA-HEROINES! Keiko Nishi and Maria Theresa Gow Made My Day!

With actress/singer Maria Theresa Gow and her band mates after her birthday concert in Shibuya.

Today turned out to be a rather Ultra-day in some unexpected ways. For a couple of weeks, I had planned to attend the birthday concert of Maria Theresa Gow at the jazz club JZ Brat in the Hotel Cerulean Tower Tokyu in Shibuya. Although I've corresponded with Gow-san several times, I'd never met her in person before tonight.

American fans may recognize Maria Theresa Gow as Georgie Leland from Ultraman Gaia (1998-99). She also was an extra in Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002). I was looking forward to attending the concert and having the opportunity to meet her in person, and I came away from the experience quite happy!

The concert itself was very enjoyable, with many familiar American songs ("Proud Mary," "Material Girl," "Let It Go," among others) being among the set. Since it's also Gow-san's birthday, she was presented with a cake onstage (along with flowers), which drew rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. Gow-san was extremely friendly, and I could easily see why she was so beloved by everyone in attendance.

But that's not all! Earlier in the day I went to Keiko Nishi's cafe in Ginza and got the chance to catch up with her again. Readers of this blog know that Nishi-san was one of the stars of Ultraman Ace (1972-73), one of my favorite Ultra-series.

A big thanks to Gow-san and Nishi-san for their kindness and hospitality!