The Last Day at the Art Exhibit in Daikanyama!

Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I paid one last visit to Mickey Curtis while his art exhibit was still open in Daikanyama. When I realized that I could get my DVD copy of Desperado Outpost (1959) signed by Mickey-san, I practically had no choice but to return!

It was a lot of fun to see him again, although I didn't have the time to hang out as I did the last two times. But this time Mickey-san told me one story in particular that had me roaring with laughter -- it was by far the funniest thing he told me about during all three days! When I was leaving, Mickey-san invited me to come visit him at his home sometime. I certainly have to do that, but it likely won't be for a while, as he lives extremely far from Tokyo. We'll see how it goes.

Many thanks to Mickey-san for his excellent hospitality!

Another Visit with an Artist and a Gentleman!

Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I paid another visit to Daikanyama Garage to visit with musician-actor-artist Mickey Curtis, who is currently hosting an exhibit of his art (photos of which you can see at the bottom of this blog post).

Mickey-san wasn't there when I arrived, which turned out not to be an issue, as I had plenty of time. It turned out he was doing a radio interview, promoting the gallery. It's absolutely amazing how busy he continues to be!

Kotoha Hiroyama and Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I wanted to ask Mickey-san about his time in Studio City, CA, which started in either 1977 or '78 and lasted until 1980. During that time, he created the electronic sound effects for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), using a synthesizer he had at the time. But, because he wasn't in the union, he wasn't credited in those films. When he visa expired, he returned to Japan. Of course, Mickey-san had prior experience living abroad, as he lived in Europe from about 1964 until 1970.

Mickey Curtis with his wife, Yoko. Photo by Brett Homenick.

He also told me about his association with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack when they would visit Japan. (Mickey-san was probably one of the few Japanese who spoke fluent English in the entertainment industry at the time in Japan.) When I asked him about Sinatra's None But the Brave (1965), that's when he mentioned living away from Japan at the time, so he wasn't aware of the movie. Moreover, he talked about getting a call from Yul Brynner out of the blue in which Brynner invited him to dinner. 

Kotoha Hiroyama, Yoko Curtis, and Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I could have continued the conversation for a lot longer, but I had to go back to work, so that was that. Right before I left, producer and actress Kotoha Hiroyama showed up again, so I was able to tell her how much I enjoyed her recent film Truth (2022). Before I left, I wanted to photograph Mickey-san with his wife, Yoko, which also caused a few other shutterbugs in attendance to snap some photos, too. 

One of the ladies working the front desk thanked me as I was leaving for suggesting the photo op, as she was apparently very happy to have such a photo. Yoko-san stopped me before I left to talk about their new countryside home, and Hiroyama-san also said her goodbyes to me as I was walking out. With such kind people in attendance, I didn't want to leave! 

Below are some samples of Mickey-san's art. Enjoy!

Viewing an Art Exhibition with an Extra Special Guest!

Signage for the Mickey Curtis Art Exhibition. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I went to Daikanyama Garage to take in the Mickey Curtis Art Exhibition, which runs until October 9. Mickey Curtis, of course, is much better known as an actor who has appeared in numerous films over the years, particularly ones directed by Kihachi Okamoto at Toho, but he has begun a brand-new career as an artist.

Congratulatory bouquets of flowers for Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was quite impressed by the art that was on display. Mickey-san's art has attracted a lot of buyers, too, and it's easy to see why. There were numerous animal paintings on display, which Mickey-san said he enjoys painting, especially extreme closeups of their faces. He was especially proud of his large portrait of a mandrill. 

Mickey Curtis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I hadn't seen Mickey-san in person since 2014, so I was delighted to see him again. He moved to Thailand shortly after we last met due to the warmer weather, but he has very recently relocated to Japan. However, he now lives out in the countryside far from Tokyo, so getting a chance to visit him will remain a rare opportunity.

It made my day that, even with my mask on, Mickey-san recognized me. We had a pleasant chat about a range of topics -- American politics, his artwork, his new home, his living in Studio City, California, from about 1978 until 1980, and the fact that he had already been offered three acting gigs since coming back to Tokyo. He also introduced me to some new faces.

Kotoha Hiroyama. Photo by Brett Homenick.

One of the folks he introduced me to was actress and producer Kotoha Hiroyama, who is something of a disciple of Mickey-san. She was there promoting her new movie Truth: The End of the Adulterous Funeral (2022) in which she plays Mayumi Kujo, a receptionist who thought she was the the steady girlfriend of a man who suddenly died. She only finds out after the funeral that two other women were seeing him and likewise believed they were in a committed relationship with him.  

Hiroyama-san very kindly gave me a copy of Truth along with a glossy booklet about the film, both of which she graciously signed for me. Mickey-san highly recommended the movie to me, so I look forward to checking it out!

That's a wrap! I was over the moon to see Mickey-san again after so many years, and I hope I won't have to wait as long to see him again!

MICKEY IS THE MAN! Actor-Singer Mickey Curtis Visits Daikanyama!

Mickey Curtis holds up his copy of G-FAN #104 magazine with his career interview inside. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier this evening I had a chance to visit actor-singer Mickey Curtis at a party being held in Daikanyama, Tokyo. It had been about a year since we last saw each other, so it was enjoyable to catch up with him again, particularly about a recent NHK program he filmed with Kumi Mizuno and Yoshio Tsuchiya in Hiroshima.

I also finally had an opportunity to present Mickey with a couple of copies of the interview we did a while back, which appear in G-FAN #104. He thumbed through the magazine several times and was fascinated by its contents.

Yours truly and Mickey Curtis pose with some substantial reading material.

Mickey just completed work on four different movies, as well as additional TV work. More acting roles are on the way, so he is always busy. And none of this takes into account his musical performances! It's amazing Mickey can find the time to do anything these days!

Mickey Curtis has appeared in numerous Japanese films, such as: Outlaw Outpost (1959), Fires on the Plain (1959), Big Shots Die at Dawn (1961), Gunhed (1989), Kamikaze Taxi (1995), and Robo-G (2012). If you haven't read his interview yet, go to G-FAN.com and get your copy today!

TOKYO ROUND-UP: A Look Back in Pictures, July 2013

Having lunch with actress Shelley Sweeney, July 21. Getting the chance to hang out with Shelley again was another highlight.

The arrival of summer vacation means I get lots of free time. And what better way to spend that free time than go to Tokyo for another trip?

I enjoyed taking in a morning screening of an old Yumi Shirakawa Toho film, in which she co-stars with Tadao Takashima.

I spent an enjoyable afternoon with actor and musician Mickey Curtis, just before his birthday. Mr. Curtis has many amazing stories to tell!

Meeting Ultraman Gaia himself, Takeshi Yoshioka, was another surprise. My friend Masahiro-san took me to the bar owned by Mr. Yoshioka, who was very happy to chat and pose for pictures.

Talkin' Toho with Yoshimitsu Banno. Seeing Banno-san in Tokyo is nearly a sure bet every time I go. Another gentleman who is happy to share his memories.

I got to meet Keiko Nishi for the second time. Ms. Nishi is an Ultraman Ace cast member who is as sweet and warm as a person can get. It's always a joy to meet her.

Screenwriters Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura were another highlight. I've gotten to know Mimura-san quite well, but this was only my second meeting with Kashiwabara-san. As expected, much fun was had by all!

TOKYO: The Weekend in Pictures

With Toho star Yosuke Natsuki in his office. I had the distinct honor of sitting in Natsuki-san's office for hours, listening to his memories of Toho Studios! Photo by Asako Kato.

February 8 through 11 was an exciting weekend for me. I met many friends and did many things. So here's a quick blog update with the highlights! 

Hanging with Kazuki Kato at English Avenue Daikanyama. When he's not too busy performing on the stage as a singer or on the screen as an actor, I enjoy getting to see the star of Monster X Strikes Back and Kamen Rider: The Next whenever possible. Photo by Asako Kato.

The Big Boss himself! On Saturday, February 9, I traveled to Mitaka, Tokyo, to watch Akira Takarada rehearse his new stage play, Me and My Girl, which will run exclusively in Toyama Prefecture.

Here he comes from the sky! After hanging out with Takarada-san, I had dinner with Bin Furuya, Ultraman himself! It was a great dinner, and I met many new friends. Thanks to Furuya-san for introducing them to me!

On Sunday, February 10, I was invited to attend a Kamen Rider Super-1 reunion in Nakano, Tokyo. Shunsuke Takasugi, who starred as Kamen Rider Super-1, appeared onstage to answer questions and sign autographs with some of his former co-stars!

Following the Kamen Rider event, I interviewed legendary Japanese actor Mickey Curtis, who was happy to share his memories of Toshiro Mifune, Kihachi Okamoto, and many others!

On Monday, February 11, I met with director Yoshimitsu Banno and screenwriters Wataru Mimura and Hitomi Shimizu as we talked about a myriad of subjects. Thanks to my friend Yasushi for snapping this photo!