ULF OTSUKI'S STATUE IN NARA! The Godzilla Series Actor Is Immortalized in Bronze!

Actor Ulf Otsuki served as the model for this statue outside the Nara Prefectural Museum of Art. Photo by Brett Homenick.

We all know of the various Godzilla statues and other attractions in and around Tokyo, but did you know there is a statue of a Godzilla series actor in Japan? It's true. Actor Ulf Otsuki (the bearded Seatopian agent from Godzilla vs. Megalon) has his very own statue in Nara.

When Ulf was 19 years old (and a member of the acting troupe Haiyuza), he was selected as the model for this statue by Japanese artist Yasuo Sugawara, an old friend of Ulf's mother. The statue is currently at the entrance of the Nara Prefectural Museum of Art, and one can view the statue without buying a ticket to enter the museum.

When I visited Nara at the end of May, I stopped by the museum to photograph the statue. Ulf had told me about it several times, and it was something I intended to see for myself. Suffice it to say, it is quite interesting!

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!