Toei Heroes Return to the Stage!

Top row (from left to right): Narimitsu Kurachi, Shocker Ono, Toshimichi Takahashi, and Kenju Hayashi. Bottom row (from left to right): Kihachiro Uemura, Mariko Matsuoka, Yumiko Tanaka, Miyuki Nagato, and Hiroko Kojima.

On Saturday evening, April 22, I attended a play performed by various actors from the world of Toei tokusatsu. Well, I say "attended," but, due to a prior commitment, I arrived just as the play was finishing! Too bad. But there was plenty of activity after the show to make it all worthwhile.

But who are all these folks, you ask? Well, let's take a look!

Yumiko Tanaka starred in Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Harumi Kusanami, but she also appears in Godzilla 1985 (1984) in a small role that was cut out of the American version.

Kihachiro Uemura plays Green Flash on Choushinsei Flashman (1986-87).

Miyuki Nagato played the villainess Wolk on Flashman.

Kenju Hayashi would be best known as Prince Megiddo on Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983-84).

Narimitsu Kurachi portrayed Battle France on Battle Fever J (1979-80), but he also appears in Toho's The Imperial Navy (1981) and Toei's The Imperial Japanese Empire (1982). On television, Kurachi-san can be seen in guest appearances on Toei's Spider-Man (1978-79), Denshi Sentai Denziman (1980-81), and Space Sheriff Gavan (1982-83). 

Toshimichi Takahashi is an actor and suit actor who appears in numerous films and TV productions from Toei and other studios, including: 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, beginning with Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77).

Mariko Matsuoka plays android girl Carolyn in episode 24 of Ultraman Leo (1974-75), Ritsuko Okamura in Kamen Rider Amazon (1974-75), Misaki Minekawa in episode 29 of Akumaizer 3 (1975-76), episode 32 of UFO Great War Fight! Red Tiger (1978), and Jun in episode 37 of Kyoryu Sentai Koseidon (1978-79). She also appears in the Fumio Ishimori-penned Shochiku film Frozen River (1976) as Harumi Hayata.

Shocker Ono (real name: Hiroshi Ono) is a former stuntman with the Japan Action Club and appeared in small roles in a bevy of classic Toei programs, such as Kamen Rider Super-1, Denziman, Dai Sentai Goggle-V (1982-83), Dynaman, Choudenshi Bioman (1984-85), Gavan, and Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-84). 

Hiroko Kojima former Japan Action Club member who did stunt work  in Dengeki Sentai Changeman (1985-86) and episode 16 of Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop (1988-89). but is best known for playing the villainess Kilt in Flashman. 

After the performance, the cast took photos with attendees and generally mingled with the folks. I spoke to Tanaka-san and Hayashi-san the most out of the group. Not coincidentally, I picked up the autographed photos that they were selling, too. Just before leaving, Matsuoka-san and I struck up a conversation. It was my first time to meet her, and she turned out to be quite a sweetheart.

Although he wasn't acting in the stage show, Koji Unoki, who played Dyna Blue (both in and out of the suit) on Dynaman, was in attendance, and it was great to see him again after so long.

What a way to cap off a busy day!

SHOWA HERO EVENT IN NAKANO! Battle Fever J Cast Members Reunite for Their Fans!

Battle Fever J alumni Kenji Ohba, Narimitsu Kurachi, and Daisuke Ban converge on the Nakano Sun Plaza for a special reunion event! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Sunday, April 10, saw a special event that reunited principal cast members of the hit Super Sentai program Battle Fever J (1979-1980). Held in the Nakano Sun Plaza in Nakano, Tokyo, many fans of Super Sentai gathered for this extraordinary event. The official title of the meeting was Showa Hero Talk and Sign, and it was a big hit with attendees.

Actor Narimitsu Kurachi poses with fans of Battle Fever J for photos. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Narimitsu Kurachi portrayed Battle France on Battle Fever J, but he also appears in Toho's The Imperial Navy (1981) and Toei's The Imperial Japanese Empire (1982). On television, Kurachi-san can be seen in guest appearances on Toei's Spider-Man (1978-79), Denshi Sentai Denziman (1980-81), and Space Sheriff Gavan (1982-83).

Kurachi-san was a very friendly and personable guest. He even performed a bit of flamenco dancing onstage! Of the three guests, I spent the most time speaking with Kurachi-san. He's a true gentleman!

Actor Daisuke Ban gives a thumbs-up to Battle Fever J and its many fans! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also in attendance was Daisuke Ban, a prolific tokusatsu star who is well known among American fans for his starring roles in Kikaider (1972-73) and Inazuman (1974). Ban-san went on to play Battle Cossack in Battle Fever J.

Ban-san was likewise very friendly, but having already met him at a special Kikaider event in Los Angeles in 2010 and (very briefly) at a Super Festival a couple of years ago, I already knew that! It's always great to meet this legend of tokusatsu.

Kenji Ohba poses with two different generations of fans! Photo by Brett Homenick.

The guest who seemed to attract the most attention was Kenji Ohba. Ohba-san's resume could easily take up the rest of this blog post. He appears in Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983), and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), among many other credits. Ohba-san started as a suit actor on such classic Toei programs as Kamen Rider (1971-73), Kikaider, and Robot Detective (1973). As a regular performer, Ohba-san appears on Battle Fever J (as Battle Kenya), Denshi Sentai Denziman, Space Sheriff Gavan, and Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-84).

Ohba-san took his time with his fans, giving each person quite a bit of attention. Many fans brought multiple items for him to sign. Even though he is not as well known in the West as the Toho stars, the Japanese fans certainly are aware of his accomplishments, and it was great to see their reaction to him.

Many thanks to Ms. Kojima for staging another great event. I hope to attend the next one!