An Afternoon with the Creator of Kaiju!

Hideo Okamoto. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I spent the afternoon with kaiju designer Hideo Okamoto. His credits are legendary, but his best-known projects are Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), Rebirth of Mothra (1996), Rebirth of Mothra II (1997), and Godzilla 2000 (1999).

Suffice it to say, it was a fun and informative time. Okamoto-san had many wonderful stories to tell about his career. I hope to meet him again soon!

A DAY WITH MECHAGODZILLA! A Fun Afternoon with a Great Toho Suit Actor!

Wataru Fukuda. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (Wednesday September 13), I was privileged to spend an afternoon with suit actor Wataru Fukuda. Fukuda-san is a very friendly guy, and I found our chat quite fascinating and enlightening.

Wataru Fukuda. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Fukuda-san played Godzillasaurus in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), Utsuno Ikusagami in Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994), and Mogera in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994). Of course, he was involved in many other projects as an action actor and stuntman.

This was only my second time to meet Fukuda-san, but I certainly hope there will be other such chances in the future. 

Many thanks to Fukuda-san for his generosity today!

Revisiting 'Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon' at a Special Screening!

Director Takao Okawara (left) and special effects director Kenji Suzuki pose with a mask from Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994). Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier today, I had the privilege of checking out Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (a.k.a. Yamato Takeru, 1994) in 35mm. I believe I'd only seen this film twice before -- and one of those times I fell asleep!

The first time was in mid-2000, just after it was released on VHS. Because I was attending college classes very early in the morning during that time, I remember dozing off toward the end. The second time was in late 2005 on DVD. That time, I was wide awake!

Yoshiaki Kondo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

So it'd been a long time since I'd last seen it, and there was a lot I'd forgotten about it. Overall, it's a mixed bag. Some parts are done very well, but it does start to drag toward the end, and I don't think Koichi Kawakita's mid-'90s-Godzilla-series style of special effects was a good match for a fantasy about ancient Japan. But I'm glad I saw it again, especially in 35mm. 

From left to right: Takao Okawara, Yoshiaki Kondo, and Kenji Suzuki. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was surprised to that a mask from the film was brought to the event, which in a way made it a mini Tokusatsu DNA exhibit! Another surprise was the presence of Yoshiaki Kondo. Kondo-san worked as an assistant director on Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), Rebirth of Mothra (1996), and Godzilla 2000 (1999).

Takao Okawara. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Takao Okawara was the headlining guest. Okawara-san began his career as an assistant director on Submersion of Japan (1973), Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha (1980), and Godzilla 1985 (1984). After becoming a director at Toho, Okawara-san helmed the SFX productions of Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, and Godzilla 2000.

I brought my original Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II poster for both Okawara-san and Kenji Suzuki (the chief assistant SFX director of the film) to sign. It was great to see Okawara-san in such a good mood, often laughing at the funny stories Kondo-san told -- and even telling a few himself! During the evening, I asked Okawara-san if he remembered the CNN story for which he was interviewed about Godzilla's demise in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. I was very surprised when he told me he had no memory of it. So I pulled out my smartphone, found the story on YouTube, and showed it to him. He found it interesting but still had no memory of it. Perhaps the interview clips were supplied by Toho and weren't actually shot by a CNN crew, which would explain why he doesn't remember. In any case, I thought that was noteworthy.

Kenji Suzuki. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The other headlining guest was Orochi's chief assistant SFX director Kenji Suzuki. Before joining Toho, Suzuki-san was a freelance SFX director who did some work at Tsuburaya Productions, most notably Ultraman 80 (1980-81). At Toho, he served as an assistant SFX director on The Imperial Navy (1981) and Sayonara Jupiter (1984). On Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, Rebirth of Mothra (1996), and Rebirth of Mothra 2 (1997), he served as the chief assistant SFX director under Koichi Kawakita. On Rebirth of Mothra 3 (1998), Godzilla 2000, and Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000), he was the SFX director. In the 2000s, Suzuki-san returned to Tsuburaya Productions and lent his talents to various Ultra-projects.

Whew, what a busy weekend it was! Suffice it to say, there was no time to stop and smell the roses. But it was a lot of fun, and I wouldn't have it any other way. More fun's yet to come. Stay tuned!

ALL MONSTERS ATTACK! Godzilla Series Suit Actors Gather to Celebrate the Genre!

Wataru Fukuda (left) and Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, July 23, after taking the new Tokusatsu DNA exhibit at Tokyo Tower, I went to a special event featuring Heisei-era Godzilla series suit actors. The suit actors in question were Wataru Fukuda and Hurricane Ryu.

Wataru Fukuda (left) and Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was especially excited for this event, as I'd never met Fukuda-san before. Since none of the guests was, say, under federal indictment, they were very easy to meet and accessible.

Wataru Fukuda (left) and Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I came to the event a bit late, as I had to work earlier in the afternoon (not to mentioned that I had a peek at the Tokusatsu DNA exhibit). But I arrived in time for all the good stuff.

It was a lot of fun watching Fukuda-san and Ryu-san striking their fight poses. All that was missing was Kenpachiro Satsuma there, too.

Wataru Fukuda. Photo by Brett Homenick.

One thing that impressed me was how polite (and even shy) Fukuda-san. Whenever he made a joke or a reference to something that he felt the audience didn't immediately get, he would usually quietly apologize afterward. Who would have expected such shy behavior from Mechagodzilla? Talk about a gentle giant!

Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I brought my original poster for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) that was gifted to me from the family of one of the cast members for the two suit actors to sign. Their signatures look quite good on it!

Wataru Fukuda. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Fukuda-san played Godzillasaurus in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, and Mogera in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994). He also played Utsuno Ikusagami in Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994). 

One funny story is that Fukuda-san told me that he learned how to spell "Mechagodzilla" in English by remembering that it's spelled like "Metchagodzilla" would sound (i.e., with a "ch" sound instead of a "ck" one). 

Hurricane Ryu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Hurricane Ryu played King Ghidorah in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Battra in Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), Baby Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, and Godzilla Junior in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), and Guilala in Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008). He also played Kumasogami in Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon.

But that's not all! The weekend was even busier for me than what you've seen so far. But you can read all about it in the next blog post.

Godzilla Series Screenwriter Wataru Mimura Passes Away at Age 67

Wataru Mimura poses with a poster for Sampo Shojo in May 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Screenwriter Wataru Mimura, who contributed several scripts to the Heisei and Millennium Godzilla series, passed away on August 26, according to a friend and colleague of his. He was 67. 

Born in Mie Prefecture in May 1954, Mimura-san graduated from Nihon University College of Art's Department of Cinema. In 1982, he won the Sanrio Screenplay Award and made his screenwriting debut with Freeter (1987).

Aside from his screenwriting duties, he was the chairman of Plan-net Labo (a.k.a. P-Labo), a network of professional and amateur screenwriters. In this capacity, Mimura-san would host an annual film festival of independent short films called the P-Labo Film Festival. 

Mimura-san poses with his Godzilla series co-screenwriter Hiroshi Kashiwabara in July 2013. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mimura-san wrote or co-wrote the screenplays or Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon (1994), Godzilla 2000 (1999), Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000), Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002), and Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Suffice it to say, the Millennium series relied heavily on Mimura-san's input. My 2008 interview with Mimura-san can be read here. 

Mimura-san with director Yoshimitsu Banno in February 2013. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I first met Mimura-san in the summer of 2011, just a few months after I first moved to Japan. We'd been corresponding for a few years up to that point, and he turned out to be one of the nicest people I've ever met. We would hang out every so often, which was great in and of itself, but he also introduced to quite a few luminaries, most notably Shigeo Kato. 

With Mimura-san on Halloween 2014.

A few years ago, Mimura-san's health took a turn for the worse, and he stopped becoming so active. Shortly thereafter, he moved backto Mie Prefecture. In 2019, as I was preparing to visit Mie Prefecture to visit Godzilla (1954) filming locations, I messaged Mimura-san and asked if he would be able to meet up. He replied that it would not be possible. 

Sadly, despite my other attempts to reach out, I would never hear from Mimura-san again. The news of his passing is devastating, but not totally unexpected. He was one of my favorite people to visit in Japan, and I'll always be grateful for his kindness. Wataru Mimura was a major talent and an incredible individual.

Rest in peace, Mimura-san.

UPDATE (9/4): Mimura-san suffered from multiple system atrophy.

Yasuko Sawaguchi's New Gig

Yasuko Sawaguchi is currently all over Shinjuku Station's West Exit. The Toho actress, who is best known for her starring role in Godzilla 1985 (1984), is promoting a snack food that promises to satiate even the Big G's appetite.