TOURING DAIEI STUDIOS! Getting an Exclusive Look at the House That Gamera Built!

Former Daiei actor Sadafumi Kawahara points out that the area around Keio-Tamagawa Station all used to be part of Daiei Studios during its heyday. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today was nothing short of spectacular. First, I enjoyed a private tour of Kadokawa Daiei Studios, and later in the evening I met a legendary actor whose career touched both Japanese and Hong Kong cinema.

Inside Shop Majin at Kadokawa Daiei Studios. I'm wearing my trusty guest pass!

I was later told that tours Kadokawa Daiei Studios just aren't done, and that even former actors usually not permitted to enter the studio. So this kind of tour is extremely rare, and suffice it to say that, while I was able to take pictures behind the studio gates, I was asked not to share them online. So only photos taken in public spaces could be shared. As much as I'd like to show you the photos I took, the powers that be asked me nicely not to!

We got pretty much full access to the studio and were shown around. We got to step inside old soundstages and even Kitchen Cafe Gamera, which can be viewed from outside the studio. Everything was very impressive!

I must thank Kawahara-san, Tanaka-san, and Ogawa-san for their help in making this a day for the history books. I know I'll never forget it!

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!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM DAIEI! The House That Gamera Built Wishes You Happy Holidays!

Every December, Kadokawa Daiei Studios in Chofu, Tokyo, gets into a festive mood and decorates its Daimajin statues in Santa and Rudolph regalia. Today I stopped by the studio and snapped some photos, which are presented here. Enjoy!

SHOP MAJIN CONQUERS THE CHOFU TOURISM FESTIVAL! Kadokawa Daiei Studios Has Arrived!

The weekend of May 17-18 saw the Chofu Tourism Festival held just outside of Chofu Station. Among the various booths among the crowd was that of Shop Majin, the merchandise store owned by the nearby Kadokawa Daiei Studios. Gamera and Daimajin were well represented, and I snapped some photos of the booth. Here they are for your enjoyment!