Eizo Yamagiwa Q&A Now Up at Vantage Point Interviews!

With Eizo Yamagiwa.

Another brand-new interview is now live at Vantage Point Interviews: my November 2020 Q&A with Tsuburaya Productions director Eizo Yamagiwa. Yamagiwa-san discusses his early life during World War II, as well as his start at Shintoho in the mid-1950s. At Shintoho, he worked on the seventh Starman actioner Super Giant: The Space Mutant Appears (1958), which was later edited into the cult classic Evil Brain from Outer Space.

At the end of the 1960s, Yamagiwa-san joined Tsuburaya Productions as a director, helming such TV programs as Return of Ultraman (1971-72), Ultraman Ace (1972-73), Ultraman Taro (1973-74), and Ultraman Leo (1974-75), among others. He also directed episodes of Silver Kamen (1971-72) and the Submersion of Japan TV series (1974-75). Yamagiwa-san discusses these productions and much more in our interview. 

With such incredible, in-depth interviews, Vantage Point Interviews continues to prove that content is king!

Masao Nakabori Q&A Now on Vantage Point Interviews!

With Masao Nakabori in June 2019.

My September 2019 interview with tokusatsu cinematographer Masao Nakabori has finally been completed and is now available at Vantage Point Interviews. In the interview, Nakabori-san talks about his work on the classic tokusatsu series Ultraman (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Operation: Mystery! (1968-69), Silver Kamen (1971-72), and Ultraman Taro (1973-74), as well as his big-screen collaborations with famed director Akio Jissoji, including the films Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988) and Ultra Q: The Movie (1990). 

The interview covers a lot of territory that you usually don't get to read about in English. Don't miss out!

An Ultra-Afternoon with an Ultra-Director!

Eizo Yamagiwa in his home. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I had the distinct privilege today of conducting a lengthy interview with Ultra-series director Eizo Yamagiwa in his home. We covered a variety of topics -- not just on his work on the '70s Ultra-series, but also going back to working at Shintoho in the 1950s. We covered all that and much more.

It was a very enlightening interview with one of the most accomplished directors in TV tokusatsu history.  I'm very excited to share it on Vantage Point Interviews in the near future.

Getting into Focus with Nakabori-san!

Masao Nakabori answers questions. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Sunday, July 14, I attended a talk event with cameraman Masao Nakabori. He has truly seen and done a lot in the realm of tokusatsu for Tsuburaya Productions, but his credits extend well beyond just tokusatsu.

Masao Nakabori. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Nakabori-san is a cameraman whose credits include Ultra Seven (1967-68) and Ultraman Taro (1973-74). His other tokusatsu works are such programs as Silver Kamen (1971-72), Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988), Ultra Q: The Movie (1990), and the decidedly non-toku Maborosi (1995).

The recent news from Mill Creek about the Blu-ray releases of Ultra Q and Ultraman was reason enough to celebrate, but truthfully, I take any opportunity I can to visit with Nakabori-san.

AN AFTERNOON WITH ACTRESS KEIKO NISHI! The Ultra-Series Veteran Meets Her Fans!

Posing with actress Keiko Nishi at her cafe in Tokyo. 

Today I paid a visit to the cafe of actress Keiko Nishi, who is best remembered by tokusatsu fans in Japan and the U.S. as TAC member Noriko Mikawa in Ultraman Ace (1972-73). In the late 1960s, she began her career as an actress for Nikkatsu Studios, appearing in several movies before the end of the decade. She also guest-starred in episodes of Ultraman Taro (1973-1974) and Silver Kamen (1971-72).

Even though the cafe was very busy by the time I came in, Nishi-san found the time to talk with me about various things, ranging from news in Japanese fandom to what we've been doing recently. It was an enjoyable conversation, and Nishi-san is always a gracious host.