SUPER FESTIVAL 95! Returning to Tokyo's Big Toy Show!

I wanted one of these back in the '80s. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Sunday, September 27, I returned to the Science Museum to wander around Super Festival 95. I was genuinely surprised the number has gotten that high, but it's probably been a few years since I was last there. If I'm being honest, I was done a lot sooner than I expected. It all just looked the same to me, and there wasn't much of interest going on. I did spend money, though -- I bought some vintage cards of movies like Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (1967), The X from Outer Space (1967), and Gamera vs. Monster X (1970). I also bought a few DVDs and Blu-rays -- all non-tokusatsu -- that caught my fancy. 

And that's about it. I even struggled to find interesting things to photograph, as it mostly seemed so old-hat, but I captured what I thought was most fun. I also snapped a few selfies in my WCW Nitro Grill polo that I bought from Sonny Onoo on eBay in 2024. I actually bought two, but the black version disintegrated when I put it in the wash. Oh, well. At least I still have the version Ole Anderson can be seen wearing in Black Saturday episode of Dark Side of the Ring.  

Pictures are below. Enjoy!

Super Festival 86!

 

Today (Sunday, October 1), I attended Super Festival 86 at the Science Museum in Tokyo. I arrived just an hour before closing, and, well, there really wasn't that much to see. In years past, I've shown up at similar times, and there was still quite a bit of hustle and bustle. This time, however, there were few attendees, and many dealers were already packing up. I did buy a few vintage bromide cards from '60s kaiju movies at a very reasonable price, so it wasn't a total loss. Overall, though, it was quite boring. Anyway, here's what I saw, so (try to) enjoy!

I hear Guyver: Dark Hero (1994) has some of the greatest acting ever committed to film. Maybe I'll see it someday. Photo by Brett Homenick.

"Like Marios, like, uh, Simpsons." Photo by Brett Homenick.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Oshman's is cool," sez Radioactive Beavis. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Hiroshi Sagae Passes Away at 52

Hiroshi Sagae at Super Festival in January 2016 with one of his creations. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Noted figure sculptor and miniature maker Hiroshi Sagae passed away at 7:15 a.m. on October 26 after a long battle with colon cancer, his widow Yumiko announced on social media. He was 52.

Hiroshi Sagae with his Gotouchi Kaiju collaborator Sojiro Uchino in September 2014. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I had the privilege of meeting Sagae-san at several events and gatherings in Tokyo, beginning in 2011. He was always a joy to be around, and I'll always appreciate his introducing me to his friend and former child actor Sojiro Uchino in 2014. 

Rest in peace, Sagae-san.

Super Festival 82!

Earlier today, I attended Super Festival 82. As usual, there's not much to say about it. I chatted with a couple of familiar faces, but after checking out some toys (and even spending a bit of money), it was time to move on. Anyway, here's what I saw.

SUPER FESTIVAL 81! Tremendous Toys Take Tokyo!

Super Festival 81 came and went today in Tokyo at its usual location, the Science Museum near Kudanshita Station. There's not much to say about this one. I met up with Return of Ultraman suit actor Eiichi Kikuchi (one of the event's featured guests) and picked up a DVD of the Submersion of Japan TV series. Other than that, however, the photos can speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Tora-san seems just a bit out of place. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Could it be Behemoth, one of the Titans? Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Okay, who ate Captain America? Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Eiichi Kikuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.