Mizuho Suzuki, 'Godzilla 1985's' Foreign Minister Emori, Passes Away at Age 96

Mizuho Suzuki.

Actor Mizuho Suzuki, best known to Godzilla fans for his role as Foreign Minister Emori in Godzilla 1985 (1984), passed away due to heart failure in Tokyo at 11:01 p.m. on November 19. He was 96. A private funeral has already been held. 

Aside from his turn in the Godzilla series, Mr. Suzuki's other notable credits include the Daiei period horror film The Snow Woman (1968), Kihachi Okamoto's Battle of Okinawa (1971), Submersion of Japan (1973), The Last Days of Planet Earth (1974), Conflagration (1975), the Toei all-star actioner The Bullet Train (1975), and Deathquake (1980). 

He was also responsible for dubbing Charlton Heston in the theatrical version of Solar Crisis (1990). On the small screen, Mr. Suzuki provided the voice for Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) in The Godfather (1972), as well as Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, for the Nippon TV broadcasts of those films. 

Born in Manchuria on October 23, 1927, Mr. Suzuki moved to Japan after the war at the age of 18 with his father, who was a Japanese soldier, and began his acting career in 1952 when, after graduating from college, he reportedly helped establish the Mingei Theatre Company, although the theater troupe's home page does not mention Mr. Suzuki's involvement in its founding. (It should also be noted that this source only asserts that Mr. Suzuki dropped out of Kyoto University and makes no mention of his graduating from another university.)

By 1958, Mr. Suzuki had made the transition from the stage to the big screen, appearing in several movies for Nikkatsu. In the 1970s and '80s, he would appear in numerous tokusatsu productions at Toho, usually playing government officials, which would earn him a measure of international recognition. 

In September of this year, I reached out to Gekidan Dora, the theater company Mr. Suzuki helped found in 1972, about interviewing the actor. I never received a reply, but, given his advanced age, I wasn't too surprised. Unfortunately, it turned out that Mr. Suzuki would pass away less than two months later.

Rest in peace, Mr. Suzuki.

ET CETERA! Hanging Out with a Cool Gaijin Tarento in Tokyo!

Tony Cetera. Photo by Brett Homenick.

This afternoon (Wednesday, June 14), I spent some time with gaijin actor Tony Cetera near his home in Tokyo. I interviewed Tony almost exactly three years ago about his acting career, and, while most of his movie memories have faded over time, he's still a great guy to hang out with.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't very cooperative, and, shortly after I arrived at the nearby station, a downpour suddenly started. The only good thing about it is that it didn't last all that long, and thankfully Tony and I had our chat in a dry location.

During our talk, a young American acquaintance of Tony's, who lives in the area, stopped by to join us. He had no idea about Tony's acting credits, and I told him about Tony's role toward the end of the Sonny Chiba actioner The Street Fighter (1974), which is a flick any self-respecting enthusiast of Japanese films should check out.

Tony Cetera poses with a publicity still from The Last Days of Planet Earth in a tokusatsu tome. Photo by Brett Homenick.

My favorite role played by Tony, though, would have to be that of Dr. Wilson in The Last Days of Planet Earth (1974). In the above photo, Tony holds a tokusatsu book I brought with a photo from his scene from the film. (Tony can be seen in the lower lefthand corner of the photo.) However, he didn't remember the scene when I showed the picture to him. I even showed him clips of the movie sequence on my smartphone, but -- as you'd expect -- none of it rang any bells. But I did get a kick out of it when Tony quoted his line, "God will understand," after I showed him the scene where his character says the line. 

We hung out for just over an hour, after which I had to get on with my day and say farewell. It was great hanging out with Tony another time, and I hope there's a chance to do it again soon.

A Night of Tokusatsu!

Hironobu Hagimae and Takashi Naganuma. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight (Sunday, March 19), I attended another tokusatsu event headlined by two familiar faces: Toho SFX crew member Takashi Naganuma and motorcycle stuntman Hironobu Hagimae.

Takashi Naganuma. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I spent most of the evening with Naganuma-san, who told me he enjoys seeing my reactions to his jokes and wordplay. Well, his jokes are always full of surprises, so I'm sure my reactions are as interesting as he says. Once again, there was very little tokusatsu talk; it was mostly about other things, especially about language (both Japanese and English).

Tonight was one of the few times I accompanied Naganuma-san outside for his smoke break (along with another attendee). After the show, the three of us walked back to the station together. They asked me if I wanted to join them for coffee, but I elected to go home instead. It was fun, but I was pretty exhausted.

Hironobu Hagimae. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Stuntman Hironobu Hagimae was also on hand. I overheard his answer to someone else's question about retakes of motorcycle stunts with explosions. He said that there usually would be and that there could be as many as four takes sometimes. So it wasn't always just a one and done. 

I didn't have much of a chance to talk to Hagimae-san this time. But I did learn that he had some involvement with the motorcycle stunts in The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1974). Gotta find out more about that someday!

It was another fun, informal event, and I look forward to doing it again soon!

Ben Goto, Author of the Book 'Prophecies of Nostradamus,' Dies at 90

Author Ben Goto. Photo © Jiji Press.

Author Ben Goto, whose book Prophecies of Nostradamus was loosely adapted into a controversial disaster film at Toho Studios in 1974, died on June 16. He was 90 years old.

Born Tsutomu Goto on November 17, 1929, in Hakodate, Hokkaido, the author better known around the world as Ben Goto graduated from Tohoku University's School of Law and launched his award-winning writing and journalism career in 1953 after moving to Tokyo. 

On November 25, 1973, the Japanese publishing company Shodensha released Goto's groundbreaking Prophecies of Nostradamus, which quickly became a bestseller, with more than 2.5 million copies sold. Its central warning that the world was likely to end in July 1999 resonated with Japanese readers at the time, particularly due to the country's rampant pollution problems. Toho released its film adaptation of the book on August 3, 1974.

According to an article in the Japan Times, Goto was quoted in a recent interview as saying, "When I published that book in 1973, the possibility existed of World War III between the United States and the Soviet Union. An end-of-the-world scenario by 1999 seemed fully imaginable.”

A total of 10 volumes of Nostradamus books were eventually published by Shodensha throughout the years, the last one being published in July 1998. Each book in the series sold reasonably well, but none of the other entries matched the impact of the first release.

In the same Japan Times article, Goto also asserts, "Nostradamus accurately predicted the moon landing and credit card loans." So Nostradamus predicted credit card loans, too? All that's missing is Jack Ryland bombastically intoning, "And it came to pass."

Rest in peace, Ben Goto.

Hangin' with a Gaijin Superstar!

Tony Cetera. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Friday, May 29, I was able to spend an afternoon with a gaijin actor whom I met for the very first time. Tony Cetera has lived in Japan since the early 1960s, and his credits include a wide variety of films, ranging from the Toho tokusatsu epic The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1974) to the Sonny Chiba actioner The Street Fighter (1974). It was certainly a joy to speak with him about his career.

I'd known about Tony long before moving to Japan, and I'd always figured that when I moved here, he'd be one of the first I'd connect with. So you can imagine it still surprises me it took this long to make it happen. But good things come to those who wait.

The Tower of the Sun

In front of Taro Okamoto's massive Tower of the Sun.

During my recent trip to Osaka, I made sure to pay a visit to the 70-meter-tall Tower of the Sun sculpture in Expo '70 Commemorative Park, just outside the city. Aside from just being visually interesting, it was featured during the opening credits of The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1974), which gave me an added incentive to visit it. The Tower of the Sun is an impressive piece of art, and I'd fully recommend it to anyone who might be interested in checking it out.

Remembering Yoshimitsu Banno

Director Yoshimitsu Banno at a Q&A event in 2014. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Advanced Audiovisual Production, Inc., has announced that writer-director Yoshimitsu Banno passed away on May 7 at the age of 86. Banno-san directed the cult classic Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971) and was an executive producer on Legendary Pictures' Godzilla (2014). He served as an assistant director to Akira Kurosawa on four films: Throne of Blood (1957), The Lower Depths (1957), The Hidden Fortress (1958), and The Bad Sleep Well (1960). He co-write and assistant-directed the Toho disaster film The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1974).

I'd been in touch with Banno-san since I first met him in the U.S. in July 2005. When I moved to Japan in March 2011, he was one of the first people (if not the first) to share his cell phone number with me. When I visited Tokyo for the first time in May 2011, he was the very first person I visited.

Yoshimitsu Banno poses with Akira Takarada in May 2011. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Banno-san and I would regularly meet at the Cafe Chat Noir near Mukogaoka-Yuen Station in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. There he would often talk to me about his latest projects. He always had boundless energy and was determined to make another movie. I was sure he would.

A group shot from May 2013 with composer Riichiro Manabe (front row, middle) and Yoshimitsu Banno (front row, right).

Last year, when we met at the cafe on my birthday, Banno-san told me that he was planning to give me a Godzilla figure that he owned, but his wife balked at the idea, as she believed Godzilla was protecting him. Who could ask for a better protector?

Yoshimitsu Banno with his autobiography. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Last year, he finally published his autobiography in Japanese. He wanted to publish it in English, but I'm not sure what, if anything, will come of those plans. When I met him for the last time on November 20 last year, he gave me a copy of his autobiography and signed it for me. Suffice it to say, I was glad to receive it.

When we met in November of last year, Banno-san seemed a bit weaker than his usual self. I didn't think much of it, as it didn't seem to impact his passion for future projects. This past week, I reached out to Banno-san via e-mail, asking if he'd like to get together soon. The date I pitched, in a truly strange coincidence, was Sunday, May 7. The next day, May 3, Banno-san called me and left a voice message, saying that he wasn't feeling well, but that we'd meet another time. I tried calling him back and left a voice message, acknowledging his phone call. Banno-san called me back on May 4 and left me another voice message. Suffice it to say, I regret not being available to take his final calls to me.

I'll always be grateful to Banno-san for his constant support and fellowship.

Rest in peace, Banno-san.

2015 IS 1974! Toho SFX Greats Turn the Clock Back to the Mid-1970s!

SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano (left) and model-maker Takashi Naganuma (right) discuss the state of the industry in the 1970s. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I just returned from a special event in Yokohama, highlighting some of the most impressive SFX movies from the 1970s. SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano and model-maker Takashi Naganuma were in attendance, and much of the discussion focused on the making of The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1974).

Teruyoshi Nakano recalls blowing things up on the set ... and sometimes the set itself! Photo by Brett Homenick.

The Last Days of Planet Earth is a film that continues to be shrouded in controversy, especially in Japan, where it has yet to see an official home video release. However, that doesn't stop Toho fans from wanting to know more about its production.

Model-maker Takashi Naganuma makes a point during the discussion. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After the discussion, the attendees all had a nabe dinner together. It was another enjoyable meal, but the company with whom we ate made it truly special.

A fan gave Teruysohi Nakano a rather splendid gift. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Naturally, it was a lot of fun to see Nakano-san and Naganuma-san again. They are always affable and love talking shop with fans.

December will prove to be another busy month with many cool things happening. More cool things will be happening this week, so stay tuned to this blog for more!

See you later!

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR VOICE! Former Toho Actress Yasuko Agawa Performs Jazz in Otemachi!

The stage is set! Women in Jazz is soon to start! Photo by Brett Homenick. 

In 2012, a documentary was released called Searching for Sugar Man, which was about a couple of South African music fans' quest to find the '70s folk musician known simply as Rodriguez. The documentary went on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary and is well worth checking out.

Japanese jazz singer Yasuko Agawa earned the nickname Sugar Voice over the years due to her voice's exceptional quality. She remains a popular chanteuse to this day. But what you may not realize is that Yasuko Agawa acted in several classic Toho movies during the 1970s under the stage name Tomoe Mari.

Yours truly with Yasuko Agawa, a former actress and a celebrated jazz singer. 

During her acting years, she appeared in several notable films, including Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) as Yuri Yamamoto, Evil of Dracula (1974), The Last Days of Planet Earth (1974), and The Human Revolution (1973). On television, she appeared in the Submersion of Japan series (1974-75), Ultraman Leo (1974-75), and Zone Fighter (1973). In the late '70s, Agawa-san quit acting completely and pursued a successful career as a jazz singer.

Tonight I attended a concert called Women in Jazz, which was held in the Nikkei Building in Otemachi, Tokyo. Agawa-san was joined by several other jazz singers and musicians, who performed to a packed house. The singers all performed separately (except for the last song), and the ran ran for over two hours.

Several days prior to the show, I arranged with a staff member to meet Agawa-san after the concert. I was told to wait in the lobby, and I would have a chance to meet her. It turned out to be an after party for the musicians and crew, and naturally I didn't want to interrupt the proceedings. But, once I saw an opening, I introduced myself to Agawa-san, who extended her hand for me to shake. I rattled off some of her movie titles, which made her laugh. We spoke for a few moments and then posed for a couple of photos.

Agawa-san was very friendly, and if I have a chance to see her in concert again, I'd go in a heartbeat. It was great to meet another actress I've grew up watching. Thank you very much, Agawa-san!

TERUYOSHI NAKANO RETURNS! The SFX Director Talks Espy!

Former Toho SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano signs a shikishi board for a lucky fan. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I just returned from a movie event in Yokohama with famed special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano. It was a small and intimate gathering hosted by Cinema Novecento, and the theme of the event was the Toho action film Espy (1974).

A 35mm print of Espy was screened, and while it was very enjoyable, I have to say that the most interesting part of the screening happened right at the beginning. Instead of the Espy theme music playing during Toho's production logo, Isao Tomita's opening music from The Last Days of Planet Earth (1974) suddenly blared from the speakers! Suffice it to say, I was surprised and wondered if we were going to be treated to a secret screening of this "banned" film.

After the production logo, however, there was an abrupt cut, and Espy began. I mentioned this to the group after the screening, but no one -- not even Nakano-san himself, who watched the film with us -- noticed anything different. However, my friend Yasushi and I asked the projectionist to look at the actual film, and sure enough there was a splice after the Toho production logo. Not only that, but the projectionist noticed that there was a sudden change in the soundtrack by comparing the film before and after the splice. Moreover, everyone in our group noticed that some of the more "risque" scenes were trimmed from the film.

So what happened? Our group hypothesized that, during the film's initial run, perhaps there was damage to the film print during the production logo, and Toho decided to slap on the logo from The Last Days of Planet Earth, which had already finished its theatrical run, to replace it. As for the other trims, perhaps they were done by an overly cautious theater manager. In any case, the differences were fascinating to see!

Nakano-san was in great spirits, as usual. He told the story of how author Sakyo Komatsu wanted actress Kaoru Yumi to star in Submersion of Japan (1973) but was unsuccessful. Afterward, he got her cast in the spin-off TV series.

Overall, it was a great event, and another one will take place next week. I look forward to attending it.