Shinichi Yanagisawa, Who Played Miyamoto in 'The X from Outer Space,' Passes Away at 89

Shinichi Yanagisawa in October 2020. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Actor Shinichi Yanagisawa, who is best known in the West for playing Miyamoto in Shochiku's The X from Outer Space (1967), passed away on March 24, 2022, from myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 89. Although he died nearly a year and a half ago, the news has just been released in Japan.

Mr. Yanagisawa was born on December 19, 1932, in Tokyo and began his career as an entertainer in the early 1950s, singing jazz and acting onstage. In the mid-1950s, he signed with Nikkatsu Studios, beginning his film career, and shortly thereafter married actress Junko Ikeuchi in October 1957. The marriage didn't last long, and the pair divorced in January 1958. The scandal cost Mr. Yanagisawa his contract at Nikkatsu, which forced him to go freelance for a few years. 

Shinichi Yanagisawa in February 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

(As an aside, when Yosuke Natsuki was driving me home after dinner in October 2015, I mentioned something about Mr. Yanagisawa to him. Afterward, Mr. Natsuki told me he wondered why Mr. Yanagisawa got divorced from Ms. Ikeuchi.)

Shinichi Yanagisawa in February 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

During his time as a freelancer, Mr. Yanagisawa would appear in the Takarazuka Eiga production The Poem of the Blue Star (a.k.a. An Orchestra Whipping Up a Storm, 1960), an all-star musical featuring Akira Takarada, Tadao Takashima, Izumi Yukimura, and Tatsuyoshi Ehara. 

In 1964, Mr. Yanagisawa would find a permanent home at Shochiku, where he would stay until the early 1970s. The year 1967 would see Mr. Yanagisawa appear in his most famous role around the world, that of the comic-relief character Miyamoto in the kaiju romp The X from Outer Space.

However, Mr. Yanagisawa would garner his greatest fame in Japan on television. He is widely remembered in his home country for providing the Japanese voices for Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy, Wilbur Post in Mister Ed, and Darrin Stephens in Bewitched.

Shinichi Yanagisawa in February 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Aside from his pursuits in the entertainment industry, Mr. Yanagisawa was well known for his activism in humanitarian causes, which even earned him an award from the Japanese prime minister in 1981. 

In more recent years, Mr. Yanagisawa would sing jazz (as well as play drums) at the HUB Asakusa on the third Tuesday of every even month (February, April, June, etc.). Starting in October 2014, I attended just about every performance I could (the December 2019 show was the only one I missed pre-COVID, which was due to work commitments), and I believe the last one I attended with Mr. Yanagisawa was in December 2020. After that, to the best of my knowledge, he never returned to the HUB.

With Shinichi Yanagisawa in February 2020.

I was told by one of his bandmates that Mr. Yanagisawa was an extremely private person, even with them. From what I was told, even his bandmates didn't know much about Mr. Yanagisawa's private life. I was always a bit puzzled that, even though Mr. Yanagisawa studied English at university and sang English-language jazz songs very well, he never spoke English around me. So I could see the bandmate's point.

One evening, after his performance, Mr. Yanagisawa was leaving the HUB but seemed quite wobbly. He was in his late 80s even then, and, given that I wasn't sure where he was going after the show, I insisted on helping him. Of course, at first, Mr. Yanagisawa assured me that he would be all right on his own, but it quickly became clear to both of us that that certainly was not the case.

With Shinichi Yanagisawa in August 2019.

I got the same bandmate to help me as we assisted Mr. Yanagisawa to his destination. It turned out we didn't have to go very far. He booked a hotel room for the evening not that far from the venue. We assisted Mr. Yanagisawa up to his hotel room, and he thanked us for our help. All I knew was, I wasn't going to let Mr. Yanagisawa get hurt that night.

His bandmate theorized that perhaps bar patrons poured Mr. Yanagisawa a few too many drinks in between sets. (During breaks, Mr. Yanagisawa would always sit with audience members and chat with them.) That explanation certainly seemed plausible. I was concerned that no one from the bar staff intervened before I did, but I just chalked it up to the fact that Mr. Yanagisawa was a private person and that no one wanted to disturb him.

With Shinichi Yanagisawa in October 2018.

I was fortunate to interview Mr. Yanagisawa in September 2014. The interview can be read here. He gave me a great interview, and it's one I'm proud to host on Vantage Point Interviews.

Shinichi Yanagisawa in October 2018. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Rest in peace, Mr. Yanagisawa. Thank you for all the wonderful Tuesday evenings.

A Jazzy Christmastime in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars returned to the HUB Asakusa tonight for another performance. Just like two months ago, there were only two sets, but the show was still quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, I missed the first set due to work.

It was great to see Yanagisawa-san still in good health and spirits, and he was right at home (as usual) on the drums and the mike. 

After the performance, I said a few words to Yanagisawa-san before heading back home. I'm grateful to attend each of his shows, and I hope they continue for a long time to come.

Tokyo's King of Jazz Is Back!

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tuesday, October 20, saw my first visit to the HUB Asakusa since February. It was long overdue. The April and June shows were cancelled due to COVID-19, but I was surprised to find out (after the fact) that the August actually happened. For a variety of reasons, I just assumed that performance would have been postponed, as well, so I didn't even bother to check to see if it would happen. Suffice it to say, I really regretted that.

As a result, I made it a point to attend the October performance of Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Attendance was much smaller than usual (for obvious reasons), but the usual attendees were all there. It was also great to see Yanagisawa-san again for the first time since February. Yanagisawa-san, of course, is one of the stars of The X from Outer Space (1967).

Shinichi Yanagisawa after the show. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The performance ended a bit earlier than usual, which given the situation, isn't all that surprising. I'm just glad they're still happening at all. I certainly hope all goes well for the next concert in two months. If it's still on, I plan to be there.

Jazz Returns to Asakusa, Courtesy of the Swing All-Stars!

Shinichi Yamagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night (February 18, to be precise), I was able to return to the HUB in Asakusa for another live performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Due to work commitments, I missed the previous one in December, the first time I had missed a performance since October 2014.

Shinichi Yanagisawa on drums. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

This was actually a rare opportunity for me because I was able to attend all three sets in their entirety. (I usually arrive toward the end of the first set or beginning of the second one.) As usual, it was another excellent show.

Yanagisawa-san is best known for his role as Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), but he's so much more than that. He's also talented drummer and vocalist who can sing in Japanese and English. I'm very fortunate to know him.

Another Jazzy Night with Yanagisawa-san!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night, October 15, I went to Asakusa to see Yanagisawa-san perform live jazz. This time marked five straight years of attending the performances, never having missed one of them.

It was an enjoyable show, as usual, and I got to speak with a couple of familiar faces who usually attend the show, too.

Another Jazzy Evening in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight was another night at the HUB in Asakusa, listening to some live jazz as performed by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars. Suffice it to say, it was another great evening of entertainment.

At this point, I really hope I don't have to explain who Yanagisawa-san is. I blog about him all the time, and I've attended his performances for nearly five years. But yes, he was Miyamto in The X from Outer Space (1967), though there's much, much more to his career.

Best of all, I get to spend a bit of time in the company of such a wonderful gentleman. His fellow band members are great, too. I always look forward to attending these shows. I hope there will be many more to come in the future.

The Swing All-Stars Swing Again!

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Last night, June 18, was another night of jazz with Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars. It was another excellent night of music, for sure. There were many old favorites performed during the course of the evening.

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), one of the funnest kaiju movies of the '60s. His character in the film was always my favorite, but since he has all the best lines, that should probably go without saying.

It was another entertaining evening, which made the fact that I got home somewhere around midnight mostly bearable. I love attending these performances and will continue to do so as long as they have them.

They're Back -- and Better Than Ever!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Well, it had been a while, but Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars finally returned to the HUB Asakusa on Tuesday, April 16. That's because the HIB underwent some major renovations during the winter and was closed in February, when they would have held their usual performance.

I got a lucky with my work schedule and was able to attend just about all three sets. It was great to see so many familiar faces again and to have a lengthy chat with Kyoichi, the saxophonist.

Yanagisawa-san, of course, was great on the drums and the vocals. His new movie, Portrait of Brothers, opens in Japan next month, and I encourage everyone to see it. (Details in the following blog post.)

Getting into the Christmas Spirit, Asakusa-Style!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday evening, I attended the last performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. I particularly enjoyed Yanagisawa-san's rendition of classic Christmas tunes. It's the season for them after all.

In February, the HUB Asakusa will be undergoing renovation, so there won't be any performance that month by Yanagisawa-san. I was disappointed by the news, but he and his band mates will be back in action in April. I'll just have to wait a little longer until then.

Another Night of Jazz in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday, October 16, I paid another visit to the HUB in Asakusa for another great night of jazz with Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. Although it seems like I'd just gotten done celebrating my third anniversary of attending each of these shows, this one marked my fourth anniversary. 

Yanagisawa-san was doing quite well and recently attended the world premiere in Kyoto of his most recent movie (which translates into English as "Brother Disappears"), which is essentially a Japanese retelling of The Whales of August (1987). The movie co-stars Choei (Lake of Dracula) Takahashi.

Not bad for an 85-year-old! Here's to many more!

THE KING OF JAZZ! Shinichi Yanagisawa in Concert!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Tuesday night, August 21, I went back to the HUB Asakusa to see Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars in concert. It was another great night of jazz. 

Yanagisawa-san's performance as Miyamoto is one of my favorite parts of The X from Outer Space (1967). If you haven't seen the movie, and you love kaiju, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san again for a great evening!

BACK IN CONCERT! Yanagisawa-san and His Swing All-Stars Have Come Back to Asakusa!

 Shinichi Yanagisawa, having a great time at the HUB in Asakusa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight, I had a great evening at the HIB in Asakusa, watching Shinichi Yanagisawa and His Swing All-Stars performing live jazz. Many of the numbers have become quite familiar to me, but I suppose that's natural after attending these shows for more than three years.

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967). His career encompasses much more than just that movie, however, and I'm lucky to have gotten to find that out directly. Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san for another wonderful evening!

A Jazzy Night with Shinichi Yanagisawa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa on the drums. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

On April 17, I returned to the HUB Asakusa to attend the latest performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and the Swing All-Stars. It was another great evening of classic jazz tunes.

Shinichi Yanagisawa sings jazz. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967), and later this year, he will return to the big screen in a family drama with Choei Takahashi (the star of Toho's Lake of Dracula). I'm sure I'll have more to say about it in the months to come.

Many thanks to Yanagisawa-san for another great evening of entertainment. Can't wait to see him again at the next show!

Shinichi Yanagisawa in Concert

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tuesday night saw another performance by Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars in the HUB Asakusa, and immediately after work, I went to attend the performance.

Yanagisawa-san portrayed Miyamoto, the comic relief character in The X from Outer Space (1967), which despite its outlandish monster effects has always been a favorite of mine.

As always, Yanagisawa-san was a joy to see in person. I have a great time every time I see him, and I can't wait for his spring performance!

SCI-FI FILM HISTORY IN POSTERS! Godzilla and Other Kaiju Hang Around Tokyo's National Film Center!

Today, I stopped by the National Film Center, situated right next to Kyobashi Station, to take in the exhibit called "Film History in Posters Part 3: Science Fiction and Monster Films." The first part of the exhibit focuses on international sci-fi films, such as Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, John Carpenter's The Thing, Stalker,  Videodrome, among many others. Of particular note was a vintage Star Wars poster that had been signed by a large number of the cast and crew of the original film.

The other half of the exhibit focused on domestic sci-fi films. On display were two enormous posters for Mothra (1961) and King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), which I'd never seen before, and were full of interesting details. There was also a large poster for Battle in Outer Space (1959) that, while not quite as huge as the two others, was just as mouthwatering. It was great to see Blue Christmas (1978) and the little-known Frankie the Spaceman (1957) represented among the more famous kaiju titles. Even War of the Insects (1968) got its due here. Suffice it to say, I was quite impressed with the variety of the exhibit.

"Film History in Posters Part 3: Science Fiction and Monster Films" runs until March 25, so if you have a chance to see it for yourself, do so!

SHINICHI YANAGISAWA AND HIS ALL-STARS! It's Christmastime at the HUB Asakusa!

 Shinichi Yanagisawa takes the stage. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight, I attended another great live jazz show with Shinichi Yanagisawa and His All-Stars. While there was certainly a Christmas theme to the proceedings, there were just as many non-Christmas songs performed. All in all, it was very entertaining.

Shinichi Yanagisawa, of course, is a longtime actor and singer. He is best known in the West for playing Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967) and has starred in countless movies since the 1950s, mostly for Nikkatsu and Shochiku.

He's also one heck of a nice guy, and I always look forward to seeing him. I was able to give him my Christmas card, which I do every year. Can't wait to return to the HUB in two months!

The Mystery of Peggy Neal

American actress Peggy Neal clowns around with Shinichi Yanagisawa in Shochiku's The X from Outer Space (1967).

One of the most interesting facets of Japanese movies are the Americans (and other Westerners) who often appear in various productions. This is especially true of the films of the 1960s when it wasn't uncommon for these Westerners, who usually had little to no acting experience, to be featured in a leading role of a film.

While a number of these Western actors have been found and interviewed over the years, one who remains a mystery is Peggy Neal. She appeared in three films, all for different studios: Terror Beneath the Sea (1966) for Toei, The X from Outer Space (1967) for Shochiku, and Las Vegas Free-for-All (1967) for Toho.

According to Stars and Stripes, she was 18 years old in September of 1965, and the June 1966 Yomiuri article below states that Ms. Neal "just turned 19," which would contradict unconfirmed reports that she was only 17 when she made Terror Beneath the Sea.

The following was published in the Japanese Fantasy Film Journal #14, which reprinted an article from the Yomiuri dated June 2, 1966:

Peggy, who has been picked for the leading feminine role from among a horde of applicants, is  a junior at Sophia University's International Division. She is majoring in economics, political science and psychology. This is her first experience in motion pictures although she has been modeling since four. Although Peggy lived in Nagoya for two years as a child, she says she has all but forgotten Japanese. She expressed great gratitude to Chiba who is teaching her the finer points of acting. But knowing little English, he has to teach her mostly by gesture.

In September 1965, Stars and Stripes published an article by James C. Stevenson entitled "Have Knowledge Fever? Sophia Has Cure," which quotes Ms. Neal several times toward the beginning:

A need-to-know fever has struck American college students in Japan, and Tokyo's Sophia University is helping provide the cure. 

The reason for the fever? "It's the diplomatic position that we've been put in," explained 18-year-old Peggy Neal, who lives at Kanto Mura Housing Area. 

"We're more than just university students here in Japan," Peggy said. "We are ambassadors of goodwill for our country."

Peggy, a sophomore in the university's International Division, is one of some 459 American students -- mostly military and civilian members of the Armed Forces and their dependents -- enrolled at the university. 

"As university students," Peggy explained, "we get an opportunity to associate and exchange our democratic views with some of Japan's top students and educators. Through us they get a better understanding of our way of life, and we learn more about their way of life." 

Sophia -- in Yotsuya, the Koji-machi District of Tokyo -- was founded in 1913 by the members of the Society of Jesus. In 1949 it established the International Division to assist U.S. forces in Japan in continuing their education.

"Today," Peggy said smilingly, "It's somewhat like a miniature United Nations. In addition to the large number of American students, foreign students from 20 other countries also attend the university."

I hope someday Peggy Neal's story can be told in the form of an interview. I know I'd love to hear about the making of the three films she starred in. This is one mystery that I hope gets solved soon.

THREE YEARS (AND COUNTING)! Taking in Shinichi Yanagisawa's Live Jazz Show in Asakusa!

Shinichi Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Earlier this evening, I returned to the HUB in Asakusa to catch Shinichi Yanagisawa's latest jazz show with his All-Stars. What was particularly special about tonight's performance is that it marked three years of coming to the HUB to see Yanagisawa-san's shows.

My first visit to the HUB was in October 2014. The previous month, I'd interviewed Yanagisawa-san about his career. I haven't missed a show since my first visit. I've enjoyed myself immensely every time I've gone there.

I hope I don't need to remind anyone by this point, but Yanagisawa-san played Miyamoto in The X from Outer Space (1967). His "plastic water" line (in the AIP-TV release) is still among my favorites in the entire genre.

Many thanks for the last three years, Yanagisawa-san!