Vantage Point Interviews Returns with New Content!

Toru Murakawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Toru Murakawa has enjoyed a decades-long career as a film and television director in Japan, but he got his start in the late 1950s at Nikkatsu Studios, working as an assistant director on such features as Gappa the Triphibian Monster (a.k.a. Monster from a Prehistoric Planet, 1967), Toshio Masuda's World War II drama Monument to the Girl’s Corps (1968), and the 20th Century-Fox-produced Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970).

Mr. Murakawa discusses his work on these and other films in this November 2021 interview now available on Vantage Point Interviews.

An Evening with an Acclaimed Director!

Toru Murakawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday, November 27, I was fortunate to interview director Toru Murakawa about his early work as an assistant director. I learned quite a few interesting things, and, when it's finally published, so will you.

It was a fun but unusual evening, given the late start of the proceedings. But Murakawa-san remain energetic throughout the evening, showing us all that he hasn't slowed down with age.

I was surprised to see the lovely Kanae Hasebe, the daughter of film and television director Yasuharu Hasebe (Horror Theater Unbalance, Spectreman, Assault! Jack the Ripper), there, as well. In terms of tokusatsu, she appears in episodes 18 and 19 of Kamen Rider 555 (2003-04) as Sachiko Kurata, as well as episode 5 of Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-09) as a housewife.

She looked as lovely as ever, and we took this quick snapshot in front of the Christmas decorations. A fun time was had by all, and it was a nice way to close out the month of November.

'Abunai Deka' Makes Another Triumphant Return!

Hiroshi Kashiwabara. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Sunday, SEptember 26, I attended yet another special event featuring a reunion of luminaries from the hit crime drama Abumai Deka (1986-87). This reunion featured scriptwriter Hiroshi Kashiwabara, director Toru Murakawa, and actress Kanae Hasebe.

Kashiwabara-san, as most readers of this blog will no doubt remember, wrote the screenplays for Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994), Godzilla 2000 (1999), and Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000). Of course, the recent passing of Wataru Mimura was a topic of conversation.

Toru Murakawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Director Toru Murakawa is a director best known for his many collaborations with actor Yusaku Matsuda. Murakawa-san directed the films The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979) and The Beast to Die (1980), both of which star Matsuda. On the small screen, he directed episodes of Daitsuiseki (1978) and Tantei Monogatari (1979-80). However, I know Murakawa-san best as the chief assistant director of the Japanese scenes of Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970).

Murakawa-san is a true living legend of Japanese cinema, who came a long way to attend this event. It's also wonderful to spend time in his company.

Kanae Hasebe. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was actress Kanae Hasebe, the daughter of film and television director Yasuharu Hasebe (Horror Theater Unbalance, Spectreman, Assault! Jack the Ripper). She played Hitomi Yamaji on Abunai Deka, as well as on its follow-up series Motto Abunai Deka (1988-89). In terms of tokusatsu, she appears in episodes 18 and 19 of Kamen Rider 555 (2003-04) as Sachiko Kurata, as well as episode 5 of Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-09) as a housewife.

It's not very common that a guest at one of these events asks to take a picture with you, but that's exactly what Hasebe-san did after we took the above photo. Suffice it to say, I was quite flattered when she asked another attendee to take our picture on her phone. Afterward, we spoke about the directing work of her father.

I know nothing about Abunai Deka, but these events sure are a lot of fun! Maybe I should start watching the show.

A Trio of Great Guests!

Yoko Takahashi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Saturday night, I had the privilege of attending a fun dinner event with three very special guests, one of whom was a surprise. They were actresses Yoko Takahashi and Rie Yokoyama, as well as director Toru Murakawa.

I've met Takahashi-san several times over the years. She was a prolific actress in the 1970s, with her best-known work in the West being the Oscar-nominated Sandakan 8 (1974). She also can be seen in Kon Ichikawa's The Devil's Ballad (1977).

Rie Yokoyama. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yokoyama-san appears in Nagisa Oshima's Diary of a Shinjuku Burglar (1969), Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), episode 10 of Horror Theater Unbalance (1973), Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973), and Kinji Fukasaku's New Battles without Honor and Humanity: Last Days of the Boss (1976).

I briefly met Yokoyama-san earlier this year, but this time I had a bit more time to spend in her company, which naturally I was happy to do.

Toru Murakawa is a director best known for his many collaborations with actor Yusaku Matsuda. Murakawa-san directed the films The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979) and The Beast to Die (1980), both of which star Matsuda.

On the small screen, he directed episodes of Daitsuiseki (1978) and Tantei Monogatari (1979-80). However, I know Murakawa-san best as the chief assistant director of the Japanese scenes of Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970).

And there you have it! The guests were great, and I had a wonderful time. Let's do it again soon!

An Event Celebrating the Memory of Yusaku Matsuda

With Hironobu Hagimae (left) and Toru Murakawa (center). 

The Golden Week festivities continued on May 3, as I attended a special evening event with stuntman Hironobu Hagimae and director Toru Murakawa. The event centered around a screening of a Yusaku Matsuda film directed by Murakawa-san, but given my work schedule, I had to miss it. 

Toru Murakawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Toru Murakawa is a director best known for his many collaborations with actor Yusaku Matsuda. Murakawa-san directed the films The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979) and The Beast to Die (1980), both of which star Matsuda. 

On the small screen, he directed episodes of Daitsuiseki (1978) and Tantei Monogatari (1979-80). However, I know Murakawa-san best as the chief assistant director of the Japanese scenes of Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970).

Hironobu Hagimae. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was Hironobu Hagimae. He's performed as a stuntman in America, Japan, and even Australia. He's a veteran of the '70s Kamen Rider series, as well as Mad Max (1979) and The Road Warrior (1981). 

I had a great time talking with Hagimae-san about his various adventures around the world. Hard to believe it had been a year since I first met him.

All in all, it was a lot of fun, and I hope we can do it again soon!