Keizo Murase, Legendary Kaiju Suitmaker, Passes Away at 89

Keizo Murase in October 2020. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Longtime kaiju suitmaker Keizo Murase passed away on October 14 at 8:21 p.m. at the age of 89. According to news reports, the cause of death was decompensated cirrhosis of the liver. 

Keizo Murase poses with an old friend in April 2019. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Murase-san's credits in the word of tokusatsu as a suitmaker are second to none. But I'll let the master himself tell his own story in my interviews with him, which can be read here and here. Those Q&As tell Murase-san's story better than I possibly could in this blog post.

Keizo Murase in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

To the best of my knowledge, I first met Murase-san at an event in May 2013. I subsequently met Murase-san in and around Tokyo numerous times and enjoyed interviewing him at his company more than once.

Keizo Murase chats with kaiju beam animator Sadao Iizuka in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While I wasn't as close to him as I was with other Godzilla series alumni (as I recall, we spoke on the phone only once, and I received a New Year's greeting card from his company once or twice), I always enjoyed his friendly presence at the events his attended.

Keizo Murase poses with Ultra-series director Toshihiro Iijima in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I first interviewed him in April 2018, I remember he essentially showered me with gifts, presenting me with a Cast Co. bromide card set with photos from his career, as well as a copy of his book. It was a gesture I've always remembered and appreciated.

Keizo Murase in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After the interview, which was held in Murase-san's workshop way out in Mizuho, Tokyo, I still had to teach a group lesson on the 10th floor of the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building (the same structure Godzilla crashes into after his first encounter with the Super X) that evening. Murase-san, who picked my translator and me from the nearby train station in his car, drove us back to the station when we were finished. Miraculously, I somehow made it to the lesson literally in the nick of time. Had I arrived even a minute later, I would have been late. It still amazes me how perfect the timing was, given the distances (and various modes of transportation) involved. 

Keizo Murase at his workshop in February 2024. Photo by Brett Homenick.

My last encounter with Murase-san was in February of this year, just before I left Japan. I visited his workshop one more time to interview him again about his career. Even after the third interview, I still didn't get to cover all the topics I would have liked, but I was and still am grateful to have had the opportunity. The interview probably won't be published for quite a while (I have a massive backlog), but I look forward to getting it published sometime in the future.

With Keizo Murase in February 2024.

When I visited Murase-san that day, he was riding high on the fact that he had been selected to receive a special award at the Japanese Academy Film Prize on March 8 for his contributions to Japanese cinema. The timing of that award was impeccable, and I'm proud that Murase-san was able to receive such a prestigious accolade in his lifetime.

With Keizo Murase in March 2016.

While we were taking photos after the interview in February, Murase-san grabbed his phone and asked his son to take a picture of the two of us together. I've said it before, but it's always cool when a VIP asks to take a photo with you. 

With Keizo Murase in October 2020.

Murase-san created some of the most fantastic images of my childhood, and it was my privilege that I was able to spend some precious moments in his company. Rest in peace, Murase-san. 

Director Nobuo Nakagawa Celebrated with a Screening of His Television Work!

Kyoko Yashiro. Photo by Brett Homenick.

This afternoon (Sunday, June 11), I attended an event centered around celebrated director Nobuo Nakagawa, who is best remembered around the world for his period horror films. This event, however, focused on the director's work on home dramas during the mid-'60s. It was held in the basement of the Laputa Asagaya.

Screened at the event were episode 10 of the home drama Toshiko-san (1966), as well as episode 1 of the similar Atchan (1965). Both works were a far cry from Nakagawa's scarier features. Today's episode of Atchan even boasted music by the late Chumei Watanabe.

I wasn't sure who would show up to the event, but thankfully there were two great guests who made it all worthwhile. The first guest to mention is Shintoho actress Kyoko Yashiro, the widow of Ultra-series director Toshihiro Iijima. Yashiro-san worked with director Nakagawa on The Lady Vampire (1959). She also appeared in Vampire Bride (1960) and The Ghost of the Girl Diver (1960). I hadn't seen her since 2018 but was quite pleased that she recognized me after all this time. I was very happy to have a chance to see her again -- and even ride in an elevator with her!

Masahisa Sakashita. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was Nikkatsu Studios veteran Masahisa Sakashita. While he worked his way up through Nikkatsu Studios during the 1970s, more recently he has worked as a freelance television director. I also last saw him in 2018, but was floored that he recognized me, too. I figured there was no way he would remember me (we'd only ever met once before, and that was at a similar event with many attendees), so it was a pleasant surprise that he did. He was in great spirits, and we shared quite a few laughs.

And that's a wrap! The only other thing to mention is that, at one point, Yashiro-san couldn't find the black bag she brought with her, and a few others and I scoured the place looking for it. It turned out that her companion, with whom she came to the event, had it in his possession all along. Crises averted! Otherwise, it was a great time. Let's do it again!

Sadao Iizuka, the Animator of Godzilla's Ray, Passes Away at 88

Sadao Iizuka in May 2019. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 

The Anime Tokusatsu Archive Centre (ATAC) has announced today that legendary tokusatsu animator Sadao Iizuka, who animated the beams of Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Ultraman during the 1960s, passed away on March 24 at 9:10 a.m. due to aspiration pneumonia after being hospitalized in January. He was 88. The news was confirmed by Mr. Iizuka's friend and manager Tabata Kei.

Mr. Iizuka was born on December 26, 1934, and went on to join Toho as a part-time employee in 1954 and worked on Godzilla (1954) in the tokusatsu art department. He would also work on the productions of Godzilla Raids Again (1955), Half Human (1955), and Rodan (1956) in similar capacities until being recruited by Eiji Tsuburaya to work on optical effects for The Mysterians (1957).

Sadao Iizuka in February 2018. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mr. Iizuka would work tirelessly throughout the 1960s on a variety of effects, including the stop-motion animation used in King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and the animation used to depict the fiery birth of King Ghidorah in Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964). 

Sadao Iizuka in December 2021. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mr. Iizuka's beam effects for Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Ultraman would help define Showa-era tokusatsu, but by the end of the '60s he would go leave Toho and eventually start his own company, Den Film Effect. (Mr. Iizuka's longtime nickname was Den-san.)

Sadao Iizuka with Toho SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was privileged to interview Mr. Iizuka twice about his career in his home. It was only intended to be one session, but Mr. Iizuka had so much to say that we scheduled a second session for a couple of weeks later. Those interviews can be found here and here.

Sadao Iizuka draws Godzilla's beam in December 2021. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mr. Iizuka was certainly outspoken about his true feelings and opinions, rarely holding back when you asked him what he thought about something. That quality made him one of the more endearing guests you would meet at such events.

Sadao Iizuka in between Tsuburaya Productions director Toshihiro Iijima (left) and kaiju suitmaker Keizo Murase in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I first met him in August 2015, and he became one of my favorite folks to meet at events. Even then, he was one of the last remaining individuals who had worked on the original Godzilla and had many memories of working with Eiji Tsuburaya.

Sadao Iizuka poses with Toho SFX director Eiichi Asada in December 2022. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Pre-COVID, he always seemed in great health, especially for his age, and that seemed to be the case when I interviewed him in December 2020 and January 2021. However, when I met him again at an event on December 26, 2021, he seemed noticeably more frail. He seemed the same the last time I would ever see him, Christmas Day 2022. He was scheduled to attend another event in January, which was canceled due to his poor health. 

With Sadao Iizuka in December 2022.

Rest in peace, Iizuka-san.

UPDATE: I'd also like to mention that I was proud that this photo I took was used on Mr. Iizuka's official website for years.

It was truly an honor.

Ultra-Series Writer-Director Toshihiro Iijima Passes Away at 89

Toshihiro Iijima in November 2018. Photo by Brett Homenick.

It was announced today that writer-director Toshihiro Iijima died of aspiration pneumonia in a hospital in Yokohama at 8:59 p.m. on October 17. He was 89.

Shozo Uehara, Toshihiro Iijima, and Eizo Yamagiwa share a laugh in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Born on September 3, 1932, in Tokyo, Mr. Iijima was a director and screenwriter, mostly for television. In 1957, he joined what would eventually become TBS and worked his way up to becoming a director and scriptwriter.

Toshihiro Iijima in May 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

He occasionally wrote scripts under the pen name Kitao Senzoku. Mr. Iijima wrote and directed many episodes of Ultra Q (1966) and Ultraman (1966-67), as well as directing Ultra Seven (1967-68) and Operation: Mystery! (1968-69). In addition, he wrote and directed the feature film Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972).

Mr. Iijima stands between Susumu Kurobe (left) and Bin Furuya in October 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

His most notable contribution was directing episode 2 of the original Ultraman, which introduced Baltan Seijin to the series.

Kyoko Yashiro in November 2018. Photo by Brett Homenick.

He was married to actress Kyoko Yashiro. Ms. Yashiro worked with acclaimed horror director Nobuo Nakagawa the film The Lady Vampire (1959), as well as appearing in Vampire Bride (1960) and The Ghost of the Girl Diver (1960) at Shintoho.

Toshihiro Iijima in July 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I had the privilege of meeting both Mr. Iijima and Ms. Yashiro at several events over the years. They were never anything less than friendly. I was surprised once when Mr. Iijima-san thanked me for always coming out to his events. I should have been thanking him!

With Mr. Iijima in May 2017.

Rest in peace, Mr. Iijima. Thank you for helping to make television history.

Shozo Uehara, Prolific Japanese Superhero TV Writer, Passes Away at 82

Shozo Uehara in March 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Legendary Japanese television writer Shozo Uehara, whose career spanned decades and involved both tokusatsu and anime, passed away on January 2 of liver cancer. He was 82.

Shozo Uehara was born on February 6, 1937, in Naha, Okinawa. During his career, he wrote episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Ultraman (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Return of Ultraman (1971-72), Ultraman Ace (1972-73), Zone Fighter (1973), and Ultraman Taro (1973-74) before penning many of the Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Metal Hero series for Toei Studios.

Shozo Uehara (left) shares a laugh with Ultra-series directors Toshihiro Iijima and Eizo Yamagiwa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I had the privilege of meeting Uehara-san in March 2016 at a launch party for an Ultra Q book. Many veterans from Tsuburaya Productions were on hand for the event, and it was great to see the camaraderie among them. 

In between Tsuburaya Productions writers Shozo Uehara (left) and Hiroyasu Yamaura.

Uehara-san leaves behind a legacy that few others could match, and his imagination has influenced more tokusatsu and anime productions in the last several decades than those of most other writers. Thank you for the years of entertainment. Rest in peace, Uehara-san. 

Ultraman and Kamen Rider Alums Gather in Nakano for a Showa Hero Event!

From left to right: Toshihiro Iijima, Nana Yanagisawa, and Susumu Kurobe. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I attended a Showa Hero event in Nakano, Tokyo. It featured the cast and crew of the film Homecoming (2011), directed by Toshihiro Iijima and starring (among others) Susumu Kurobe and Nana Yanagisawa.

Of course, all three guests are no strangers to the world of kaiju and tokusatsu, and that's what really drew the folks in attendance to the event.

Susumu Kurobe poses with a Beta Capsule. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The featured guest was actor Susumu Kurobe, who portrayed Shin Hayata (Ultraman's alter ego) in the series of the same name. Before Ultraman, Kurobe-san was a Toho New Face who appeared in a numerous films produced by the studio. Among his most recognizable monster movies are Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964), Son of Godzilla (1967), King Kong Escapes (1967), Destroy All Monsters (1968), and Latitude Zero (1969). In later years, Kurobe-san returned to the Godzilla series during the Heisei era and can be seen in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) and Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992).

Director Toshihiro Iijima. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Director Toshihiro Iijima, who helmed episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Ultraman (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), and Operation: Mystery! (1968-69), was also there. He also directed the Tsuburaya Productions children's movie Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972).

Actress Kyoko Yashiro. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Accompanying Iijima-san was his wife, former Shintoho actress Kyoko Yashiro. Yashiro-san worked with acclaimed horror director Nobuo Nakagawa on The Lady Vampire (1959). She also appeared in Vampire Bride (1960) and The Ghost of the Girl Diver (1960). I first met her two years ago but hadn't seen her since then. I was very glad that she appeared at this event.

Nana Yanagisawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was actress Nana Yanagisawa, who played Phantom Thief Selene on GoGo Sentai Boukenger (2006-07) and Megumi Aso on Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-09).

With Toshihiro Iijima.

The guests were all friendly and a lot of fun to see. I'd met all of them on previous occasions (with the exception of Yanagisawa-san), and I enjoyed seeing them again. Of course, any time you can meet Susumu Kurobe or Toshihiro Iijima is an opportunity not to be missed.

With Nana Yanagisawa.

Of all the guests in attendance, the one I spoke with the most was the unofficial guest, Kyoko Yashiro. Of course, she was never announced to the attendees, and it didn't seem that most folks even knew who she was. I instantly recognized her, and was pleased to find that she remembered me, too.

With Susumu Kurobe.

Suffice it to say, the event was Ultra-good, and I'm already looking forward to the next one. I just hope it isn't too far in the future!

With Kyoko Yashiro.

As always, this blog will be the place to learn about all the coolest happenings in Japan. Stay tuned!

ULTRA-GOOD! Showa Hero Reunites Ultraman Cast and Crew!

From left to right: Susumu Kurobe, Toshihiro Iijima, and Bin Furuya reunite to celebrate Ultraman. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I attended a very special event at the Nakano Sunplaza in Tokyo. Hosted by Showa Hero, it saw a reunion of three key players from Tsuburaya Productions' seminal TV series Ultraman (1966-67).

 Kurobe! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Headlining the guest list was actor Susumu Kurobe, who portrayed Shin Hayata (Ultraman's alter ego) in the series. Prior to his to turn in Ultraman, Kurobe-san was a Toho New Face who appeared in a wide range of movies. His most notable credits are Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964), Son of Godzilla (1967), King Kong Escapes (1967), Destroy All Monsters (1968), and Latitude  Zero (1969). Kurobe-san returned to the Godzilla series during the Heisei era and can be seen in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) and Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992). Of course, Kurobe-san has appeared in many other films and TV programs, tokusatsu and otherwise.

Bin Furuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Also on hand was Ultraman suit actor Bin Furuya. While I've met Furuya-san many times over the years, this was my first time to see him onstage with Susumu Kurobe.  

With Toshihiro Iijima.

The third guest in attendance was director Toshihiro Iijima, who helmed episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Ultraman, and Ultra Seven (1967-68). It's always a joy to see Iijima-san, who is a very kind gentleman.

With Susumu Kurobe. 

I was particularly glad to meet Susumu Kurobe. Contrary to most others, I'm sure, I'm actually more interested in his Toho career than his involvement in the Ultra-series. I grew up with his kaiju movies; Ultraman came much later in life for me.

With Bin Furuya.

What can I say? It never gets old visiting Bin Furuya!

And that's a wrap! Many thanks to Ms. Kojima and Showa Hero for staging another enjoyable event. I hope to attend the next one!

TSUBURAYA PRO IN DA HOUSE! Ultra-Alums Please Their Fans!

Return of Ultraman suit actor Eiichi Kikuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After spending the day with various Toei heroes and villains, it was off to Jimbocho for an evening with Tsuburaya Productions alumni! Two of the biggest guests on hand were old favorites of mine.  

Striking a pose with Eiichi Kikuchi.

First was Return of Ultraman (1971-72) suit actor Eiichi Kikuchi, who also played Ultra Seven in the King Joe episodes of Ultra Seven (1967-68). Not only that, but he battles Sean Connery in the James Bond actioner You Only Live Twice (1967) as a henchman. (Yes, James Bond and Ultra Seven have tussled onscreen.) A resume doesn't get much cooler than that!  

Ultraman director Toshihiro Iijima. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

The other great guest was director Toshihiro Iijima. Iijima-san directed episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Ultraman (1966-67), Ultra Seven, and other Tsuburaya Productions series, in addition to the feature film Daigoro vs. Goliath (1972). In Japan, he is probably best known as the director of episode 2 of Ultraman, which saw the debut of Baltan Seijin.

Iijima-san is a very kind gentleman, and whenever he appears at an event, I always try to attend to pay my respects. All in all, it was a great way to end the day. Now's the time to rest!