Time Slip Back to Taisho!

Actress-singer Yumi Mizusawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I just returned from a stage performance that featured actress-singer Yumi Mizusawa in the starring role. It was an interesting show that focused on one of the central character's sudden time slip back to Japan's Taisho period. After the show, I was glad to have a nice chat with her.

Mizusawa-san starred in the TV series What Is Youth? (1965-66) alongside Toho star Yosuke Natsuki. While her credits are mostly non-genre, she appeared in episode 91 of Kamen Rider (1971-73) and episode 16 of Iron King (1972-73). Her most notable film appearance is in Kihachi Okamoto's Epoch of Murder Madness (1967).

My interview with Mizusawa-san can be read here.

Hope to see her again soon!

A Performance in Nakano!

Yumi Mizusawa and Tatsuhito Go. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I attended a play in Nakano Ward in which actress-singer Yumi Mizusawa was one of the ensemble performers. Mizusawa-san starred in the TV series What Is Youth? (1965-66) alongside Yosuke Natsuki. While her credits are mostly non-genre, she appeared in episode 91 of Kamen Rider (1971-73) and episode 16 of Iron King (1972-73). Her most notable film appearance is in Kihachi Okamoto's Epoch of Murder Madness (1967).

After the show, I realized that I was sitting one seat away from actor Tatsuhito Go. Go-san was a regular on Strada 5 (1974) and appeared in episodes of the series Jekyll and Hyde (1973) and Zone Fighter (1973) as well as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971). After chatting with Mizusawa-san, she invited Go-san over for a photo op. It was certainly an unexpected bonus!

ROYALTY AT THE ROYAL HOST! Joining a Toho Legend for Supper!

At dinner with veteran Toho actor Yosuke Natsuki, the star of many classic Japanese films.

On Monday, October 19, I was treated to a tasty dinner with Toho star Yosuke Natsuki. We went to a nearby Royal Host restaurant and chatted for a few hours. We talked about a variety of topics (not just movies), and one thing I was quite impressed to learn was that Natsuki-san once met former President Bill Clinton at a VIP party in Tokyo (after President Clinton had already retired).

Yosuke Natsuki is still active and has made several recent appearances on Japanese television. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Not long ago, Natsuki appeared on TV with Matsuko Deluxe, an extremely famous (if a bit unusual) television personality. He also participated in a reunion program for his popular What Is Youth? TV series, as well as being interviewed for a TV documentary about Toshiro Mifune.

When the meal was finished, Natsuki-san drove me home. And, to cap off the evening, I came home to find a handwritten postcard from Bin Furuya, thanking me for joining his recent event in Harajuku. Suffice it to say, it was a great evening!