ATTACK OF THE GIANT DIRECTOR! Seeing Yoshikazu Ishii's Latest Film!

From left to right: Yoshikazu Ishii, Miku Chiba, Yusuke Sugiyama, and Takashi Toyota. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I attended a screening of the film Attack of the Giant Teacher (2019), directed by Yoshikazu Ishii. It was my first time to see the film, and what better way than on the big screen.

I was surprised to learn that film is already getting a Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS (!) release in America when no such release is currently scheduled for Japan. The movie itself is quite ambitious for its low budget. There are definitely some amusing moments, but I wish the film had been paced better. Almost all the action happens in the last five or 10 minutes.

Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Prior to Attack of the Giant Teacher, there was a screening of another of Ishii-san's recent flicks, Game Master (2017). I missed the screening, but hopefully I'll be able to catch it another time. Special guests Yusuke Sugiyama and Miku Chiba only appeared in Game Master, so I missed their performances.

Most of all, I was glad to see Ishii-san again, considering it's been more than a year since I last saw him. I'm glad to see that he's kept busy as a film and TV director. I was certainly very happy for him that Attack of the Giant Teacher is coming to home video in America. Well done, Ishii-san!

A Salute to Android M11

Which one is real M11? Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I recently decided to reach back into picture archives and share some photos of Android M11 I've taken throughout the years. These days, M11 is just as associated with Chicago as he is with his role in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991). Here are the pics. Enjoy!

 M11 onstage in July 2012.

M11 signs for his hardcore fans. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

All smiles in July 2012. 

With Damon Foster in July 2010. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 With yours truly in July 2007.

M11's Eye on Japan in July 2009. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Sizing up his autograph line in July 2009. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Translating for Yoshikazu Ishii in July 2005. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Translating for Yoshikazu Ishii in July 2005. Photo by Brett Homenick.

M11 talks with Zillamon51 in July 2004. Photo by Brett Homenick.  

With Mark Rainey in July 2004. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

With Carl Craig in July 2003. Photo by Brett Homenick.

You could say that Chicago has successfully achieved international understanding through M11. Keep on keepin' on!

Attack of the Giant Teacher!

Yoshikazu Ishii in November 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

A new movie produced and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii will be coming soon, and you can watch the English-subtitled trailer below. Fans of Godzilla and Ultraman will certainly notice more than a few nods to the kaiju genre in Attack of the Giant Teacher. Check it out for yourself. Many thanks to Ishii-san for bringing his new film project to my attention.

GROUP SHOT! Takashi Naganuma's Book Party!

The commemorative photo taken at Takashi Naganuma's launch party.

Takashi Naganuma just e-mailed me the commemorative group photo from Sunday's event. It features all the guests from the event (except director Tom Kotani, who left a bit early). Once again, it was a fantasic event. Many thanks to everyone who made it such a special occasion!

MORE PHOTOS! Takashi Naganuma's Launch Party!

Nobuyuki Yasumaru addresses Shinji Higuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, I attended the launch party for Takashi Naganuma's new book on Toho SFX. It was a private celebration, and it was a lot of fun. Here are some other highlights.

Director Tom Kotani and suit builder Nobuyuki Yasumaru enjoy each other's company.

A group shot with yours truly, Tom Kotani, and Takashi Naganuma. This was taken shortly after I was invited to address the audience on the microphone. I offered praise to the SFX luminaries in attendance, and asked everyone to give director Kotani a round of applause. Kotani-san stood up and hugged me!

My photo of Toho cyclorama painter Fuchimu Shimakura.

Yours truly with Shimakura-san! Personality-wise, Shimakura-san was extremely youthful and had a wonderful sense of humor. I really hope to have a chance to meet him again.

A group shot with director Shinji Higuchi, Takashi Naganuma, and others in attendance.

Meeting suit builder Nobuyuki Yasumaru. Shinji Higuchi is directly seated behind us.

Nobuyuki Yasumaru points out the details in a photograph to Shinji Higuchi.

Yours truly with Shin Godzilla co-director Shinji Higuchi.

A selfie with Yoshikazu Ishii, a Toho SFX expert.

TAKASHI NAGANUMA'S BOOK PARTY! SFX All-Stars Turn Out for The Celebration!

Takashi Naganuma addresses the audience of fans and pros. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Sunday, November 27, a private party was held in Yokohama Chinatown to celebrate the launch of a new book by Takashi Naganuma, detailing Toho's tokusatsu history from the 1970s and beyond. 

Godzilla stands above Yokohama Chinatown. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was invited by Naganuma-san when I saw him a week ago. Naturally, when I heard about this party, I jumped at the chance to attend. I'm very glad I did. There were several Toho tokusatsu staff members in attendance, many of whom I'd never met before. There was even a big surprise in store for us!

Director Tsugunobu "Tom" Kotani waits in the green room. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I arrived, I greeted Naganuma-san, who was busy setting up. I then joined director Tsugunobu "Tom" Kotani in the green room. Kotani-san still speaks quite a bit of English, though he tells me he used to be even more proficient. He reminisced about working with Richard Boone on The Last Dinosaur (1977). According to Kotani-san, he and Richard Boone got along very well, and Boone even helped communicate some of his directions to the rest of the cast. Kotani-san said that Boone was like an honorary assistant director in that sense. 

Toho SFX expert Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Among the tokusatsu pros in attendance was Yoshikazu Ishii, the first assistant director of SFX on Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), among a lot of other film and TV work. Ishii-san's English has come along very well since I first met him back in 2003. He helped translate my conversation with Toshiro Aoki later in the evening. Many thanks to Ishii-san for his help!

Tom Kotani greets fellow Toho director Shinji Higuchi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The above photo ought to give away the surprise. Fresh off the success of Shin Godzilla, co-director Shinji Higuchi attended the launch party. Naturally, Higuchi-san is well acquainted with the Toho alumni in attendance, and their respect for Higuchi-san was quite evident.

Nobuyuki Yasumaru discusses his work at Toho. Photo by Brett Homenick.

A big highlight for me was getting the chance to meet Toho suit builder Nobuyuki Yasumaru. His work on Toho SFX dates all the way back to Mothra (1961), but he is best known for his work building the suits for most of the '70s Toho monsters as well as the '84 Godzilla suit and Pulgasari. His work on Toho monster suits began with Gorosaurus on King Kong Escapes (1967).

Fuchimu Shimakura recalls his Toho days. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Artist Fuchimu Shimakura was also on hand, and while most fans aren't familiar with his name, they know his work. Shimakura-san painted the cycloramas and backgrounds seen in many classic Toho films and Ultraman programs. In other words, if you saw Mount Fuji in the background of a monster fight scene during the 1960s, he painted it. When I spoke with Shimakura-san, he told me that he began work at Toho in 1959 (!), which would have made him about 19 years old at the time. According to Shimakura-san, his first tokusatsu works were The Three Treasures (1959) and Battle in Outer Space (1959).

Director Shinji Higuchi speaks to the audience. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinji Higuchi was also among the speakers, and he turned out to be the most popular guest among the fans and professionals. It's not hard to see why. Shin Godzilla was a massive success at the Japanese box office. Higuchi-san did not have to attend an event like this, but his respect for the SFX technicians in attendance speaks for itself.

SFX art director Toshiro Aoki talks tokusatsu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Another luminary in attendance was SFX art director Toshiro Aoki. Aoki-san's career as an art assistant dates back to 1959 with The Three Treasures, but he went on to work on Mothra, Gorath (1962), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), among many other titles. In the 1970s, Aoki-san became SFX art director for films like Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), and Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). Aoki-san worked in the same position for Tsuburaya Productions on Return of Ultraman (1971-72), Ultraman Ace (1972-73), and Ultraman Taro (1973-74). 

Yours truly with Toho SFX art assistant Jiro Shirasaki.

Jiro Shirasaki was among with many other SFX alums, and he likewise worked on many classic Toho films in the SFX art department.

All in all, it was a tremendous party, but as is often the case, there's a lot more to say. Stay tuned!

MASAAKI TEZUKA TALKS FILMS IN KOENJI! Unmade Movies in the East and West Are Discussed!

Director Masaaki Tezuka speaks to the audience at a special event in Koenji, Tokyo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On October 24, I was invited to join a special event in Koenji, Tokyo, highlighting some famous unmade films in movie history. The event ran for almost four hours, and most of the films discussed were American or European. However, some unmade kaiju films were discussed, and some rare screenplays for some of these movies were on display. It was a treat to see them in person.

The guest of honor was director Masaaki Tezuka, who directed Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000), Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002), and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). Among other titles, he served as assistant director on Virus, (1980), Princess from the Moon (1987), Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), and the last two entries in the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy.

Yoshikazu Ishii promotes his new film Sakurabana at the event. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yoshikazu Ishii was also on hand, and many Godzilla fans are quite familiar with his credits. He was chief assistant special effects director on Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) and served in a similar position on Ultraman Saga (2012). Ishii-san promoted his latest film project, Sakurabana. The official site can be found here.

Yours truly posing with Toho power player Yoshikazu Ishii after the event wrapped.

When the event finished, my friend Yasushi and I were invited by the organizers to join a special dinner with Tezuka-san. I sat next to Tezuka-san for the meal, and I enjoyed spending the evening with him.

It had been quite a weekend up to this point, but even after all of this, it was far from over! 

CHRISTMAS, TOKYO-STYLE! Fun Holiday Activities in the Land of the Rising Sun!

Merry Christmas from Kadokawa Daiei Studios in Tokyo!

Christmas is quickly approaching, and while Japan doesn't celebrate the holiday the same way the U.S. does, its presence is felt wherever you go. Kadokawa Daiei Studios has even gotten in on the fun, as its two Majin statues are (temporarily, of course) made up to look like Santa Claus and Rudolph (that red nose is a dead giveaway)!

If you've been naughty, beware! You don't want this guy (um, the taller one!) sliding down your chimney this holiday season!

On December 8, a group of us wanted to see the Majin statues' new clothes up close and personal. And, after taking in the sights at Kadokawa Daiei Studios, we headed to Chofu's tourist information center (more info on that can be found here) to show the members of our party (including SFX director Yoshikazu Ishii, G-TOUR 2011 guide Hidesada Shimazaki, and globe-trotting Godzilla fan Michael Field) the cool movie memorabilia to be seen there.

Michael Field clowns around with a Gamera attraction display.

While Shop Majin at Kadokawa Daiei Studios was closed when we visited, the tourist center offered many of the same items (shirts, Majin cookies, etc.) for sale, which gave Michael an opportunity to pick up some cool souvenirs.

SFX director Yoshikazu Ishii is haunted by the specter of Sadako in Chofu, Tokyo!

The evening also saw us visit a couple of Tower Records in Tokyo for (what else?) more shopping. We ended up eating some tasty ramen for dinner, which we then followed up with Subway sandwiches a bit later. Mm, yummy!

Yours truly with Yoshikazu Ishii in Shibuya.

To close the night, our slightly smaller party (Hide-san and Ishii-san called it a night a bit earlier) stopped at Kaiju-ya in Shibuya. Suit actor Toshio Miyake was in the house, and he was a perfect host for us American tokusatsu fans. All in all, a great evening was had by all!

Toshio Miyake holds court in Kaiju-ya, by far the coolest bar in Shibuya!

The next evening, Daiei's 1956 sci-fi classic Warning from Space screened at Yurakucho's Kadokawa Cinema. This screening was part of the current 70th anniversary tribute to Daiei Studios taking place this month. Even though the print was faded and scratchy, it was a rare treat to see this film on the big screen. And some friends showed up!

Gamera crashes the party...

... and he brought Majin with him!

But wait! That's not all ... not by a long shot. More to come soon!