They got The Beat, and we got to eat!

Akira Takarada and your humble blogmeister sit down to enjoy lunch at Tokyo's The Beat Diner.

The Beat Diner is a new eating establishment (created in 2009, according to the restaurant) that serves some great American food with an American rock-and-roll ambiance. So guess what? I loved it!

Mon dieu! Now those are hamburgers!

Yes, those hamburgers are gigantic! Not only that, they're quite juicy, so be prepared. Keep your cameras, shirt sleeves, and anything else you value a safe distance away. I can't count how many (admittedly thin) napkins I needed to use in my attempts to keep myself clean. (For context, however, I did eat two of their burgers.)

As I mentioned earlier, the theme of the restaurant is classic rock, both from the U.S. and U.K. One of the restaurant walls is adorned with many '60s- and '70s-era rock album covers. In Japan, for this foreigner, it's a sight for sore eyes!

Rock music is played constantly in the restaurant. Mr. Takarada, who ate with me, is unfamiliar with most of the bands whose work was heard in The Beat. Only in retrospect did my conversation with him about The Doobie Brothers seem a little surreal!

After enjoying our meal, Mr. Takarada was asked to sign a shikishi board for the restaurant. He is unquestionably the most popular guy who's ever eaten here! Mr. Takarada, of course, was happy to oblige.

The finished product.

The shikishi board, in the hands of the restaurant staff!

Yours truly with the staff of the restaurant. Hopefully, they weren't too surprised to find an American visitor treating them with respect!

Meeting his fans: Mr. Takarada wows 'em wherever he goes!

The Beat Diner is located under the shinkansen tracks (which sometimes can be a little disruptive) virtually in between Hibiya and Ginza. For Godzilla fans, it's right around the corner from the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, a perfect location for any traveling G-fan. If you ever get your fill of noodles and eel while in Japan, give The Beat Diner a try!

UPDATE (5/19): Here's some video footage recorded inside the restaurant, capturing the mood of the afternoon.

Yoshimitsu Banno on 100 Years of Ishiro Honda

It's May 7 here in Japan, making today Ishiro Honda's 100th anniversary. Mr. Honda, of course, was the director of such kaiju eiga classics as Godzilla (1954), Rodan (1956), Mothra (1961), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), and many others.

On May 3, 2011, director Yoshimitsu Banno (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) recorded a few words of celebration for this landmark occasion. You may watch Mr. Banno's message by following the link below.

Tokyo: Third pictures

Brett with Ulf Georgii-Hemming (a.k.a. Wolf Otsuki), the bearded Seatopian agent from Godzilla vs. Megalon. The Tokyo Sky Tree is in the background.

The third and final day of my Tokyo trip has come to a close. Here are just a few of the photos taken!

I got to meet all sorts of interesting people!

Ulf pays his respects.

With Shelley Sweeney at Becker's.

Under Rainbow Bridge with Shelley Sweeney.

Tokyo: The second day

The definition of self-explanatory! At the Godzilla statue in Hibiya with Akira Takarada.

My second day of activities in Tokyo is almost at an end. Here are just a few photos from today!

Inside The Beat Diner (near the Godzilla statue) with Mr. Takarada.

Standing in front of the Wako Department Store.

If you don't know what that building is, you have a lot of catching up to do!

With Mr. Takarada and Mr. Banno inside Bubba Gump Shrimp. Mr. Takarada got his revenge on Ebirah!

Tokyo: First pictures

A welcome sight outside of Shinjuku Station!

Today's my first day in Tokyo (Shinjuku and Akihabara, to be exact). Rather than writing a full-fledged report, I'll let my first few photos do the talking!

Kamen Rider's lovin' it!

When was the last time your Happy Meal was this cool? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kamen Rider's 40th anniversary (1971-2011) is being celebrated in a big way in Japan. At McDonald's restaurants across the country, hungry tokusatsu fans can purchase a bit of Kamen Rider history to go with their burgers and fries.

What's in the package, you ask? Let's find out, shall we?!

Henshin!

Unless you're a member of SHOCKER, this meal would make anyone happy!

Happy birthday, Rhodes Reason!

Rhodes Reason at his home in March 2011. His poster of King Kong Escapes would no doubt be coveted by all sorts of collectors, big and small. Photo by Brett Homenick.

April 19 marks the 81st birthday of Rhodes Reason, the actor most kaiju eiga fans associate with his starring role in King Kong Escapes (1967). As Commander Carl Nelson, Rhodes provided an anchor of credibility to the picture, which was an otherwise colorful, over-the-top adventure.

In 2007, Rhodes headlined G-FEST XIV, which highlighted the King Kong movies made by Toho Studios. Shelley Sweeney (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1993) was also on hand for the festivities.

Happy birthday, Rhodes! (Oh, and by the way, I did enjoy The King's Speech. Thank you for the recommendation!)