SHINJUKU AT NIGHT! Taking a Stroll Around the Skyscraper District

Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is well known for any number of its notable sights and locations. Some of them (such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building) have been featured in Godzilla films. Recently I took an evening stroll around Shinjuku's skyscraper district (near the station's West Exit) and snapped some photos of my walk. It reminded me of Godzilla 1985 on more than one occasion. Enjoy!

Remembering Ib J. Melchior (1917-2015)

The great Ib Melchior sits in his office in Los Angeles, CA, July 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick.

This morning I woke up to some terrible news. Ib J. Melchior, the 97-year-old, Danish-born writer and filmmaker, passed away in Los Angeles. Ib's work has been prevalent in my life ever since I was a child. I remember seeing Reptilicus (1961), a film for which he wrote the screenplay and worked on the American version, in my early years. Later on, I'd see more of his sci-fi efforts, including The Angry Red Planet (1959), which is perhaps his best-known film. He was also the son of famed opera singer Lauritz Melchior.

Ib Melchior addresses guests at a party held at the home of one of his many friends, July 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I first contacted Ib via his short-lived official Web site in 2007. Given his involvement in some of my favorite Western monster movies, as well as his participation in the screenplay of The Volcano Monsters, I was eager to speak with him. It wasn't until a few months later (in 2008) that I received an apologetic response. Ib told me that he had only just received my inquiry and joked that it must have gotten lost in the Twilight Zone.

In short order, the interview was arranged, and I was quickly learning some very interesting information about everything from the abandoned Volcano Monsters project to Reptilicus. Perhaps much of this information was already known to other movie researchers at the time, but hearing directly from the man who made it all happen was a true joy. After the interview came out, Ib and I stayed in touch, and I always looked forward to our telephone conversations.

Yours truly with Ib Melchior at his home, right behind the legendary Chateau Marmont in Los Anegeles, July 2012.

Around this time, Ib came out with a new book, Melchior A La Carte, which I was very happy to review. After the review was published and sent to Ib, he wrote me a message, thanking me for my review, and offered to put me up for the night should I choose to visit L.A. I was surprised to receive such an offer, and naturally there was no way I could turn it down. So, when I came to L.A. in September 2009, I made plans with Ib, and I was able to spend the night at his house.

I would get to know Ib very well and would see him often until March 2011, which is when I moved to Japan. In fact, when I told Ib about my plans to move, he sent me an extremely encouraging message in response. Given that it would be my first time living in another country, his words proved to be a big help.

While I could no longer see Ib in person, we did exchange Christmas cards and phone conversations. When I came to visit L.A. for about a week in July 2012, I stayed with the Melchiors the whole time. They were always such gracious hosts.

A familiar poster hangs in Ib Melchior's home. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When his wife Cleo died last October, I knew it would be a devastating blow to Ib. He loved her with all his heart, and losing a spouse, especially at such an advanced age, would be unfathomably painful for anyone to handle. I mailed Ib a condolence card and later a Christmas card. But I did not call him until January. When I spoke with him, he seemed to be doing fairly well under the circumstances, but the wind was clearly taken out his sails. He told me it would be a long time before he would have any motivation to resume any of the writing projects he had been working on. Despite that, we did joke a bit on the phone and had a pleasant chat. I'm glad our last conversation ended on a high note.

When I last visited Ib in 2012, he wanted to show me his favorite movie, Around the World in 80 Days (1956). Unfortunately, a glitch in the VHS tape prevented us from watching it, and ever since then I was hoping for a chance to see the movie along with Ib, who was probably its greatest champion. Now I will have to watch the film in his memory.

Rest in peace, Ib. Your kindness knew no bounds, and I will be forever grateful. Thank you.

FIRST LOOK: Shinjuku's Full-Size Godzilla Head!

Godzilla stands ready to demolish Toho Cinemas and Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku, Tokyo! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Work on the full-size Godzilla head that adorns that brand-new Shinjuku Toho Building in Kabuki-cho (right outside Shinjuku Station's East Exit) has been completed, though the Toho Cinemas itself will not be open to the public until April 17. Likewise, the adjacent Hotel Gracery does not open until April 24, so eager fans hoping to spend a night in one of the hotel's Godzilla-themed rooms, you'll have to wait just a bit longer.

I recently made a trip to Shinjuku to take some photos of the new Godzilla head, which are shared below. Enjoy!

DAY OF DAIEI! Meeting Several Actors from the House of Gamera!

With actress Yukie Kagawa and actor Sadafumi Kawahara, who both acted in Gamera films at Daiei Studios.

Yesterday I had a wonderful interview with actress Yukie Kagawa, who was in Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), Gamera vs. Gyoas (1967), Cruel Ghost Legend (1968), Curse of the Snake Woman (1968), Horrors of the Malformed Men (1969), Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972), Toei's Spider-Man TV series (1978-79), Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan (1981-82). Joining her was former actor Sadafumi Kawahara, who himself appeared in Gamera vs. Barugon and Gamera vs. Gyaos.

Kagawa-san was extremely friendly and gave some great answers to the questions about her career. Stay tuned for more information on that interview very soon!

 Posing with former Daiei Studios actress Kikuko Nishikawa in Chiba, Japan.

Later that evening, I got to meet retired Daiei Studios actress Kikuko Nishikawa, whose best known credit is Yasuzo Musumura's Kisses (1957). Nishikawa-san was likewise very friendly and was surprised to see an American who knew so much about Japanese film. She told me (more than once) that I should be a commentator on TV about Japanese movies. If only that could be the case!

Also at the dinner was Ulf Otsuki, who is always a blast hang out with. Ulf-san was very instrumental in the events of the day, and I will always be grateful for his help.

ARTISTIC GODZILLA! The Setagaya Art Museum Hosts a Special Toho Studios Exhibit!

From February 21 to April 19, the Setagaya Art Museum will host a special exhibit called Toho Studios: Innovative Filmmakers in Setagaya. The exhibit has such things as the Oxygen Destroyer, various movie storyboards, scripts, posters, and other memorabilia on display. The items in the exhibit date back to the early days of PCL and are rarely seen.

When you enter the art museum, you get to see a Godzilla trample a real city! Well, maybe not exactly, but it's a nice facsimile. Photos of this part of the museum are allowed, so be sure to bring your cameras and snap away.

What caught my eye was not so much the Godzilla items (many of which I've seen before), but the posters, magazines, and photos featuring Izumi Yukimura and her various roles at Toho Studios, such as You Can Succeed, Too (1964), So Young, So Bright (1955), and Bandits on the Wind (1961). Her work was much more represented than I expected, so it was a pleasant surprise. Full marks to the organizers of the exhibit!

All in all, it was a nice way to spend an afternoon, even though the pouring rain outside made getting around a bit difficult. I may go back to the exhibit before it closes, and hopefully the weather will be more cooperative.

The Toho Studios exhibit is much less prop-oriented than some of its predecessors, and the focus is more on the filmmaking process than on showing a bunch of special effects artifacts. Still, it is well worth seeing for those in the Tokyo vicinity. It certainly helps if you have an interest in Toho beyond the monster films.

MASAKO IZUMI COMES TO YOKOHAMA! The Retired Actress and Adventurer Tells Her Tales to Fans!

Actress Masako Izumi listens to a fan's question at Cinema Novencento in Yokohama. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The newly opened Cinema Novencento in Yokohama hosted an event featuring two Nikkatsu Studios stars: Masako Izumi and Mitsuo Hamada. While I got a chance to shake hands and speak briefly with Hamada-san, he left the event before I could photograph him. But that was fine; the real star of the show was Izumi-san.

Aside from being a prolific Nikkatsu Studios actress during the 1960s, she turned her attention to becoming an adventurer in the 1980s, attempting to become the first woman to visit the North Pole on foot and sled in 1985. Unfortunately, she was not able to complete her attempt, and another woman, Ann Bancroft (not the actress with the similar name), became the first in 1986. Undaunted, Izumi-san became only the second woman to travel to the North Pole in 1989.

Izumi-san was completely unprentious and in every way just a regular person. She was full of energy and high spirits. We were able to mix my limited Japanese with her limited English and had some entertaining interactions. I look forward to seeing her again!

GODZILLA TRAMPLES TSUTAYA! The New Godzilla's Home Video Release in Japan Makes Big Waves!

There goes the neighborhood! Godzilla stomps his way into Daikanyama's Tsutaya video rental store. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In order to promote the recent DVD/Blu-ray release of Godzilla (2014) in Japan, a statue of Legendary's Godzilla is on display at the video rental store Tsutaya in Daikanyama, one stop over from Shibuya Station.

Aside from the DVDs and Blu-rays, there are other books and magazines for sale, bearing the likeness of Godzilla. It's a cool set-up, but one that isn't likely to last very long, so check it out while you can!

Even though I'm not at all a fan of the movie, I enjoy seeing Godzilla displays in Tokyo whenever they appear, and this one was no exception. I figured since the hype has died down, and the the 60th anniversary is now history, Godzilla would go back into hibernation in Japan, but that hasn't been the case at all. It certainly looks like Toho wants to keep the Big G in the public eye at least until the studio's own release comes out in 2016.

And that's a wrap. If any other Godzilla displays pop up in the Tokyo area, stay tuned to this blog for further details!