More Content on Vantage Point Interviews!

Photo © Catherine Byers.

More interviews have been posted on Vantage Point Interviews, so please go out of your way to check them out. First up is my interview with actress Catherine Byers (a.k.a. Bobbie Byers) who played the voice of Johnny Sokko in -- what else? -- Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot (1967-68). She also dubbed the titular hero in the anime Prince Planet (1965-66), as well as Bonnie in the Osamu Tezuka-created cartoon show The Amazing 3 (1965-66).

Also posted is my interview with special effects artist Lewis Morley, who worked on Ultraman Zearth (1996) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995). The interview features many behind-the-scenes photos from his work on Power Rangers. 

As always, more interviews will be posted in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for them!

Ulf Otsuki, 'Godzilla vs. Megalon's' Bearded Seatopian Agent, Passes Away

Ulf Otsuki with his DVD copy of The Invisible Man in February 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

According to a January 2021 interview with his sister, classical pianist Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming, veteran tokusatsu character actor Ulf Otsuki passed away sometime in August 2020. No other details were revealed in the interview. Given that Ulf was born on August 27, 1934, it is impossible to know his exact age at the time of his death without more information.

Ul Otsuki in November 2016 with a signed baby picture of himself. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Internationally, Ulf Otsuki is best known by far for playing the bearded Seatopian agent in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973). But, on television, Ulf's tokusatsu credits span about 50 years. He appears in episodes 38 and 39 of The Space Giants (1966-67) as George Yamaguchi, episode 20 of Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot (1967-68) as BF Syndicate scientist B, episode 6 of Fight! Mighty Jack (1968) as the Q boss, episodes 20 and 21 of Warrior of Love Rainbowman (1972-73) as the villainous L-Banda, episode 15 of Zone Fighter (1973) as a Garoga agent, episode 11 of Kamen Rider Stronger (1975) as King Kazaal, as a regular on Daitetsujin 17 (1977) as Professor Hessler, episode 1 of Kamen Rider Super-1 (1980-81) as Professor Henry, and most recently episodes 13, 17, and 47 of Kamen Rider Drive (2014-15) as Harley Hendrickson. He also appears as a doctor in Juzo Itami's Tampopo (1985) and as Nostradamus in The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus (1994). As extensive as these credits are, there are many others.

The statue for which Ulf Otsuki modeled as a young adult. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When Ulf was 19 years old (and a member of the acting troupe Haiyuza), he was selected as the model for this statue by Japanese artist Yasuo Sugawara, an old friend of Ulf's mother. The statue is currently at the entrance of the Nara Prefectural Museum of Art, and one can view the statue without buying a ticket to enter the museum.

Ulf Otsuki at a Toho tokusatsu exhibit in August 2012.

I got to know Ulf very well over the years. I wrote a letter to him sometime around early 2008, and shortly thereafter he called me from Japan. We'd been in touch since then. When I moved to Japan in 2011, he was one of the first people I met during my initial visit to Tokyo. He was incredibly energetic and full of life. In early 2018, however, he suffered a massive stroke, and I was only able to see him once after that. I'll always fondly remember going to Ulf's house and watching classic movies with him.

Yours truly clowning around with Ulf at the Toho tokusatsu exhibit in August 2012.

Before we'd ever met, I conducted this interview with Ulf, but always wanted to do something more in-depth. He lived a fascinating life and truly did things his way. I'll miss him dearly. 

Rest in peace, Ulf.

'Return of Ultraman' exhibit at Nakano Broadway!

Until January 31, the shop Hakaba no Garo at Nakano Broadway is hosting a small Return of Ultraman-themed exhibit with plenty of Ultra-merchandise to choose from. Yesterday, during my trip to Nakano Broadway, I enjoyed the exhibit and picked up a MAT face mask. Here's what was on display.

New Displays at the Godzilla Store in Tokyo!

I also went to the Godzilla Store Tokyo yesterday and enjoyed some of their new displays. Check 'em out!

Sighted at the Nakano Broadway!

Here's something that might be worth dropping a coin into!

The Godzilla Head in Dusk!

For the first time in a really long time, I paid a visit to Kabukicho and photographed the Godzilla head atop the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. Here's what I saw.

A Legendary Afternoon!

Fuchimu Shimakura Photo by Brett Homenick.

A couple of weeks ago, on January 13, I was privileged to spend an afternoon with painter and veteran of the Showa Godzilla series Fuchimu Shimakura (who is sometimes credited as Jin Shimakura). 

Suffice it to say, it was a fascinating afternoon full of intriguing stories. It's just a shame that such things are so few and far between these days.