Godzilla: The Planet Eater!

Godzilla: The Planet Eater advertised at the Shinjuku Wald 9. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

As unexpected as it may seem, Godzilla: The Planet Eater, opening in Japan on November 9, is essentially nowhere to be found at the Toho Cinemas Shinjuku. I mean, if the film is being advertised anywhere in Japan, it would have to be there, right?

Wrong! When I walked into Shinjuku Wald 9 (a movie theater a fairly short distance away from Toho Cinemas), I was quite surprised to see this wall-size advertisement for the film right as you enter the theater. Perhaps the theater's close proximity to the Godzilla Store has something to do with it.

Anyway, it was a nice (but completely accidental) find.

Typhoons Won't Stop the Drama!

 Shoji Mori (left) and Masanori Machida share a laugh as they wrap up the evening's event. Photo by Brett Homenick.

As a typhoon approched Tokyo, I attended another dramatic reading with actors Masanori Machida and Shoji Mori. By the time I arrived, it wasn't even raining, but as I type this, the wind and the rain are in full force.

After the event wrapped, I asked Mori-san to sign my DVD sleeve of Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman (1971), in which he appears. Mori-san was surprised and commented on how nostalgic it was for him to see it.

KAMEN RIDER X REUNION! Forty-Four Years Later, Two Toei Heroes Ride Again!

Suit actor Kazuo Niibori (left) and actor Ryo Hayami strike the famed Kamen Rider pose. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I attended a special Showa Hero event in Nakano, Tokyo, in which two veterans of the Kamen Rider series reunited and hosted a Q&A session, as well as signed autographs.

Suit actor Kazuo Niibori.

Kazuo Niibori is a veteran Kamen Rider and Super Sentai suit actor. He started with both franchises from the very beginning, suit-acting as Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2 in the original Kamen Rider (1971-73), as well as Akaranger in Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77). In fact, Niibori-san would go on to don the red suit in the Super Sentai series all the way up through Chojin Sentai Jetman (1991-92).

Likewise, he played multiple Kamen Riders early in the series' history, which includes stints as Kamen Rider 1 in Kamen Rider V3 (1973-74), Kamen Rider X in Kamen Rider X (1974), Kamen Rider Amazon in Kamen Rider Amazon (1974-75), Kamen Rider Stronger in Kamen Rider Stronger (1975), Sky Rider in Sky Rider (1979-80), and Kamen Rider Black RX in Kamen Rider Black RX (1988-89). Along the way, he played the titular hero in Daitetsujin 17 (1977) and even guested on episode 10 of the Toho superhero series Megaloman (1979). (He appears as an out-of-the-suit baddie in that one.) He also played one of Ulrov's henchmen in the feature film Espy (1974).

Actor Ryo Hayami. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Also in attendance was actor Ryo Hayami. Hayami-san joined Daiei Studios in 1969. Under the stage name Sanshiro Honoo, he portrayed Keisuke Sawada (one of the main characters) in Gamera vs. Jiger (1970). He is much better known these days, however, for starring as Keisuke Jin in Kamen Rider X, which of course was the theme of the day.

The event started off with a fun (but brief) stage show in which Niibori-san did battle with with an event staff member. It was a lot of fun to see one of Toei's most celebrated suit actors do what he does best. Both guests were quite friendly and enjoyed themselves immensely. Despite not being very familiar with Kamen Rider, I enjoyed this foray into the world of Kamen Rider X.

Nikkatsu Night!

Mayumi Shimizu. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Today, I attended a screening of a 35mm print of Masahisa Sunohara's Kaminari Otemba Musume (1961), produced by Nikkatsu Studios. The film is a lighthearted comedy about a young tomboy who rides a motorcycle and ultimately falls in love with another motorcyclist.

Also at the screening was Nikkatsu actress Mayumi Shimizu. Joining Nikkatsu in 1957, Shimizu-san starred in a bevy of films for the studio. She eventually married fellow Nikkatsu actor Yuji Odaka (of Gappa the Triphibian Monster fame) and is the aunt of Godzilla series actress Megumi Odaka. She even has her own tokusatsu connection, guest-starring in episode 38 of Ultraman 80 (1980-81).

When I presented her with a photo of our first meeting in February for her to sign, she pointed to me in the photo and said in English, "Handsome." Well, I'll let Shimizu-san have the final word on that.

Naturally, it was great to see her again, and the movie was a lot of fun, too. Let's do it again!

Wakako Tanabe Q&A at Vantage Point Interviews!

Actress Wakako Tanabe. Photo by Brett Homenick.

My interview with Toho actress Wakako Tanabe is now live at Vantage Point Interviews. She was Gaira's Haneda Airport victim in War of the Gargantuas (1966), but if you'd like to find out more about her career, check out the interview right now!

CINEMA TOWN CHOFU! Gamera and Daimajin Stomped Here!

Cinema Town Chofu. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Today, I paid a visit to Chofu, Tokyo, which has certainly embraced its cinematic roots in recent months. Chofu is the home of Kadokawa Daiei Studios as well as Nikkatsu Studios, but its Daiei and its rich tokusatsu history that takes center stage at Chofu Station. Let's take a look.

P-LABO FILMFES 2018! The Annual Indie Film Festival Returns!

Actress Kaname Wakaba. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Monday, September 24, was a national holiday in Japan, but not for me. Unlike most lucky office employees in the country, I had to go to work. This also was the day that Wataru Mimura's annual P-LABO FILMFES was held in Chofu. Thankfully, due to a change in my work schedule, I managed to squeeze in a visit for just over an hour. I'm glad I did.

The event was MCed by actress Kaname Wakaba, whose sole tokusatsu outing was episode 10 of Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004). She has occasionally MCed P-LABO FILMFES in the past, and it was the first time I'd seen her in a while.

With Wataru Mimura.

I was able to take in a few of the indie flicks screened the festival. The ones I saw were very short (not more than just a few minutes), and all were shot on video. Quite a few were humorous, but there were a few that were more horror-oriented. They were fairly enjoyable for what they were.

Toward the end, I visited Mimura-san in the green room. I hadn't seen him in a few months, so we did a bit of catching up. I wish I could have stayed longer, but some folks have to work for a living. There's always next year!