ULTRAMAN actress Hiroko Sakurai offers a tribute to her longtime friend and director
Author: Hiroko Sakurai
Intro: Keith Aiken
Translation: Oki Miyano
Special Thanks to Miki Mochizuki of Tsuburaya Productions

• A look at the career of Akio Jissoji

Hiroko Sakurai in an ULTRAMAN episode directed by Akio Jissoji.
© 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Actress Hiroko Sakurai is known to fans around the world as Science Patrol member Akiko Fuji in the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966). She first worked with Akio Jissoji when the director helmed several episodes of that classic series. The following year, Ms. Sakurai returned as a guest star when Jissoji directed episode #12 of the follow-up series ULTRA SEVEN (Urutora Sebun), “From Another Planet With Love” (Yusei Yori Ai-o Komete, US title “Crystalized Corpuscles”).

On November 29, Aki Jissoji died from complications related to stomach cancer. Ms. Sakurai has kindly offered to share her thoughts and feelings on his passing with SciFi Japan, and we are honored to present her message to an English-speaking audience.
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DVD cover art for SYNESTHESIA. Photo courtesy
of ADV Films. © 2004 Art Port/Shochiku/Euro Space
/Kansai Telecasting Corp.

Source: ADV Films

ADV Films of Houston, TX recently announced that they had acquired North American theatrical, video and TV rights for several recent properties from the Japanese studio Shochiku Co., Ltd. Their first release will be the 2005 suspense thriller SYNESTHESIA (Gimme Heaven).

SYNESTHESIA was the feature film debut of docuentary director Toru Matsuura. It stars Yosuke Eguchi of ANOTHER HEAVEN (Anazahevun, 2000) and SAMURAI COMMANDO: MISSION 1549 (Sengoku Jieitai 1549, 2005); Masanobu Ando from the blockbuster hits REX: A DINOSAUR’S STORY (Rex: Kyoryu Monogatari, 1993), BATTLE ROYALE (Batoru Rowaiaru, 2000) and AEGIS (Bokoku no Igisu, 2005); and actress Aoi Miyazaki from EUREKA (2000) and TOMIE: FORBIDDEN FRUIT (Tomie: Saishu-sho Kindan no Kajitsu, 2002). Rounding out the cast are Ryuhei Matsuda (IZO), Yuriko Ishida (PRINCESS MONONOKE), Hijiri Kojima (OTAKUS IN LOVE), and Shigemitsu Ogi (THE HYPNOTIST).

Please see ADV’s press release for full details on the upcoming Region 1 DVD.

In 1966, the Daiei Motion Picture Company released three films about the angry god Daimajin. © 1966 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Author: Ed Godziszewski
Revised and Updated from Monster Attack Team #7 (1997)

1966 was a vintage year for Japanese fantasy and science fiction films. Daiei was enjoying a Golden Age, following up the success of GAMERA (Daikaiju Gamera, US title GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE, 1965) with GAMERA VS BARUGON (Daikaiju Ketto-Gamera tai Barugon, aka WAR OF THE MONSTERS) as well as a unique trio of period fantasy films in which the title character was a giant statue called Daimajin. MAJIN (Daimajin), THE RETURN OF MAJIN (Daimajin Ikaru) and MAJIN STRIKES AGAIN (Daimajin Gyakushu) all followed the same basic formula: modest production values, the typical samurai drama of evil oppressors versus innocent commoners, and an avenging god summoned by a desperate plea for help. While simple in concept, the story behind the series contains some surprises.
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The acclaimed South Korean blockbuster comes to America in 2007
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Magnolia Pictures, AFI Fest, MPRM, The Orphanage, Twitch, various
Special Thanks to Kim Song-ho (aka ‘Loomis’) for Translations and Information

Preliminary poster design for the upcoming US theatrical
release of THE HOST. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
© 2006 Chungeorahm Film

THE HOST (Gwoemul)
Production: Chungeorahm Film
Domestic Distribution: Showbox, Released July 27, 2006
International Sales: Cineclick Asia
US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures, Release March 9, 2007
Korean with English Subtitles, 119 minutes
Official Site (Korea): The Host
Official Site (US): The Host Movie
AFI Fest Screening: Friday, November 3, 10:00pm, and Saturday, November 4, 1:00pm at ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood

As it has done for ages, the Han River continues to pierce the very center of the capital city Seoul. But one day in the year 2000…Through an unfortunate incident, a creature of an obscure nature is conceived in the waters of the river. As the creature slowly starts to grow in the depths of the river, people fail to sense signs of an impending disaster, devoting themselves to the Korea-Japan World Cup soccer finals, the President elections and to their individual lives. Then one day in 2005, in front of countless citizens taking a stroll and enjoying the weekend on the banks of the Han River, the creature reveals itself in a shocking display of horror.

And mass slaughter…in an instant, the riverbank is turned into a gruesome sea of blood. The main character Gang-du is a man who passes tedious days operating a snack bar next to the river. On that day of great destruction, he witnesses his one and only daughter Hyun-seo eaten up by the creature right before his eyes.
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Richard Jaeckel, Akira Takarada, Linda Haynes, Joseph Cotten and Kin Omae in LATITUDE ZERO, coming to DVD in 2007 from Media Blasters. © 1969 Toho Co., Ltd.

Tokyo Shock Release Schedule Updated for 2007
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Media Blasters, Inc., various
Special Thanks to Clay Holden

SciFi Japan has learned that Linda Haynes may be recording a brand-new audio commentary for Media Blasters’ Region 1 DVD of LATITUDE ZERO. The former Miss Miami played Dr. Anne Barton in the 1969 Toho science fiction film by director Ishiro Honda and special fx director Eiji Tsuburaya.

In related news, Media Blasters announced that the company has revamped their scheduling system for upcoming DVDs. To correct a recurring problem of missed release dates, Media Blasters will no longer assign street dates until all elements for a DVD title are in place. This change has necessitated a shift in the release schedule, with several previously announced street dates no longer in effect. Media Blasters has made assurances that all of their 2007 Tokyo Shock DVD titles will be released, with exact on sale dates to be announced.

The updated and revised schedule is as follows.
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Tsuburaya Reimagines an Old Hero
Author: Bob Johnson
Source: Tsuburaya Productions

The new hero of MIRRORMAN: REFLEX. ©2006 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

“On the other side of the mirror is the Hidden World (Kakuriyo). Lurking in the Hidden World are the Viscous Spirits (Jasen) who try to take over the souls and bodies of the Manifest Realm (Utsushiyo).” Not only are these the words and warnings of Akira Kageyama, a.k.a. Mirrorman, broadcast through his internet streamed radio station, but also the concept behind director Kazuyo Konaka’s MIRRORMAN: REFLEX.

MIRRORMAN REFLEX is a remake or retelling of the original MIRRORMAN television series, which aired back in 1971 from Tsuburaya Productions. However, this Mirrorman is very different from his predecessor!
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Akio Jissoji’s distinctive visual style highlighted many episodes of Tsuburaya shows such as the original ULTRAMAN. © 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

Akio Jissoji: 1937-2006
Author: Keith Aiken with Bob Johnson
Source: Tsuburaya Productions, Midnight Eye, Udine Far East Film, various
Translations and Additional Material by: Oki Miyano
Special Thanks to Hiroko Sakurai, Brad Warner, and David Chapple

Filmmaker Akio Jissoji: 1937-2006

At 11:45pm on November 29, director Akio Jissoji died from complications related to stomach cancer at the University of Tokyo Hospital. At his bedside were his wife (actress Chisako Hara), his daughter, and friends and co-workers from his many productions.

Jissoji is known in Japan for his award-winning experimental movies from the 1970s, but is most familiar to worldwide audiences for his work on Tsuburaya Productions’ popular ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966) and ULTRA SEVEN (Urutora Sebun, 1967). While episodic television generally has a consistent look and tone, Jissoji’s episodes always stood out for their moody lighting, off-beat camera angles and movement, and strong, character-driven stories.
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