Japanese Horror Film Released by Lionsgate
Source: Lionsgate press release, Bender/Helper Impact

Region 1 DVD cover art for the Japanese horror film
KAIDAN. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate and Bender/Helper
Impact. © 2007 “KAIDAN” Film Partners.

From the legendary director of RING and THE RING TWO comes this eerie tale of ghostly vengeance. The unwitting victim of a terrible curse, a young man accidentally injures his wife, a jealous teacher who soon dies from her wound. Running away with one of her students, he fails to heed the dead woman’s warning that if remarried, she’ll haunt him to the grave. And now for an unfaithful husband, the real terror is about to begin.

On June 30, the 2007 J-Horror film KAIDAN (meaning “Supernatural Tales”) will be released on DVD in America by Lionsgate. The movie was directed by Hideo Nakata, who received international attention for his smash hit RING (Ringu, 1998). He followed that success with RING 2 (Ringu 2, 1999) and the acclaimed DARK WATER (Honogurai Mizu no Soko Kara, 2002). Nakata made his American directorial debut with THE RING TWO (2005), the sequel to the remake of his own film. Last year, he had another box office hit with DEATH NOTE: L, change the worLd (2008).
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On July 30, the Egyptian Theatre presents a double feature of Toho sci-fi/monster movies. BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE © 1959 Toho Co., Ltd.
GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK promotional art courtesy of Toho. © 2001 Toho Co., Ltd.

Toho Sci-Fi Double Feature in Hollywood on July 30
Source: American Cinematheque
Special Thanks to Chris D

Toho returns to Hollywood, CA this month with a great sci-fi double feature at the Egyptian Theatre. On Thursday, July 30 at 7:30pm, the theater will screen the 2001 hit GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (in Japanese with English subtitles), followed by the classic BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (English dubbed version).
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Title design for Sony’s TOHO COLLECTION DVD set. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.

Sony to Release 3 Disc DVD Collection of THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA on August 18
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment press release

Cover art for ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION. Photo
courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009
Toho Co., Ltd.

Toho, the most famous of all Japanese movie studios, made its name in the West for the extraordinary masterworks of Akira Kurosawa. But they really struck box office gold with the wildly colorful kaiju eiga (monster movies) that began in 1954 with the original GODZILLA (Gojira), the creation of director Ishiro Honda and special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya.

Now for the first time on [Region 1] DVD— and in their original Tohoscope aspect ratios— Sony Pictures presents three Honda classics that display the enormous breadth of the Toho magic during its glory years. THE H-MAN (Bijo to Ekitai Ningen, 1958), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daisenso, 1959), and MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961) have been digitally re-mastered for the best possible picture and sound quality, and include the original Japanese versions and the U.S. versions, plus commentaries for two of the films.

So travel back to the days before CGI, when special effects were real and the results were spectacular! The three-disc DVD collection will be available for $24.96 SRP.
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4Digital Media Gets TOKYO GORE POLICE, MEATBALL MACHINE, and GROTESQUE
Source: 4Digital Media, The Associates press materials
Special Thanks to Steve Beecham and Farhana Shaikh

Officer Ruka (Eihi Shiina) tracks down bio-mechanical
homicidal maniacs in the cult favorite TOKYO GORE
POLICE. Photo courtesy of 4Digital Media. © 2008
Fever Dreams/Nikkatsu.

4Digital Asia, an imprint of the British movie and home video distributor 4Digital Media, has acquired the UK rights to the Japanese splatter and gore movies MEATBALL MACHINE (Mîtoboru Mashin, 2005), TOKYO GORE POLICE (Tokyo Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008), and GROTESQUE (Gurotesuku, 2009). The films will be released on DVD beginning this July.

MEATBALL MACHINE is a wild, Japanese splatter-punk monster of a movie that combines the “body horror” shock tactics of John Carpenter’s THE THING, the TETSUO movies and David Cronenberg’s most extreme work. The movie was co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi (BATTLEFIELD BASEBALL) and Junichi Yamamoto (KABUKING Z: THE MOVIE), with special effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura (director of TOKYO GORE POLICE and effect supervisor for THE MACHINE GIRL).

TOKYO GORE POLICE— from the producers of THE MACHINE GIRL and director Yoshihiro Nishimura— combines the bodyshock horror of Cronenberg’s XISTENZ and VIDEODROME and the socio-satirical bite of Verhoeven’s ROBOCOP with the all-out, blood-letting carnage of ICHI THE KILLER.

Billed as “the cruelest Japanese splatter movie ever” (a statement that doesn’t do the film’s graphic scenes of torture and dismemberment anywhere near enough justice), GROTESQUE is a survival horror movie that makes the likes of SAW and HOSTEL look like MARY POPPINS in comparison.

Read on for more information plus a look at DVD cover art, photos, and advertising artwork for these three titles.
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Movie Opens this Friday in Britain
Source: Pathé, The Associates
Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire movie, Last Blood (Japan)
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

The Associates and distributor Pathé have provided video of the opening scene of the new movie BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Originally schedule for earlier this month, the UK theatrical release date for BLOOD is now set for this Friday, June 26th.

For more information, videos, and images from BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan:

• First Look at BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE UK Trailer
• New BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE UK Theatrical Poster

Guilala— the X from Outer Space— returns in MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT. © 2008 Guilala Production Committee

Who Will See Two New Daikaiju Films for Free, Courtesy of NYAFF and SciFi Japan?
Source: Subway Cinema/New York Asian Film Festival
Special Thanks to Toyah Attwell and Grady Hendrix

Thank you to everyone who entered New York Asian Film Festival and SciFi Japan’s contest for free passes to MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! and GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER. The screening takes place at the IFC Center on Sunday, June 28 at 11:00am. The IFC Center is located at 333 East 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues), New York, NY 10014.

The following randomly drawn entrants correctly answered all contest questions:

Bill Pierson
Andrew Wong
William D’Annucci

Congratulations to the winners!

Each of you has won a pair of tickets to see the feature film MONSTER X STRIKES BACK, the short film GEHARHA, and the DEATH KAPPA sneak preview.
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FUNimation Entertainment will premiere their new English dub of EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE on July 3rd at Anime Expo 2009. The movie is
the first of four “Rebuild of Evangelion” feature films from the creators of the original NEON GENESIS EVANGELION anime. © 2007 Khara

Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press release, FUNimation
Official AX Site: anime-expo.org
Official Movie Site: Evangelion 1.0
Special Thanks to Chase Wang

FUNimation Entertainment has announced that it will premiere the English dubbed version of Hideaki Anno’s EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE at Anime Expo, held this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 2-5, 2009.

EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE is the film sequel to the sci-fi animated series blockbuster NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (also written and directed by Hideaki Anno) which aired on Japanese television in the mid 1990′s.

The movie will be shown on Friday, July 3, in room LP1 at Anime Expo.
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The masked criminal K-20 battles battles circus acrobat Heikichi Endo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) on the rooftops of the Japanese capital in K-20: THE FIEND WITH TWENTY
FACES. The Japanese sci-fi mystery adventure has been picked up for release in North America. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 2008 “K-20″ Film Partners

Premiere Theatrical Screenings this Month at New York Asian Film Festival
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Additional Material: NTV (Nippon Television Network)
Official Movie Site: k20themovie (US), K-20 (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Promotional art featuring the film’s US title. Photo courtesy of VIZ
Pictures. © 2008 “K-20″ Film Partners

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has licensed the new action film K-20: THE FIEND WITH TWENTY FACES (K-20: Kaijin Nijumenso Den) and announced special theatrical screenings at the New York Asian Film Festival 2009.

K-20: THE FIEND WITH TWENTY FACES was released in Japan by Toho on December 20, 2008, and has been marketed internationally by NTV with the English title K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK. The New York premiere will take place during NYAFF, with the next showing scheduled for 1:45pm on Tuesday, June 30 at the IFC Center (323 Sixth Avenue, at West 4th Street, New York, NY). More information on this film and the New York Asian Film Festival is available at the official NYAFF site.

VIZ Pictures will be releasing the DVD of K-20: THE FIEND WITH TWENTY FACES in 2010 through their distributor, VIZ Media.
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A mixture of the traditional and the modern: Shochiku’s updated studio provides a variety of filming locations in the Kyoto area, an extensive backlot,
and new state-of-the art production facilities. Upper right photo courtesy of Stuart Galbraith IV. © Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Author: Elliot Gay
Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Special thanks to Aki Harimoto and Stuart Galbraith IV

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Shochiku Co., Ltd. has been one of the top movie production and distribution companies in Japan since 1920. The studio has produced the works of some of Japan’s most respected directors, created long-running film series such as Tora-San, made popular samurai pictures and as well as cult film favorites, and won the 2009 Academy Award for their internationally acclaimed hit DEPARTURES.

On Tuesday, March 10 of this year, Shochiku hosted an opening ceremony for their newly renovated and modernized Shochiku Kyoto Eiga studio. SciFi Japan was invited to the event, and staffer Elliot Gay and contributor Stuart Galbraith IV attended the opening reception and tour of the upgraded studio. We are pleased to present Elliot’s account of the festivities along with photos provided by Stuart and Shochiku.
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©2009 Mega Monster Battle ULTRA GALAXY Film Partners

New Ultraman Movie Opens In December
Author: James Ballard
Source: Sponichi
Official Movie Site: Ultra Galaxy The Movie

The popular TV series ULTRA GALAXY: MEGA MONSTER BATTLE will hit the big screen in Japan this year with MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY LEGENDS – THE MOVIE (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE).

For the new movie, Tsuburaya Productions have joined with world-famous distributor Warner Bros., with their eye on the global market. For its domestic Japanese release, the film is planned to open in December for the New Year movie season.
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The New York Asian Film Festival is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance for free tickets to the premiere screenings of two new Japanese giant monster movies!
MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2008 Guilala Production Committee. GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG
HAIR MONSTER photo courtesy of NYAFF. © 2009 NHK ‘Geharha’ Project.

See a Japanese Monster Double-Feature for Free, Courtesy of NYAFF and SciFi Japan
Source: Subway Cinema/New York Asian Film Festival
Special Thanks to Toyah Attwell and Grady Hendrix

Next week sees the launch of the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Films. Running from June 19-July 12 at the IFC Center (323 Sixth Avenue, at West 4th Street) and from July 1 – 5 at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues) in New York City, the combined festival will feature more than fifty movies, Q&A’s with filmmakers, and special events. The lineup also includes two new Japanese giant monster movies; MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! and the short GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER.

Now our friends at NYAFF have offered SciFi Japan readers a chance to win free tickets to attend the premieres of both movies— and a sneak preview of the next Tokyo Shock production, DEATH KAPPA— at the IFC Center on Sunday, June 28 at 11am!
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Manga Entertainment’s UK poster art for ICHI. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2008 ICHI Film Partners

Reimagining of the Legendary Blind Swordsman ZATOICHI Opens in Britain on July 10
Source: The Associates press release, Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Movie Site: ICHI (Japan), ICHI THE MOVIE (UK)
Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

From Fumihiko Sori, the director of VEXILLE and PING PONG, comes the period martial arts action saga ICHI, a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the classic “Zatoichi” series of films and TV shows. Originally created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, the eponymous hero— a blind masseur and master swordsman— has traditionally been a male character (previously played by stars such as Shintaro Katsu, Takeshi Kitano and, in BLIND FURY, by Rutger Hauer). In a refreshing break from tradition that adds an intriguing twist to the story, Sori’s ICHI stars actress Haruka Ayase (HERO) in the title role playing a young and beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an adept swordswoman.
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Godzilla is ready for battle with the new Charactics x Jungle Japan Godzilla Tank Soft Vinyl Figure.
Photo courtesy of Jungle Special Collectors Shop. © 1969, 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Jungle Special Collectors Shop
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota

The Japanese toy company Charactics has been releasing licensed figures of Toho movie monsters, including a series featuring characters like Mechagodzilla driving tanks. Charactics has now partnered with Jungle Japan on an extremely limited edition Godzilla Tank figure.

Only 30 of the Godzilla Tank Charactics x Jungle Japan Exclusive Soft Vinyl Figures are being produced, and they are available exclusively through Jungle. 10 of the pieces will be sold at the Jungle store in Los Angeles and the Jungle booth at this year’s Comic Con International (July 23-26 in San Diego).
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Just some of the many Asian films onscreen this month in New York City. ROUGH CUT © 2008 Kim Ki-duk Film. LOVE EXPOSURE © 2008 “Love Exposure” Film Partners.
BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL © 2008 Shueisha/There’s Enterprise. MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT © 2008 Guilala Production Committee.
GO GO 70’s © 2008 Showbox Entertainment. GEHARA: THE LONG-HAIRED GIANT MONSTER © 2009 NHK. AN EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS © 2008 United
Filmmakers Organization, Ltd. IP MAN © 2008 Mandarin Films. Photos courtesy of NYAFF.

The New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts to Screen More than 50 Feature Films in June and July
Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society
Special Thanks to Toyah Attwell and Grady Hendrix

Beginning this month, New York City plays host to 24 days of Asian cinema. Subway Cinema’s New York Asian Film Festival (June 19- July 5) and Japan Society’s JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Films (June 30 – July 12) combined will feature more than 50 movies, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the third collaboration between JAPAN CUTS and NYAFF, who will co-present seven films at the Japan Society from July 1-5.
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Upcoming German Audio Drama is a Homage to Classic Japanese Kaiju Movies
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Sven Pyczak, Ralf Lorenz, The Gualagon Team
Offical Webste: Gualagon — Frankensteins Schreckengigant
Additional Material: Godzilla-Germany
Special Thanks to Avery Guerra

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

An exclusive first look at the new GUALAGON advertising
art, which was done in the style of a 1960s era Japanese
movie poster. Photo courtesy of The Gualagon Team.
© 2008 Triumph Des Wahnsinns

In Germany, a group of fans who grew up watching the likes of Godzilla and Gamera at their local cinemas have decided to honor the glory days of Japanese monsters with their own kaiju production; a German language audio drama entitled GUALAGON- FRANKENSTEIN’S GIANT OF TERROR (Gualagon- Frankenstein’s Schreckengigant).

In promotional materials for GUALAGON, the production group (known collectively as “the Gualagon Team”) explained that their idea was based on “the most beautiful films from the golden era of Japanese monster movies… It was during that time that most of the people involved in the project were introduced to the Godzilla movies. Those flicks usually played on Saturday or Sunday afternoons at the local cinemas in the kids matinee; and it was back then that we were first exposed to THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS [known in Germany as Frankenstein - Zweikampf der Giganten/ FRANKENSTEIN: DUEL OF THE GIANTS], the main source of inspiration for GUALAGON.”

SciFi Japan goes behind the scenes of GUALAGON- FRANKENSTEIN’S GIANT OF TERROR with exclusive information, artwork, and photos, plus a look at the German theatrical releases of the classic Japanese monster movies that inspired this upcoming tribute.
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The King of the Monsters returned to movie screens in GODZILLA 2000, one of two films playing this weekend at the Dryden Theatre. © 1999 Toho Co., Ltd

The Dryden Theatre to Screen GODZILLA 2000 and GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH this Weekend
Source: John Yeara
Official Site: George Eastman House

The King of the Monsters raids Rochester, New York once again when the historic Dryden Theatre (part of the George Eastman House motion picture museum) hosts the “Spaceships & Aliens & Godzilla Double Feature!” on June 5 and 7. The lineup includes GODZILLA 2000 and GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH, with both films to be introduced by Rochester’s local Godzilla authority, John Yeara.
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Monsters Miclas and Gomora dance with ZAP Spacy member Rei © 2009 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

Staying in shape with the Ultra Monsters!
Author: James Ballard
Sources: Mainichi News, Daikaijyu.com

Following the success of ULTRA GALAXY: MEGA MONSTER BATTLE (Urutora Gyarakushii Daikaiju Batoru, 2007) and it’s sequel series ULTRA GALAXY: MEGA MONSTER BATTLE – NEVER ENDING ODYSSEY (Urutora Garakushii Daikaiju Batoru Nebaa Endingu Odessei, 2008), Tsuburaya Productions have drafted the Ultra Monsters to help keep the children of Japan in shape in a new series entitled MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: EXERCISE (Daikaiju Battoru Taisou)!

The new “fun, healthy exercise” TV series, due to air on Japan’s popular Family Gekijo channel next month, was announced in Tokyo on May 21. Actor Shouta Minami, who will be reprising his role as ZAP Spacy member Rei in the new series, appeared for the press with popular monsters Gomora and Miclas.
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