Actor Hiroshi Tsuburaya in SPACE SHERIFF SHAIDER.
© 2011 Toei Co., Ltd.

Interview with Hiroshi Tsuburaya
Translation by: Tetsuya Shima
-The interviewer : 田神悠(Yu Tagami)
From the book : “宇宙刑事大全 -ギャバン・シャリバン・シャイダーの世界- (Uchuu Keiji Taizen -Gavan Sharivan Shaider no Sekai-)” ISBN4-575-29080-7
Publisher : 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Editors : 安藤幹夫＆スタジオハード(Mikio Ando & Studio Hard)

In the third installment of our Space Sheriff Spotlight, we present an interview with actor Hiroshi Tsuburaya (part of the Tsuburaya family) about his role as Space Sheriff Shaider.

-Please tell us why you wanted to become an actor.

I had been a volleyball player since I was in junior high school, and I was going to be a college volleyball player. At that time, I heard the audition for NOGIKU NO HAKA whose leading actress was Seiko Matsuda would be held. I got interested in it so I auditioned for the opposite role. After all, I failed just before the final selection, but I was fascinated by the tension-filled atmosphere of the audition. The strain I felt through the audition was different from the one that I felt during playing volleyball. That is the start of my professional career as an actor. For your information, the director of this movie was Shinichirou Sawai.
Continued…

Toei’s Super Sentai and Kamen Rider Christmas displays at Akihabara. Photos by Daisuke Ishizuka. © 2011 Toei Co., Ltd.

Authors: the SciFi Japan team
Photos: Daisuke Ishizuka

The staff of SciFi Japan to thank all of our readers, contributors, news sources and sponsors for their help and support this past year. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful holiday season as we head into 2012.
Continued…

Actor Hiroshi Watari in SPACE SHERIFF SHARIVAN. © 2011 Toei Co., Ltd.

Interview with Hiroshi Watari
Translation by: Tetsuya Shima
-The interviewer : 田神悠(Yu Tagami)
From the book : “宇宙刑事大全 -ギャバン・シャリバン・シャイダーの世界- (Uchuu Keiji Taizen -Gavan Sharivan Shaider no Sekai-)” ISBN4-575-29080-7
Publisher : 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Editors : 安藤幹夫＆スタジオハード(Mikio Ando & Studio Hard)

SciFi Japan continues its coverage of the Space Sheriff series from Toei by presenting an interview with SHARIVAN actor Hiroshi Watari.
Continued…

Actor Kenji Ohba as Retsu Ichijouji. © 2011 Toei Co., Ltd.

Interview with Kenji Ohba
Translation by: Tetsuya Shima
The interviewer : 秋田英夫　(Hideo Akita)
From the book : “宇宙刑事大全 -ギャバン・シャリバン・シャイダーの世界- (Uchuu Keiji Taizen -Gavan Sharivan Shaider no Sekai-)” ISBN4-575-29080-7
Publisher : 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Editors : 安藤幹夫＆スタジオハード(Mikio Ando & Studio Hard)

In 2012, Toei Co. will be releasing the latest film based on its popular SUPER SENTAI franchise, called SPACE SHERIFF GYABAN VS GOKAIJA – THE MOVIE. The highlight of this film will be the return of Space Sheriff Gavan (Uchuu Keiji Gyaban), a popular Toei hero series from 1982.

With the help of Tetsuya Shima, SciFi Japan will feature a series of articles we call Space Sheriff Spotlight, taking a look back at the SPACE SHERIFF series (Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider) through a series of interviews with the casts and crews that brought the series to life.

We start off by presenting an interview with SPACE SHERIFF GAVAN star Kenji Ohba.
Continued…

The Zebra Queen (Riisa Naka) will rule the world unless Zebraman (Show Aikawa) can stop her. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra City Partners.

Superhero Sequel Arrives November 29th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: zeb2.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Combo Pack art for Takashi Miike’s ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON
ZEBRA CITY. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
© 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra City Partners.

Fan favorite director Takashi Miike (AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER) reunites with actor Show Aikawa (TOKYO ZOMBIE, GOZU) for ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON ZEBRA CITY (ゼブラーマン -ゼブラシティの逆襲-, Zeburaaman -Zeburaa Shiti no Gyakushuu, 2010), the sequel to their cult favorite superhero movie, ZEBRAMAN (ゼブラーマン, 2004). FUNimation Entertainment will release the film in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on November 29th.

The year is 2025. Tokyo has fallen and the world cries out for a hero. It cries for Zebraman. This striped crime fighter is the only hope for those who live in fear of the Zebra Queen, a hooved seductress out to conquer the world with the aide of her Miniskirt Zebra Police.

The Queen has stolen Zebraman’s powers and instituted Zebra Time: ten horrifying minutes each day when murder is legal! Without his super strength, Zebraman is just a guy with a mane – a broken-down hero unable to stop the onslaught of evil. Before he can take a bite out of the bad guys, Zebraman must find the young girl who holds the secret to regaining his ass-kicking powers and prove, once and for all, that a hero never changes his stripes!
Continued…

Come Perform Onstage as Your Favorite Japanese Superhero
Source: Anime Jungle
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma

Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.

On Saturday, November 5th, the collector’s shop Anime Jungle in Los Angeles, CA will host their first HENSHIN CONTEST for costumers/cosplayers to perform a short onstage skit with a Kamen/Masked Rider, Super Sentai/Power Rangers, or other Costumed Heroes theme. The contest will take place at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) during the opening reception for the KAMEN RIDER VS SUPER SENTAI Anniversaries Tribute Exhibition (co-sponsored with with Q-POP) in downtown LA’s Little Tokyo.

Cosplayers who wish to participate in the Henshin Contest can register at either of Anime Jungle’s Los Angeles locations or online. Complete contest details can be found at animejungle.net/henshin. The top three performances will have their choice of three prizes, all related to Kamen Rider or Super Sentai. Anime Jungle invites everyone to come see a great show by fans, for fans.
Continued…

Series Debuts October 13th on Anime Network Online
Source: Sentai Filmworks, Anime Network press releases
Official Site: towanoquon.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to David Williams and Christian Lopez

Poster art for TOWANOQUON. © 2011 BONES/ Towa no
Quon Production Committee

Sentai Filmworks has rewarded fans of dark heroic action everywhere with the eagerly awaited announcement of the company’s acquisition of TOWANOQUON (トワノクオン, Towa no Quon, 2011), the spectacular new series of animated features from anime powerhouse BONES (EUREKA SEVEN, NO. 6). Produced by a literal all-star lineup of creators, the first film in the series is directed by Umanosuke Iida (HELLSING, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE 08TH MS TEAM, MIGHTY SPACE MINERS), with script supervision by Saizo Nemoto (KIKAIDER, TOKYO MAIDEN 2) and character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (COWBOY BEBOP, WOLF’S RAIN, GOLDEN BOY), while music is in the legendary hands of Kenji Kawai (THE RING, DARK WATER, SKYCRAWLERS, PATLABOR, RANMA ½, BLUE SEED, SORCERER HUNTERS).

Digital distribution of the 6-part mini-series will begin this month on Anime Network Online. Starting on Thursday, October 13, the first TOWANOQUON feature will begin streaming online at 1:00 PM Eastern, with a new part available every two weeks. TOWANOQUON will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Continued…

The cybernetic hero Casshern returns in the anime series CASSHERN SINS, soon to be released in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack from FUNimation.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2008 Tatsunoko Production/ Casshern Sins Project

Ruin is the Salvation of Man and Machine this August
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: casshern-sins.jp (Japan), funimation.com/casshernsins (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

Cover art for CASSHERN SINS: THE COMPETE SERIES. Photo
courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2008 Tatsunoko
Production/ Casshern Sins Project

FUNimation Entertainment will release the complete, 24 episode series of CASSHERN SINS (キャシャーン SINS, Kyashaan Shinsu, 2008) in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on August 2nd.

CASSHERN SINS is a millennial update of NEO-HUMAN CASSHERN (新造人間キャシャーン, Shinzo Ningen Kyashaan, aka CASSHAN, 1973) a beloved classic of Japanese animation which saw a lone cyborg hero opposing a robot empire that threatened to overthrow the Earth. This darker reimagining was produced by Tatsunoko Production (NEO-HUMAN CASSHERN, SPEED RACER, GATCHAMAN) with animation by Madhouse, the studio behind DEATH NOTE, GUNSLINGER GIRL, and SAIKANO. The series was directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi (DRAGON BALL Z). The unique animation style of CASSHERN SINS was supervised by Yoshihiko Umakoshi (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, COWBOY BEEBOP).
Continued…

The shoulder to shoulder crowds of Wonderfest. Photo courtesy of Clawmark Toys.

Clawmark Does Wonderfest
Author: Tom Dougherty, Clawmark Toys

WONDERFEST! The name says it all! I have had the good fortune to experience many Japanese Toy and Model shows in both Osaka and Tokyo over the years, but nothing quite compares to Wonderfest. An enormous event like Wonderfest is of course held in the enormous complex called Makhuhari Messe. I only had to ride a train for about two and a half hours through Tokyo and past Disneyland to arrive at the station and begin the walk.
Continued…

Huge Festivals Return to New York City with Screenings of 70 Asian Films
Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society
Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne, Grady Hendrix, and Shannon Jowett

Beginning July 1st, New York City once again plays host to America’s leading large-scale festival of popular Asian cinema. Subway Cinema’s New York Asian Film Festival (July 1-14) and Japan Society’s Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 7-22) combined will feature 70 different movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the fifth annual collaboration between Japan Cuts and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society from July 7-10.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the second volume of CASSHERN SINS. Photos courtesy of The Associates. © 2008 Tatsunoko Production/ Casshern Sins Project

Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: casshern-sins.jp (Japan), funimation.com/casshernsins (US)

Casshern – a cybernetic assassin with no memory of his past – awakens in a corrosive wasteland where nothing survives for long. A plague known as the Ruin sweeps across this once-vibrant world, reducing everything in its path to rubble and scattering any chance for salvation. Robots and humans alike – or what little remains of them – seek vengeance against Casshern for the life he took and the role he played in their Ruin. A machine built to kill, Casshern murdered the last hope for this world, but now, lost in a future he does not recognize, he will fight to save the dying.

CASSHERN SINS: PART TWO of two (containing Episodes 13-24) will be released as a three-disc DVD (Region 2, PAL) and two-disc Blu-ray (Region B) by Manga Entertainment on 18th July 2011.
Continued…

FUNimation Entertainment has announced three new titles for release in 2011-2012. ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON ZEBRA CITY © 2010 Zebraman- Attack on Zebra
City Partners. WE WITHOUT WINGS- UNDER THE INNOCENT SKY © 2011 Navel. CITY UNDER SEIGE © 2010 Universe Entertainment.

ZEBRAMAN 2, CITY UNDER SEIGE, and WE WITHOUT WINGS- UNDER THE INNOCENT SKY to Get US Release
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

This past weekend, FUNimation Entertainment announced it has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to three new properties. The live action film ZEBRAMAN 2: ATTACK ON ZEBRA CITY (ゼブラーマン -ゼブラシティの逆襲-, Zeburaaman -Zebura Shiti no Gyakushuu-, 2010) was directed by Takashi Miike (ICHI THE KILLER, 13 ASSASSINS) and is a sequel to Miike’s 2004 film ZEBRAMAN. The anime series WE WITHOUT WINGS- UNDER THE INNOCENT SKY (俺たちに翼はない, Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai, 2011) is a romantic comedy from director Shinji Ushiro (BLESSING OF THE CAMPANELLA) which revolves around a group of young people whose seemingly unconnected lives may be linked in an alternate world. The Hong Kong science fiction action film CITY UNDER SEIGE (全城戒备, Chun sing gai bei, 2010) was directed and co-written by Benny Chan (NEW POLICE STORY, FIST OF FURY, HEROIC DUO) and follows a group of circus performers who go on a rampage after accidental exposure to chemical gas left by the Japanese army in WWII grants them superhuman abilities.
Continued…

VIZ Media has been named the exclusive U.S. product licensor for the new animated superhero series TIGER & BUNNY. © 2011 Sunrise/ T&B Partners, MBS

Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: tigerandbunny.net (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

TIGER & BUNNY has already become a merchandising
success in Japan. © 2011 Sunrise/ T&B Partners, MBS,
Bandai

VIZ Media, LLC, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced it has been named the exclusive U.S. product licensor for the new animated crime-fighting action series TIGER & BUNNY (タイガー＆バニー, Taigaa & Banii). The company will showcase the property to a variety of potential merchandise partners during the 2011 Licensing International Expo, held in Las Vegas, June 14th-16th, 2011. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2481.

The Licensing International Expo is held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and is the preeminent marketplace for the hottest international brands and properties. The vent features a show floor of more than 7,000 properties from all of Hollywood’s major film studios, global entertainment companies, Fortune 500 consumer brands, sporting teams, interactive properties, fashion labels, and cutting-edge artists and designers. The annual event celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2010.

TIGER & BUNNY currently simulcasts the same day it debuts in Japan the SAME DAY it debuts in Japan (currently up to Eepisode 10) on HULU and VIZAnime, the company’s own exclusive web destination for anime. TIGER & BUNNY Blu-ray currently rank Number 1 on Amazon Japan, and a wide variety of toys, collectables, and other products are already licensed for the Japanese market.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cover art for the first volume of CASSHERN SINS. Photos courtesy of The Associates. © 2008 Tatsunoko Production/ Casshern Sins Project

Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: casshern-sins.jp (Japan), funimation.com/casshernsins (US)

CASSHERN SINS (キャシャーン SINS, Kyashaan Shinsu, 2008) is a millennial update of NEO-HUMAN CASSHERN (新造人間キャシャーン, Shinzo Ningen Kyashaan, aka CASSHAN, 1973) a beloved classic of Japanese animation which saw a lone cyborg hero opposing a robot empire that threatened to overthrow the Earth. This darker reimagining mixes frantic action with heartfelt humanity, as Casshern fights to survive a bleak dystopian future – little realizing that he caused the end of the world!

CASSHERN SINS: PART ONE of two (containing Episodes 1-12) will be released as a three-disc DVD (Region 2, PAL) and two-disc Blu-ray (Region B) by Manga Entertainment on 9th May 2011.
Continued…

Eleven Gamera movies are among the free content now streaming on GooHead, the new internet channel for classic Asian feature films and television series.
© 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Source: Golden Media Group press release
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

GooHead, Inc. has announced that their Internet Channel is now available at GooHead.com. The new channel specializes in internet delivery in the United States and Canada, free of charge, of classic Asian feature films and television series.

Included in the more than one hundred and sixty hours of content immediately available are the famous GAMERA series of eleven full length feature films produced from 1965 to 1999, now streaming in their original aspect ratio, plus three rarely seen complete television series from the 1970s: SUPER ROBOT RED BARON (スーパーロボット レッドバロン, Suupaa Robotto Reddo Baron, 1973-1974), IRON KING (アイアンキング, Aian Kinguu, 1972-1973), and FIGHT! DRAGON (闘え！ドラゴン, Tatakae! Dragon, 1974).
Continued…

Left to right: The Hello Kitty Room and Gundam are among the displays at the “Japan: Kingdom of Characters” exhibition.
Photos courtesy of the Japan Foundation. © 2011 Isaac Leung, Japan Foundation Gallery.

Exhibit at Japan Foundation Gallery in Sydney, Australia
Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press release
Special Thanks to Evon Fung

“Japan: Kingdom of Characters” officially opened to the public last Friday attracting over 1,000 visitors of all ages in the first week alone. The exhibition runs until 28 May with free weekly Public Programs accompanying the exhibition.

Wednesday night saw the first of the Public Programs commence. It was a successful result, with the lecture room filled to capacity. Dr Michael Hill (aka Doctor Comics) gave a thorough overview on the anime and manga phenomenon.

Ms Tokiko Kiyota, director of the Japan Foundation, Sydney, is astonished by the extraordinary response from the Australian public. “We are very impressed by the high interest shown towards our exhibition and lecture series so far. We hope this will encourage more people to come again to the Japan Foundation and the services we offer.”
Continued…

This April and May, the Japan Foundation Sydney takes a look at some of Japan’s most popular characters. Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation.

Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press release
Special Thanks to Evon Fung

This April, the Japan Foundation Sydney presents their latest exhibition, “Japan: Kingdom of Characters”. The exhibition will run from 8 April through to 28 May at the Japan Foundation Gallery, taking visitors through Japan’s most popular characters that have triggered worldwide crazes from the 1950s to the present.

Why do characters appear and become popular? What kind of social reality do they reflect? As interest in Japanese subculture, particularly anime and manga, become increasingly a topic of interest around the world, the Japan Foundation responds and examines the impact of characters on Japanese society.
Continued…

T-’s Facto presents the prototype Godzilla 54 sculpture, one of the the incredible kits sold at Winter WonderFest 2011.
Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

Godzilla, Ultraman, and More at Tokyo Model and Toy Collectors Show
Author: Ed Godziszewski
Official Site: Wonder Festival

Once again, it’s that time of year for the winter season orgy of model kits, toys, and cosplay otherwise known as Wonder Festival. Hosted once again by toy and kit maker Kaiyodo, this year’s event again took place February 6, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe, just a few train stops down the Keio Line from Tokyo Disneyland. And as usual, this year’s show had its share of surprises as well as the weird, wacky, and wonderful.
Continued…

Karate-Robo Zaborgar fights Diarrhea Robot Arizailer in Sushi Typhoon’s new feature film update of the classic TV series DENJIN ZABOGA.
Photo courtesy of Sushi Typhoon. © 2011 P-Production/ Zaborgar Film Partners

Sushi Typhoon Presents a New Movie Update of the 70s Superhero Show
Source: Sushi Typhoon
Official Movie Site: zaborgar.com (Japan)
Special Thanks to Marc Walkow

Poster for KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR. Photo courtesy of
Sushi Typhoon. © 2011 P-Production/ Zaborgar Film
Partners

On April 6, 1974, the Fuji Television Network debuted the first episode of DENJIN ZABOGA (電人ザボーガー), a live action superhero series from P-Productions (THE SPACE GIANTS, SPECTREMAN). Created by manga writer Kazuo Koike (Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman), the show starred Akira Yamaguchi (KAMEN RIDER V3) as Yutaka Daimon, a secret police agent who battles sinister organizations with the help of his transforming robot Zaboga (played by Yoichiro Tajiri). The series ran for 52 episodes through June 29, 1975. The first 39 episodes were also broadcast in Hawaii with English subtitles as DENJIN ZABORGER.

Now, as DENJIN ZABOGA approaches its fortieth anniversary, the story has been reworked and updated for the new movie KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (電人ザボーガー劇場版, Denjin Zabogaa: Gekijoo-ban, 2011) from director Noboru Iguchi.

Produced by Nikkatsu Corporation’s genre label Sushi Typhoon, KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR will make its world premiere this Friday, January 28th at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Iguchi will be present for the premiere, and for the first encore screening on January 29th. A promotional event for the film is also planned for late February at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Hokkaido. Later in 2011, KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR will play at various film festivals around the world, though exact locations and dates have not yet been announced.
Continued…

Cover art for the UK DVD and Blu-ray editions of K-20: THE LEGEND OF THE BLACK MASK. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2008 “K-20″ Film Partners

Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: k20themovie (US)

The entertaining K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK (K-20: Kaijin Niju-Menso Den, 2008) is a movie we’ve covered several times on SciFi Japan after attending a premiere screening at the 2008 American Film Market. After playing the North American festival circuit the film was released on Region 1 DVD earlier this year by VIZ Pictures as K-20: THE FIEND WITH TWENTY FACES. Now comes word that Manga Entertainment will be bringing the film to DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom with the title K-20: THE LEGEND OF THE BLACK MASK.

K-20: THE LEGEND OF THE BLACK MASK (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (£15.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by Manga Entertainment on 10th January 2011.
Continued…

Memorial card for Shunsuke Ikeda, star of the 1973 Toei superhero show KIKAIDA 01. Photo courtesy of Tetsu Shiota.
© 1972 Ishimori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Memorial Service in Hawaii for KIKAIDA 01 Star
Source: Anime Jungle, Generation Kikaida
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Daisuke Ishizuka, Joanne Ninomiya and Scott Shinsato

Front page of the schedule for the Shunsuke Ikeda
memorial service. Photo courtesy of Tetsu Shiota.

On November 11th, family and friends gathered at Diamond Head, Hawaii to bid a final farewell to actor Shunsuke Ikeda, who died this past June after a long battle with stomach cancer. Ikeda had appeared in a number of television dramas and FX shows during the 1960s and 70s and is best remembered for his starring role in the popular superhero series KIKAIDA 01 (1973).

Ikeda had loved Hawaii so deeply that he wished to have his ashes scattered there. At 10:30am on what would have been his 70th birthday, his ashes were scattered at sea. A memorial service was held that same day at the Blaisdell Center. Ikeda’s fellow KIKAIDA Ban Daisuke, Joanne Ninomiya of JN Productions, Koji Shiota of Anime Jungle, Steven Fong of Shirokiya Inc., Bert Shibuya of Generation Kikaida Fans, and the Ikeda Family were among the guests who shared their stories and memories of Shunsuke Ikeda. Governor Linda Lingle sent a message to Generation Kikaida and the Ikeda Family, while Mayor Peter Carlisle and Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares designated the date as “Ikeda Shunsuke Day”.
Continued…

Author: Kevin Grays
Official Movie Site: w-gosei.com

The 3-D movie KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE FOREVER: A TO Z –
THE GAIA MEMORIES OF FATE was a box office hit in Japan
last month. © 2010 W – Goseiger Production Consortium

The second big screen motion picture film adaption of the popular KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE (Kamen Raidaa Daburu, 2009) TV series was released in Japanese theaters on August 7, 2010. Following the earlier triple feature crossover KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE & DECADE: MOVIE WAR 2010 (Kamen Raidaa × Kamen Raidaa: Daburu ando Dikeido Mubi Taisen Nisenjuu)— all released together back on December 12, 2009— Toei Company scored big with one of their greatest hits yet! As the first major new technology 3-D film in the vast Masked Rider series, KAMEN RIDER DOUBLE FOREVER: A TO Z – THE GAIA MEMORIES OF FATE (Kamen Raidaa Dabaru Forever: A to Z- Unmei no Gaia Memori, 2010) was the showpiece of 460 screens in Japan; 273 were in 2D and 187 focused on the full 3-D effect. The movie was a phenomenal smash throughout Japan from the very first day of its release, landing 2nd place in the top box office spots nationwide. Falling only to 3rd place in the weekends to follow, this movie also averaged a 4.58 score out of 5 based on critical reviews compiled by Yahoo Japan.

Shinichiro Shirakura, Toei’s studio executive in charge of the hit Masked Rider series told the press, “People at the rival Japanese studios told us that they were amazed at how fast we at Toei completed a 3-D film like this. Shoots began in April and took two months, followed by editing that was completed in another month.”
Continued…

Pianist Tetsuya Shima.

Interview with Tetsuya Shima
Author Bob Johnson
Websites: Tetsuya Shima on YouTube and Tetsuya Shima’s Facebook Page.

From all appearances, Tetsuya Shima appears to be a normal Japanese college student, growing up in Japan. He spends his time swimming, watching movies, surfing the Internet and playing musical instruments. But, it is the musical instruments that make him unique. As Tetsuya puts it, “I have absolute pitch or perfect pitch, which helps me to make sheets by ear.”

These sheets include a myriad of piano interpretations of Japanese superhero theme songs. While scanning through YouTube one day, I came across a video of a piano keyboard. The person playing was not visible, aside from arms and knees, but the playing was unique and the interpretation of the themesong from KIKAIDA kept me watching and then had me searching for more.
Continued…

Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win KIKAIDA BROTHERS posters personally signed by the shows’ stars Ban Daisuke and the late Shunsuke Ikeda.
Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Posters Signed by Lead Actors Ban Daisuke and Shunsuke Ikeda, courtesy of Anime Jungle
Source: Anime Jungle
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma

SciFi Japan would like to thank Anime Jungle and everyone who entered our recent “KIKAIDA BROTHERS Poster” giveaway competition. Five prizes were originally announced, but the response was so positive (and polite) that we decided to throw in a couple more prizes. So the following seven randomly drawn entrants have each one a poster signed by both Ban Daisuke (KIKAIDA) and the late Shunsuke Ikeda (KIKAIDA-01):

Stephanie Chaplin
Richard Shirley
Jim Flack
Matt Burkett
Chris Daniel
Sana Souratha
Treveno Colley
Continued…

DVD cover art for CASSHERN SINS. Photos courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2008 Tatsunoko Production/ Casshern Sins Project

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Site: casshern-sins.jp (Japan), funimation.com/casshernsins (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Manny Alcala

The complete 24 episode anime series CASSHERN SINS (Kyashan Sins, 2008) has been released on North American DVD and Blu-ray by FUNimation Entertainment. The series is loosely based on the original NEO-HUMAN CASSHERN (Shinzo Ningen Casshan, aka CASSHAN), a 1973 superhero show produced Tatsunoko Production (SPEED RACER, GATCHAMAN). CASSHERN SINS is set in a post-apocalyptic world where mankind is nearly extinct. Robots far outnumber humans, but the inhospitable environment has begun to destroy even their metal bodies as well. Into this world comes the humanoid cyborg Casshern. Extremely powerful but suffering from amnesia, the first things Casshern discovers is that he is responsible for what has befallen the world… and now everyone wants to kill him.
Continued…

Ban Daisuke and Kikaida take part in the Nisei Week Parade in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo on August 15th. Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.
Kikaida © 1972 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

KIKAIDA star appears at Los Angeles Nisei Week events
Author: Richard Pusateri
Official Sites: Anime Jungle, Generation Kikaida, www.bandaisuke.com
Special thanks: Joanne Ninomiya, Tetsu Shiota, August Ragone

Ban Daisuke’s recent visit to Los Angeles, hosted by Anime Jungle, demonstrated that the appeal of KIKAIDA is not limited to markets where the Japanese TV program aired in the United States. After much success at personal appearances in Hawaii, San Francisco and at San Diego Comic Con in years past, Mr. Ban met his enthusiastic Los Angeles fans August 14 and 15 during Little Tokyo’s Nisei Week celebration.
Continued…

Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win KIKAIDA BROTHERS posters personally signed by the shows’ stars Ban Daisuke and the late Shunsuke Ikeda.
Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Posters Signed by Lead Actors Ban Daisuke and Shunsuke Ikeda, courtesy of Anime Jungle
Source: Anime Jungle
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma

A look at the complete poster. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) will visit Los Angeles this upcoming weekend for Japantown’s annual Nisei Week Festival. Sponsored by the popular collector’s shop Anime Jungle, Ban Daisuke will take part in autograph sessions, the Nisei Week Parade, and a special dinner and talk show on the weekend August 14-15.

In celebration of the Nisei Week events, Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers in the United States a chance to win a free KIKAIDA BROTHERS Poster, signed by both Ban Daisuke and the late KIKAIDA-01 star Shunsuke Ikeda (who sadly passed away June 11, 2010).
Continued…

Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA, KIKAIDA-01, and INAZUMAN, will make a special appearance at Anime Jungle in Los Angeles next month.
Photo courtesy of Generation Kikaida. © 1972 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Autograph Sessions, Parade, Dinner, and More During Nisei Week Festival, August 14-15
Source: Anime Jungle, JN Productions and Generation Kikaida
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Yoichi K, and Joanne Ninomiya

Advertisement for the event. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© 1971 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Anime Jungle, purveyors of everything anime in Japantown is proud to present an autograph session with Mr. Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) at the upcoming Nisei Week Festival in Los Angeles. KIKAIDA took the Hawaiian Islands by storm over 35 years ago, and still going strong in Hawaii and the mainland due to the successful English-subtitled version of the DVD Box Sets.

KIKAIDA, based on an original story by manga artist and writer Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider), was produced as a tokusatsu (live action) by Toei Movie Company for television in the mid-seventies. A classic good-versus evil tale, the show pitted a guitar-playing, denim-clad young biker named Jiro, played by actor Ban Daisuke, against the evil DARK, a shadowy criminal organization bent on wreaking havoc upon Japan and the world.
Continued…

Author: Bob Johnson

Peter Fernandez at the 2008 premiere of SPEED RACER
during the Tribeca Film Festival.

On Thursday July 15, 2010, the television and movie industry lost one of its truly unsung heroes. Peter Fernandez passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 83. Although fans of international films and TV know his name and his contributions, Hollywood as a whole has passed over a little-known industry that made it possible to import many foreign efforts that we would have never otherwise seen.

The dubbing of international product was a thankless chore and an underpaid one in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Peter Fernandez was a tireless pioneer and turned out some of the most memorable and highest quality dub tracks of a generation.
Continued…

Legendary Voice Actor and Director Has Died
Source: Bill Winckler

Writer, director, and voice actor Peter Fernandez died today.

SciFi Japan was just informed that Peter Fernandez passed away this morning from lung cancer. Long acknowledged as one of the best in the business, Fernandez was a voice actor and dubbing director for the American versions of dozens of films and television series… his long list of credits include such favorites as ULTRAMAN, ASTRO BOY, GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, THE SPACE GIANTS, SON OF GODZILLA, GIGANTOR, STAR BLAZERS, the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns… and even a “clean version” of George Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD. He may be best known for his work on SPEED RACER, in which he voiced both Speed and Racer X and also wrote the English lyrics for the show’s theme song.

Our condolences to Peter’s family and friends. SciFi Japan will be following with a full tribute soon, but in the meantime please see our 2009 interview with Peter in which he discusses his life and career, and our overview of Peter’s work on SPEED RACER.