Toei Hero Dies at Age 59
Author: Keith Aiken and Oki Miyano
Translations: Oki Miyano and Hiro Sono
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to JR Lipartito

A recent photo of actor Yusuke Natsu.

SciFi Japan is sad to report the passing of actor Yusuke Natsu, one of the stars of the 1976 Toei Co., Ltd. television series SPACE IRONMEN KYODYNE (Uchu Tetsujin Kyodain), who died at a Tokyo hospital from stomach cancer on January 27th. He was 59 years old.

Besides KYODYNE, Natsu appeared in a number of television shows and movies from Toei, Nikkatsu, Toho, and other studios. A partial list of credits includes CHARGE! HUMAN!! (Totsugeki! Human!!, 1972), SWEET REVENGE (Kiri no Hata, 1977), NEVER GIVE UP (Yasei no Shomei, 1978), THE YAKUZA WIVES 2 (Gokudo no Onna-Tachi 2, 1987), and AFTERNOON WHEN FLOWERS FELL (Hana no Furu Gogo, 1989). He is best known for the TV drama SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION (Tokusou Saizensen, 1977), in which he co-starred with Hiroshi Fujioka of MASKED RIDER fame.

Fujioka only learned of his old friend’s illness shortly before Natsu’s death, when one of his acquaintances told him that Natsu had only a few days to live. On the 27th he told a reporter that, “Natsu’s serious attitude towards acting was impressive. He was still so young… I’ve lost my comrade.”
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SPECTREMAN Star Passes Away
Author: Bob Johnson
Additional Research and Translations: Daisuke Ishizuka
Source: Yahoo Japan, various
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano and Keith Aiken

Actor Tetsuo Narikawa prepares to transform into Spectreman.
©1971 P Productions.

2010 got off to a sad and shocking start with the loss of the star of one of Japan’s more unique superhero series. Actor Tetsuo Narikawa died of lung cancer on January 1 in Tokyo, Japan. He was 65 years old.

Narikawa is best known for his leading role as Joji Gamou (aka; George) in the P Productions TV series SPECTREMAN (Supekutoruman) from January 2, 1971 through March 25, 1972. After SPECTREMAN, he went on to guest star in a few other superhero series, notably LION MARU (Kaiketsu Raion-Maru, 1972) episodes 3 and 5, MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1972) episode 63, ROBOT DETECTIVE (Robot Keiji, 1973) episode 25, and ULTRAMAN LEO (Urutoraman Leo, 1974) episode 36.
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Author: Sean Kotz
Official Website: Virginia Creepers Movie

Virginia Creepers lobby card. ©2009 Horse Archer Productions.

Like most Americans, my first exposure to Japanese science fiction was on television back in the day when local TV was an integral part of most people’s lives, primarily through my local TV horror hosts. It was those shows that gave me my love for films in general and horror and sci-fi in particular.

At Chesapeake’s Monster Fest in 2007, I had the privilege of moderating a panel comprised of several Virginia TV horror hosts, past and present. This was a very funny, very talented group of people… some of whom were still playing their characters after more than 30 years… who bore witness to more than 40 years of changes in television. I had grown up watching these guys (including Dr. Madblood’s first show in 1975) and was currently watching the newer hosts online, and on the heels of VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE and AMERICA SCARY, I suddenly became aware that this was the stuff of documentaries.
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Source: Bay Area Film Events

Bay Area Film Events, Creatures at Large, and The San Francisco Giants present Creature Features Night at AT&T Park on Saturday August 29, 2009!

During the 1970s and 1980s, KTVU Channel 2 in Oakland, California had a ratings-busting duo as they featured both the San Francisco Giants and CREATURE FEATURES. Now, both Bay Area legends are reuniting for one fright-filled night of baseball, zombies, and fun!

The batty evening begins with the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies as they continue this season’s battle for the Wild Card. Between innings, classic clips from CREATURE FEATURES will be shown featuring both Bob Wilkins and John Stanley.

After the game, fans can make their way onto the playing field for a special showing of the iconic horror film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD on the HD scoreboard screen.

Also on the field will be our very special guests: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD star actress Judith O’Dea, and CREATURE FEATURES host John Stanley. Both Judith and John will be signing autographs and selling merchandise from both NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and CREATURE FEATURES.
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Bob Wilkins on the set of KTVU’s CREATURE FEATURES.

We have received the following message from the family of Bob Wilkins…

Fans of Bob Wilkins,

There will be a couple of fan tributes in March that you won’t want to miss.

SciFi Japan will provide details on the March fan tributes as soon as they become available.

CREATURE FEATURES host Bob Wilkins Passes Away
Author: Bob Johnson
Thanks to: Tom Wyrsch, Aaron Cooper, Butch Portillo and Damon Foster

CREATURE FEATURES host Bob Wilkins 4/11/32 – 1/7/09.

“Don’t stay up late, it’s not worth it,” Bob Wilkins warned as he would lean back in his yellow rocking chair, smoke wafting from his big cigar. But monster movie fans in Northern California stayed up with him every Saturday night anyway. From 1971 through 1979, Bob Wilkins brought the best and worst of fantasy, horror and science fiction to audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, in the Sacramento Valley, and nationwide through KTVU’s status as a cable super station. His dry wit and deadpan humor won over audiences, and CREATURE FEATURES would often beat SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in the local ratings.

On January 7, 2009 Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area lost one of its most beloved television icons after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Continued…

Koichi Takano (standing, center) supervises the filming of Gomora for ULTRAMAN Episode 26, “The Imperial Monster”, in 1966. The talented producer and special
effects director passed away in November. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions.© 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

Author: Bob Johnson and Brad Warner
Translations: Brad Warner
Special Thanks to James Ballard, Keith Aiken, Norman England, Shusuke Kaneko and Takeshi Yagi

Former Tsuburaya Productions managing director Koichi Takano passed away on November 30, 2008 at a hospital in the Tokyo metropolitan area at the age of 73 from emphysema.

Takano started as a cameraman at Toho on films like GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN before being invited by Eiji Tsuburaya to join Tsuburaya Productions in 1963. He worked on ULTRA Q then became a Director of Special Effects on ULTRAMAN. Takano would have a hand in most of TPC’s shows up through ULTRAMAN COSMOS in 2002.

SciFi Japan remembers Koichi Takano with a biography and filmography plus rare behind the scenes photos of Takano at work on various Tsuburaya shows. We’re also honored to present personal messages from Takano’s friends and co-workers Brad Warner, Shusuke Kaneko (director of GMK and DEATH NOTE), and Takeshi Yagi (director of the new movie SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS).
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Mutsumi Toyoshima passed away last month. He designed such popular Toho mecha as the submarine Black Shark, the Maser Cannon, the Moonlight SY-3,
and the Super-X. Center photo by Ed Godziszewski. Toho images © 1966-1984 Toho Co., Ltd.

Top Toho Special Effects Designer has Died
Authors: Ed Godziszewski with Oki Miyano
Special Thanks to Yasuyuki Inoue

Mutsumi Toyoshima, widely regarded as one of the best production designers on Toho special effects movies from the 1960s through the 1980s, died November 17.

As a key member of Toho’s special effects art department, Toyoshima designed and created blueprints for many of the most famous vehicles, props, and machines seen in the studio’s monster, science fiction, and war films. Among his designs are the popular Maser Cannon (introduced in THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS in 1966), the Solgell Island silver iodide towers from SON OF GODZILLA (Gojira no Mosuko, 1967), the UN submarine Explorer from KING KONG ESCAPES (Kingu Kongu no Gyakushu, 1967), the Moonlight SY-3 from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (Kaiju Soshingeki, 1968), the Black Shark from LATITUDE ZERO (Ido Zero Daisakusen,1969), and the Super-X from THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (Gojira, a.k.a. GODZILLA 1985, 1984).

SciFi Japan is honored to present a tribute to Mutsumi Toyoshima by Ed Godziszewski and Oki Miyano, who knew Mr. Toyoshima and had visited with him in recent years. The article includes photos and quotes from an unpublished interview conducted by Oki and Ed at Mr. Toyoshima’s home on August 13, 2004.
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Source: Classic Horror Film Board, various

Forry wearing Bela Lugosi’s DRACULA ring.

We’re sad to report that Forrest J Ackerman, founder of Famous Monsters of Filmland and inspiration to generations of monster fans and creators, has died.

From Forrest Ackerman’s friend and caregiver, Joe Moe:

“Dearest friends. At 11:58 last night. Thursday Dec. 4th. Forrest J Ackerman passed away quickly and peacefully. I am struggling to give you this information between bouts of profound grief of the sort that you will all be experiencing at the sight of this news. I will give you more details as I’m able. For now, trust me when I tell you he left us gently, in complete lucidity and with as much dignity as any of us could have wished for our beloved Uncle. Thanks for all of your support. We’ll talk again soon.
Love,
Joe Moe”
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Thanks and Best Wishes to the Ultimate Fan
Author: the SciFi Japan Staff

Forrest J Ackerman at home with many of his
movie props and collectibles.

Friends of Forrest J Ackerman have reported that “Uncle Forry” is in ill health. The 91 year-old is battling pneumonia and has also been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

“Legendary” is a word that gets tossed around much too often, but anyone who knows or has heard of Forry Ackerman would agree that in his case it absolutely fits. He is best known for the legendary (there it is again) magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, but his impact extends far beyond FM…. the man has influenced literally generations of fans, artists, writers, and filmmakers. Forry has given an amazing gift to his fellow fans and will leave behind an incredible legacy.

Rather than remain in the hospital, Forry has chosen to return home where he can spend his days meeting with his legion of friends and fans. Forry’s friends, including caretaker Joe Moe, have stated that anyone wishing to stop by and pay their respects are welcome to visit. Cards and letters may also be sent to the same address:

FORREST J ACKERMAN
4511 Russell Ave
Los Angeles CA 90027

The staff of SciFi Japan are proud to be among the countless number inspired by Forrest Ackerman and Famous Monsters, and we encourage everyone who sees this report to follow Joe’s advice and call, write, or visit Forry and let him know how much he means to you and to fandom. We’re also pleased to share Sean Kotz’s look at the many accomplishments of FJA as well as reminiscences by many of our writers and contributors.
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Author and professor of East Asian Languages and
Literatures Keiko Iwai McDonald. Photo courtesy of
the Asian Studies Center of the University of
Pittsburgh and Doreen Hernandez, photographer.

Renowned Author and Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures Has Passed Away
Author: Mike Walters
Special Thanks to Doreen Hernandez and the Asian Studies Center of the University of Pittsburgh

Keiko Iwai McDonald, professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh and an esteemed scholar of Japanese cinema, passed away following a fishing accident on September 14, 2008. She was 68 years old. Dr. McDonald authored eight books (including Cinema East: A Critical Study of Major Japanese Films, Mizoguchi, and Reading a Japanese Film: Cinema in Context) as well as more than forty articles and book chapters. She was also the recipient of a number of awards, such as the Asian Studies Teaching Excellence Award (1998), the Tina and David Bellet College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2002), and was three times named a Fulbright fellow. What follows is a personal remembrance from a former student.
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Creatures and Zombies Invade Santa Cruz in an Exclusive South Bay Premier!
Source: Bay Area Film Events

Event poster from Bay Area Film Events.

Santa Cruz, CA – October 23, 2008 – Bay Area Film Events proudly presents the exclusive South Bay premier of a new feature-length documentary on one of the most popular local shows in Bay Area television history, CREATURE FEATURES! Taking its title from the show’s famous catch-phrase, WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG! A JOURNEY INTO CREATURE FEATURES looks back at the showcase of classic horror, science fiction, and monster movies.

Included in the evening’s events will also be the 40th anniversary screening of cult classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, a Zombie Fashion Show, special guests, displays, and more.
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Pianist Reiko Yamada

Reiko Yamada Plays Ifukube’s “Ritmica Ostinata”
Author: Ed Godziszewski
Japanese Giants

On the evening of March 28, 2008, a rare performance of one of Akira Ifukube’s classical works, “Ritmica Ostinata”, was held in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seldom performed stateside, on this night Ifukube’s “Ritmica Ostinata” was tackled by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, featuring former Ifukube pupil Reiko Yamada as the orchestra’s principal pianist, as part of a program titled ‘Japanese Garden’.
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Dutch and Kevin Frederick with John Roberto (Center) from the June 2006
Chiller Theater Show, months before he was diagnosed with cancer. Photo
courtesy of John DeSentis.

Author: Robert Biondi and John “Dutch” DeSentis

On December 6, 2007, John Rocco Roberto died following a long battle with cancer. In the 1990s, John organized the first Godzilla conventions in the United States and headed Daikaiju Enterprises & Productions, which published the fanzine Kaiju-Fan and the late Guy Mariner Tucker’s book Age of the Gods: A History of the Japanese Fantasy Film. More recently, he maintained the Kaiju-Fan website.

In memory of his passing, his good friends John DeSentis and Robert Biondi have written about John’s life both inside and outside of fandom.
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A Tribute to the Star of MOTHRA
Author: Keith Aiken and Steve Ryfle
Additional Material: Bob Johnson and Clay Holden
Translations: Oki Miyano and Chieko Tsuneoka

Jerry Ito at his home in Marina del Rey in 2004. Photo
courtesy of Steve Ryfle.

On July 29 a memorial service was held in honor of actor and singer Jerry Ito, who passed away earlier this month at age 79. Family and friends gathered in the Garden Room of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center of Los Angeles to share stories and memories of their departed loved one.

To movie fans, Jerry Ito is familiar for his roles in Japanese science fiction films like THE MANSTER, THE LAST WAR, and MOTHRA, but he was better known in Japan as a singer and entertainer who regularly appeared on television. Jerry also performed on stage both in Japan and on Broadway, and was a popular commercial pitchman in the 1970s. People close to him knew Jerry as a patriot who loved the United States of America and proudly fought for his country in both the Army and the Navy.

Surprisingly little of Jerry’s life has been written about, either in the US or Japan. In his memory we present his story, told in Jerry’s own words and supplemented by anecdotes and personal messages from his friends and family, as well as rare personal photographs and video of Jerry onstage at the 2004 Godzillafest in San Francisco.
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