Authors: James Ballard and Keith Aiken
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano and Stuart Galbraith IV
Source: Asahi

Fuyuki Murakami as Dr. Tanabe in GODZILLA. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

Fuyuki Murakami, one of Toho’s regular supporting actors, passed away on Thursday, April 5th as a result of stomach cancer. He was 95 years old.

Fuyuki Murakami was born as Saisyuu Murakami in Fukuoka on December 23rd, 1911. After graduating from the Tokyo University Department of Economics, he began acting in theatre with the New Tsukiji Troupe. The troupe combined traditional Japanese theater with European-style drama, and helped launch the careers of several popular film actors of the time, including Minoru Chiaki (THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN.) Following this, Murakami contracted to Toho in 1950, launching a career spanning more than 55 years working as an actor, voice actor, model, and narrator.
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Publicity photo of Hitoshi Ueki and the Crazy Cats.

Beloved Toho Comedian has Died
Author: Stuart Galbraith IV
Special Thanks to Oki Miyano

Japanese comedian Hitoshi Ueki, whose films came to symbolize Japan’s postwar white collar age, died Tuesday of respiratory failure at the age of 80. The eternal wayward salaryman, Ueki’s prolific output in both his solo films and those he made as the co-leader of the Crazy Cats comedy team were among Toho Studios’ most popular of the 1960s — in 1967 alone Ueki starred in three of Japan’s six top-grossing domestic films. Conversely, he remains all but unknown in America; in the U.S., the only Ueki film currently available on DVD is his least typical, a memorable supporting role as the pragmatic samurai General Fujimaki in Akira Kurosawa’s RAN (1985). Of his more than sixty film appearances several have sci-fi/fantasy elements and feature special effects directed by Eiji Tsuburaya and others, hence this tribute.
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Eiji Funakoshi is front row and center on the
Japanese poster for GAMERA. © 1965 Kadokawa
Pictures, Inc.

GAMERA and FIRES ON THE PLAIN star dies on his birthday
Author: Keith Aiken
Translations and Additional Material: Oki Miyano

On March 17, longtime Daiei actor Eiji Funakoshi died of a stroke at the age of 84.

Born Eijiro Funakoshi on March 17, 1923 in Tokyo, Eiji Funakoshi signed with the Daiei Motion Picture Company in 1947 and made his acting debut the following year with BEAUTIFUL ENEMY (Utsukushiki Teki). Initially cast in “young, handsome guy” roles, Funakoshi soon established himself as a strong and versatile character actor. In a career that spanned three decades Funakoshi starred in a variety of genres and worked for directors Kozaburo Yoshimura, Mikio Naruse and Yasuzo Masumura. Among his many films were the internationally acclaimed FIRES ON THE PLAIN (Nobi, 1959) and the popular kaiju movies GAMERA (Daikaiju Gamera, 1965) and GAMERA VS GUIRON (Gamera tai Daiakuju Giron, 1969).
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Source: Asahi

Radio and voice actor Kyoji Kobayashi died March 8th of subarachnoid hemorrhage at the age of 75. His funeral will be held at the funeral hall of the Tokyo Shibuya Ward, Nishihara on March 14th.

Kobayashi was the narrator for SPECTREMAN (Supekutoruman, 1971), the 1980 NHK radio adaptation of Japan Sinks (Nihon Chinbotsu) and the anime series PLANETES (2003). He also worked on ULTRA SEVEN (Urutora Sebun, 1967), providing the voice of the villainous Alien Godola (Godora Seijin) in episode #4, “Vessel Machs, Reply” (Makusu Oto-seyo, US title “Double Trouble at Sea”). His other TV anime voice performances included OSOMATSU-KUN (1966), PRINCESS KNIGHT (Ribbon no Kishi, 1967) and STAR OF THE GIANTS (Shinjuku no Taiketsu, 1968). He also did Japanese dubbing for foreign TV shows, including Gerry Anderson’s JOE 90 (1968).

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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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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Makoto Iwamatsu 1933-2006
Authors: Loren Portillo and Kari Wyatt

Japanese-American actor Mako.

Mako, who passed away July 21, 2006, was one of the most gifted Japanese born film actors to grace the American silver screen. Blessed with incredible screen presence and strength in every role, Mako was always a scene stealer and would often upstage his fellow leading actors. From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Chuck Norris, I have often said, “Mako has worked with everyone”!
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Monster Zero Founder and beloved friend dies at age 36
Source:Monster Zero News

©1954 Toho Co., ltd.

From Monster Zero News…

It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that the staff of Monster Zero must announce the unexpected passing of MZ co-founder and owner, Aaron Smith. Aaron passed away on Tuesday after a major cardiac arrest. He had been in the hospital over the weekend due to ongoing complications arising from an injury he suffered a few months ago. It appeared by Monday that he was out of the woods but, according to his family, Tuesday’s heart attack was massive and quick, and nothing could be done.
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Author: Tim Eldred

Maestro Hiroshi Miyagawa. ©2006 Voyager Entertainment.

Maestro Hiroshi Miyagawa, the award-winning pop music composer and creator of the score for Japan’s famous anime series SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (Uchû Senkan Yamato, 1974) died on March 21, 2006 of heart failure. He was 75. Anyone who has ever listened to his work knows that those words barely scratch the surface.

Join STAR BLAZER’s Tim Eldred for a look at one of Japanese animation’s major musical influences and the man who provided the musical canvas for one of anime’s biggest animated hits!
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Author: Richard Pusateri

Akira Ifukube, composer of some of the greatest scores
in film history, has passed away.

Akira Ifukube has joined Tomoyuki Tanaka, Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya in the next world. On February 8, 2006, Mr. Ifukube died at age 91, in Tokyo.

Born May 31, 1914 in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Mr. Ifukube grew up in a small village with a large population of Ainu, the native people of Japan. This early exposure to the pristine nature of Northern Japan and the culture of indigenous people greatly influenced his music. The “ostinato” style Mr. Ifukube later used in his film scores recapitulated the percussive, repetitive nature of Ainu folk music and dancing.

Mr. Ifukube’s early occupation was forestry but he was always interested in music. He pursued an informal musical education while played the violin. His brother, Isao, and the music of Igor Stravinsky, especially “The Rite of Spring,” inspired Mr. Ifukube to pursue the composition of classical music.

At age 21, he wrote “Japanese Rhapsody,” and it won the Tcherepnine Prize in 1935. After this break, his musical career accelerated as he received personal instruction from Alexander Tcherepnine.
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SHOGO TOMIYAMA: REMEMBERING AKIRA IFUKUBE

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama shares his thoughts on the
passing of his friend, Akira Ifukube. GODZILLA: FINAL WARS © 2004
Toho Co., Ltd.

Since 1989, Shogo Tomiyama has been directly involved with the making of each Godzilla film. Chosen as associate producer on GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE by Godzilla co-creator Tomoyuki Tanaka, Tomiyama eventually became executive producer of the series. In 2004, he was promoted to President of Toho Pictures.

As the associate producer of GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH (1991), Tomiyama was thrilled to have Akira Ifukube return to score the film after 16 years away from the series. The two became good friends and would work together on three more Godzilla movies that included Ifukube’s final film soundtrack, GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH (1995). Most of Tomiyama’s later Godzilla films would include at least one of Ifukube’s themes as a tribute to the maestro’s undeniable impact on the character and the franchise.

Mr. Tomiyama has graciously accepted SciFi Japan’s request for his thoughts on the passing of Mr Ifukube. The following is a direct translation of his words…