SciFi Japan

    Down goes Take-Majin! Guilala gets the better of his MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT foe in a mock battle held at the World Characters Convention. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. Guilala and Take-Majin © 2008 Guilala Production Committee

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Daisuke Ishizuka The 23rd World Characters Convention was held at Tokyo Big Sight on July 20- 21. SciFi Japan correspondent Daisuke Ishizuka has sent a report and photos of this past weekend’s events… I rarely attend conventions because I am not much interested in purchasing expensive toys. However, I attended the World Characters Convention on July 20 even though most of the convention floor was taken up by dealers. I had two purposes; first, this was chance to see in person the Guilala suit from the new movie MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!. Another was to get Mr. Koji Moritsugu’s new CD. The convention featured some onstage programming. The programs for July 20th were: 1. Guilala Festival: A talk with Mr. Minoru Kawasaki, director of the new Guilala film, and a “battle attraction show” between Guilala and his opponent

    Eight warriors and two generations of Ultra heroes unite! ©2008 DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS Production Committee

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    Advance ticket sales exceed 55,000 Author: James Ballard Sources: Variety Japan, Eiga.com, Barks, Sanspo Official Website: Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers Advance ticket sales for the upcoming theatrical feature DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Hachi Urutora Kyoudai), which went on sale on April 26th, have already surpassed 55,000, Variety Japan reports. The Cine Libre theatre in Tokyo`s Ikebukuro district has sold more than 3,000 tickets alone. The movie, which isn`t due to be released for another three months, will unite eight warriors and two generations of Ultra heroes. Set and filmed in Yokohama, the movie will also commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Opening of the Port of Yokohama. Production of the movie was officially supported by the City of Yokohama, with Mayor Hiroshi Nakada also putting in an appearance as himself. Featuring famous locations such as the

    King Joe Black and Ultra Galaxy battle card illustrations at Bandai`s booth ©2008 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd

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    A Look at This Year`s WonderFest Author: Ed Godziszewski [Note from Editor] There were so many pictures submitted for this article, many are contained as links within the text. Please click on the highlighted links so you don`t miss any of the amazing kits or items from WonderFest! Sunday February 24 marked the semi-annual ritual of collecting avarice and odd behavior in Japan known as Wonder Festival. Held at the massive Tokyo Big Sight on the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay (think of the conclusion of GODZILLA VS. DESTROYER), WonderFest is akin to a pilgrimage of fans of all types. On this cold and extremely windy day (with sustained gusts over 40mph), 30,000+ people jammed the huge convention center for shopping, socializing, costume play (i.e. cosplay), and ogling new and upcoming toys and models from small and large companies alike.

    A gallery of monsters from ULTRA Q and ULTRAMAN greet attendees of

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    Japanese Exhibit Devoted to ULTRA Q, ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN Author: Ed Godziszewski In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the classic science fiction Ultraman series, a series of special Ultraman-themed exhibitions have taken place throughout Japan since early 2006. As a finale for this series of events, "Ultraman Exhibition--Operation Roppongi Sky" (Urutoraman Dai Hakurankai: Roppongi Tenku Daisakusen) opened on December 6, 2007 at the Mori Arts Center Gallery located on the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the center of Tokyo. An exhibition of original props, artwork, and memorabilia from the first three Ultra series, many of which have are being shown to the public for the very first time, this display runs through January 20 of 2008. After taking the express elevator to the 52nd floor, just inside the exhibition entrance, patrons immediately come

    "Cover

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    Author: Richard Pusateri Source: Chronicle Books Special thanks to Brad Warner and Ed Godziszewski North American fans of Japanese science fiction, horror and fantasy movies received a wonderful gift in late 2007. The first English language book detailing the life and work of Eiji Tsuburaya has arrived. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters, produced with the cooperation of Tsuburaya Productions and Toho Company Ltd., has photographs from the best sources and text by August Ragone, perhaps the most knowledgeable American on the subject of Japanese fantasy movies and television. Brad Warner, of Tsuburaya Productions Los Angeles office, is the “hidden hand” that shaped, edited and guided this book to completion. Other contributors are John Paul Cassidy, Norman England, Ed Godziszewski, Mark Nagata, Shogo Tomiyama, Akira Tsuburaya and the late Guy Mariner Tucker. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters is the first notable addition to English language library specifically

    ©2007 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. / Ultraseven X Project

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    Your Guide To Ultra Seven`s 40 Anniversary Series! Author: James Ballard Official Website: Ultraseven X Special Thanks to Keith Aiken, Norman England, Jared Foust, Ed Godziszewski, Takeshi Yagi Contents: Introduction Cast & Character Profiles Staff Profiles Episode Guide Soundtrack DVD Release Production Credits Introduction Last year saw the 40th anniversary of the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966), and with it the new television series ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006) and its accompanying theatrical adaptation ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS (Urutoraman Mebiusu ando Urutora Kyoudai, 2006). Following up this year, Tsuburaya Productions began their celebrations for the 40th anniversary of ULTRA SEVEN (Urutorasebun, 1967), which is still viewed by many as the apex of the Ultra series. While ULTRAMAN MEBIUS was produced as a more colorful, nostalgic family series in style of the Ultraman shows

    The modern wave of Ultramen are the focus of the new Japanese DVD ULTRAMAN HISTORY: THE SILVER CHAPTER. © 2007 Tsuburaya Productions / Bandai Visual

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    New Japanese DVD Featuring Heisei Ultraman Retrospective Author: James Ballard ULTRAMAN HISTORY: THE SILVER CHAPTER (Urutoraman Hisutorii Gin-no Shou) is a new made-for-DVD compilation of action footage from the Ultraman television series and theatrical films produced in the 10-year period from 1996 to 2006. Along with the CLIMAX STORIES which will be released from December 2007 to February 2008, ULTRAMAN HISTORY: THE SILVER CHAPTER helps introduce new and/or very young fans to the Ultraman characters of the post-1990s, in preperation for 2008`s feature film DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Hachi Urutora Kyoudai) which will bring together the classic heroes of the 1960/70s and the modern heroes of the 1990s for the first time. Beginning with ULTRAMAN TIGA (Urutoraman Tiga, 1996), the disc follows through the various TV series and films in order of production year, ending with ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006)

    Box cover art for a pair of the 80s Bandai

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    A Look Back at the Bandai "if" Series of SF/F Board Games Author: Robert Saint John On the eve of the release of Atari`s Godzilla Unleashed videogame, it`s interesting to take a rare look back at the grandfather of daikaiju simulations. No, not 1989`s Godzilla - Monster of Monsters! for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Not even the first Godzilla videogame for the Commodore 64 from 1983. Before videogames, there were boardgames, and the King of the Monsters had his place among them as well. Many are familiar with the vintage children`s Godzilla boardgames release in the U.S. in the 60s and 70s by Ideal and Mattel, respectively. During this period, though, another type of game was becoming increasingly popular -- both here and in Japan -- known as the conflict simulation or, simply, the wargame. In comparison to the more traditional family boardgame, wargames are generally much

    Beginning this week, the Pasadena Museum of California Art hosts an exhibition of artist-designed vinyl toys. © 2007 Los Angeles Toy, Doll, and Amusements Museum

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    Source: Los Angeles Toy, Doll, and Amusements Museum BEYOND ULTRAMAN: SEVEN ARTISTS EXPLORE THE VINYL FRONTIER Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) October 10, 2007 - January 6, 2008 (Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 pm) ADMISSION $6.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Seniors and Students The first museum show to examine the current wave of artist-designed vinyl toys and the Japanese toys that inspired them, BEYOND ULTRAMAN is a joint exhibition between the Pasadena Museum of California Art and the Los Angeles Toy, Doll, and Amusements Museum (LATDA). Featuring the work of Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, David Gonzales, David Horvath, Sun-Min Kim, Brian McCarty, and Mark Nagata, the exhibit also includes a historic timeline of the vinyl toy movement, and a look at the process of vinyl toy creation from sketch to finished product. The accompanying full-color catalog published by Baby Tattoo features essays by writer

    © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

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    Media Group Takes Controlling Interest in Ultraman Company Source: JCN Network, Japan Today, various Official Site: TYO Group Special Thanks to Oki Miyano Tsuburaya Productions, the studio behind the long-running Ultraman franchise, will soon become a subsidiary of the Japanese media group TYO Inc. On September 12, TYO announced that they will acquire a 68% stake in TPC and an 80% share in parent company Tsuburaya Enterprises Co. for Y80 million. Founded in 1963 by special effects legend Eiji Tsuburaya, Tsuburaya Productions created the incredibly popular series ULTRA Q (Urutora Kyu, 1966), ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966), and ULTRA SEVEN (Urutora Sebun, 1967). The company’s latest projects have included ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006) and the upcoming TV shows ULTRASEVEN X (Urutorasebun Ekkusu) and ULTRA GALAXY: GIANT MONSTER BATTLE (Urutora Gyarakushii Daikaiju Batoru). TPC has always been controlled by the Tsuburaya family, and in recent years has been

    The main characters for Tsuburaya`s new late night series ULTRASEVEN X. © 2007 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd./Ultraseven X Project

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    Something X-tra for Ultra Seven’s Anniversary Author: Bob Johnson, James Ballard, and Oki Miyano Source: Sponichi Annex, Hyper Hobby Magazine, Oricon Style, various Official Site: UltrasevenX Translations by: Oki Miyano and James Ballard As Tsuburaya Productions ends a year of celebrating the 40th anniversary of Ultraman, they turn their Ultra-Eyes to another commemoration. Next month begins the 40th anniversary of one of their most critically celebrated characters, Ultra Seven. To mark the occasion, Ultra Seven will be returning to the airwaves this fall in an all-new series, ULTRASEVEN X (Urutorasebun Ekkusu). The series will debut the first week of October on three Japanese networks. The show starts on TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) at 2:25am and on the high-definition service CBC (Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting) from 2:15am on Friday, October 5th, followed by MBS (Mainichi Broadcasting System) on Saturday, October 6th at 3:25am during their regular Anime Shower slot from

    ULTRA GALAXY`s space survery team ZAP SPACY ready for action! From left: Kumano, Captain Hyuuga, Rei, Haruna and Oki, with the monster Gomora looming in the background. © 2007 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd./Bandai

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    Another new Ultra series in the works! Author: James Ballard Source: Terebi-Kun, Hyper Hobby With Tsuburaya Productions` first late-night Ultra hero series ULTRASEVEN X (Urutorasebun Ekkusu) premiering on October 5th for a 12-week run, the company has already announced the next Ultra show. ULTRASEVEN X will be followed with a new TV series, ULTRA GALAXY: GIANT MONSTER BATTLE (Urutora Gyarakushii Daikaiju Batoru), a spin-off of the popular video game GIANT MONSTER BATTLE. The announcement in Terebi-Kun reads: GIANT MONSTER BATTLE will become a TV series of great power! Using the Battle-nizer, with the ability to freely manipulate the giant monsters, a grand adventure unfolds for the man of mystery Rei and the companions of the space survey team ZAP SPACY! Leading character Rei is played by 25-year-old Minami Shota. He has been a regular stage actor in the last few years, and also appeared in

    The heck with Oscars... the design of the 2007 Hugo Award stars Ultraman! Hugo Awards © 2007 World Science Fiction Society. Ultraman is © 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

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    Source: Nippon 2007 Official Site: The Hugo Awards Special Thanks to David Chapple The 65th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) took place this past weekend in Yokohama, Japan. Dubbed Nippon 2007, the event marked the first Worldcon ever held in that country. The guest of honor was Sakyo Komatsu, the acclaimed science fiction author whose works include the novels Japan Sinks (made into the hit movies SUBMERSION OF JAPAN and SINKING OF JAPAN) and Sayonara Jupiter (made into a less successful film by Toho in 1984). Two other Japanese guests of honor were also represented. One was Takumi Shibano (also known as Rei Koizumi), a writer and translator of science fiction novels, and editor and publisher of the widely circulated Uchujin (1957-current), the first Japanese Fanzine, which featured many stories by prominent science fiction writers. Shibano also worked as a consultant on all three original Gatchaman series,

    Logo for the new late-night television series ULTRASEVEN X. ©2007 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd./Ultraseven X Project

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    New Ultra Seven 40th Anniversary Show now in Production Author: James Ballard Following from the immense success of ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966), Eiji Tsuburaya’s next creation, ULTRA SEVEN (Urutorasebun), made its first appearance on October 1st 1967. In Japan Ultra Seven’s popularity has continued to thrive, and for many fans it is viewed as the apex of Tsuburaya Productions` Ultra Series, surpassing even the original ULTRAMAN. This continued devotion subsequently led to the return of the character in original video spin-offs such as ULTRA SEVEN 1999 (Urutorasebun 1999 Saishuushou 6 Busaku, 1999) and ULTRA SEVEN EVOLUTION (Urutorasebun Tanjou 35 Shuunen Eboryuushon 5 Busaku, 2002), as well as the new character Ultra Seven 21 (read as “two-one” rather than "twenty-one") in ULTRAMAN NEOS (Urutoraman Neosu, 2000). Ultra Seven’s most recent appearance was made in the television series ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006) and its accompanying

    Shinji Nakae: 1935-2007

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: John Paul Cassidy Special Thanks to James Ballard On the afternoon of June 28, voice actor Shinji Nakae died of liver cancer in Tokyo at the age of 72. Nakae was at a social welfare hospital in Koganeishi City in Metropolitan Tokyo at the time of his death. Born Yoshitaka Satou on April 20th, 1935 in Tokyo, Nakae belonged to the company Aoni Productions. As a voice actor, he was well known to audiences as one of Japan`s most enduring TV and movie announcers. Fans of tokusatsu fantasy will best remember him as the narrator of Toei Co., Ltd’s Masked Rider shows. He narrated MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1971), MASKED RIDER V3 (Kamen Raidaa Buisuri, 1973), MASKED RIDER X (Kamen Raidaa Ekkusu, 1974), MASKED RIDER STRONGER (Kamen Raidaa Sutoronga, 1975), (NEW) MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, a.k.a. SKY-RIDER, 1979) and MASKED RIDER

    SIX ULTRA BROTHERS VS THE MONSTER ARMY was one of two films co-produced by Tsuburaya Pro and Chaiyo. © 1974 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd./Chaiyo Productions Co., Ltd.

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    Court Rules against Thailand’s Chaiyo Productions in Ultraman Case Author: Keith Aiken and Bob Johnson Source: Yahoo! Japan, The Nation, Yale Global, Asahi, Asiaweek, Ushiki International Patent Office, Bangkok Post, Teleport City, 4DK, various Special thanks to Oki Miyano, James Ballard, and John Cassidy On June 14, Sampote Thianthong of Pro-Link, the official licensing agent for Ultraman in Thailand, announced that Thai department stores and retailers can no longer display or sell Ultraman products licensed by Chaiyo Productions Co., Ltd. The news comes in the wake of an International Property Court ruling in favor of Ultraman’s creators and owner, Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. of Japan (TPC), and marks the latest in a string of defeats for the Thai company Chaiyo and its chairman Sompote Saengduenchai, who has long claimed exclusive worldwide rights outside of Japan to all Ultraman characters and trademarks. Unbeknownst to many Ultraman fans around

    ULTRAMAN MAX was a return to basics after Tsuburaya`s experimental Ultra N Project the year before. All photos © 2005 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd./CBC

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    Author: Brad Warner, Tsuburaya Productions Introduction by: Bob Johnson Special Thanks to James Ballard and Oki Miyano A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE After trying an entirely new approach to the Ultra series with their ambitious Ultra N Project in 2004, Tsuburaya Productions decided to go back to basics and back to the Nebula M78 universe with their follow-up series, ULTRAMAN MAX (Urutoraman Makkusu, 2005). Rather than the dark and serious style utilized for both the feature film ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT (Urutoraman) and the television series ULTRAMAN NEXUS (Urutoraman Nekusasu), TPC took a more light-hearted, bright and colorful slant with MAX. Producer Takeshi Yagi, who directed the ULTRAMAN NEXUS series, shares directing duties with Hirochika Muraishi (ULTRAMAN TIGA and GRANSAZERS), Hiroaki Tochihara (who served as Assistant Director under Shusuke Kaneko on NEN NO NATSU YASUMI/SUMMER VACATION 1999 in 1988), as well as Shusuke Kaneko

    Shinsuke Achiha with Yuriko Hishimi in ULTRA SEVEN. © 1967 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

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    ULTRA SEVEN actor takes own life Author: Oki Miyano with Keith Aiken Source: Sponichi Annex Former actor Shinsuke Achiha has died of an apparent suicide. He was 67 years old. In 1967, Achiha starred in Tsuburaya Productions’ classic television series ULTRA SEVEN (Urutora Sebun). He played Soga, the expert marksman of the Ultra Garrison who each week fought alongside Ultra Seven and his alter ego Dan Moroboshi (Koji Moritsugu). Achiha was born in Shimane Prefecture on March 21, 1940. Prior to his work on ULTRA SEVEN, the actor was a regular on the Toho TV show IS THIS YOUTH? (Seisyun Towa Nanda, 1965), a high school drama starring Yosuke Natsuki (DOGORA, GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER) and Yu Fujiki (ATRAGON, GODZILLA VS THE THING). He also appeared in THE HUMAN BULLET (Nikudan, 1968); the Toshiro Mifune films ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO (Rengo Kantai Shirei Chokan: Yamamoto Isoroku, 1968), RED LION

    Contents of the special Memorial Box edition of ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS. © 2006 Tsuburaya Productions

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    New DVD Collectors Set With A Few Surprises Author: James Ballard Official Website: Ultraman-Movie.com Last summer’s hit movie ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS (Urutoraman Mebiusu & Urutora Kyoudai, 2006) from Tsuburaya Productions was released on DVD in Japan on January 26th. Available alongside the regular one-disc issue of the film is this rather special two-disc Memorial Box. MEMORIAL BOX: What`s Inside The box itself is constructed with rather sturdy cardboard, with the outer design printed on a metalic foil surface. The design represents one of the most iconic scenes from the film, with the seven Ultra characters standing in line; Ultraman Ace, Zoffy and Ultra Seven on the back, Ultraman Mebius on the spine of the box, and Ultraman, Ultraman Taro and Ultraman Jack on the front. On all three sides, the English title "Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers" is used in

    Promotional art for the 2003 DVD release of the original OPERATION: MYSTERY. © 1968 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

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    The Classic Tsuburaya Pro Series is Back after 38 Years Author: Keith Aiken Source: Tsuburaya Productions, NHK Translations and Additional Material by: Oki Miyano and James Ballard In a 2003 interview with NewType: The Live, then-Tsuburaya Productions vice president Akira Tsuburaya revealed that the company was planning new versions of many of their classic television shows. The following year, the legendary 1966 series ULTRA Q (Urutora Q) was revived as the radio drama THE ULTRA Q CLUB (Urutora Kyu Club) and the 26 episode late-night program ULTRA Q: DARK FANTASY (Urutora Kyu: Dakku Fuantaji). In 2006, the three-part video series MIRROR MAN: REFLEX (Miraaman Reflex) updated the super-hero show MIRROR MAN (Miraaman, 1971). Now Tsuburaya Pro has announced that OPERATION: MYSTERY (Kaiki Daisakusen, 1968) will return as the HDTV series OPERATION: MYSTERY- SECOND FILE. The original OPERATION: MYSTERY (also advertised with the English title THE MYSTERY

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