Old-School Tokusatsu Kaiju Return!Source: Team Better TomorrowSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra The the first trailer for the upcoming daikaiju movie YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei Saidai no Kessen) has been released. Written and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii (ULTRAMAN GINGA, ULTRAMAN GINGA S, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO boasts a cast and crew made of veterans from tokusatsu cinema and television including Masanori Machida (GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER, THE GREEN SLIME, ZATOICHI, ULTRASEVEN, MASKED RIDER SKYRIDER, ULTRAMAN TIGA), Takehiko Fujita (ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER, THE METHOD OF THE KEY THIEF, FAMILY HAPPINESS), Takashi Toyoda (ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), Hironobu Nomura (GAKKOU NO KAIDAN - SCHOOL GHOST STORIES, ULTRAMAN GINGA, KAMEN RIDER EX-AID), Yusuke Sugiyama (SHIN GODZILLA, ULTRAMAN GINGA), Takuya Fujisaki (RONIN STREET, ULTRAMAN TIGA), Daniel Aguilar (SHIN GODZILLA, DEATH KAPPA)
Yumiko Tanaka, Yoshinori Tanaka, Yutaka Taguchi and Mako Principal have joined the cast of GHOST CAT RHAPSODY. Photos courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film
Yumiko Tanaka, Yoshinori Tanaka, Yutaka Taguchi and Mako Principal have joined the cast of GHOST CAT RHAPSODY. Photos courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE 3Y Film, makers of THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL ((大仏廻国 Daibutsu Kaikoku, 2018) and NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020), have announced the latest cast additons to their upcoming musical tokusatsu movie, GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY (怪猫狂騒曲, Kaibyō Kyōsō Kyoku). Among the new actors are tokusatsu veteran Yumiko Tanaka, whose resume includes the Kamen Rider series MASKED RIDER SUPER-1 (仮面ライダースーパー１, Kamen Raidā Sūpā Wan, 1980-81). She also had a cameo role in Toho's THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (ゴジラ, Gojira, 1984) as Akemi, the assistant to news photographer Goro Maki. She will be joined by Yoshinori Tanaka, who previously appeared in 3Y Films' NEZURA 1964, director Monoru Kawasaki's daikaiju comedy MONSTER SEAFOOD WARS (三大怪獣グルメ,
Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment.
Source: MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. SRS Cinema and distributor MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD edition of ZILLAFOOT, an epic kaiju homage to the Toho monsters and Tsuburaya heroes. A UFO lands on Earth, unleashing a giant monster that is half lizard, half gorilla - Zillafoot! The monster rampages, decimating any military response and even awakening a strange dinosaur. Now it's up to scientists and the final member of the famed Ultrasquad to face the new threats and save humanity The ZILLAFOOT DVD will be ravailable from SRS Cinema on October 5. The suggested retail price is $19.95. OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES and INFORMATION Prize: A. There are five (5) prizes, each consisting of
VirusKing threatens Japan in the upcoming monster movie, YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow
VirusKing threatens Japan in the upcoming monster movie, YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow Source: Team Better TomorrowSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The makers of the upcoming daikaiju movie YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei Saidai no Kessen) have shared a gallery of new photos from the film. Written and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii (ULTRAMAN GINGA, ULTRAMAN GINGA S, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER), YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO boasts a cast and crew made of veterans from tokusatsu cinema and television. For more on YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan. Takehiko Fujita and Masanori Machida. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow Photo courtesy of Team Better
Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. ©2020 Monster Seafood Wars Production Committee
Source: MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. ©2020 Monster Seafood Wars Production Committee SRS Cinema and distributor MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD edition of the independent daikaiju film MONSTER SEAFOOD WARS (三大怪獣グルメ, San Daikaijū Gurume, 2020). In the latest film from tdirector Minoru Kawasaki (THE WORLD SINKS EXCEPT JAPAN, MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!) and screenwriter Masakazu Migita (ULTRAMAN TIGA), Yuta, a young master at the Tsukiji Fish Market, accidentally drops his meal of mixed seafood into the Sumida River. Some time afterwards a gigantic mutated squid monster arises from the depths and begins to wreak havoc upon an awe-stricken Tokyo. Attempts by the Japan Self-Defense Forces to stop the creature prove futile. As it seems things couldn't get any worse an enormous mutant octopus
VirusKing joins Japan's ever-growing pantheon of daikaju in YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO, the new movie from filmmaker Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow
VirusKing joins Japan's ever-growing pantheon of daikaju in YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO, the new movie from filmmaker Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow Source: Team Better TomorrowSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE A closer look at VirusKing. Photo courtesy of Team Better Tomorrow. ©Team Better Tomorrow SciFi Japan is pleased to present a first look at YUZO THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TOKYO (『特撮喜劇 大木勇造 人生最大の決戦』, Tokusatsu Kigeki Ōki Yūzō Jinsei Saidai no Kessen), the upcoming daikaiju movie from filmmaker Yoshikazu Ishii. Ishii was an apprentice of the late Toho FX director Koichi Kawakita, and served as a special effects assistant director on GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, NEGOTIATOR: MASHITA MASAYOSHI, DAIMAJIN KANON, and ULTRAMAN MEBIUS. He has directed episodes of ULTRAMAN GINGA and ULTRAMAN GINGA S as well as his own feature film, ATTACK OF THE GIANT TEACHER.
Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment.
Source: MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. SRS Cinema and distributor MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD edition of the 1984 Korean movie WAR OF THE GOD MONSTERS. Released in its native country as THE UNDEAD BEAST (비천괴수, Bicheongoesu) and marketed internationally as THE FLYING MONSTER (飛天怪獸, Hiten Kaiju), this kaiju classic has never been released in North America until now! Dr. Kim believes that ancient dinosaurs are waking up due to global warming rapidly melting the glaciers where they have slept for thousands of years. The recently widowed scientist, now in isolation to study his theories outside the judgemental eye of the public, struggles to find balance with his obsession and raising his young daughter, Sohee. A reporter, named Kang Ok-hee, discovers his hideout and
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment Special Thanks to James Flower and Clint Weiler Following their incredible GAMERA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION and THE DAIMAJIN TRILOGY releases, Arrow has announced another deluxe Blu-ray set... YOKAI MONSTERS COLLECTION! The box set will be available in the United States and United Kingdom in October. Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA From the makers of Daimajin comes a trilogy of terror ripped from the pages of Japanese folklore, with ghosts and monsters from ancient myths and legends brought to life through stunning special effects, alongside an epic, big-budget reboot of the series from a modern-day master of the macabre, now available together on Blu-ray for the first time. In the first film in the trilogy, 100 MONSTERS (妖怪百物語, Yōkai Hyaku Monogatari, 1968), a greedy slumlord's attempts to forcefully evict his
Photos courtesy of William Winckler. © 2021 – William Winckler
Photos courtesy of William Winckler. © 2021 – William Winckler Source: William Winckler Productions press release English-dubbed Ultraman and Anime filmmaker William Winckler (ULTRAMAN X THE MOVIE, FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE CREATURE FROM BLOOD COVE, ZOMBREX: DEAD RISING SUN) has just released his new Western-Horror fiction novel Demon Head of Tuscon, now available worldwide on eBook and paperback on Amazon Kindle. Loosely based on the terrifying Native American monster/spirit legend of the “The Rolling Head,” readers should find author William Winckler’s fresh, unique story, original and captivating. When a young Native American woman is stalked by a horrific disembodied head out to kill her, a wandering cowboy helps escort her to the safety of a Christian reservation. On the way, they must battle and ultimately destroy the monstrous demon before everyone in the Arizona territory is wiped out by it! AMAZON Kindle & Paperback Book
Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film
Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE KIKAIDA star Daisuke Ban has joined the cast of GHOST CAT RHAPSODY. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. 3Y Film, makers of THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL ((大仏廻国 Daibutsu Kaikoku, 2018) and NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020), have announced some exciting cast additons to their upcoming film, GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY (怪猫狂騒曲, Kaibyō Kyōsō Kyoku). Today it was revealed that Daisuke Ban has been signed for the movie. Ban is best known as the star of the popular Toei superhero series KIKAIDA (人造人間キカイダー, Jinzō Ningen Kikaidā, 1972-73) and INAZUMAN (イナズマン, 1973-74) and has appeared in numerous tokusatsu shows and movies. He also played Sadako's father in the the internationally acclaimed J-Horror hit THE RING (リング, Ringu, 1998)
Photo courtesy of Japan Society NY.
Photo courtesy of Japan Society NY. North America’s largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema presents a dynamic slate of 38 films streaming online throughout the U.S. and screening in-person at Japan Society in NYC, introduces New York Premiere of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s WIFE OF A SPY and offers annual CUT ABOVE Award to star Yu AoiSource: Japan Society NY press releaseOfficial Site: JAPAN CUTS 2021: Festival of New Japanese FilmSpecial Thanks to Allison Rodman Japan Society announces the full lineup for the 15th annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film, the largest festival of its kind in North America, set for August 20-September 2 as a hybrid online and in-person event. Continuing its annual mission of showcasing a diverse slate of the best and most exciting films coming out of Japan today, the summer festival will introduce a total of 27 features and 12 short films including
Takashi Miike is back with the sequel, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS-. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2021 The Great Yokai Wars Film Partners
Lee Won-tae’s THE DEVIL’S DEAL, Paul Andrew Williams’ BULL, Vincent Grashaw’s WHAT JOSIAH SAW, Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji’s THE DEER KING, Rob Jabbaz’s THE SADNESS, and Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury’s THE DEEP HOUSE are among the wealth of final titles announced Source: Fantasia press release Special Thanks to Kaila Hier, Pierre Corbeil and Andre Dubois The Fantasia International Film Festival announces a massive new assortment of feature films for its 25th edition, along with details on scheduled panels, talks, tributes, special events, and our esteemed juries. On top of our impressive virtual slate of films, all geo-locked to Canada, and in addition to our globally accessible streamed events, the upcoming festival will also feature a limited number of in-person screenings in Montreal. Fantasia begins August 5th with the World Premiere of Quebec zombie feature BRAIN FREEZE— following the August 4th special event screening
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new THE DAIMAJIN TRILOGY Limited Edition Blu-ray Set. The collection includes all three Daiei giant monster movies that transplants the Golem legend to Japan’s Warring States period of the late-16th century. In DAIMAJIN (大魔神), directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda (YOKAI MONSTERS, ZATOICHI ON THE ROAD), the young son and daughter of the benevolent feudal lord Hanabusa flee to the mountains when their parents are slain by the treacherous usurper Odate. Ten years later, when the elderly priestess who has harboured them is also murdered, the rage of the slumbering ancient god that lies beneath the crumbling giant stone idol hidden deep
Photo courtesy of The Loot Company. © JI/ASP, JIC© JI/ASP © Junji Ito/Kodansha
Source: The Loot Company press release Special Thanks to George Roush Acclaimed horror manga artist Junji Ito is being celebrated with the announcement of the Loot Crate Artist Collection. Experience a new series of officially licensed apparel, collectibles and gear in honor of the legendary Japanese manga author most known for his work in horror. Get a surprise mix of exclusive items delivered to your door every other month in this limited edition 4-crate series. The Loot Crate Artist Collection celebrates three of Junji Ito’s most popular works. The first crate in the series is themed “Obsessive/Repulsive,” and features exclusive gear and apparel from Tomie, Souichi, and Yon & Mu! While each crate in the four-crate series is great on its own, many items are parts of a larger piece that can only be completed by purchasing the entire collection. For Tomie, one class
Photo courtesy of Amazon. © khara / Project Eva. © khara / EVA Production Committee © khara
The latest film in the legendary Japanese anime franchise will premiere in over 240 countries and territories excluding Japan Source: Amazon press release Official Site: https://www.evangelion.co.jp/final.html (Japan) Photo courtesy of Amazon. © khara / Project Eva. © khara / EVA Production Committee © khara Amazon Prime Video today announced the exclusive global premiere (outside of Japan) of the highly anticipated Japanese anime blockbuster EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME (シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版:?, Shin Evangerion Gekijōban:?, 2021) on August 13th. EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final chapter of the new theatrical edition of Evangelion. The anime film – which is the highest-grossing in all movies by chief director Hideaki Anno and most-watched movie in Japanese theatres in 2021- is from directors Kazuya Tsurumaki, Katsuichi Nakayama and Mahiro Maeda as well as legendary creator, screenwriter and chief director Hideaki Anno (SHIN GODZILLA). To
Photos courtesy of 3Y Film and Avery Guerra. THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL ©2019 3Y Film. NEZURA 1964 ©2020 3Y Film, KADOKAWA
Photos courtesy of 3Y Film and Avery Guerra. THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL ©2019 3Y Film. NEZURA 1964 ©2020 3Y Film, KADOKAWA Source: SRS Cinema LLC Special Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Photo courtesy of 3Y Film and Avery Guerra. ©2020 3Y Film, KADOKAWA Distributor SRS Cinema has licensed North American home media rights to the independent kaiju films THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL (大仏廻国, Daibutsu Kokaiku, 2019) and NEZURA 1964 (ネズラ1964, 2020). Limited Edition VHS and Blu-rays will be made available soon with wide-release DVDs to follow. Directed by Hiroto Yokokawa, THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL is a remake of the long-lost 1934 film by Yoshiro Edamasa, which was quite possibly the first-ever daikaiju film from Japan. The film boasts an all-star cast of tokusatsu/kaiju actors that includes Akira Kubo (INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER/MONSTER ZERO, SON OF GODZILLA), Akira Takarada (star of
Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. ©LosGatos Works
Source: MVD Entertainment Group Special Thanks to Clint Weiler Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. ©LosGatos Works SRS Cinema and distributor MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new DVD edition of the independent daikaiju film HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG (狭霧の国 Sagiri no Kuni, 2019). The movie was written and directed by Daisuke Sato (GODZILLA MOTHRA KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL OUT ATTACK, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, GAMERA THE BRAVE, ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS) and features work by legendary Toho monster maker Keizō Murase (MOTHRA, KING KONG VS GODZILLA, FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD, GAMERA). Set in Kyushu during the Meiji era, a blind girl, named Takiri, and the blind monster from a nearby lake, named Nebula, fight against greedy developers who threaten to take over her family's land. Using an all puppet human cast
3y Film presents GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY, a new take on the classic ghost cat movies. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film
3y Film presents GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY, a new take on the classic ghost cat movies. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film Source: 3Y FilmSpecial Thanks to Avery Guerra A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE 3Y Film, makers of THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL and NEZURA 1964, have announced their next project...GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY (怪猫狂騒曲, Kaibyō Kyōsō Kyoku). Directed by Hiroto Yokokawa (THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL, NEZURA 1964), the film will be a musica/film collaboration with living icon Chumei Michiaki Watanabe, the composer for such classic series as KIKAIDA, GREAT MAZINGER and GORENGER! GHOST-CAT RHAPSODY is a fresh take on the classic legend of the ghost cat. The popular horror tale was once popular with Japoanese studios, who released dozens of movies such as THE GHOST CAT AND THE MYSTERIOUS SHAMISEN (1938), GHOST CAT OF NABESHIME (1949), THE GHOST CAT OF
Takashi Miike is back with the sequel, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS-. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2021 The Great Yokai Wars Film Partners
Takashi Miike is back with the sequel, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS-. Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2021 The Great Yokai Wars Film Partners Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: movies.kadokawa.co.jp/yokai (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Spoiler Warning: This article contains plots details for an upcoming movie. Do you have true courage? Kadokawa Pictures has provided SciFi Japan with press notes, a trailer, poster art and a large photo gallery from their upcoming film, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS- (妖怪大戦争 ガーディアンズ, Yōkai Daisensō Gādianzu). Director Takashi Miike returns for the sequel to his 2005 hit THE GREAT YOKAI WAR, which was itself an update of the yokai movie trilogy produced by the Daiei Motion Picture Company in the late 1960s. Takashi Miike has brought back many of the classic Yokai seen in the first THE GREAT YOKAI WAR. The movie will also feature Bushin,
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment Special Thanks to Jasper Sharp and Clint Weiler Behind a Mask of Stone, the Fires of Vengeance Burn! Following their incredible GAMERA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION release last fall, Arrow has announced another deluxe Blu-ray set... THE DAIMAJIN TRILOGY! The box set will be released in the United States and United Kingdom in late July. Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. © KADOKAWA The Daimajin Trilogy saw Daiei’s Kyoto studios bringing its own iconic movie monster to life in a unique but short-lived series that transplants the Golem legend to Japan’s Warring States period of the late-16th century. In DAIMAJIN (大魔神), directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda (YOKAI MONSTERS, ZATOICHI ON THE ROAD), the young son and daughter of the benevolent feudal lord Hanabusa flee to the mountains when their parents