SciFi Japan

    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.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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

    Hiroko Sakurai often acted in films and television shows directed by Akio Jissoji. ULTRAMAN © 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. MANDARA © 1971 ATG. UTAMARO`S WORLD © 1977 Nippon Herald Films, Inc.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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 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 next 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”). Akio Jissoji and Hiroko Sakurai would often work together in the years following ULTRAMAN. In the 1970s, Jissoji created a handful of acclaimed experimental

    MIRROR MAN: REFLEX ©2006 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tsuburaya Reimagines an Old Hero Author: Bob Johnson Source: Tsuburaya Productions “On the other side of the mirror is the Hidden World (Kakuriyo). Lurking in the Hidden World are the Viscous Spirits (Jasen) who try to take over the souls and bodies of the Manifest Realm (Utsushiyo)." Not only are these the words and warnings of Akira Kageyama, a.k.a. Mirror Man, broadcast through his internet streamed radio station, but also the concept behind director Kazuya Konaka’s MIRROR MAN: REFLEX (Miraaman Reflex, 2006). MIRROR MAN: REFLEX is a remake or retelling of the original MIRROR MAN television series, which aired back in 1971 from Tsuburaya Productions. However, this Mirror Man is very different from his predecessor! As Konaka states, “According to some fans, Ultraman was the Sun, Mirror Man was the Moon. While ULTRAMAN was basic entertainment for children, MIRROR MAN was a darker

    Akio Jissoji`s distinctive visual style highlighted many episodes of Tsuburaya shows such as the original ULTRAMAN. © 1966 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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 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. Akio Jissoji was

    The classic Ultraman foes Alien Guts, Alien Zarab, Alien Temprer and Alien Nackle plan the invasion of Earth. ©2006 Tsuburaya Productions

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    A look at the 40th anniversary Ultraman movie Author: James Ballard Official Site: Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers SPOILER WARNING: The following review contains plot details for a new Japanese film. Soon after establishing his own effects house, Eiji Tsuburaya – revered as the “God of Special Effects” in his native Japan for his work on effects films such as Toho’s Godzilla series - founded Tsuburaya Productions in 1963. Their first science fiction television series, ULTRA Q (Urutora Kyuu), was first aired in January 1966. The success of the show lead to the creation of a new fantasy effects series, one which would lead to phenomenal and perhaps unexpected success. First airing on July 17th 1966, ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman) was the story of a man called Hayata, whose life was accidentally taken but subsequently revived by the alien known as Ultraman. After Ultraman joined

    Ultraman and Thai-creation Hanuman take on Gomora from SIX ULTRA BROTHERS VS. THE MONSTER ARMY. ©Tsuburaya Productions Co., ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tsuburaya Productions Takes on Chaiyo in China! Author: Bob Johnson In the on-going litigation between Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand, a new lawsuit has been filed in Chinese court. This is the latest court case involving the companies’ dispute over rights to ULTRA Q, ULTRAMAN, ULTRA SEVEN, RETURN OF ULTRAMAN, ULTRAMAN ACE, ULTRAMAN TARO and JUMBORG ACE. Also included are the two films, SIX ULTRA BROTHERS VS. THE MONSTER ARMY and JUMBORG ACE AND GIANT. On August 23, 2006, the Chinese courts opened “The Ultraman Copyright Study Group” in Beijing in response to Tsuburaya’s lawsuit against Chaiyo for copyright infringement and plagiarism. According to Tsuburaya Productions, the Thai company created three characters including Ultraman Millennium and produced goods based on them. From May of this year in Hongzhou, China, a long-term event featuring these 3 characters has been going on and a

    The movie lineup for the Egyptian Theatre`s

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    GAMERA THE BRAVE, MIRROR MAN, GREAT YOKAI WAR, NEGADON, ULTRAMAN MAX and GODZILLA at the Egyptian Theatre! Author: Keith Aiken Source: American Cinematheque What better way is there to celebrate the 4th of July weekend than watching Japanese monsters rampaging on the big screen? From June 30-July 2, the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood will host "Giant Monsters On the Loose", the third annual kaiju eiga film festival from the prestigious American Cinematheque. In June 2004, the Cinematheque held the “Godzilla 50th Anniversary Tribute", a Toho-themed film festival that screened 14 movies and shorts. Audiences were treated to such classics as RODAN, KING KONG VS GODZILLA, MONSTER ZERO, GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, and DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, plus the US theatrical premieres of GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA and GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS. The following year the “Japanese Giant Monsters Festival” was expanded to include programming from Tsuburaya Productions. The

    Promotional flyer announcing the ULTRA N PROJECT, the big relaunch of the Ultraman franchise. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Pro. ©2004 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: James Ballard Sources: Illustrated Who`s Who of Ultra Series, Matsu-Red`s Home Page, Henshin! Online, 5 Shadows Special Thanks to August Ragone, Bob Johnson, Keith Aiken, and Elliot Gay 2004 was an exciting year for giant monster fans. With the hype surrounding Toho’s 50th anniversary and allegedly “last” Godzilla movie - GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004) - also came a surge of dual-language Region 1 DVD releases, the first ever U.S. release of the uncut GODZILLA (1954) from Rialto Pictures, and some spectacular U.S. theatrical events such as the Egyptian Theatre’s “Godzilla 50th Anniversary Tribute”, the Hollywood Theatre’s “50 Years of Godzilla” festival and Bay Area Film Events’ Godzillafest at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. However, while most eyes were squarely focused on Godzilla, many overlooked the happenings at Tsuburaya Productions, where a complete re-envisioning of their popular ULTRA franchise was well underway. Leading up to Tsuburaya’s

    The promotional announcement for Ultraman`s 40th Anniversary. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Pro. ©2006 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Bob Johnson Source: Tsuburaya Productions 2006 is the year of ULTRAMAN! This year Tsuburaya Productions will be celebrating 40 years of Ultraman, and we will bring you all the details here at SciFi Japan when they become available! The first step in the yearlong celebration is an appearance at MIPTV in France next month. MIPTV is taking place on April 3-7 in Cannes, France. Each year, MIPTV is where you find everyone involved in content creation, production & distribution across all traditional, digital and Telcos TV platforms. MIPTV boasts a world class conference with over 200 speakers and 45 sessions on TV and Digital Platforms. Last year, some 12,000 professionals from across the globe attended the show. If you want to interest the world in your product, this is the place to be and this year Tsuburaya Productions is taking Ultraman

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