Tokyo Expo Celebrates 45 Years of ULTRA SEVEN Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: ulfes.com/2012 (Japan)

The popular annual event ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL (?????????????) began July 27th at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This year is the 45th anniversary of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutorasebun, 1967) so that series is the theme of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012, with aliens and Monsters that appeared in classic ULTRA SEVEN episodes displayed throughout the convention hall. Mr. Koji Moritsugu, who played the hero Dan Moroboshi (Ultra Seven`s alter ego) was invited as a special guest of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012 on August 10th. He took part in a short talk event and Q&A session in the afternoon. Two children asked him... Q: Why can`t see ULTRA SEVEN episode #12? [Tsuburaya Productions pulled Episode 12: FROM SPACE, WITH LOVE after complaints from the Japan Confederation of the A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization, who claimed it was offensive to victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.] A: Oh, my god! I cannot make any comment about it. Q: Ultra Seven is the father of Ultraman Zero. Who is his mother? A: The truth is, I don’t know. But I am sure that it is not Anne Yuri [Dan`s Ultra Guard teammate, played by Yuriko Hishimi]. The questions from children were very sharp. While ULTRA SEVEN was the focus of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012, some characters from other Ultra series and movies appeared in stage shows and entertained the audience of tokusatsu fans. Glenfire and Mirror Knight from the 2010 movie ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL came to the stage that the day, and a cute monster puppet show was also performed.

A special Premium Event, which allowed attendees to tour the exhibition hall with Mr. Koji Moritsugu, was held that night. Mr. Moritsugu shared his memories of various ULTRA SEVEN episodes as we looked at the festival exhibits. Suddenly, Ultra Seven`s old foe Alien Metron appeared in the exhibition hall. But Alien Metron was now very gentle alien, and he and Mr. Moritsugu showed they had patched up their old animosity by recreating a famous shot from ULTRA SEVEN Episode 8: THE CURSED TOWN for us after an interval of 45 years. The ULTRA SEVEN television series was on the air in Japan when I was five years old. Episode 8 is my most favorite in the series so this day was great for me. And I have say "thank you" to the great creators of the ULTRA SEVEN series. ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012 runs through September 2nd.