SciFi Japan

    GMK Godzilla was among the daikaiju models and toys available at Wonder Festival. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © 2001 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera and More Return for Tokyo Hobby Festival Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: wf.kaiyodo.net Translation Assist: Elliot Gay When the winter chill reaches its peak, it`s a sure sign that it`s time for Winter Wonder Festival. Taking place on Sunday, February 10 at the Makuhari Messe, a few stops down the Keio Line from Tokyo Disneyland, Wonder Festival is not unlike a theme park itself with its endless parade of costumed characters, merchandise for sale, incessant product promotion, and huge crowds. The only thing missing are the rides. Having attended Wonder Festival for several years in a row, I have to confess to be coming a bit fatigued by the experience with the unrelenting crush of people and merchandise. It`s still always fun to attend, especially if you can find that special item that you didn`t know existed and can`t live without. With the excessively

    Toho 30cm Series: Godzilla 1984. Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM&© 1984,2013 TOHO CO.,LTD. © PLEX 2013

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. presents a preview of their Toho, Kadokawa/Daiei and Tsuburaya Pro giant monster figures scheduled for release in late April 2013. X-Plus`s monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. Shounen Ric offers Limited Editions of the figures with exclusive features or bonus pieces not available from other retailers. The standard figures are also sold by stores and online retailers including amazon.com, amazon.co.jp and SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Toy Freakz. Toho 30cm Series: Godzilla 1984 Product Size: Height Approximately 29cm Material: PVC (Vinyl) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Blind Box Shipping: Late April - Early May, 2013 Sales Agency: Plex Co.,Ltd. Distributed by: X Plus Co.,Ltd. Shounen Ric Limited Edition Includes: Shockiras Figure (Length Approximately 18cm)

    Toho Large Monster Series: Mechagodzilla (1975 Version). Photo courtesy of X-Plus. TM&© 1975,2013 TOHO CO.,LTD. © PLEX 2013

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Source: X-Plus Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Sachiko Ikenouchi A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The Japanese toy company X-Plus Co., Ltd. is now providing SciFi Japan with information and photos for their upcoming giant monster products. We kick things off with a preview of Toho and Tsuburaya Pro figures scheduled for release in late March 2013. X-Plus`s monster figures can be purchased directly from the company`s official Shounen Ric website. They are also sold by retailers including amazon.com,amazon.co.jp and SFJ`s sponsors Anime Jungle and Toy Freakz. Toho Large Monster Series: Mechagodzilla (1975 Version) Shounen Ric Limited Edition Product size: Height Approximately 26.5cm Includes: Electronic Brain Head Material: PVC (Vinyl) Specifications: Painted; Some Assembly Required Package: Window Box Price: ¥11,970 (Tax Included) Shipping: Late March - Early April, 2013 Sales Agency: Plex Co.,Ltd. Distributed by: X Plus Co.,Ltd. The March entry in X-Plus` Toho

    ULTRAMAN`s Alien Baltan, director Toshihiro Iijima and actress Hiroko Sakurai met fans yesterday in Machida City. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Actress Hiroko Sakurai and Alien Baltan Also Meet with Fans in Machida Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: machidamachinaka.blog (Japan) Mr. Toshihiro Iijima is well known among fans as a director of ULTRA Q (????Q, Urutora Kyuu, 1966), ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966), ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutora Sebun, 1967) and other Tsuburaya Procuctions’ tokusatsu TV series and movies. He also created dramas as well as tokusatsu films. In 2011, he directed the movie HOMECOMING (???????, Hoomukamingu), which was filmed in Machida City, Tokyo. On January 20th, 2013 Mr. Iijima was invited as guest of honor for an autograph session at Poppo-Machida in Machida City. The cast of HOMECOMING included such familiar faces as Mr. Susumu Kurobe who played Hayata in ULTRAMAN, Mr. Koji Moritsugu who played Dan Moroboshi in ULTRA SEVEN and Ms. Hiroko Sakurai who played Yuriko Edogawa in ULTRA Q

    The original Ultraman. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. ©1966 Tsuburaya Productions, Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Games Based on the Japanese Pop Culture Icon Coming Soon to Mobile Platforms Source: Animoca, Fluid PR press release Official Site: animoca.com Special Thanks to Matt McAllister Animoca, the mobile gaming developer and publisher behind hit apps such as Pretty Pet Salon, Pet Cafe, Top Models and many others, announced that it has secured the worldwide rights to develop and publish mobile games for Mr Bean, the hit British comedy television series, and Ultraman, the Japanese superhero and pop culture icon. The license to produce mobile games based on Ultraman was granted to Animoca by Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., a Japanese special effects studio. As the title character of the Japanese Tokusatsu television series that first aired in 1966, Ultraman is a super-powered humanoid from outer space who fights to protect the Earth from sinister aliens and rampaging monsters. Ultraman became a major Japanese pop culture

    Photo by Andrew Nguyen. © Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Author: Andrew Nguyen Official Site: qpopshop.com From September 15th through October 14th, the Q Pop shop in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles hosted "Tokusatsu: Japanese Science Fiction Art Show", an art gallery exhibition dealing with Japanese special effects. With more than 100 artists from all over the world participating, the presentations covered the whole gamut of tokusatu, including such favorites as Godzilla, Gamera and Ultraman. For the opening day, the store had a small party that included live music mainly of songs from kaiju movies and television shows as well as a kaiju costume contest, a photo booth and a merchandise booth set up by the Japanese collector`s shop, Anime Jungle. Arriving early in Little Tokyo for the opening reception (scheduled for 7:00pm), I waited outside Q Pop along with several other people who also wrote for blogs and websites dealing with the tokusatsu

    Monster Maker 28`s 30cm Godzilla 1964 prototype, just one of the incredible models and toys on display at this year`s Summer Wonder Festival. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tokyo Hobby Festival Features Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera, Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and More Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: wf.kaiyodo.net Special Thanks to Yoichi Kakuma and Tetsu Shiota, Anime Jungle Wonder Festival is a semi-annual orgy of models kits, toys, product announcements, promotional events, and cosplay spearheaded by the good folks at Kaiyodo. My business schedule regularly affords me the opportunity to attend in winter, but ordinarily I do not have meetings scheduled during summer time. That’s not such a bad thing since July and August in Japan typically feature brutal heat and humidity. So when I was suddenly called to Japan for meetings at the end of July this year, I wasn’t exactly thrilled, but the silver lining was that my trip coincided perfectly with summer Wonder Festival. Although I had a business appointment that would require me to leave by noon, I

    Actress Yuriko Hishimi (Anne Yuri in ULTRA SEVEN) takes a tour of the exhibits at ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tokyo Expo Ends September 2nd Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: ulfes.com/2012 (Japan) The annual event ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL (?????????????) continues at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. 2012 is the 45th anniversary of ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutorasebun, 1967), and special guests relate to ULTRA SEVEN were invited to celebrate the character`s anniversary. Ms. Yuriko Hishimi, who played Anne Yuri, and Mr. Kazuho Mitsuta, who was a director for many of Tsuburaya Productions` tokusatsu television series, gathered on the stage of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL on August 17th. They had talk and autograph session in the afternoon. That night as special premium event was held in which Ms. Hishimi and Mr. Mitsuta walked with fans among the ULTRA SEVEN displays, sharing stories about the show. During the tour, the group was joined by Alien Pegassa. The alien first appeared in ULTRA SEVEN Episode 6: THE DARK

    Actor Koji Moritsugu (Dan Moriboshi in ULTRA SEVEN) poses with his Ultra alter ego at ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    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-

    The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama is now hosting an exhibition of props, models and artwork from ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Final Two Events Held in Saitama and Takamatsu City Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: m-78.jp/45th/art, momas.jp (Japan) ULTRAMAN ART! TIMES AND CREATION — ULTRAMAN & ULTRA SEVEN (???????????????????????????????) is a museum exhibition devoted to the two Ultra series, ULTRAMAN and ULTRA SEVEN. ULTRAMAN ART! started in 2010 in Hokkaido and the exhibition has been held at various museums in Japan ever since. Finally, ULTRAMAN ART! has come to The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama near Tokyo. The exhibition (which runs July 7th-September 2nd in Saitama) is very unique. The Museum of Modern Art had prepared a special photography area for visitors. Ultraman himself welcomes guests to the first block of exhibits, which focuses on his 1966 series. Among the displays are Alien Baltan, the subterranean monster Magula and the Science Patrol`s iconic Jet-Beetle aircraft. While not the original suits or props, they are

    Hyper Zetton in his final 'Imago' form! © 2012 Ultraman Saga Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoqzAv_RmKw[/youtube] An Early Review Of The Latest Ultraman Movie Author: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramansaga.com SPOILER WARNING: The following review contains plot details for a new Japanese film. Hisashiburi, Ultraman fans! On Friday I went to a press screening of the latest Ultraman movie ULTRAMAN SAGA (Urutoraman Saaga, 2012) with my good friends Takeshi Yagi (director/producer of ULTRAMAN MAX, SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS) and JR Lipartito (my colleague at GaijinChannel.com). "New Ultraman Day" only comes once a year, and it was great to enjoy the new film with like-minded fans for a change (followed by copious drinking and drunken phone calls to other Ultraman directors.) As I`ve been very preoccupied with work this past year I`ve been out-of-the-loop with fandom and hadn`t had a chance to follow any of the news surrounding ULTRAMAN SAGA, so for the first time since 2004`s ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT I was able

    Mothra and Rodan puppets confront a King Ghdorah puppet at Wonder Festival 2012. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman and More at Tokyo Hobby Festival Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: wf.kaiyodo.net Special Thanks to Bill Gudmundson, Yoichi Kakuma and Tetsu Shiota, Anime Jungle On Sunday, February 12th it was once again time to trek out to Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex for the winter session of Wonder Festival, Japan`s premier hobby festival sponsored by Kaiyodo. A crisp cold Sunday morning breeze off of Tokyo Bay greeted thousands of visitors to this year`s show, many braving the cold hours in advance to try and gain a favorable place in line for when the doors opens and the mad dash begins to get a show exclusive. This year`s show featured more dealers than the last few years, but the downward trend in monster and scifi kits seemed to continue. While there was no special movie tie-ins or displays, there was still more than the enough

    Zoffy flies over a street near the fomrer offices of Tsuburaya Productions. Photo by Daisuke Ishizuka. © 2012 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Tsuburaya Productions` Characters on Display in Their Old Hometown Author: Daisuke Ishizuka From 1963-2005, Tsuburaya Productions -- the television and film company behind the long-running Ultraman franchise -- had their headquarters in the residential Kinuta and Okura districts of Tokyo`s Setagaya Ward. Tsuburaya Pro moved into their new offices in Hachimanyama, Setagaya, Tokyo after being purchased by the TYO Group in 2007. For a time, the Kinuta office was maintained as an editing and computer graphic imaging facility. The second floor of the building was also used as a warehouse to store the monster suits, masks and costumes from the various Ultraman movies and shows. But Tsuburaya eventually decided to to move these departments to Hachimanyama as well, and the Kinuta branch was shut down on February 6, 2008. The property was sold to developers who demolished the office and replaced it

    Creatures from the various Ultraman shows and movies celebrated

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Popular Ultra Series Characters Enjoy a Day at the Amusement Park Author: Daisuke Ishizuka January 9, 2012 was a national holiday in Japan known as "Coming of Age Day" (????, Seijin no Hi). The holiday is held each year on the second Monday of January, and celebrates those Japanese who -- over the past year -- turned 20 years old, the age one is considered an adult can legally vote, drink and smoke (and be tried as an adult in court). Throughout the day, special ceremonies honoring the new adults (???, Shin Seijin) were held at cities across Japan. Young women dress up in fancy, fur-lined silk kimonos called furisodes while men wear suits or traditional hakama. The Yomiuriland amusement park in Inagi City, Tokyo decided to celebrate Coming of Age Day in a unique and fun way. Just as the English language

    Former Ultraman director/producer Takeshi Yagi at an Ultraman event in Tokyo in 2009. Photo by Jim M. Ballard. Author: Jim M. Ballard Special Thanks to Takeshi Yagi

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Conceived by Tsuburaya Productions - the production company founded by Eiji Tsuburaya, the master of special effects on Toho’s Godzilla film series - the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman) first broadcast from July 17th 1966 until April 9th 1967 on TBS. Throughout 39 exciting episodes, audiences nationwide watched the superhero Ultraman defend the Earth from a plethora of giant monsters. ULTRAMAN proved so successful that after 45 years and over 30 spin-offs and feature films, Ultraman is continuing to thrive, ingraining itself in Japanese popular culture shoulder-to-shoulder with Godzilla and other famous icons. In March 2011, immediately following the earthquake disaster, Tsuburaya Productions established the Ultraman Foundation. Through the support of Tsuburaya`s creative staff and their extensive back-catalog of famous heroes, the charity is helping to raise money for children directly affected by the events of March 11th, and spreading a message of hope to children throughout Japan in

    Covers for Monster Attack Team issues M8 (illustration by Kevin Grays) and M9 (art by Matt Frank). Photos courtesy of MAT. © 2011 Monster Attack Team

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Japanese SF Movie Zine to be Distributed by Diamond Source: Monster Attack Team Special Thanks to Michael G Keller and Edward Holland In the 1990s, Monster Attack Team, a fanzine devoted to Japanese live action sci-fi and fantasy productions, ran for seven issues. After a fifteen year break, editors Edward Holland and Michael Keller revived MAT in 2010 with a massive, full-color 132 page eighth issue packed with informative articles covering a wide range of tokusatsu film and television programs. And now Monster Attack Team is back in a big way. Holland and Keller are currently working with a team of top writers on MAT #9, another 100+ page, full-color special. The magazine is tentatively scheduled for release in early October, exact date and price to be announced. The issue can be ordered at monsterattackteam.com. Monster Attack Team has also been picked up

    Advance poster for ULTRAMAN SAGA. © 2011 Ultraman Saga Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    45th Anniversary Film Coming from Tsuburaya Pro Author: Elliot Gay and Keith Aiken Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Movie Site: ultramansaga.com Tagline: “We still have a shining hope with us!” Continuing their 45th anniversary celebration of the Ultra series, Tsuburaya Productions has announced the production of their next feature film ULTRAMAN SAGA (?????????, Urutoraman Saga), to be released in 2012 on both 2D and 3D screens in Japan. The new movie is a sequel to the recent films, MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (?????? ???????? THE MOVIE, Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE, 2009) and ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL (???????? THE MOVIE ?????????????, Urutoraman Zero THE MOVIE Chou Kessen! Beriaru Ginga Teikoku, 2010). ULTRAMAN SAGA will continue the recent trend in the Ultraman movies of bringing together characters from several different series and timelines. The newest Ultra hero, Ultraman Zero, will once

    T-`s Facto presents the prototype Godzilla 54 sculpture, one of the the incredible kits sold at Winter WonderFest 2011. Photo by Ed Godziszewski. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Godzilla, Ultraman, and More at Tokyo Model and Toy Collectors Show Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Site: Wonder Festival Once again, it`s that time of year for the winter season orgy of model kits, toys, and cosplay otherwise known as Wonder Festival. Hosted once again by toy and kit maker Kaiyodo, this year`s event again took place February 6, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe, just a few train stops down the Keio Line from Tokyo Disneyland. And as usual, this year`s show had its share of surprises as well as the weird, wacky, and wonderful. If you are fan of Japanese movie monsters, the news isn`t quite so good. Continuing the trend of the last few years, the number of kits related to Japanese SF films has been on a steady decline, a fact which several of the major kit makers have bemoaned. And

    It`s round two for Ultraman Zero and the evil Ultraman Belial! Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2010 Ultraman Zero- Revenge of Belial Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Review Of The Latest Ultraman Movie Author: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramanzero.com SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Opening to theaters nationwide in Japan on December 23rd, ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL (Urutoraman Zero THE MOVIE Chou Kessen! Beriaru Ginga Teikoku) is the latest entry in the enduring Ultraman series, and serves as a direct sequel to last year`s MEGA MONSTER BATTLE ULTRA GALAXY: THE MOVIE (Daikaiju Batoru Urutora Ginga Densetsu THE MOVIE) in which the evil Ultraman Belial was released from a millennia of imprisonment and resurrected an army of 100 monsters to defeat the Ultra warriors. The new film delves right into the action with a dramatic sweeping shot of Princess Emerana`s home world of Esmeralda being ravaged by Ultraman Belial (now calling himself "Kaiser Belial") and his empire, and her protector Mirror

    Logo design for ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL. Photo courtesy of Shochiku © 2010 Ultraman Zero- Revenge of Belial Film Partners

    Ultraman - Tsuburaya

    Official Press Notes For The Latest Ultraman Movie Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tsuburaya Productions Translation: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: ultramanzero.com THE ULTRAMAN SERIES 45TH ANNIVERSARY The Ultraman series continues to send to children, and to those adults who have not forgotten their dreams, a "message of hope for the future". In this new production commemorating the 45th anniversary of the series, Ultraman Zero encounters new friends on his adventures, delivering a story of growth to adulthood as our heroes learn many important lessons. Previously defeated by the Ultra warriors, the evil Ultraman Belial has revived, returning as the "Galactic Emperor Kaiser Belial" with aspirations of universal conquest and revenge against the Ultra warriors! Will the warriors from the "Land Of Light" be able to defeat this evil army!? INTRODUCTION Tagline: "This is our light!" (Kore ga, ore-tachi no

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