WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA Japan Premiere Includes Rare Screening of GAMERA 4: TRUTH

The Japanese indie kaiju movie WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA (忍獣大戦記　蛇龍(ジャロン)対號羅(ゴウラ), Shinobu Kemono Daisenki Daryū Tai Goura, 2024) has already been released to home video in the United States, but will receive its Japanese theatrical premiere in March with a pair of screenings at Cinema Novecento in Yokohama. Billed as "Japan's smallest movie theater," Cinema Novecento will host special events for the film on Saturday, March 15th and Sunday, March 16th, 2025.

Shinpei Hayashiya. Photo courtesy of Cinema Novencento.

WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA was made by Shinpei Hayashiya, a rakugo storyteller who entertains audiences with his comedic live performances. In addition to his stage work, he has directed a number of independent films inspired by his love of tokusatsu and kaiju. His GAMERA 4: TRUTH (ガメラ4 真実, Gamera 4 Shinjitsu, 2003), self-produced as an unofficial sequel to the 1990s Gamera Trilogy by Shusuke Kaneko and Shinji Higuchi, attracted the attention of monster movie fans and industry professionals. This led to his commercial film directorial debut with DEEP SEA MONSTER REIGO (深海怪獣レイゴー, Shinkaijū Reigō, 2007).

WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA is his latest "versus monster" movie, highlighted by kaiju designs by master artists Shinji Nishikawa (Godzilla franchise). Veteran suit actors Mizuho Yoshida (GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK, ZEIRAM) and Akihiko Ohashi (GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION, GAMERA 3: REVENGE IRIS) not only play the monsters in the film but also show their faces as human characters.

The Cinema Novecento event will screen the movie along with a special screening of Hayashiya's early work, the short GODZILLA VS. DEATHGILAS (ゴジラ×デスギラス, Gojira × Desugirasu, 2001). After the main feature, there will be a talk show, autograph session, photo session, and social gathering (additional fee required) with guests including Shinpei Hayashiya and stars Mizuho Yoshida, Akihiko Ohashi, and Kingentei Anju.

In addition, before the main event, there will be a free screening of the work that made Shinpei Hayashiya's name known to kaiju fans worldwide; GAMERA 4: TRUTH, and its making-of, PROJECT X DOCUMENT: THE ROAD TO GAMERA 4 (プロジェクトX　ドキュメント　ガメラ4への道, Purojekuto X Dokyumento Gamera 4 E no Michi). GAMERA 4 will be shown for free, but attendees should note that priority seating will be given to those paying for the screening of WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA.

Venue: Cinema Novecento (Former Iwasaki Bldg. 2F, 2-1-8 Chuo, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0051, Japan)

Dates: Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March, 2025

■ WAR OF THE NINJA MONSTERS: JARON VS. GOURA (2024/BD/Color/60min)

Director, Co-Creator, Co-Writer, Cinematographer, Storyboards: Shinpei Hayashiya

Co-Creator, Co-Writer: Hirokatsu Kihara

Cinematography, Drone Photography, Lighting, Sound Recording, Editing, Compositing, Effects: Masayuki Nagata

Music and Monster Sounds: Yasuhiro Ueda

Sound Editing: Muneaki Tanizawa

Action Coordinators: Akira Ohashi, Mizuho Yoshida

Monster Design: Shinji Nishikawa

Starring: Mizuho Yoshida, Akira Ohashi, Kingentei Anju, Makoto Inamiya, Anko Hayashiya, Sensho Katsura

■ GODZILLA VS. DEATHGILAS (2001/DVD/Color/10 min.)

Director, Screenwriter: Shinpei Hayashiya

Starring: Shinpei Hayashiya, Kazuo Shogumi

■ GAMERA 4: TRUTH (2003/DVD/Color/45 min.)

Director, Screenwriter: Shinpei Hayashiya

Starring: Yukijiro Hotaru, Shinpei Hayashiyai, Kazuo Shogumi

■ PROJECT X DOCUMENT: THE ROAD TO GAMERA 4 (2002/DVD/Color/4 min.)

Starring: Shinpei Hayashiya