Takeshi Yagi`s Official Website

Ultraman director launches English homepage Author: James Ballard Official Website: www.takeshi-yagi.com Japanese director/producer Takeshi Yagi launched his official English language homepage today. Yagi joined Tsuburaya Productions in the mid-1990s after graduating from Waseda University, where he began serving as an assistant director on popular shows such as ULTRAMAN TIGA (Urutoraman Tiga, 1996). He quickly made his directorial debut with on an episode of the original video series MOONSPIRAL (Muunsupairaru, 1996), and followed this with his on-air debut directing an episode of ULTRAMAN GAIA (Urutoraman Gaia, 1998). Over the years, Yagi continued to direct episodes of Tsuburaya`s enduring Ultra series, including ULTRAMAN COSMOS (Urutoraman Kosumosu, 2001), ULTRA Q: DARK FANTASY (Urutora Kyuu Daaku Fantajii, 2004), ULTRAMAN NEXUS (Urutoraman Nekusasu, 2004) and ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006). In 2005 he produced the popular ULTRAMAN MAX (Urutoraman Makkusu), which saw the series return to its roots as a more colorful and light-hearted production along with a host of guest directors including Shusuke Kaneko (GODZILLA: GMK, DEATH NOTE) and Takashi Miike (AUDITION, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR). For the 40th anniversary of their popular character Ultra Seven, Tsuburaya Productions appointed Yagi as the show runner and main director for a new and contemporary late-night sequel series ULTRASEVEN X (Urutorasebun Ekkusu) in 2007. Following ULTRASEVEN X, Yagi immediately began directing his first feature film, SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Urutora Hachi Kyoudai), which opened to theatres in Japan on September 13th this year. As of October 23rd, the film has taken over ¥800,000,000 (US $8,000,000) at the box office, becoming the most successful Ultraman movie in the history of the franchise. While fans abroad may not be familiar with his work due to the limited exposure of the Ultraman series outside of Japan, many will have already seen him featured in Classic Media`s documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE in which he offers his views on the future of the giant monster genre in Japan. Yagi formally retired from Tsuburaya Productions in January 2008, and is now pursuing exciting new projects as a freelance director/producer. Be sure to check www.takeshi-yagi.com regularly to keep up to date on all his latest works!