Author: Daisuke Ishizuka

Sukagawa in Fukushima Prefecture is well known by Tokusatsu fans as the birth city of Mr. Eiji Tsuburaya, creator of Ultraman and the special effects wizard behind GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) and many other Toho classics. There is a memorial monument near his childhood home that is a place for fans to visit. I visited Sukagawa in 2001 when it was the 100th anniversary of Mr. Tsuburaya`s birth. I recently visited again so I could see the new monuments erected there. First, I visited JR Sukagawa Station. There is Ultraman monument which was created in 2013 at the station square. Sukagawa city became the sister city to the Ultraman planet in “Nebula M78” and the monument was built as its memorial symbol. The ceremony was done on July 7th, the birthday of Mr. Tsuburaya. In 2015, a total of eight new monuments were built along Taimatsu Street. They are the heroes Zoffy, Ultraman, Ultra Seven and Ultraman Jack plus the monsters Zetton, Gomora, Eleking and Bemstar. I believe this is the most exciting street in Japan. Sukagawa city has plan to make the Eiji Tsuburaya memorial museum in the future. I will return to Sukagawa when the museum is built there.

In Addition, Tokusatsu fans should stop by Fukushima Airport when they visit Sukagawa... not to take a flight, but to see the Ultraman displays there. The Science Patrol`s (Science Special Search Party) Jet-Beetles from the original ULTRAMAN (???????????????, Urutoraman: Kuso Tokusatsu Shirizu, 1966-1967) welcome visitors as they arrive at the airport. They are not full-scale models of the aircraft, but are a large enough size to enjoy.