Ultra Series Actresses Party with Fans Author: Daisuke Ishizuka
Ms. Yuriko Hishimi is well known to tokusatsu fans as the actress who played Anne Yuri in the classic ULTRA SEVEN television series. She also was the tough female lead in GODZILLA VS GIGAN and has appeared in Tsuburaya Productions` MIRROR MAN, ULTRAMAN LEO, ULTRAMAN ZEARTH 2, ULTRASEVEN X and SUPERIOR 8 ULTRAMAN BROTHERS. Ms. Anne Mari is an actress who I know better as a tokusatsu TV star than a movie star. I first saw her in ULTRAMAN Episode 32- THE ENDLESS COUNTERATTACK where she portrayed Pati (Patra in the American dub), a member of the Science Patrol`s India branch. She guest starred in many of the television shows from my childhood; ULTRA SEVEN Episode 34- THE DEAD INVADERS, MIGHTY JACK Episodes 11 and 12, EMERGENCY 10:4 10:10 Episode 1, MASKED RIDER Episodes 16 and 17, ARASHI THE NINJA Episode 28, etc. I knew that she also appeared in Episode 13 of Tuburaya Pro’s UNBALANCE, and I was able to finally see that show at a movie theater when I was a college student. Ms. Anne Mari’s birthday was May 20th and Ms. Yuriko Hishimi’s birthday was June 10th so the annual "Double Anne Birthday" celebration was held on June 1st. This is very popular event and it is very difficult to get a reservation. A friend of mine did get an invitation, but a change in his schedule prevented him from attended so I was able to go in his place.
The event was divided into two parts. Part 1 included screenings of their work, a talk session, a Q&A session, an autograph session and a photo session, all at a small movie theater. Part 2 was the birthday party at Ms. Yuriko Hishimi’s restaurant, Asian-Taipei. The attendees gave presents to our two heroines, sang the "Happy Birthday" song, were served pieces of a large birthday cake, and enjoyed the ethnic food of Asian-Taipei. Mr. Masaaki Tezuka, the director of GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS, GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA and GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S., also joined the party. Mr. Tezuka visited all the tables and I had a chance to talk with him. He said that he often comes to the Asian-Taipei restaurant. I am sure that he is also a fan of Anne Yuri. The event Double Anne Birthday has been held for four years, but the producer said that this will be the final one. I was lucky to attend this event, so I gave an autograph of Ms. Anne Mari to my friend with many thanks.
