Atsushi Hagiwara during the making of Sayonara Jupiter. Photo © Atsushi Hagiwara. Atsushi Hagiwara got his start as a tokusatsu modelmaker working on the ambitious Toho production Sayonara Jupiter (1984), which features some of the best special effects in Japanese film history. That experience led to a variety of other film and television projects on … Continue reading MAKING MINIATURES IN JAPANESE SFX FILMS! Atsushi Hagiwara on Creating Tokusatsu Models in the 1980s and Beyond!
Godzilla: Final Wars
MY LIFE WITH GODZILLA! Toho Star Akira Takarada Reflects on His Decades-Long Association with Filmdom’s Mightiest Monster!
Akira Takarada performs onstage in July 2015. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on April 29, 1934, in what is now Chongjin, North Korea, Akira Takarada joined Toho as a member of the studio’s sixth New Face class in 1953 and quickly established himself as one of its brightest stars. His big break came with the … Continue reading MY LIFE WITH GODZILLA! Toho Star Akira Takarada Reflects on His Decades-Long Association with Filmdom’s Mightiest Monster!
RECOLLECTIONS OF TOHO’S GOD OF CLOUDS! Fuchimu Shimakura on Painting the Studio’s Tokusatsu Backdrops!
Fuchimu Shimakura in January 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on October 5, 1940, Fuchimu Shimakura began working at Toho in the late 1950s, creating or assisting in the creation of tokusatsu backdrops for the Showa era's most notable special effects movies, including Battle in Outer Space (1959), Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), … Continue reading RECOLLECTIONS OF TOHO’S GOD OF CLOUDS! Fuchimu Shimakura on Painting the Studio’s Tokusatsu Backdrops!
CAPTAIN GORDON’S FINAL WAR! Actor Don Frye on Starring in ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
Don Frye in July 2014. Photo © Brett Homenick. Don Frye is an accomplished Ultimate Fighter and mixed martial artist who made the transition to movie star with Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), the Big G’s 50th anniversary film. Mr. Frye, as Captain Douglas Gordon, won praise even from Final Wars’ harshest critics for his witty … Continue reading CAPTAIN GORDON’S FINAL WAR! Actor Don Frye on Starring in ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
CARRYING ON GODZILLA’S LEGACY: Producer Shogo Tomiyama on Guiding the Godzilla Series into the New Millennium!
Shogo Tomiyama in March 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on February 27, 1952, Shogo Tomiyama rose to prominence in the Japanese movie industry by becoming a producer at Toho Pictures. Internationally, Mr. Tomiyama is well-known for producing the Godzilla series from Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) through Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Mr. Tomiyama officially joined … Continue reading CARRYING ON GODZILLA’S LEGACY: Producer Shogo Tomiyama on Guiding the Godzilla Series into the New Millennium!
PRODUCING GODZILLA: Former Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama Reflects on the Godzilla Series!
Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on February 27, 1952, Shogo Tomiyama rose to prominence in the Japanese movie industry by becoming a producer at Toho Pictures. Internationally, Mr. Tomiyama is well-known for producing the Godzilla series from Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) through Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Mr. Tomiyama officially joined Toho in 1975. After working … Continue reading PRODUCING GODZILLA: Former Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama Reflects on the Godzilla Series!
KICKBOXING GODZILLA! MMA Fighter Ray Sefo on His ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’ Cameo!
Ray Sefo, a New Zealand kickboxer who became a successful MMA fighter in Japan, was cast by Ryuhei Kitamura to play the part of Glenn in Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004. Among Mr. Sefo’s accomplishments in the fighting world are defeating Jerome Le Banner in the first round of their fight, as well as being … Continue reading KICKBOXING GODZILLA! MMA Fighter Ray Sefo on His ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’ Cameo!
GODZILLA’S FIRST CO-STAR! Akira Takarada Reminisces About His Famous Classmate, the King of the Monsters!
Born on April 29, 1934, in what is now Chongjin, North Korea, Akira Takarada joined Toho as a member of the studio's sixth New Face class in 1953 and quickly established himself as one of its brightest stars. His big break came with the leading role of Hideto Ogata in Godzilla (1954), which was followed … Continue reading GODZILLA’S FIRST CO-STAR! Akira Takarada Reminisces About His Famous Classmate, the King of the Monsters!
A VETERAN OF GODZILLA’S FINAL WAR! Yoshikazu Ishii Goes Behind the Scenes at Toho!
Yoshikazu Ishii grew up a kaiju fan in Japan and eventually got to live the dream of working on Godzilla films and directing special effects on a variety of tokusatsu projects. But how did the dream become reality? In July 2005, Brett Homenick and J. D. Lees interviewed Mr. Ishii about his fascinating journey. Translation … Continue reading A VETERAN OF GODZILLA’S FINAL WAR! Yoshikazu Ishii Goes Behind the Scenes at Toho!
GODZILLA’S FINAL CUT! Director Ryuhei Kitamura on Crafting Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary Film, ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
Ryuhei Kitamura was one of Japan’s most innovative directors when he was asked by Toho to helm the studio’s 50th anniversary Godzilla film in 2004, Godzilla: Final Wars. Mr. Kitamura accepted the offer and directed what remains one of the most seen Godzilla movies of the entire franchise. While it divides some fans, there is … Continue reading GODZILLA’S FINAL CUT! Director Ryuhei Kitamura on Crafting Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary Film, ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
Vantage Point Interviews 