Minoru Kujirai in November 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on September 13, 1944, Minoru Kujirai is an animator who began working at Toei Animation in the mid-1960s, working on numerous well-known anime programs, including the kaiju-themed King Kong (1967). In the early 1970s, Mr. Kujirai transitioned to working on such Toei-produced tokusatsu programs as … Continue reading AN ANIMATED LIFE IN TOKUSATSU! Minoru Kujirai on His Anime and SFX Work at Tsuburaya Productions and Toei!
Kamen Rider
MEMOIRS OF AN ICONOCLASTIC SCREENWRITER! Fumio Ishimori on His Scriptwriting Career in Japanese Film and Television!
Fumio Ishimori in November 2020. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on July 31, 1931, screenwriter Fumio Ishimori's work has touched just about every facet of Japanese entertainment. Hailing from from Haboro, Hokkaido, he joined Nikkatsu as a screenwriter in 1963 and later signed with Shochiku in 1969. In total, Mr. Ishimori has written more than … Continue reading MEMOIRS OF AN ICONOCLASTIC SCREENWRITER! Fumio Ishimori on His Scriptwriting Career in Japanese Film and Television!
THE LAST SAMURAI: Hiroshi Fujioka Recalls His Career in Japanese Science Fiction!
Photo © Sanki Worldwide Co., Ltd. Born on February 19, 1946, actor Hiroshi Fujioka made his film debut at Shochiku in 1965, after which he appeared in a small role in the international cult classic The X from Outer Space (1967). Shortly thereafter, Mr. Fujioka rose to fame with the popular TV superhero series Kamen … Continue reading THE LAST SAMURAI: Hiroshi Fujioka Recalls His Career in Japanese Science Fiction!
REVISITING JAPAN’S MASTER MONSTER MAKER! Keizo Murase Answers More Questions About Creating Kaiju!
Keizo Murase (with King Ghidorah) in April 2019. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on October 5, 1935, in Ikeda, Tokachi, Hokkaido (where his family home still is), Keizo Murase is a veteran kaiju suitmaker who began his career at Toho in 1958, leaving an indelible mark on the genre with his work on Varan the … Continue reading REVISITING JAPAN’S MASTER MONSTER MAKER! Keizo Murase Answers More Questions About Creating Kaiju!
SHOWA REFLECTIONS! Singer Yumi Mizusawa on Her Days as a Blossoming Actress!
Yumi Mizusawa is an actress-singer who became involved in the entertainment world from a very young age. She entered Toho New Talent's 5th class (with Bibari Maeda) and went on to become a prolific television actress and singer. She starred in the TV series What Is Youth? (1965-66) alongside Toho star Yosuke Natsuki. While her credits … Continue reading SHOWA REFLECTIONS! Singer Yumi Mizusawa on Her Days as a Blossoming Actress!
THE KING OF THE ANIME SINGERS! Ichiro Mizuki on His Live-Action Tokusatsu Tunes!
Ichiro Mizuki is often called The King of Anime Singers for his various contributions to the world of anime, but Vantage Point Interviews readers will know him as The King of the Superhero Singers. Mr. Mizuki's singing credits include: the opening and ending themes for Kamen Rider V3 (1973-74), Kamen Rider Stronger (1975), and Akumaizer … Continue reading THE KING OF THE ANIME SINGERS! Ichiro Mizuki on His Live-Action Tokusatsu Tunes!
KAZUKI KATO ON KAMEN RIDER! The Superhero Actor Shares His Memories from V3 to Guilala!
Kazuki Kato is a successful actor and singer whose rising career in Japan intersects with the science fiction genre in several ways. One of Mr. Kato’s most popular television roles was that of Kamen Rider Drake in the series Kamen Rider Kabuto (2006-07), which was recognized by Toei Studios as the series’ 35th anniversary production. … Continue reading KAZUKI KATO ON KAMEN RIDER! The Superhero Actor Shares His Memories from V3 to Guilala!
KAMEN RIDER RIDES AGAIN! Actor Keisuke Kato Discusses ‘Kamen Rider Kiva’!
Actor Keisuke Kato took the SFX world of Japan by storm when he was cast as Kamen Rider Ixa in Toei Studios’ Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-09). Mr. Kato fondly remembers his role as Keisuke Nago (Ixa’s alter ego) and openly expresses his desire to return to the long-running series. Mr. Kato continues to perform in … Continue reading KAMEN RIDER RIDES AGAIN! Actor Keisuke Kato Discusses ‘Kamen Rider Kiva’!
Vantage Point Interviews 