Kaoru Yumi in March 2023. Photo © Brett Homenick. One of Japan's most enduring media stars, Kaoru Yumi began her entertainment career in 1966 as a singer, dancer, and film actress. In the 1970s, Ms. Yumi began appearing in numerous tokusatsu productions for Toho, which include her playing Mariko Nishiyama in The Last Days of … Continue reading DANCING INTO SUPERSTARDOM! Actress Kaoru Yumi on Her Enchanting Early Career and Standout Toho Tokusatsu Roles!
Kon Ichikawa
A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF COMPOSITING KAIJU! Takeshi Miyanishi Goes Behind the Scenes on Toho’s Special Optical-Photography Techniques!
Takeshi Miyanishi in May 2022. Photo © Brett Homenick. Takeshi Miyanishi was born in Tokyo in 1942 to a filmmaking family and began his career in movies with the Toho production Gorath (1962) as an assistant cameraman. He continued in that capacity on Toho kaiju films until 1968 with that year’s release of Destroy All Monsters. Afterward, Mr. … Continue reading A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF COMPOSITING KAIJU! Takeshi Miyanishi Goes Behind the Scenes on Toho’s Special Optical-Photography Techniques!
RACING TOWARD SEATOPIA! Yutaka Hayashi Recalls His Acting Career in Mysteries, Thrillers, and Godzilla!
Yutaka Hayashi in February 2024. Photo © Brett Homenick. Around the world, Yutaka Hayashi is best known for his acting career, especially for playing the role of race car driver Hiroshi Jinkawa in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), but his work in entertainment encompasses not just film as an actor but a variety of bands as … Continue reading RACING TOWARD SEATOPIA! Yutaka Hayashi Recalls His Acting Career in Mysteries, Thrillers, and Godzilla!
A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH GODZILLA’S MAKER! Nobuyuki Yasumaru’s Second Interview on His Incredible Suitmaking Career!
Nobuyuki Yasumaru in September 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on January 24, 1935, in Toyama Prefecture, Nobuyuki Yasumaru is a creator of miniatures and monster suits who has worked on some of Toho’s most popular kaiju films. Beginning his career with Toho in the early 1960s, Mr. Yasumaru’s credits include Mothra (1961), King Kong … Continue reading A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH GODZILLA’S MAKER! Nobuyuki Yasumaru’s Second Interview on His Incredible Suitmaking Career!
BECOMING MIKI SAEGUSA! Godzilla Series Star Megumi Odaka on Her Early Life and Start at Toho!
Megumi Odaka in July 2020. Photo © Brett Homenick. Megumi Odaka is a Japanese actress who accomplished a remarkable and unprecedented feat -- she starred in six consecutive Godzilla movies, playing the same character in each film. That character, the young psychic Miki Saegusa, would go on to become one of the series' most iconic … Continue reading BECOMING MIKI SAEGUSA! Godzilla Series Star Megumi Odaka on Her Early Life and Start at Toho!
A GAIJIN’S LIFE IN JAPAN! Tom Korzeniowski Reminisces About 1960s Tokyo!
As Vantage Point Interviews readers know, many gaijin have appeared in a great many of the science fiction films we love. In most cases, little is known about the Westerners who acted in these films. Tom Korzeniowski is one of the Americans who made a splash in the Japanese film industry during the 1960s, but one … Continue reading A GAIJIN’S LIFE IN JAPAN! Tom Korzeniowski Reminisces About 1960s Tokyo!
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