About "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan"

by Armand Vaquer

I just received the Guide yesterday. It's brilliant. I've been reading through it and planning the days ahead. Great work putting it together. - Dr. Craig Norris

Lecturer, Journalism, Media and Communications, University of Tasmania, Australia

If you know how to read and you and are a fan of Japanese monster movies, you might wanna check out "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan," a clever new book that dresses up tourism with monster movie film locations. - MSN Fright Site Superfans

I have started to read your guide! It's fascinating! - Jonathan Bellés, producer/director of "Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga"

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is the world's first and only Japan travel guide especially tailored to tourists who are also fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies.

Nominee, Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards "Book of The Year" for 2010

Above, Yuu Asakura with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Several studios have produced Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films. Studios include Toho Company, Ltd., Kadokawa Herald, Ltd. (formerly Daiei Pictures) and Toei Co., Ltd.

Most of the locations covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan are primarily from Toho's Godzilla series of movies, but other studios' monster movies are also covered.

Toho started the giant monster movie (daikaiju eiga) genre in 1954 with Godzilla. The action takes place primarily in Japan's capital city, Tokyo. Locations used include the Wako Department Store in the Ginza section; The Kachidoki Bridge on the Sumida River; and The National Diet Building. These and other Tokyo locations are covered in The Guide. Also included are Ultraman-related places of interest.

The Guide starts north with the island of Hokkaido and makes its way down the main island of Honshu and finishes off on the island of Kyushu.

Here is a slideshow video of just some of the locations The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan covers:



Helpful articles on what a visitor to Japan needs to do and know are included, such as: Immigration, currency, the JR Rail Pass, the Shinkansen (bullet trains), weather and other topics. Where available, lodging information is also included. If there's a hotel or ryokan (Japanese inn) I have personal knowledge of, I will make a recommendation.

Who Did What...

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan was started in early 2008. I wrote the text and most of the photographs are from my five trips to Japan in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. G-FAN magazine editor and publisher J. D. Lees assisted with editing, location ideas and the layouts. 20-year graphic designer Archie Waugh created the cover, based on a rough idea by me. The photographs on the cover were all by me. The big photo on the cover is of the Godzilla statue located in the Hibiya section of Tokyo, which is next to Ginza. I took that photo during my April 2007 trip to Japan.

Thanks to a recommendation by Mad Scientist magazine editor and publisher Martin Arlt, it was decided to employ the services of ComiXpress to provide the printing and handle sales of The Guide. I was impressed with the work ComiXpress does for Mad Scientist and their terms, so I elected to use them.

Above, Miki Hayashi with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Price...

The retail price for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is $15.00 US.

Above, Craig Norris, Lecturer, Dept. of Journalism, Media and Communications, University 
of Tasmania, Australia, making use of The Guide at the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, Tokyo.

The Guide's Advantage...

Besides being a travel guide to monster locations, it also serves as a reference guide on what locations were used in the movies. So one doesn't need to be planning a trip to Japan to find The Guide useful.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is also a useful tool for travel professionals to plan special tours of Japan for monster enthusiasts. They can also sell copies to their customers and make money on it!

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The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is listed at TripAdvisor.com.

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For Retailers...

Above, "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" on display at Kinokuniya Bookstores' Little Tokyo store.

How To Order A Copy...

As of May 17, 2013, ComiXpress went out-of-business.  I am presently looking for a comparable publisher.   I have plenty of copies available.  Read further!

Monster Madhouse Promo Video...



Additional order info...

Notice (October 19, 2018): I am currently running a close-out sale of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at $9.95 per copy plus $2.00 shipping and handling. For details, go here. The sale will be ongoing until all are sold out. PayPal enabled.

Send your check or money order payable to Armand Vaquer at:

Armand Vaquer 

P.O. Box 816  

Jamestown, NM 87347 

Checks must clear first before shipping, but money orders will receive immediate shipping.

If you are outside of the United States and would like to order, the cost per issue is $9.95 U.S.D., but I will have to check with the U.S. Postal Service to see what the mailing cost is to your country. Email me at MnsterMovFnGdJP@aol.com with your country information and I will email you with the total amount once I have that information.

Dealers

The following dealers carry The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan:

Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters, Pasadena, California
Kinokuniya Bookstores, Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), California
Monsterland Toys, Kimper, Kentucky

Amazon's Kindle Store Ebook Edition...

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is now available through Amazon as an ebook for those who use iPad, Kindle Fire or other tablet computers.  The following countries offer it in their Amazon Kindle Stores: United States, India, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Japan. Make sure your device's applications or programs are compatible with the Kindle platform.

I hope you will find The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan informative as well as entertaining. Thank-you for picking up a copy!

Above, Armand with the Godzilla statue at the main entrance to Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan was featured in the following publications in Japan:

Metropolis magazine, January 2011.

The Daily Yomiuri, December 24, 2010.

The Japan Times,  May 27, 2012

Japan Travel, GaijinPot.com and Japan Today posted feature articles on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

And in the United States...

Mad Scientist #21, Spring 2010.

Comics Buyer's Guide #1691, July 2012

Join The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan Facebook Page by going here.

Slideshow Presentations

Above, Armand following his presentation at the 2011 Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank, California.

Convention promoters: I am available to speak on the topic of visiting Japanese monster movie locations and landmarks (along with a slide show) at science-fiction and horror conventions (or even at comic book stores and travel bookstores).  Just email me about what kind of support you would be able to provide such as travel expenses, hotel and tables and we will discuss it further. Along with getting me, your convention will be the beneficiary of my "publicity machine."  I have given presentations at G-FEST, Monsterpalooza, Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo and Mad Monster Party conventions and at the Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters.


Travel & Feature Publications

Above, Armand's article for Tokyo's Metropolis magazine on Tokyo
monster attack locations. Publication date: July 25-Aug. 7, 2014.

Travel & Feature Publication Editors: If you would like a travel or feature article on Japan's monster movie locations, landmarks and attractions, contact me at MnsterMovFnGdJp@aol.com.