Gamera Day Yesterday

Above, yours truly in line to get into the theater.

Since it was windy outside and that drives my sinuses crazy, I stayed indoors for most of the day.

I decided to revisit Gamera The Brave (2006), a reboot of Daiei/Kadokawa Pictures Gamera character.  I attended the premiere of the movie on April 29, 2006 at the Picadilly Theaters in the Yurikucho Mullion Building in Chiyoda, Tokyo. 

Above, yours truly at the souvenir table in the theater lobby.

Later, when I bought the Japanese DVD of the movie, there was an extra showing the premiere and I was seen waiting to enter and at a souvenir stand in the theater's lobby. I was at the "ripe old age" of 52 at the time. Hard to believe, now that I am 71. Where did the time go?

Above, the JR Central Towers at JR Nagoya Station were
 featured in Gamera The Brave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2014, I planned to visit Nagoya, where much of the action of Gamers The Brave takes place, but a snowstorm caused me to modify my Japan visit. In 2007, while taking a train down to Kyushu, the train stopped at JR Nagoya Station and I got a photo fo the JR Central Towers featured in the movie.

Later, during dinner, I decided to watch Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995). It had been a long time since I watched it as well. A few months before my dad's passing in 1999, I loaned my parents the DVD of it and they both enjoyed it.

Above, the Fukuoka Dome in 2007 was featured in Gamera:
 The Guardian of the Universe. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2007, I did pay a visit to the Fukuoka Dome that was featured in Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe during the attempted capture of three Gyaos birds. 

The locations mentioned were covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Gaijinpot: 5 Historical and Quirky Places to Visit in Kyushu

Above, the Peace Statue at Nagaski Peace Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that Japan will be welcoming foreign tourists again in four days, it is now the time to take a look at what places to visit while there.

Gaijinpot has posted five historical and quirky places to visit in Kyushu. I visited Kyushu back in 2007 and enjoyed the trek there.

For daikaiju eiga fans, Kyushu was prominent in Rodan (1956), including Mt. Aso, Sasebo City and Fukuoka. Fukuoka was featured in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). While visiting the seven on the list, side trips to other sites are worth one's while. They are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

They begin with:

Kyushu is Japan’s southernmost main island and the third largest after Hokkaido. There are seven prefectures that make up the island: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. These prefectures are home to a handful of active volcanoes (26 to be exact), world-class hot spring towns and great local cuisine.

While not as popular as Okinawa or Kyoto there’s an undeniable charm to each prefecture that make up this island. From Kokura Castle in Kita-Kyushu down to Sakurajima in Kagoshima, many other destinations await the eager explorer.

Here are our top five spots to get you started on planning your Kyushu adventure.

 To read more, go here.

Happy Birthday Kaneko-San!

Above, from left, Shusuke Kaneko, yours truly and J. D. Lees at G-FEST in 2003. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

Here's one of those "I thought he was older" kind of revelations. I hadn't given it any thought until now.

Japanese director Shusuke Kaneko, who directed the acclaimed Heisei Gamera series of movies in the 1990s and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) turns 67 today. He was the recipient of the 2019 "Mangled Skyscraper Award" at G-FEST XXVI in Rosemont, Illinois (outside of Chicago).

Above, Shusuke Kaneko receiving the 2019 "Mangled Skyscraper Award" at G-FEST XXVI. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I actually did think he was a few years older than me, but he's actually almost a year and a half younger.

Well, a big Happy Birthday to Kaneko-san!

Fukuoka Travel Tips

Above, Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is fast becoming a popular travel destination. I paid it a visit back in 2007 after an all-day shinkansen ride from Tokyo and after visiting other places in Kyushu first.

Kaiju fans are familiar with Fukuoka as it was used in Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (1994) and in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). The most prominent landmarks of Fukuoka used in those movies were Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome (now called the Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome).

Japan Visitor has some tips for places to see while in Fukuoka.

They begin with:

Fukuoka is gaining a reputation as an alternative city in Japan to visit due to its relaxed atmosphere. It is the crown jewel of the Kyushu area and both a cultural and commercial hub. 

Fukuoka has a wide variety of choices in terms of places to to visit and things to do. Though a large, modern city it still retains its charm and cultural heritage. As a result the city is fast becoming popular with tourists from around the world. 

Here are some highlights visitors to Fukuoka can enjoy.

To read more, go here. 

Accommodation Options Near Mount Fuji

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mount Fuji was the "location" used in a number of kaiju movies over the years. They include King Kong vs. Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters and Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe. It is also a popular destination for visitors and there are several kinds of accommodations available for a stay near Japan's iconic peak.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on what's available.

They begin with:

Whether you’re climbing it or just admiring the iconic mountain from a distance, Fuji-san is well worth a trip from Tokyo. If you want to stay nearby, we have more than a few suggestions for accommodation near Mount Fuji. 

Unsurprisingly, your options for accommodation near Mount Fuji include plenty of hotels, hostels and traditional Japanese ryokans (inns) to bed down in for the night, with a few even perched on its slopes. Whether you’re looking to view the mountain and then explore Kawaguchiko, or just stare lovingly at the peak from an onsen (hot spring), you’re sure to find something that suits your budget. Combine this with excellent transport options from Tokyo and our hiking guide with all you need to know, and you’re set to go!

To read more, go here. 

The Power of Fukuoka Tower

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla fans are familiar with a tall structure that was prominently featured in the 1994 Toho feature film, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla.

That structure was Fukuoka Tower.

Australia's Gold Coast Bulletin has an interesting article on Fukuoka Tower.

They begin with:

DOMINATING the shore line of the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka is the impressive mirrored Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside structure in the country. 

Fukuoka is on the island of Kyushu and is actually closer to Seoul than Tokyo. 

The city has a population of 1.42 million and opens out onto the Sea of Genkai which features many islands and clean beaches. 

The best way to take it all in is from the Tower’s observation deck, 123m above sea level. 

Going up in the glass elevator, you realise that all that shimmers on the outside is not what it seems with the structure mostly hollow inside of the 8000 mirrored panels. 

The Fukuoka Tower’s main purpose is to serve as television broadcast facility with an overall height of 234m.

In 2007, I took a whirlwind trip to Kyushu and visited Fukuoka. One of the places I visited while there was Fukuoka Tower, which is also within easy walking distance from Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, which was featured in Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

Above, a view from Fukuoka Tower's observation level. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is spotlighted on page 45 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more about Fukuoka Tower, go here.

Gamera's 50th Feted At Tokyo International Film Festival

Above, a shot from Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe. 

The Tokyo International Film Festival is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Gamera.

According to the Tokyo Reporter:

TOKYO (TR) – A special event held on Saturday in conjunction with the Tokyo International Film Festival paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of one of Japan’s rubber-suit legends: Gamera. 

Before a few hundred spectators, the turtle-like creature waddled down a red carpet laid down in front of JR Shinjuku Station. A veteran of 12 films, the star was showing his age, requiring some assistance from TIFF staff at certain points to navigate the rug.

The film festival will be screening four Gamera movies, including all three of the Shusuke Kaneko-directed Gamera movies of the 1990s.

To read more, go here. 

Fukuoka's Seaside Momochi

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is an area in Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu that attracted both Godzilla and Gamera during the 1990s.

It just so happens that Gaijinpot.com has an article on this section of Fukuoka. It is "Fukuoka's Seaside Momochi."

Within Seaside Momochi are Fukuoka Tower, featured in 1994's Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla and the Yafouku! Dome in 1995's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.

The Gaijinpot.com article begins with:

People that come to Fukuoka tend to focus on Tenjin and Hakata. This is understandable because these two areas are very much the heart of the city; you can shop till you drop, see all of Fukuoka’s most famous temples and try all of its best food in these areas. 

It surprised me then, when a friend of mine came to visit last week and said, “Lets skip Hakata and head to Momochi instead!” Seaside Momochi (シーサイドももち) to give it its proper name is an area created in 1989 from reclaimed land along Hakata Bay in the north of the city. It’s an incredibly attractive part of Fukuoka with wide streets lined with trees, no phone or electricity lines above ground and plenty of interesting architecture to gaze at whilst you walk.

I visited Seaside Momochi during my trip to Kyushu in 2007. I took a special bus from Fukuoka's Hakata Station to get there.

Above, the Yafouku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kaiju fans can see the aforementioned two monster movie locales very easily as the Yafouku! Dome and Fukuoka Tower are within easy walking distance.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan spotlights Fukuoka on page 45.

To read more on Seaside Momochi, go here.

50 Things To Do In Fukuoka

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is well-known to kaiju fans for being featured in three prominent monster movies over the years. The first being Rodan (1956).

Then, the city was featured in two movies in the 1990s: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) and Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

Fukuoka is located on the island of Kyushu, which is about an 8-hour ride on the shinkansen from Tokyo. Flights to Fukuoka can be taken from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. I visited Fukuoka in 2007. I took the shinkansen to get there.

Besides being centers of action in the aforementioned monster movies, there are other things to see in do in Fukuoka. Since we're nearing vacation season, now's the time to start planning for your trip.

Above, Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of 50 things to do in Fukuoka. Two of the items on the list, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, were featured in two of the movies mentioned above.

Before getting to the list, they wrote:

Don't know what to do in Fukuoka? These spots and activities were recommended by people from Fukuoka themselves, so try to see and do as much of them as you can!

Fukuoka's monster attractions are featured in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 45.

To see what the other 48 items are on the list, go here.

Fukuoka Walking Tours

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is known to kaiju fans as being featured in Rodan (1956), Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994).

Landmarks used in those movies include Hakata Bay, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafouku! Dome.

Gaijinpot.com has posted an interesting article on places to see in Fukuoka by just taking a walking tour or two. Although the locations used in the aforementioned kaiju movies aren't part of the walking tours, there are other things to see and enjoy.

They begin the article with:

All around Japan people are starting to venture out after a long, grueling winter tucked into their kotatsu. Spring is on its way, and heading outside to have fun is finally a real possibility. Soon it will be time to pack a picnic, pick up some friends and head for the nearest cherry blossom tree for a Hanami party. 

There are plenty of alternatives to Hanami viewings though. Spring is also the perfect time to explore a new place on foot, and there is nowhere better suited for a walking tour than Fukuoka city. Other Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka are just too big to walk around, but Fukuoka offers you the chance to see everything that the city has to offer, simply by walking through its streets (as long as you pick the right ones!).

To read more to find out what you can see during a walking tour of Fukuoka, go here. 

Visit Tokyo Tower

Above, a view of Tokyo Tower from its base. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since its opening, attention has been focused on the Tokyo Skytree, but tourists shouldn't ignore Tokyo's older and shorter tower, Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo Tower will always hold a special place in the hearts of kaiju fans as it was featured (and demolished) in several monster movies since 1961.

It was first featured in Mothra (1961) and went on to be a landmark used in such movies as King Kong Escapes (1967), Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla, Mothra and Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003).

Because of its many appearances in Japanese monster movies, Tokyo Tower is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 30.

Goin' Japanesque has posted an article on what visitors can expect to see and do at Tokyo Tower. It also include some of the "trinkets" visitors can buy there.

To view the article (and photographs), go here.

Tourism Impacted By Mount Aso Eruptions

Source: Google Maps.

Outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kyushu has the largest concentration of kaiju-related locations and landmarks.

They include:

• Fukuoka (featured in Rodan, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla and Gamera: Guardian of the Universe)
• Sasebo (featured in Rodan)
• Mount Aso (featured in Rodan)

Of these places, Mount Aso is currently somewhat off-limits due to a magmatic eruption of the volcano on November 25. There is currently a no-entry alert within 1 kilometer of the crater. But some local businesses are trying to find ways of getting around this.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--Although the continuing eruption of Mount Aso is hurting tourism, including the cancellation of accommodations in the surrounding area, local businesses are trying to lure visitors back, even promoting the view of the smoking mountain.

The volcano is still continuing to spew smoke. This is causing financial hardship for businesses who rely on tourists.

Mount Aso is spotlighted on page 45 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more, go here.

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome Renamed Again Last Year

Above, the Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 1995, the Fukuoka Dome was used in Gamera, The Guardian of the Universe to try to trap three maneating Gyaos birds.

The Fukuoka Dome opened on April 2, 1993.  It was renamed the "Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome" on February 2, 2005 when Yahoo Japan purchased the rights.

In January 2013, it was again renamed the "Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome" to promote the Yahoo! auctions website in Japan. It's part of the Hawks Town commercial complex that contains a hotel and shopping mall in addition to the stadium.

Looks like I will have to change another thing in the revised edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

July Off To A Great Start

Above, the Fukuoka Yahoo Dome that was featured in Gamera: The Guardian of the
Universe (1995). The ebook will tell you how to get there to see it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

July is starting out great, insofar as the Amazon Kindle ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is concerned.

It was in the top 100 in three categories yesterday at Amazon.

#16 in the Kindle Store's Best Sellers in Japanese Travel

#55 in Books Best Sellers in General Japan Travel Guides

#64 in the Kindle Store's Best Sellers in Two-Hour Travel Short Reads

To access The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at the Amazon Kindle Store, go here.

Bleeding Cool Looks At The Gamera Trilogy of the 1990s

Above, Sendai Station is featured (and blown up by a Legion flower pod) in Gamera 2. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ten more days from now, the new Godzilla epic will be unleashed on theaters across the United States (some lucky countries will have it in theaters a day earlier).

In the meantime, Bleeding Cool takes a look back at Japan's other big-name kaiju, Gamera. They focus in on the "Heisei Trilogy" of movies produced in the 1990s by Daiei and directed by Shusuke Kaneko.

They begin with:

For the fans and pop culture watchers who like to watch these things, the new Godzilla movie is eagerly-awaited, and the studios are taking advantage of this interest by releasing the older movies on remastered Blu-Ray, including the darker, more series movies from the 1990′s. 

There is, however, another Dai Kaiju series that deserves attention, and that is the Gamera Trilogy from the 1990′s. These movies are considered by fans of the genre to be the ones the new Godzilla movie has to beat.

The article has one interesting line:

 What Alan Moore did for Swamp Thing, this trilogy of movies did for a giant flying turtle.

Of the three Shusuke-directed Gamera movies, my favorite is Gamera 2: Advent of Legion. It has plenty of monster action with great special effects by Shinji Higuchi and topped off with an interesting and compelling story.

Above, the tickets to the April 29, 2006 Gamera The Brave premiere in Tokyo.

The article leaves out 2006's Gamera The Brave (also known as Gamera, The Little Braves). It is not part of the Heisei Trilogy and is (at least so far) a stand-alone film. It is a lot better (as a film) than most of the Showa Gamera movies. I attended the 2006 premiere of Gamera The Brave in Tokyo.

To read the full article, go here.

10 Things To Do In Fukuoka

Above, the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu, is best-known as a battleground in Rodan (1956), Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994). Of the three, fans can visit the easily recognizable Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, featured in the Gamera movie, and Fukuoka Tower in the Godzilla movie. They are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 45.

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, Fukuoka has other places to visit and Time Out Tokyo has a new post on "10 Things To Do In Fukuoka."

They start it off with:

If Tokyo is the friend who rushes you between sights and social engagements to a turbo timetable, Fukuoka is the relaxed southern cousin who sits you in a sunny spot, pours you a beer and tops it up as you chat. Kyushu’s largest city is often overlooked on tourist itineraries, yet is beloved by its residents, who clearly know how to unwind – it has the second highest number of bars, cabarets and clubs in Japan after Tokyo. Whilst crowds gather for big festivals like the Hakata Dontaku parade in May and to see towering floats raced at dawn at the Gion Yamakasa in July, Fukuoka remains down to party all year round. 

Time Out Tokyo is correct in their description of Fukuoka as "the relaxed southern cousin." I visited Fukuoka in 2007 and found it quite laid-back in comparison to the more frenetic pace of Tokyo.

Above, a view of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article states that the fastest shinkansen to Fukuoka from Tokyo will get you there in about five hours. When I went, the only real "delay" was a change of trains in Shin-Osaka. Other than that, it is a pleasant ride with nice views of the Japanese countryside along the way.

To see what 10 things Time Out Tokyo recommends, go here.

Seeing Kyushu By Train

Above, waiting to board the train to Sasebo City at Kumamoto Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Probably the best trip to Japan I've made was the 2007 trip. On that one, I headed down to Kyushu to see Mount Aso (I didn't get to see very much of it as a blizzard was in progress at the time, but still worth the experience), Sasebo City and the nearby Saikai Bridge and Hario Wireless Towers, Nagasaki and Fukuoka. It was pretty much "the Rodan trip" as the places visited were featured in the 1956 movie, Rodan. But, to be fair, I also saw some locations featured in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994).

All of these are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The U.K.'s Guardian has posted a nice travelogue article of a family's five-day rail journey in Kyushu. I have to agree, the scenery of Kyushu was great to see by train, especially along the Ariake Sea.

Here's a snippet from the article:

My wife Yuko, Roka and I were about to embark on a five-day rail journey around Kyushu, the third largest of the country's main islands, using the "limited express" trains – of which the Sonic was one – and the hi-tech, high-speed shinkansen (bullet train) system. The first thing that attracted us to the idea of travelling around Kyushu by rail was the ridiculously cheap passes only available to overseas visitors – a five-day pass for the island costs just over £100, nine times cheaper than a single day on the new, much-heralded Kyushu Seven Stars luxury train, which costs from £980 per person for a two-day/one-night train "cruise".

With the JR Rail Pass, the train rides in Kyushu was "ridiculously cheap."

To read the article, go here. 

JapanVisitor Guide To Fukuoka City

Above, a view of Fukuoka City from the observation floor of Fukuoka Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wishing to visit Fukuoka in Kyushu to see the Fukuoka Tower, featured in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994), and the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, featured in Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995), JapanVisitor has posted a guide to things to see and do in the city.

Both of those sites have been spotlighted by yours truly, most recently at JapanTourist and in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To see the JapanVisitor guide to Fukuoka, go here. 

Tokyo Tower Will Still Be There To Visit

Above, a view of Odaiba and Tokyo Bay from Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If anyone had fears that Tokyo Tower would be demolished anytime soon, those fears were definitely put to rest when it was announced this week that it would be used as a backup transmission tower should something unforeseen happens to the new Skytree.

Above, Tokyo Tower as seen from the Sumida River.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

After more than 50 years on the job, Tokyo Tower handed over its main broadcasting duties to Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest free-standing structure, at 9 a.m. on May 31. 

Tokyo Tower, which transmitted television and radio signals for Japan's public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) as well as five private broadcasters, will now be utilized as a backup broadcasting tower.

Above, a street view of Tokyo Tower in
the distance.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Tower will still be a major tourist draw for travelers in Tokyo even though it is now dwarfed in height by the new Skytree. I've visited Tokyo Tower several times and it has a number of things to see besides the two observation decks.

Tokyo Tower has a number of gift shops, an aquarium, a food court, a wax museum, Lovespo runners salon, Noppon's Magical Dungeon and Mysterious Art Exhibition (Trick Art Collection).  So there's plenty to see and do at Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo Tower has also played a role in kaiju history as it appeared in several daikaiju eiga epics including Mothra, Gamera: The Guardian of The Universe, King Kong Escapes and Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.  It is also spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The official website for Tokyo Tower is here. Be sure to check out the two videos on the main page.

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome At JapanTourist

Above, Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

JapanTourist has approved and posted the latest article on monster movie locations: Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome.

To view it, go here.