Yesterday

Above, the left front tire blew out yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was the 32nd anniversary of my 39th birthday. 

It is a weird feeling that I am now at the same age my dad was when he passed away 25 years ago. 

It was a good birthday, but it could have been better. 

First off, on the way home from the Flying J's Denny's restaurant where we had our usual Tuesday coffee gathering, the left front tire on the Jeep blew out. Now I have to deal with that. I have to go into Gallup and pay a deposit for a replacement tire (Cooper Discoverer). When the dealer gets it in, I'll have to bring the wheel into town for it to be mounted on the rim. It was a couple of blocks from home when it happened, so I managed to get the Jeep into the garage. 

Above, Richard Pusateri at the Big Pool at Toho Studios in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, in the afternoon, I learned that Richard Pusateri, one of the gang of kaiju enthusiasts (formerly from L.A.), passed away after a 2-3 year battle with cancer. Richard was the one who coined the name "GINO" (Godzilla In Name Only) for the Tri-Star Godzilla of 1998. We met at G-FEST 1999 in Burbank. We went to the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival and toured Toho Studios with Koichi Kawakita and Shogo Tomiyama. We attended many screenings in Hollywood and at the American Film Market in Santa Monica. Some used to refer to us as the "Mario Brothers". He will be missed. 

As we get older, it seems that more often life throws curve balls at us. 

"Godzilla Minus One" Blu-ray Arrived

The Blu-ray of Godzilla Minus One arrived in today's mail. I didn't expect it until Friday, but I'm not complaining.

It is a two-disc set with the movie in one disc and special features in the other.

I have watched some of the special features. The first one was the behind-the-scenes making of the movie. It was interesting to watch thanks to the director (our old friend Yoshikazu Ishii). Other features include: Commemorative Special Feature: Godzilla Minus One - No. 30, VFX Behind The Scenes, Event Video Collection, Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Red Carpet, Event Video Collection, Academy Awards Winner Additional Screening Trailer and Takashi Yamazaki Selection Talk Shows. Definitely lots of interesting stuff!

Above, Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii and yours truly in Tokyo
 in 2014. Ishii-san directed the Behind the Scenes special feature.

I will watch the movie over dinner tonight.

How 9/11 Changed Air Travel

Above, Godzilla at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One week from today, it will be 20 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.

As the attacks were carried out by using airline planes as weapons, drastic security changes at the nation's airports were implemented and they are still with us today.

My first trip to Japan was a month later in late October 2001. At that time, the airports had National Guard soldiers stationed in the terminals. My mom told me that travelers had to be at the airport four hours before boarding. Well, that was unnecessary, as it turned out. So I spent over three hours in the United Airlines terminal at LAX bored stiff. LAX was almost like a ghost town in the terminal.

At least the rest of the trip went well (even despite getting a 24-hour flu bug while there) and I attended the Tokyo International Film Festival's premiere screening of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.

Japan Today posted an article on how 9/11 changed air travel and how we have more security and less privacy.

They start it with:

DALLAS - Ask anyone old enough to remember travel before Sept 11, 2001, and you're likely to get a gauzy recollection of what flying was like.

There was security screening, but it wasn’t anywhere near as intrusive. There were no long checkpoint lines. Passengers and their families could walk right to the gate together, postponing goodbye hugs until the last possible moment. Overall, an airport experience meant far less stress.

That all ended when four hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

The worst terror attack on American soil led to increased and sometimes tension-filled security measures in airports across the world, aimed at preventing a repeat of that awful day. The cataclysm has also contributed to other changes large and small that have reshaped the airline industry — and, for consumers, made air travel more stressful than ever.

Two months after the attacks, President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Transportation Security Administration, a force of federal airport screeners that replaced the private companies that airlines were hiring to handle security. The law required that all checked bags be screened, cockpit doors be reinforced, and more federal air marshals be put on flights.

There has not been another 9/11. Nothing even close. But after that day, flying changed forever.

To read more, go here. 

Remembering Haruo Nakajima Three Years Later

Above, Haruo Nakajima poses with the Godzilla suit during filming of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster. Toho Pictures photo.

Have you ever noticed that after someone dies, be it a friend, family member or just and acquaintance, time seems to accelerate? It doesn't really, but it seems that it does.

Incredibly as it seems, today marks three years since the passing of Haruo Nakajima, the Godzilla suit actor from the original 1954 movie to Godzilla vs. Gigan, at age 88.

Above, Richard Pusateri, Haruo Nakajima and Armand Vaquer at the 2001
Tokyo International Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

I first met Mr. Nakajima back in 2000 at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. I next saw him at the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival.

Above, Armand Vaquer and Haruo Nakajima at the 2013 Mad Monster Party. Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Mr. Nakajima passed away from complications of pneumonia in Japan on August 7, 2017. His daughter, Sonoe, was honored last year at G-FEST for her devoted assistance to her father during his many convention appearances over the years.

If you can spare a moment, it would be a nice gesture to raise a glass in a toast to honor Haruo Nakajima.

2001 Tokyo International Film Festival

Above, my souvenir ticket.

The friendly folks at Facebook reminded me that it was 16 years ago today that I attended the screening of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival.

Above, I am joined by Richard Pusateri (left) and Haruo Nakajima after the screening. Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

The screening was held in Shibuya at the Bunkamura's Orchard Hall.

During the screening, Godzilla, director Shusuke Kaneko, producer Shogo Tomiyama and some of GMK's stars came out onstage.

Above, Godzilla appeared onstage during the Tokyo Film Festival screening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To attend the film festival, I made my first trip to Japan. It came almost two months after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Los Angeles International Airport had military personnel stationed in the terminals.

Above, dinner at the Nakano Broadway. Photo by Tom Dougherty.

Following the screening, several of us (including Heisei Godzilla Kenpachiro Satsuma) went to a dinner party at a Chinese restaurant at the Nakano Broadway shopping complex.

Remembering Haruo Nakajima

Above, yours truly with Haruo Nakajima at G-FEST 2000. I later had him autograph the photo.

The news that the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima has passed away today at age 88 is just devastating.

I first met him in 2000 at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. I got to see first hand how he enjoyed interacting with his fans. He enjoyed being with them as much as they enjoyed being with him.

A year later, at the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival, I met up with him following the movie's screening. Richard Pusateri and I had a photo taken with him.

Above, at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival with Richard Pusateri. Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

I next saw him at the 2008 G-FEST in Chicago. In fact, I went to O'Hare International Airport to pick him up. It was at this convention that Nakajima was awarded the Mangled Skyscraper Award for his movie work.

Above, Armand with Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima in their suite at G-FEST in 2008.

Above, Sonoe and Haruo Nakajima at the 2008 G-FEST awards banquet. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima during his panel discussion at G-FEST. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with his Mangled Skyscraper Award. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima and Armand.

At the first Monsterpalooza in Burbank following the Great East Japan Earthquake, I ran into him with Miki Hayashi. The proceeds received for his autograph went to earthquake relief.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with Miki at the 2011 Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2013, I served has his "wrangler" at the Mad Monster Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the show, we sat together in the dealers room where he signed autographs and I sold copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. I also moderated a discussion with him and "acted" in a spoof monster video where I was fleeing a giant monster attack and tried to tell him to also flee, but he was too interested in reading his newspaper.

The following photos are from the 2013 Mad Monster Party:

Above, Nakajima signs a fan's poster. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Nakajima with a signed photo for Tony Isabella. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly "acting" with Haruo Nakajima.

Above, Nakajima with a costumed fan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with actress Lea Thompson. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Haruo Nakajima and I. Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, the panel discussion. Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, "Team Nakajima": Yoko Connelly, Sonoe and Haruo Nakajima, Jeff Blanken and Armand Vaquer.

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. 

Remembering Tom Dougherty

Above, Christmas Day 2010 in Ginza with (from left) Kenji Sahara, Hiroshi Koizumi
Diane Dougherty, Tom Dougherty and Akira Takarada. Photo courtesy of Clawmark Toys.

In any fandom, there are the good guys and there are the not-so-good guys (for various reasons). In the case of Tom Dougherty of Clawmark Toys, he was definitely one of the good guys.

I learned this evening from Loren Portillo's posting at Facebook that Tom passed away.

About two or three years ago, I contacted Tom about sponsoring a Godzilla celebrity for an appearance at an upcoming Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles. Tom replied that he was unable to do anything at the time. He said he was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS).

This came as a big shock as Tom was one of the most enthusiastic and active Godzilla and kaiju toy dealers around. Not long before, Tom sent me several photos of an event held in Ginza by the Godzilla Fan Club that he and Diane attended to post on this blog that featured Godzilla actors Kenji Sahara, Hiroshi Koizumi and Akira Takarada. Tom looked like his usual enthusiastic self in one of the photos (it is posted above).

With the news that Tom gave me, I knew then that it was a matter of time when the neuro-degenerative disease would eventually claim his life. So when Loren Portillo posted the news on Tom's passing, I was not too surprised. But it was tough news nonetheless.

He and his wife Diane lived in Japan (off and on) and he would regale us at G-FEST with stories of their roadtrips around Japan in their search for toys to sell though their Clawmark Toys business.

I probably first met Tom at a G-FEST convention around 1999 or 2000. We had a great time in Japan in 2001 when Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Following the movie, several of us (we must have had a group of 30), including Tom and Diane, then headed to Nakano for a dinner party at a Chinese restaurant at the Broadway Mall. The dinner party included Kenpachiro Satsuma (the Heisei Godzilla), among others. It was a night that I, for one, have never forgotten.

Tom's Clawmark Toys was one of the best dealers in Godzilla/kaiju toys and other collectibles. He was fair in his pricing and one can always rely on fast delivery from Clawmark.

His presence at fan events will be greatly missed. A big void has been left behind by his passing.

My condolences go out to his wife Diane and the Dougherty family.

Listverse's "Ten Colossal Facts About Godzilla"

Above, Godzilla makes an appearance at the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Listverse.com posted an article titled, "10 Colossal Facts About Godzilla" by Mike Devlin.

It begins with:

The star of dozens of movies, cartoons, and comics, Godzilla is a pop culture phenomenon beloved the world over. He was even a favorite of demented North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, who kidnapped a film director to make his own version. But that’s not the only interesting fact about the King of All Monsters.

The article then goes into the ten facts about Godzilla. Are Devlin's facts correct?

To check it out, go here.

Bunkamura Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Above, the Bunkamura in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2014 marks the 25th anniversary of Shibuya, Tokyo's Bunkamura cultural complex.

Back in 2001, I attended the premiere screening of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack in the Bunkamura's Orchard Hall. The screening was part of the 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival.

Above, Godzilla is flanked by Toho Executive Producer Shogo Tomiyama (far left),
director Shusuke Kaneko (far right) and several stars of Godzilla, Mothra and
King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack in Orchard Hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the official website:

Bunkamura was established in 1989 as the first large-scale cultural complex in Japan. Since its opening, Bunkamura’s creative space, comprising a concert hall (music), theatre (performance), museum (art), and cinema (film), as well as a café and art-related shops, has always drawn attention as a base for introducing new cultural pursuits. Bunkamura attracts 2.8 million visitors annually and is a popular spot in Shibuya where people can enjoy a range of cultural and artistic experiences in a relaxed atmosphere.

 To view the Bunkamura's website (in English), go here.

IBT: Surprise! You Can Now Do Tokyo On The Cheap Thanks To 'Abenomics'

Above, Tokyo's Akihabara "electric town."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past several months (give or take), I have been discussing how the devaluation of the Japanese yen would bring more tourists to the country.

Sure enough, when the dollar (and other foreign currencies) began to buy more yen in foreign exchange, the Japanese tourism industry began to take off.

Connor Adams Streets (gotta love that name) wrote an article in the International Business Times on how "Abenomics" has benefited the Japanese economy and is bringing foreign tourists back to Japan.

He begins with:

TOKYO -- Japan’s neon capital has long been known to frugal travelers as an inaccessible destination, one of the most expensive cities in the world, a shining beacon of seaside modernity with futuristic prices to match. 

But the country’s recent economic revival has allowed the Tokyo economy to come back to Earth as new Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s “Abenomics” reforms have devalued the yen, allowing visitors of meager means to enjoy the city without breaking the bank.

There are some parts of the article I have some disagreement with.  For example, I have never had to pay "$300-plus" for a standard room.  Naturally, if one decides to stay at a five-star hotel, they will pay through the nose. My first trip to Japan back in 2001 had me paying around $54/night at a Tokyo ryokan (Japanese inn) in the Shibuya district as it was reasonable in price and in good proximity to the Tokyo International Film Festival that I was attending. Japan was and is no different than the United States. Bargains can be found if one bothers to take the time to shop around.

I also have to disagree with a (quoted) Japanese businessman who said is was tough for Americans coming to Tokyo ten years ago.  At the time of my first visit, the dollar bought around ¥122 in exchange.

Still, things have greatly improved as the dollar is now fetching around ¥100.  This is a lot better than the ¥77 it bought in exchange back in January 2012.

Despite those quibbles, it is a good article that will give you an idea how much cheaper it is to visit Japan and, most importantly to them, spend!

To read the full article, go here.

Godzilla Suits & Props

Above, a "GMK" Godzilla filming suit on display at the Shibuya
HMV store in November 2001.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I managed to see a lot of movie history in the U.S. and in Japan.

In November 2001, I made my first visit to Japan and was treated to a V.I.P. look at Toho Studios.  I was lucky to be able to see the studio as it pretty much was when Ishiro Honda, Eiji Tsuburaya and Tomoyuki Tanaka were in their heyday.

After Godzilla Final Wars (2004), the studio lot underwent a major change.  Several of the old sound stages were torn down (including Stages 1 and 2, where much of Godzilla's battles were shot) as well as the giant pool and other buildings.  New sound stages were built as well as a new front entrance to the studio.  While it is understandable that a studio would want to modernize to keep up-to-date with modern movie-making, it is sad to see historic structures go the way of the wrecking ball. The historical value of a studio visit is lost when those old structures were demolished. I'm glad I got to see them before the ball swung.

I was perusing my photo collection and thought that I should post some of Godzilla suits and props that I have seen. Enjoy!

Above, the green-hued Godzilla filming suit from
"Godzilla x Megaguirus." Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

Above, Armand and Richard Pusateri with a "GMK" Godzilla  prop.
The Mothra prop sits nearby on a shelf.  Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

Above, one of the "GMK" Godzilla filming suits on display at the
Shibuya HMV store in November 2001.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Baragon filming suit getting ready to pounce on the "GMK"
Godzilla filming suit at the Shibuya HMV store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a "GMK" Godzilla event suit entertains the crowd at the
2001 Tokyo International Film Festival.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a close-up of a Godzilla prop used in "Godzilla x Megaguirus"
at the Bandai Museum in 2005.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the press gets blasted by "atomic breath" sprayed from a "Godzilla
Final Wars" event suit in Hollywood in 2004.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Richard Pusateri surveys the giant pool at
Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Godzilla x Megaguirus: G Annihilation Strategy" Movie Book

Above, the cover.

In January 2001, Japanese publisher Shogakukan published their TV-kun photo book on the 2000 Toho feature, Godzilla x Megaguirus: G Annihilation Strategy (ISBN 4-09-101475-5).

The movie premiered in Japan on November 3, 2000 at the Tokyo International Film Festival.  Its initial release was on December 16, 2000.  It was directed by Masaaki Tezuka.

Above, the photo of the "Godzilla Week" ceremony that appeared
in the "Godzilla x Megaguirus" Shogakukan movie book.

Shogakukan has a history of publishing high-quality photo books that are loaded with rare photos from the movies and production stills.  This one was no exception.  It contains photos of props, monster suits, wardrobe, miniatures and statistics, besides scenes from the movie.

Above, the "Godzilla Week" proclamation
scroll by the Board of Supervisors.

One item of interest (at least to me) included in the book was a group photo of the "Godzilla Week" ceremony that was held in July 2000 at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.  The ceremony was held at the Board of Supervisors meeting and a proclamation declaring "Godzilla Week" was sponsored by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and signed by all the Board members.  The idea for the ceremony was to draw media attention to G-FEST 2000 (to be held that week in Hollywood) and the opening of Godzilla 2000 the following month.  Toho even shipped over an event suit for the occasion, but Jaime Geller of Sony/Tri-Star Pictures nixed the appearance with the flimsy excuse that Sony/Tri-Star had the "publicity rights" to Godzilla 2000 and the suit "detracted from the grandeur of Godzilla."  It was more likely that she wanted to control this fan-generated event with the usual "Hollywood knows best" attitude. As it turned out, Sony/Tri-Star was conspicuously absent from the ceremony.  They sent no representatives.  Thankfully, we had the full support of Toho's Los Angeles office.

Once fans learned of the "sabotage" of the event due to the cancellation of the suit's appearance (we went ahead with the ceremony anyway), the "fit hit the shan."  Fans raised holy hell with many irate emails directed to Sony/Tri-Star.  Had the suit been allowed to appear, it may have helped a little with the boxoffice take of Godzilla 2000 (it earned a measly $10 million) as people would have been able to see the new Godzilla "Millennium" design up close for the first time.  Sony's saving grace was that they provided hundreds of Godzilla 2000 cloisonne promo pins and mini-posters to hand out at the event and at G-FEST.

Above, my autographed group photo of the "Godzilla Week" ceremony.  Photo courtesy of
the office of Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

The Godzilla x Megaguirus: G Annihilation Strategy book is currently out-of-print, but it can still be found at eBay and some Japanese online bookseller websites.  At the time of publication, I bought two of them (one for myself and one as a "thank-you" gift to Supervisor Antonovich).  It is amazing that over 12 years have passed since "Godzilla Week" and the publication of the movie book.

Tokyo International Film Fest Turns 25

Above, Godzilla entertains TIFF attendees in 2001.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year the Tokyo International Film Festival hits the "ripe old age" of 25.

The Japan Times took note of the anniversary.  They wrote:

This year, Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrates its 25th edition and will hold commemorative programs, including a three-day screening of six Japanese films from the Showa Era (1926-89) in the very Showa-esque district of Nihonbashi. 

The origins of the film festival go back to the years immediately following World War II. "People wanted to celebrate peace, to bask in its glow and steep their minds in the greatest escape hatch known to mankind — the cinema." Famed director Akira Kurosawa said that in 1994, and it's an admirable description of a film festival's function.

My first trip to Japan (in 2001) was to attend the Tokyo International Film Festival's premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, that was directed by Shusuke Kaneko.  I was invited to the festival by Toho Co., Ltd. and I covered it for G-Fan. 

It was fun event and the after-party at a Nakano Chinese restaurant was also a lot of fun (including the wild ride in a taxi zig-zagging through rainy streets of Tokyo get there). 

This year's TIFF takes place takes place Oct. 20-28 at various locations. For more information on films, schedules and ticket prices, visit 2012.tiff-jp.net .

To read the full Japan Times article, go here.

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day is called the "unofficial end of summer."  School will be starting soon (if it hasn't already in some areas).

Rather than post some Labor Day-related photos with this, here's some Godzilla photos instead:

Above, Koriyama Museum in 2004.

Above, the Gira-Goji suit at Toho Studios, 2001.  Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

Above, Gira-Goji prop at Bandai Museum, 2005.

Above, GMK Godzilla suit at Shibuya HMV store, 2001.

Above, GMK Godzilla event suit at 2001 Tokyo International Film Festival.

Above, (left to right) Shogo Tomiyama, Armand, Richard Pusateri and Koichi Kawakita at Toho Studios, 2001.  Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.