Haruo Nakajima Mad Monster Party Panel Highlights

Above, Haruo Nakajima discusses his career as a monster suit-actor.
Photo by Jeff Blanken.

It has been a week since I got back to Los Angeles from the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina.  It was a big show with plenty of people attending and having a grand time.  Fortunately, the venue that held the convention, the Blake Hotel, was more than adequate to handle the hordes of monster fans.

On Sunday, March 24, the last day of the show, the panel discussion with Haruo "Mr. Godzilla" Nakajima was held with yours truly moderating.  The ballroom was huge and the panel was well-attended with about 75% of the seats occupied.

Along with Haruo Nakajima and myself, we also had daughter Sonoe Nakajima and translator Yoko Connelly.  Sonoe assisted Yoko whenever she needed help in some of the kaiju names and other aspects of the movies she was unfamiliar with.

Prior to the panel, we went over the general points of the panel that I planned to cover.  Naturally, once the panel started, with very little prodding, Mr. Nakajima ran with the discussion.

Earlier in the morning, we tested the audio and video equipment in the ballroom.  The audio equipment worked fine (with Akira Ifukube's Godzilla tracks playing) as did the video equipment (at least during the test it did) to project stills.  When we had the panel discussion, the video equipment became uncooperative at times.

Above, the Haruo Nakajima panel.  From left, Armand Vaquer, Haruo Nakajima,
Yoko Connelly and Sonoe Nakajima.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Some of the highlights of the discussion were:

• Katsumi Tezuka and he were both chosen to play Godzilla in the 1954 original.  But Nakajima (age 25 at the time) had better endurance than Tezuka.  Tezuka could only last for about five meters in the suit before collapsing.  Nakajijma could go on to ten meters.  He said, "Strong is better than weak."

• Katsumi Tezuka went on to play Anguirus in the first sequel to Godzilla, Godzilla's Counter-Attack (or Godzilla Raids Again or Gigantis, The Fire Monster) in 1955, according to Nakajima.

• Fighting King Ghidorah was difficult as the heads and wings were all manipulated by wires (with a man inside the suit) making it seem to Nakajima that he was fighting a machine.  He would run at Ghidorah and bounce off as if hitting a wall.

• Nagoya Castle was accidentally demolished by a crew member and had to be rebuilt at a cost of $5,000 and a month's delay while filming Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964).

• Nakajima also said that the Godzilla suit did not get its head damaged during filming of Mothra vs. Godzilla (even though the upper jaw was jiggly during filming).  He said that was just a rumor originating from Godzilla fandom.

• He confirmed that he fell eight feet in the Rodan suit during filming of Rodan in 1956 when wires holding him snapped.  Fortunately, he was unhurt.

• He was so skillful in his suit performances that Toho had him choreograph the monster fights.  He pretty much had free reign while doing so.

• Before Toho went with smaller, mechanized Mothra caterpillars, he and several others were inside the caterpillar suit in Mothra (1961).  He was the lead person inside (at the head).  

• He was invited to act in Hollywood but had to turn down the offer as he was needed to make the next feature, King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962).

Nakajima took some questions from the audience (we were scheduled for an hour in the room, but we went a little beyond that to take a few audience questions).  Here's a couple:

• One of the questioners asked his opinion on Hollywood's Godzilla efforts.  He said he hoped that the Legendary Pictures Godzilla (now filming in Vancouver, British Columbia) looks and acts like Godzilla.

• He was also asked what was it like to work for director Akira Kurosawa.  Nakajima said that whether one was a movie's star or just an extra, if Kurosawa didn't like his performance or felt that person didn't take the role seriously, he would tell him to "go home, I don't need you."  Then he would re-cast the role.

At the end of the panel, Nakajima received an appreciative standing-ovation by the attendees.

Fox Charlotte has a cool photo gallery.  To see it, go here.

Haruo Nakajima At Mad Monster Party

Our "stiff" volunteer Jeff Blanken sent these shots from Mad Monster Party:

Above, Haruo Nakajima takes the wheel of the time machine DeLorean with translator Yoko Connelly (left)
and Sonoe Nakajima (right) at the "Back To The Future" display.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, Haruo Nakajima meets Godzilla.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, the Nakajima panel session.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

The Nakajima Panel Pics

Well, I finally made it home from the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina this evening.

The Flyaway bus ride from the airport to the San Fernando Valley was more tiring than the flights as we were in rush-hour traffic.  I'm glad I wasn't driving.

Thanks to our volunteer "stiff" Jeff Blanken, more photos of the panel session with Haruo Nakajima are available for viewing:

Above, Haruo Nakajima discusses his career as a suit actor with Yoko
Connolly translating with assistance from Sonoe Nakajima.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, Haruo Nakajima regales the audience with stories of his career.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, the Mothra portion of the discussion.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Above, following the panel discussion, Haruo Nakajima and I pose for audience photos.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

For some more photos by Jeff Blanken, go here.

Mad Monster Party Day Three: A Plus For "Team Nakajima"

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

Mad Monster Party 2013 is now history.  I had a lot of fun and I met a lot of great people.

First, I have to commend Eben McGarr and Joe Moe for putting on a great show.  I think they exceeded their attendance expectations by a few thousand.

Above, the Nakajima panel.  Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Next, I have to thank the members of "Team Nakajima" (translator Yoko Connelly and our volunteer stiff (staff) Jeff Blanken)  for their help in making everything involving the Nakajimas go smoothly.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with a fan-made Godzilla suit.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As this was the second convention, there were a few bugs that need to be ironed out.  But, learning from experience will greatly aid in making next year's convention even better.

The day began at about one o'clock in the morning with the sound of police vehicle units pulling up to the Blake Hotel or driving nearby.  It was a bit hard to sleep with all the noise from the police sirens.  I found out  this morning that seven units of the Charlotte Police Department responded to a call involving two nude girls at the convention at that time.  I'd bet the police fought over who was going to respond.

Above, Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima going over their flight schedule for tomorrow in the R.I.P. room.
  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After breakfast, I met with the Nakajimas and went over the questions for the panel discussion.  Following this, we migrated over to the ballroom for the session.  I received many words of praise for the session which included slides (when the projector decided to work properly) and roars and music from Godzilla (1954) while people were entering the ballroom.

After the panel, we migrated over to our tables.  The line was already long of autograph seekers when we go to the tables.  I sold more copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan today than I did with Friday and Saturday put together (which weren't bad either).  Thanks to everyone!

Above, Haruo Nakajima and yours truly.

The Nakajimas did VERY well with their sales of autographs photos with fans.  It will probably hit them when they convert the dollars into yen when they return home to Japan.  I am very happy for them.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with our volunteer helper Jeff Blanken.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just before the convention ended, we had a photo session for group shots of everyone who comprised "Team Nakajima."

Above, Haruo Nakajima with translator Yoko Connolly.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the convention was over, we went over to the V.I.P. room (known as the R.I.P. room) to review everything and to make plans for other future activities.  While there, actress Lea Thompson stopped by to be introduced to Haruo Nakajima.

Above, "Team Nakajima" at Mad Monster Party.  

After we said our goodbyes, I took Jeff out to dinner at the Hickory Tavern.  We relaxed over dinner and beer.

The trip to Charlotte, North Carolina was worth it and I enjoyed what I did manage to see of the city.  Would I return to a future Mad Monster Party?  The answer is a definite yes!