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Gorath
is a 1962 Japanese epic science fiction disaster film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Based on an idea by Jojiro Okami, the film is about mankind's efforts to move Earth out of its orbit to prevent it from colliding with a runaway white dwarf star. The film was extensively edited for its American release. Plot On September 29, 1979, the Interstellar Exploration Agency launches a Japanese rocket ship, the ''JX-1 Hawk'', into space on a nine-month journey to investigate Saturn. At its conclusion, however, the crew is given a new mission after scientists discover a runaway star, which the International Astronomical Union nicknamed "Gorath", is somehow running amok. Upon encountering and while investigating Gorath's rapid movement through the Solar System, the ''JX-1 Hawk'' crew discover it is smaller than Earth, yet has 6,000 times its gravity. They manage to transmit their data back to Earth before an enormous gravity well destroys the sh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kumi Mizuno
is a Japanese actress best known for appearing in several Toho kaiju films of the 1960s and early 1970s. Early life Mizuno was born Maya Igarashi on 1 January 1937 in Sanjō Niigata prefecture, Japan. She was acquainted with Giant Baba, her junior by one year, who is also from Sanjō. She enrolled and eventually graduated from an acting school and began a professional career in film in 1957 in ''Crazy Society'' (Shochiku). In 1958 she appeared in '' Nemuri Kyōshirō: Record of an Outlaw : Demon-blade Hell'' (Toho). Career Her most famous roles include Miss Namikawa in '' Invasion of Astro-Monster'', Dr. Sueko Togami in ''Frankenstein Conquers the World'', and the island girl Dayo in '' Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster''. She is also known for her role as Azami in the 1959 epic '' The Birth of Japan''. By the time she started working on ''A Bridge for Us Alone'' (1958), her second movie, her name had changed to Kumi Mizuno. Mizuno first worked with director Ishirō Honda in ''Senio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akihiko Hirata
(December 16, 1927 – July 25, 1984), born , was a Japanese film actor. While Hirata starred in many movies (including Hiroshi Inagaki's ''Samurai'' trilogy), he is most well known for his work in the ''kaiju'' genre, including such films as '' King Kong vs. Godzilla'', '' The Mysterians'', ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', '' Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla'', and his most famous role of Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, the brilliant but disturbed young scientist in the original ''Godzilla'', released in 1954. Hirata was married to the popular actress Yoshiko Kuga from 1961 until his death. He died at age 56 in 1984 after a long battle with lung cancer. Early life Hirata was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1927, into a wealthy family. He was educated at the prestigious Tokyo University's School of Interior Design. Before joining Shintoho as an assistant director (under his older brother, Yoshiki Onoda), Hirata moved into still photography, and eventually joined Toho in 1953, under the studio's "New Face ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kan Ishii
was a Japanese composer, and the brother of composer Maki Ishii. His father, was a prominent Japanese ballet dancer. His ''Symphonia Ainu'' won a prize at the 1958 Art Festival, inspiring him to do further work inspired by nationalist primitivism. His musical style appeals directly to the emotions, and shows the influence of Carl Orff. In addition to orchestral and vocal music, he has written extensively for the stage, including 6 operas, 3 ballets and 9 film scores, including the 1962 science-fiction film ''Gorath''. Ishii accepted a position as professor at Shōwa College of Music in 1986. Selected works *''Marimo'' (ballet) *''Sinfonia Ainu'' for soprano, chorus and orchestra *''Suite from Marimo'' for orchestra *''Going in a Wide Plain'' for wind orchestra *''Music for Percussions by Eight Players'' *''Sonata'' for viola and piano (1962) *''Preludes'' for piano *''The Music for Flute'' (flute solo) *''Songs of a Withered Tree and the Sun'' for male chorus and piano *''Japan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toho
is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer and distributor of many '' kaiju'' and '' tokusatsu'' films, the Chouseishin ''tokusatsu'' superhero television franchise, the films of Akira Kurosawa, and the anime films of Studio Ghibli, CoMix Wave Films, TMS Entertainment and OLM, Inc. All nine of the highest-grossing Japanese films are released by Toho. Other famous directors, including Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Masaki Kobayashi, and Mikio Naruse, also directed films for Toho. Toho's most famous creation is Godzilla, who is featured in 32 of the company's films. Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla are described as Toho's Big Five because of the monsters' numerous appearances throughout the franchise, as well as spin-offs. Toho has also bee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ishirō Honda
was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 44 feature films in a career spanning 59 years. The most internationally successful Japanese filmmaker prior to Hayao Miyazaki, his films have had a significant influence on the film industry. Honda entered the Japanese film industry in 1934, working as the third assistant director on Sotoji Kimura's ''The Elderly Commoner's Life Study''. After 15 years of working on numerous films as an assistant director, he made his directorial debut with the short documentary film ''Ise-Shima'' (1949). Honda's first feature film, '' The Blue Pearl'' (1952), was a critical success in Japan at the time and would lead him to direct three subsequent drama films. In 1954, Honda directed and co-wrote ''Godzilla'', which became a box office success in Japan, and was nominated for two Japanese Movie Association awards. Because of the film's commercial success in Japan, it spawned a multimedia franchise, recognized by ''Guinness World Records'' as the longest-r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jun Tazaki
, born Minoru Tanaka, was a Japanese actor best known for his various roles in kaiju films produced by Toho, often portraying scientists or military personnel. Career Tanaka began his career as a traveling stage actor in the 1930s, performing under both his birth name and various stage names. In 1950, he changed his name to Jun Tazaki when he appeared in Shintoho's film '' Sasameyuki''. After initially holding only small film roles, Tazaki gradually gained popularity and began playing larger roles in films produced by Toho in the 1960s. Akira Kurosawa frequently cast Tazaki in his films, but Ishirō Honda also considered him a favorite. Toho's science fiction films, particularly those directed by Honda, featured him throughout the 1960s as an authority figure with a moustache. As well as playing stern but benevolent father figures, Tazaki played villains with a ruthless streak. His defining role came in Honda's '' Atragon'', in which he portrayed the embittered World War II ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Kubo
is a Japanese actor who has appeared in over 70 films since 1952. He starred in the film ''Arashi'', which was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival. Selected filmography * ''Arashi'' (1956) as Saburo Mizusawa * '' Snow Country'' (1957) * ''Throne of Blood'' (1957) as Miki Yoshiteru *''The Three Treasures'' (1959) as Prince Iogi * (1959) * '' Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki'' (1962) as Lord Date * ''Gorath'' (1962) as Cadet Astronaut Tatsuo Kanai * ''Matango'' (1963) as Professor Kenji Murai * '' Invasion of Astro-Monster'' (1965) as Tetsuo Torii * ''Son of Godzilla'' (1967) as Goro Maki * ''Destroy All Monsters'' (1968) as Katsuo Yamabe, Captain of the SY-3 * '' Kill!'' (1968) as Monnosuke Takei * ''Battle of the Japan Sea'' (1969) as Kikuisami Matsui * '' Space Amoeba'' (1970) as Taro Kudo * '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'' (1995) as Captain of the ''Kairyu-Maru'' * '' The Truth about Nanjing'' (2010) as Heitarō Kimura was a general in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eiji Tsuburaya
was a Japanese special effects director and cinematographer. Known as the he worked on 250 feature films in a career spanning 50 years. He is regarded as one of the co-creators of the ''Godzilla'' series, as well as the main creator of the ''Ultra'' series. During his rise to post-war fame in the wake of ''Godzilla'' (1954), it was widely reported that Tsuburaya was born on July 7, which is the high day of Tanabata (star festival), a sign of good fortune. Biography 1901–1919: Early life Tsuburaya was born on July 7, 1901, in Sukagawa, Iwase, Fukushima Prefecture (present-day Sukagawa, Fukushima), to a merchant family that manufactured malted rice. He was the first son of Isamu and Sei Tsumuraya, with a large extended family. He described his childhood as filled with "mixed emotions." When he was three, his mother died, at the age of 19, after giving birth to her second son. His father, who had been adopted into the family through marriage, subsequently left the family, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenji Sahara
Kenji Sahara (佐原 健二 ''Sahara Kenji'') (born 14 May 1932) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa. His birth name is Masayoshi Kato (加藤 正好 ''Katō Masayoshi''). Initially he used the name Tadashi Ishihara before changing it when he secured the lead role in ''Rodan'' (1956). Selected filmography Sahara did a lot of work for the Toho Company, the studio that so far has produced 28 ''Godzilla'' movies. He appeared in more of the ''Godzilla'' series than any other actor. Also, he is the actor who was often relied on in most of the films by Directors Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya. He has appeared in many supporting roles. Sahara is famous as a mainstay of Toho special-effects movies and the ''Ultraman'' series. * ''Farewell Rabaul'' (1954) * ''Godzilla'' (1954) – as Young Lover on the Sound * ''Yuki No Koi'' (1955) – (credited as Tadashi Ishihara) * '' Seifuku No Otome Tachi'' (1955) – as Hideya Fujiwara (credited as Tadashi Ishihara ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Uehara
was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1935 and 1990. He starred in '' Entotsu no mieru basho'', which was entered in the 3rd Berlin International Film Festival. His son is the singer and actor Yūzō Kayama. Selected filmography * '' Mr. Thank You'' (1936) * ''What Did the Lady Forget?'' (1937) * '' The Munekata Sisters'' (1950) * '' Repast'' (1951) * '' Entotsu no mieru basho'' (1953) * '' Husband and Wife'' (1953) * '' Sound of the Mountain'' (1954) * ''Late Chrysanthemums'' (1954) * '' Untamed'' (1957) * '' A Rainbow Plays in My Heart'' (1957) * (1958) * '' Daughters, Wives and a Mother'' (1960) * '' Mothra'' (1961) * '' Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki'' (1962) * ''Gorath is a 1962 Japanese epic science fiction disaster film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Based on an idea by Jojiro Okami, the film is about mankind's efforts to move Earth out of its orbit to prevent it from ...'' (1962) * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takashi Shimura
was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1934 and 1981. He appeared in 21 of Akira Kurosawa's 30 films (more than any other actor), including as a lead actor in '' Drunken Angel'' (1948), ''Rashomon'' (1950), '' Ikiru'' (1952) and ''Seven Samurai'' (1954). He played Professor Kyohei Yamane in Ishirō Honda's original ''Godzilla'' (1954). For his contributions to the arts, the Japanese government decorated Shimura with the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1974 and the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette in 1980. Early life Shimura was born in Ikuno, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His birth-name was Shimazaki Shōji (島崎捷爾). His forebears were members of the samurai class: in 1868 his grandfather took part in the Battle of Toba–Fushimi during the Boshin War. Shimura entered Ikuno Primary School in 1911 and Kobe First Middle School in 1917. He missed two years of schooling because of a mild case of tuberculosis, and subsequently moved to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yumi Shirakawa
was a Japanese film and television actress. She was called the Japanese Grace Kelly when she debuted. She was scoted and joined Toho film company. In the same year, she made her film debut with ''Narazumono''. Her notable films are '' Rodan'' (1956), '' The H-Man''(1958), and Yasujirō Ozus film '' The End of Summer'' (1961). She was married to actor Hideaki Nitani until his death in 2012. She died of heart failure on June 14, 2016, at the age of 79. Filmography Film * '' Rodan'' (1956) * ''Be Happy, These Two Lovers'' (1957) * '' The Mysterians'' (1957) * '' The H-Man'' (1958) * aka ''The Princess of Badger Palace'' (1958) * ''A Holiday in Tokyo'' (1958) * ''Man Against Man'' aka ''Otoko tai otoko'' (1960) * '' The Secret of the Telegian'' (1960) * ''Challenge to Live'' (1961) * '' The Last War'' (1961) * ''The End of Summer'' (1961) * ''Different Sons'' (1961) * ''Chûshingura'' aka ''47 Samurai'' (1962) * ''Gorath'' (1962) * ''Wall-Eyed Nippon'' (1963) * '' Yearning'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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