Toho Monster Makers Attend Convention in Burbank, CA Source: Tetsu Shiota and Shinichi Wakasa Filmmakers, fans, collectors, and dealers from around the world flocked to Monsterpalooza 2011, held April 8-10 at the Marriott Burbank Hotel and Convention Center. Among the guests were two key figures from Toho`s Godzilla movie series: Haruo Nakajima and Shinichi Wakasa. Mr Nakajima played the title role in the original GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954) and would go on to portray the King of the Monsters in twelve films. He was also the "man in the monster suit" for such films as RODAN (Sora no Daikaiju Radon, 1956), THE MYSTERIANS (Chikyuu Boeigun, 1957), MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961), and KING KONG ESCAPES (Kingu Kongu no Gyakushu, 1967), as well as episodes of Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRA Q (Urutora Kyuu, 1966) and ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966). Haruo Nakajima spent much of the weekend signing autographs, with the proceeds going to the Japan Society`s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. With his company Monsters, Inc., Shinichi Wakasa built the majority of Toho`s monster suits and props for such films as the Godzilla series from GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II (Gojira tai Mekagojira, 1993) to GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004), plus OROCHI: THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (Yamato Takeru, 1994) and the REBIRTH OF MOTHRA trilogy (1996-1998). His credits also include Tsuburaya Productions` ULTRAMAN TIGA (Urutoraman Tiga, 1996) and ULTRAMAN COSMOS television series, and Daiei/Kadokawa`s GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION (Gamera 2 Legion Shurai, 1996) and DAIMAJIN KANON. Both Mr Wakasa and Tetsuo Shiota of the collector`s shop Anime Jungle have provided from their time at Monsterpalooza...