Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. NHFN/1966
Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. NHFN/1966Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Uzumasa, Kyoto is a popular sightseeing spot and is still being used as an actual studio for filming. Uzumasa is known as a movie city; early movie studios were built there in 1927. They became Daiei Kyoto Studios in 1942. Some Daiei Studios were sold to Toei and some of those still exist as Toei Kyoto Studio Park. Daiei Film Co., Ltd. went out of business in 1971 and their studios in Kyoto completely closed in 1986. However, the Daiei name is still alive in Uzumasa. There is a street named Daiei Street, and a 5m tall Daimajin monument was set on the Daiei Shopping Arcade in 2013. Daiei created three Daimajin movies in 1966 and all of them were filmed in Daiei Kyoto studios. The Daimajin which is displayed on the street is not an actual prop from filming, but was created for the event and had been kept in a warehouse. Now Daimajin returns to Uzumasa to become a guardian for people once again.
Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. NHFN/1966
Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. NHFN/1966
Daiei Shopping Arcade sign. Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka. © Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.