Tokyo Expo Ends September 2nd Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Official Site: ulfes.com/2012 (Japan)
The annual event ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL (?????????????) continues at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. 2012 is the 45th anniversary of ULTRA SEVEN (???????, Urutorasebun, 1967), and special guests relate to ULTRA SEVEN were invited to celebrate the character`s anniversary. Ms. Yuriko Hishimi, who played Anne Yuri, and Mr. Kazuho Mitsuta, who was a director for many of Tsuburaya Productions` tokusatsu television series, gathered on the stage of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL on August 17th. They had talk and autograph session in the afternoon. That night as special premium event was held in which Ms. Hishimi and Mr. Mitsuta walked with fans among the ULTRA SEVEN displays, sharing stories about the show. During the tour, the group was joined by Alien Pegassa. The alien first appeared in ULTRA SEVEN Episode 6: THE DARK ZONE, which was directed by Mr. Kazuho Mitsuta. Alien Pegassa was not killed in this episode; instead he ran away into the dark of night in Tokyo. $5 years later, he had come back from the Dark Zone to see Ms. Hishimi and Mr. Mitsuta once again. Mr. Mitsuta told the attendees that, "I will return here to celebrate his 50th or 70th anniversary".
Mr. Koji Moritsugu, who played Ultra Seven`s alter-ego Dan Moroboshi, returned to the stage of ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL on August 24th. Reiterated what he had said during his previous appearance, Mr. Moritsugu told fans that, “I really do not know who the mother of Ultraman Zero is. Please do not ask me about it. However, I think that this mystery is a fantasy.” Mr. Satoshi Furuya, who played Terrestrial Defense Force Ultra Guard member Amagi in ULTRA SEVEN, came to the stage on August 31st. He was also the Ultraman suit actor in ULTRAMAN. On this day he posed -- without his Ultraman costume -- for photos with Ultra Seven. When I got Mr. Furuya`s autograph, I gave my congratulations for his recognition at the G-Fest tokusatsu event in Chicago. Lastly, I would like to say Happy 45th anniversary to our hero, Ultra Seven! ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL 2012 runs through September 2nd.
For more information on ULTRAMAN FESTIVAL, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: