Seven Years Ago At Toho Studios

Leave it to Facebook to remind me of how fast time flies.

They presented a photo taken seven years ago of Jessica Claros, Yoshikazu Ishii, Jonathan Belles and I in a conference room at Toho Studios. We were there with Belles who was interviewing Ishii-san for his documentary on Godzilla.

It seems like only yesterday were were gathered for this. 

At top, is another photo of the group taken at Toho Studios, but outside with the Godzilla statue.

Power Players At Tokyo's Imperial Hotel

Above, the dinner group at the Imperial Viking restaurant at the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Hotel, the one that Steve Martin (Raymond Burr) stayed at while in Tokyo (while there was still a Tokyo) during Godzilla's rampage, saw a group of power players at the hotel's Imperial Viking restaurant gather for a relaxed dinner.

Over the years, I have been treated to many a courtesy and assists by friends from Toho Co., Ltd. and I thought this trip would provide a good opportunity to host a thank-you dinner to return the favor and show my appreciation.

The Imperial Viking was chosen as it was able to accommodate dinner parties and I was seeking an elegant place to treat everyone. The restaurant is on the hotel's 17th floor and had commanding views of Hibiya Park, the Imperial Palace and the National Diet Building.

Above, the view of the lit-up National Diet Building from our table at the Imperial Viking restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those joining Denise and I were Mr. G-FEST himself, Yoshikazu Ishii; former Toho L.A. General Managers Masaharu Ina (now with Toho Cinemas division) and Shozo Watanabe (now with Toho's legal division); former Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama; translator and Tohoku documentary star at NHK World, Jessica Claros.

The conversation ranged from what everyone's doing today, remembering Koichi Kawakita, Shin Godzilla (now in production), Godzilla Final Wars, Japanese cuisine, Japan's beaches, Toho's Malibu estate (where Toho's general managers live during their tenures in Los Angeles), my fondness for cheesecake and many other subjects.

Denise's son Aiden slept through the whole dinner.

2014: Good times with good people!

Above, at the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in February.

Above, the Superman plaque dedication in August. Daily News photo.

Japan Daily Picks Up 3 Blog Posts

The latest Japan Daily online newspaper is out and it picked up three of my blog posts:

The first one was on Paris, France being named (allegedly) the top destination of tourists which, for reasons stated in my blog post, I am skeptical about.

The second was on seeing Jessica Claros, who acted as Jonathan Bellés's translator during his interviews in Japan for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga in NHK World's Journeys In Japan. I am a regular viewer of NHK World and was watching Journeys In Japan on recovery efforts of several communities when, surprisingly, Jessica was the "tour hostess" on the show. Small world! I met Jessica last month at Toho Studios.

The third was on the third anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

To see The Japan Daily, go here.

A Familiar Face On NHK World's "Journeys In Japan"

Above, Armand, Jessica Claros, Yoshikazu Ishii and Jonathan Bellés at Toho Studios last month.

While watching the Japanese station, NHK World tonight, I watched a program, Journeys In Japan, about different communities in the Tohoku region of Japan and how they fared three years after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Then there was a surprise! The show featured a girl touring the region who looked very familiar.

Sure enough, it was Jessica Claros, who assisted Jonathan Bellés with interview translations in Japan last month. I met Jessica at Toho Studios when Bellés was interviewing Eiichi Asada and Yoshikazu Ishii.

To read about the program, go here.

UPDATE (01/02/17):

During my October 2015 trip to Japan, I held a dinner party at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo consisting of executives from Toho Co., Ltd. I invited Jessica Claros to the dinner party to assist in interpreting, if necessary.

Here is a photo from the dinner:

Bellés Interviews: Behind The Scenes At Toho Studios

Above, Jonathan Bellés setting up his equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my recent trip to Japan, I joined producer/director Jonathan Bellés at Toho Studios for his first interviews in Japan for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

Above, Jessica Claros reviewing her notes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Toho, we were joined by interpreters Jessica Claros and David Munoz as well as Yoshikazu Ishii. For the interviews, we were permitted to use a meeting room that overlooks the main entrance to Toho Studios. From the meeting room's window, we could see the Godzilla statue and Seven Samurai mural.

Above, interviewees Yoshikazu Ishii (center) and Eiichi Asada (right) arrive at Toho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a bright and cheery room with couches, tables, a big-screen television set and carpeting.

Above, Eiichi Asada being interviewed. David Munoz stands in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We arrived at the studio an hour early so Jonathan Bellés could set up his equipment, which included lights, reflectors and several stands.

Above, Eiichi Asada during his interview. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first to be interviewed was special effects director Eiichi Asada. While Jonathan Bellés manned the camera, Jessica Claros questioned the interviewees from notes provided by Bellés. Munoz assisted whenever someone got stuck on a phrase or needed more clarification. Both Japan-based interpreters specialize in Japanese-Spanish language interpreting.

Above, Yoshikazu Ishii as he was interviewed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following Asada's interview, Bellés then interviewed Yoshikazu Ishii on his role as assistant (under Asada) special effects director of Godzilla Final Wars.

When each interview was completed, group photos were taken. The first one (below), was with Eiichi Asada.

Above, from left are David Munoz, Jonathan Bellés, Asada, Jessica Claros and Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the interview with Yoshikazu Ishii, another group shot was taken, this time with yours truly in it.

I did manage to break away and grab a quick bite to eat (curry and rice) at the studio cafeteria and buy a few souvenirs (a t-shirt for my daughter Amber and a hat and jacket for me).

Above, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was interesting to observe how Jonathan Bellés works and get past the language barrier. The two interpreters did a fine job during the interviews.

The final shot (below), courtesy of Jonathan Bellés and David Munoz, was taken during camera set-up for Yoshikazu Ishii's interview.

Above, from left, yours truly, Yoshikazu Ishii, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by David Munoz.

Bellés interviewed several others at different locations following my departure from Japan. They include Akira Takarada, Masaaki Tezuka, Koichi Kawakita, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Teruyoshi Nakano and others.