Photo/Illutration A scene from “Daimajin” showing an angry Daimajin ((c) KADOKAWA 1966)

A film festival showcasing 30 classic “tokusatsu” live-action special effects movies produced by Daiei Film is now showing in Tokyo.

They include monster and horror movies such as “Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare” and “Gamera,” but one of the highlights is the 4K remastered edition of “Daimajin” (1966).

Set in the Warring States period (late 15th to late 16th centuries), the story culminates when Kozasa, the daughter of a slain lord, begs a gigantic statue of Daimajin for help from the tyrannical lord. The wrathful god comes alive and cracks down hard on the oppressor.

The film is essentially a samurai drama shot at the Daiei Kyoto Studio where many other masterpieces of the genre were made, but it is also combined with the catharsis of destruction in the same vein as “kaiju” monster movies.

“The set of the samurai mansion was splendor, and the outdoor set of the fortress was expansive,” Miwa Takada, 74, who played Kozasa, recalled. “Tokusatsu movies had the warmth of handmade craftsmanship at the time.”

Takada never filmed scenes together with Chikara Hashimoto, who played Daimajin in the costume, because tokusatsu sequences were shot separately. But she remembers how red his eyes were when she walked by the actor in the studio.

“He said it was because he continued acting as he kept his eyes open without blinking while he was covered in a cloud of dust. The vengeful god must have strong eyes,” she said.

“His bloodshot eyes were ideal for the indignant look,” she continued. “When we shot a scene in which the fortress is destroyed, large fans were placed in front of us to blow a lot of sand and dust. Our eyes were so sore.”

The event runs until Sept. 2 at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho.

20210816-daimajin-2-L
A scene from “Daimajin” in which Kozasa prays for the statue of Daimajin ((c) KADOKAWA 1966)

Related News