EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS profile picture

EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me


Tim Lucas, publisher and editor of the award-winning Video Watchdog magazine had this to say about the author: "There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value--not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English."
Check out my blog site THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND GODZILLA for various ramblings and comments on Japanese Cinema and more!
英語の本「円谷英二・怪獣の使い」のカバー
August Ragone's debut book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS , is available at better book retailers near you from the world-renown Chronicle Books . "Who is Eiji Tsuburaya," you might ask? Tsuburaya (1901-1970) was one of the technical pioneers of Japanese Cinema in the Silent Era, who went on to create the visual effects for GODZILLA and ULTRAMAN. This authorized and official 208-page, heavily-illustrated, coffeetable hardcover, is the first fully-authorized book of its kind published outside of Japan, and is the first biography of this important figure of Japanese Cinema ever written in a language other than Japanese!
EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS details the dynamic life and movie career of this legendary film figure, from his early fascination with with movies, aviation, and model building, to his work in he golden age of Japanese Cinema to the ingenious technical innovations that brought miniature worlds and fantastic characters vividly to life.
A must-have, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS features hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya instructing monsters to crush landmark buildings, this highly visual biography also features rare profiles of the master's film collaborators, detailed information key films and shows (most available on DVD), and features on the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.
Tsuburaya on the set off BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE 「宇宙大戦争」(1959)
Here are some of the reviews for EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS !
On January 9, 2008, Paul DiFilippo penned a positive review for the Spotlight section of Barnes & Noble.com , calling it a "... charming, colorful and comprehensive biography... Ragone's text delves minimally into the psychodynamics and day-to-day family life of Tsuburaya, instead focusing on his professional accomplishments; it sings the litany of one lovingly handcrafted monster after another... One suspects that this particular spotlight on the workaholic Tsuburaya is the most accurate and flattering, and it certainly makes for an engrossing narrative."
On December 13, 2007, none other than TIME magazine featured EIJI TSUBURAYA in a two-page review by Donald Morrison: "August Ragone has produced a fond, generously illustrated biography of the tokusatsu (special effects) genius, who died in 1970. It is the first biography to appear in English. With help from Tsuburaya's family and co-workers, as well as stills supplied by his various studios, Ragone provides a monster maven's feast of detail about Japanese moviemaking in the innocent, pre-digital age."
On November 17, 2007, Gerry Donaghy of Powells Books wrote: "Ragone clearly has a passion for his subject, and his knowledge of Japanese tokusatsu (fantasy special effects) entertainment is peerless. The author does an admirable job of detailing Tsuburaya's early life and career and thoroughly describes his cinematic career from Godzilla onwards. Anyone with a taste for reading about frantic production schedules and creative jury-rigging solutions will find much to enjoy in Ragone's text.... At the end of the day, 'Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters' is a wonderful realization of content and design, suitable for fans not only of tokusatsu, but of filmmaking in general. It's the perfect coffee table book for your inner otaku."
In the November 15, 2007 edition of The Library Journal , Blanche Angelo writes: "Ragone expertly weaves biographical anecdotes into his exhaustive accounts of film productions, showing readers how a young aviator and toy designer fascinated by 'King Kong' would, with his singular vision, exorcise the demons of postwar Japan, push the boundaries of television, and launch the careers of many talented writers and designers. A selected filmography and plethora of beautiful photographs of film sets, promotional materials, and figurines based on Tsuburaya's creatures will satisfy hard-core fans and novices alike. Recommended for all academic and large public library film and Asian studies collections."
Chris Eng in an October 2007 issue of Vancover's Tooth & Dagger wrote: "The difference between this book and other coffee table volumes that have covered daikaiju before, though, is the staggeringly researched detail that Ragone has put into the text itself. This is not just a picture book to flip through, nod approvingly at and stick on the shelf; this is a record easily in scale with the monsters Tsuburaya created—a critical and historical look at the creation and output of an industry that spanned (and has continued to span) the decades."
I also had the good fortune of being interviewed by journalist Adam Connors of Radio Australia (the Oz equivalent of BBC Radio or NPR) on the subject of my book, Japanese special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya. There seems to be a problem with the story on the main site, so please go to: Adamconnors.net
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY: EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS is now available -- worldwide -- at better book sellers near you, or you can order copies from Amazon.com!

My Interests

Cinematography, Visual Effects, Miniatures, Models, Aviation, Guitar, Shamisen, Motion Pictures.

I'd like to meet:


MONSTER MOVIE FANS LIKE YOU!

Gag shot from FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD
「フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣バラゴン 」(1965)より

SCHEDULED BOOK SIGNINGS:

June 21st @ A NIGHTMARE TO REMEMBER Horror Film Festival at the Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness, San Francisco from 7:00-10:00 PM. I will be sharing a table in the lobby with none other than Doktor Goulfinger himself!

July 4th-July 6th @ G-FEST XV in Chicago, IL at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. Guest of Honor at this year’s convention will be Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor! Stay tuned for more details...

TBA: July 22nd-26th @ San Diego Comic Convention -- check back for confirmation and details.

THANK YOU: Thanks to everyone who came out to Clayton Books to see former CREATURE FEATURES host and author John Stanley ("I Was a TV Horror Host") -- we had a great time!

Thanks to everyone who attended the event at the Clay Theater on May 20th! I had a great time... two gorgeous prints... good turn out... a lot of books signed... Shout outs to April at Chronicle, Steve at Landmark Theaters, Chris and the Staff of the Clay, Bruce of Dead Channels, the gang at Super 7, and to everyone who came out! Even ILM visual effects wizard Dennis Muren was there (and stayed for both films)... At last but not least, thanks to Eiji Tsuburaya for the wonderful movies!

If you would like us to come to your store or event, please contact us via this page. Thank you!

Movies:

U.S. trailer for RODAN 「空の大怪獣ラドン」(1956) アメリカ版 予告編
U.S. trailer for THE MYSTERIANS 「地球防衛軍」 (1957) アメリカ版 予告編
Scene from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE 「宇宙大戦争」(1959)
Japanese trailer for THE HUMAN VAPOR 「ガス人間第一号」(1962) 予告編
Japanese trailer for GORATH 「妖星ゴラス」(1962) 予告編
U.S. trailer for ATRAGON 「海底軍艦」(1963) アメリカ版 予告編
Japanese trailer for MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964) 「モスラ対ゴジラ」 予告編
Japanese trailer for RETREAT FROM KISKA (1965) 「太平洋奇跡の作戦キスカ」 予告編
Major Fantasy Films include: GODZILLA 「ゴジラ」 (1954), THE INVISIBLE AVENGER 「透明人間」 (1954), GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN「ゴジラの逆襲」(1955), THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN 「獣人雪男」 (1955), RODAN 「空の大怪獣ラドン」(1956), THRONE OF BLOOD 「蜘蛛巣の城」 (1957), THE MYSTERIANS 「地球防衛軍」 (1957), THE H-MAN 「美女の液体人間」 (1958), VARAN 「大怪獣バラン」 (1958), THE HIDDEN FORTRESS 「隠し砦の三悪人砦」 (1958), THE MONKEY KING 「孫吾空」 (1959), THE THREE TREASURES 「日本誕生」 (1959), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE 「宇宙大戦争」 (1959), THE SECRET OF THE TELEGIAN 「電送人間」 (1960), THE HUMAN VAPOR 「ガス人間第一号」 (1960), MOTHRA 「モスラ」 (1961), THE LAST WAR 「世界大戦争」 (1961), GORATH 「妖星ゴラス」 (1962), KING KONG VS GODZILLA 「キングコング対ゴジラ」 (1962), MATANGO 「マタンゴ」 (1963), THE LOST WORLD OF SINBAD 「大盗賊」 (1963), ATRAGON 「海底軍艦」 (1963), MOTHRA VS GODZILLA「モスラ対ゴジラ」 (1964), DOGORA THE SPACE MONSTER 「宇宙大怪獣ドゴラ」 (1964), GHIDRAH THE THREE HEADED MONSTER 「三大怪獣・地球最大の決戦」 (1964), FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD 「フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣バラゴン 」 (1965), MONSTER ZERO 「怪獣大戦争」 (1965), THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS 「フランケンシュタインの怪獣・サンダ対ガ イラ」 (1966), GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER 「ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ南海の大決闘」 (1966), KING KONG ESCAPES 「キングコングの逆襲」 (1967), SON OF GODZILLA 「怪獣島の決戦・ゴジラの息子」 (1967), DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 「怪獣総進撃」 (1968), LATITUDE ZERO 「緯度0大作戦」 (1969), and many more!

Television:

ULTRA Q 「ウルトラQ」 (1966), ULTRAMAN 「ウルトラマン」 (1966-67), BOOSKA THE FRIENDLY BEAST「快獣ブースカ」 (1966-67), ULTRA SEVEN 「ウルトラセブン」 (1967-68), MIGHTY JACK 「マイテイジャック」 (1968), OPERATION MYSTERY 「怪奇大作戦」 (1968-69), LIL' CHIBIRA 「チビラくん」 (1969), UNBALANCE 「恐怖劇場・アンバランス」 (1970), and many more!

Heroes:

Ichiro Tsuburaya, Natsu Tsuburaya, Masano Tsuburaya, Art Smith, Seitaro Tamai, Yoshiro Edamasa, Teinosuke Kinugasa, Willis O'Brien, George Pal.

My Blog

05/15: WATCH HORROR FILMS: CREATURE FEATURES documentary!

WATCH HORROR FILMSKEEP AMERICA STRONG is the new feature-length documentary on San Francisco's beloved program CREATURE FEATURES (1971-1984) produced by Tom Wyrsch (author of "The Bob Wilkins Scrapbo...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Sat, 03 May 2008 11:23:00 PST

04/26: EIJI TSUBURAYA book signing at Clayton Books!

NEXT SCHEDULED BOOK SIGNING:2:00 PM, SATURDAY, APRIL 26 @ CLAYTON BOOKS w/authors John Stanley ("I Was a TV Horror Host") and Roz Kaveney ("Reading the Vampire Slayer"). Clayton Books is located at 54...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:05:00 PST

Original Godzilla Suit Actor, HARUO NAKAJIMA, to Appear at G-Fest XV!

G-Fest XV, the annual convention devoted to Japanese monster movies and fantasy films will be held from July 4th through July 6th, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. This year’s Gue...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:56:00 PST

March 20: MOTHRA & BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE in San Francisco!

Event: August Ragone presents MOTHRA and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE Double FeatureWhen: Thursday Mar 20, 2008 at 7:30 PMWhere: Landmark's Clay Theater2261 Fillmore St. @ Clay St.San Francisco, CA., CA 9411...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:31:00 PST

EIJI TSUBURAYA at WONDERCON this weekend!

This weekend, EIJI TSUBURAYA will be represented at this year's WonderCon taking place at Moscone Center South in San Francisco! I will be signing on Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00 pm & Sunday from 1:30 t...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:19:00 PST

EIJI TSUBURAYA nominated for a "Rondo Award"!

We are proud to announce that EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS has been nominated for a 2007 "Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award" for excellence. Please click on the banner for your official ballot a...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:00:00 PST

The Positive Reviews Keep Coming in for EIJI TSUBURAYA!

Yes, it's true; the flood of positive reviews for EIJI TSUBURAYA keep coming in! Here's the latest, a review over at Barnes & Noble.com!Barnes & Noble Review Spotlight: 01/09/08I am really taken aback...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:41:00 PST

EIJI TSUBURAYA makes TIME magazine!

EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS, continues to garner great press and enthusiastic reviews, including a 9 out of 10 review in the current WIRED magazine! The WIRED reviewNow, my book has made the p...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:18:00 PST

Review in the Nov. 15 Edition of "The Library Journal"

While the cinematic smack down of Freddy vs. Jason owes a huge debt to the interfilm monster battles of Japanese sci-fi movies, it can't hold a flaming skyscraper to the clash between Godzilla and Kin...
Posted by EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:48:00 PST