ULTRAMAN FORGES ‘SISTER CITY’ LINK ACROSS GALAXIES

Creator’s Fukushima hometown celebrates with statues of heroes, monsters

Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970), who created the science fiction characters Ultraman and Godzilla, was called the “God of Tokusatsu (special effects filming).”

In Sukagawa, Fukushima Prefecture, his birthplace, there are many spots that are related to his special effects work. It’s fun to walk around this part of town and ponder the imaginary worlds that Eiji created by using miniature models and combining photos and video images.

Sukagawa, in the central part of

Fukushima Prefecture, inked a sister-city affiliation with “M78 Nebula, Land of Light,” the birthplace of Ultraman, in 2013. The idea is unique — a sister-city affiliation linking two cities that are 3 million light-years apart. In realizing the sister-city affiliation, the city is said to have had the support of Tsuburaya Productions Co. in Tokyo, which Eiji founded.

Standing in front of JR Sukagawa Station is a monument that commemorates the forming of the affiliation. It depicts Ultraman powerfully flying high into the sky, thrusting up his right hand.

When broadcasts of the first “Ultraman” TV series started in 1966, the shows were supervised by Eiji. Because

I was part of the generation brought up with eyes glued to that series on TV, when I visited Sukagawa I once again felt some of the excitement that I had over the theme of the “hero fighting for good.”

I walked along Taimatsu Street, which runs toward the city center. Over a distance of about one kilometer, 13 monuments stand along the street: Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Ace, and Ultraman Zoffy, all taking a pose of firing a ray of light.

All these monuments, including the pedestals, are about 2 meters tall. Having been produced with special orders placed to Tsuburaya Productions, they all look as if they are ready to go into action at any moment.

Lined up next are the kaiju monsters in the series: Zetton, which defeated the first Ultraman in battle; Gomora, which left a strong impression in a scene of destroying Osaka Castle; and even Eleking, which fires an “Electric Discharge Beam.”

Meanwhile, both Kanegon, which eats money to stay alive, and Pigmon, a monster friendly to people, are seated on a bench. Children and their parents, seated together with these kaiju, were seen taking souvenir pictures.

It’s also fun to take in these monuments while recalling their related stories.

Along the street, I also found a bakery that sells custard buns shaped like an Ultraman face. It seems that Suk

Yomiuri Shimbun photos Clockwise from top: A monument depicting Zetton stands on Taimatsu Street in Sukagawa, Fukushima Prefecture; The first Ultraman does a pose of firing a Specium Beam; Money-eating monster Kanegon sits on a bench.