Toei Studio Park, Kyoto
► 天の道を行き, 総てを司る
東映太秦映画村・京都
Japan Trip Photos
Out of all the things I did on my first trip, going to the Toei Uzumasa Eigamura ("Movie Land", also known in English as "Toei
Studio Park") in Kyoto stands out for one reason: I met Kamen Rider Blade himself! Well, a guy in a Blade costume, anyway, but
it's a start, right? In addition to being a low-key theme park of sorts (with requisite shops, restaurants, exhibitions, goofy 3D
simulator, etc.) the Eigamura is also a working studio, and on one of the two visits (I went on 6/19/2004 and again on
8/19/2004, it was that much fun) I did actually get to see them filming one of the many, many period dramas (Jidaigeki) found on
prime time Japanese TV. The 36,000 square-meter park boasts really cool recreations of streets from the Edo period, tons of
interesting live performances and audio-animatronics (see the SFX pool dinosaur below, who was actually a lot shorter in person)
and of course, a whole section devoted to Toei's various Tokusatsu heroes. In fact, a big chunk of episode #18 of Tokusô
Sentai Dekaranger (the yearly Sentai series that aired before Kamen Rider Blade every Sunday morning) was filmed in and
around the studios, and the episode had aired just a few days before I went there. At the time I visited, there was also a special
Dekaranger stage show going on. It also later served as the location for several scenes from Kamen Rider Hibiki & The 7
Fighting Demons in 2005!
Scans (Click thumbnails to enlarge)
An advertisement for the Studio Park, showing off the biggest stars of all!
English-Language Map of the Studio Park.
English Brochure Cover
Japanese Brochure Cover
Photos (Click thumbnails to enlarge)
On the far left, we have the Studio Park's mascot, who I guess is supposed to be some samurai crow dude. And on the right, the
aforementioned SFX Pool dinosaur, who came up every so often and breathed smoke. Whee!
Actual props from the vintage Toei Tokusatsu series Kamen No Ninja Aka Kage, including the titular hero's famous mask. Props
from the recent remake movie were also on display.
Tons of Riders! As you might be able to tell from the pics, between the two times I visited the arrangement was changed but the
line-up was still the same (the Faiz guys lost their own special stage to some Dekaranger Karaoke thing.) On closer inspection,
one can see that these are mostly the attraction suits (the ones used in the stage shows, photo-ops and autograph sessions) but
they were still pretty impressive, especially Ryuki, Knight & Zolda, the latter of which even had a working "LED sensor" thingie in
his visor, just like on the show.
Not to be outdone by the Riders, Sentai was represented by nearly every Red member (and some non-Reds) as well as a gallery
of the various sixth/outside members, and a display of the various heads of a whole bunch of the ever-present giant robot.
Most of my pictures of the special Dekranger stage show ended up pretty blurry, but here are the best of the bunch. The plot
involved the gang traveling back in time, and meeting the Shinsengumi. I had to grin at the villains, who were actually redressed,
repainted Grongi costumes.
Nothing with the words "Kamen Rider" attached would be complete without the presence of the big man himself, Rider 1. And he
was there, in a very big way: a huge, rotating statue with glowing eyes and actual spinning Typhoon fan! I need to find a good
picture with someone in it for comparison, to show just how huge this thing was. Just another testament to the eternal appeal of
the original Kamen Rider!
Before even getting to see any of that stuff, the first confirmation that I really was in Toei Studios came when I saw the display of
actual weapon props from Kamen Rider Agito. There was even a large statue of Agito himself, who as you can see here towers
over even the mighty Igadevil. And, uh, for the record, I'm not possessed there or anything, that's just the camera redeye.
And of course, the gift shop. There were actually tons of these all over the park, but this was the only one to deal exclusively with
Tokusatsu merchandise (okay, okay, there was also stuff from the hit animated girls' series Pretty Cure.) Of course, I had to buy
something. Also, not seen in the photo, were a bunch of Gashapon machines full of old Kamen Rider High Grade figures! And if
you don't know by now, High Grade Figures + Me = Lots of 100 Yen coins down the tubes.
Finally, the two pictures everyone's been waiting for: Me grinning like a buffoon while posing with Blade himself (I got to shake his
hand too!) and looking for big walking, talking blue dogs while in the DekaBase control room.
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