Daiei Tokusatsu Photo Book Yokai, Gamera, Daimajin

A photo book celebrating Daiei's legendary special effects craftsmanship, featuring yokai, Gamera, and Daimajin! This definitive edition showcases the history of special effects and makeup in Daiei's films. Released in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Gamera's birth (November 27), this collection features rare stills and behind-the-scenes photos from 103 Daiei special effects films. Covering works produced by Daiei Kyoto and Daiei Tokyo from 1942 to 1971, the book highlights the unique characteristics and technological evolution of each studio. It also includes commentary on Daiei's composite effects techniques and an exclusive interview between Satoshi Haraguchi and Shinji Higuchi, discussing the appeal of Daiei Kyoto and Daiei Tokyo. From iconic series such as "Gamera," "Daimajin," and "Yokai," to ghost stories, monster cats, and disaster films--and even pre-"Godzilla" titles like "Thus the Divine Wind Blows" (1944) and "Hanakurabe Tanuki Palace" (1949), featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya--this volume is packed with invaluable photography. In addition to commemorating 60 years of Gamera, this year also marks the 70th anniversary of "Warning from Space" (January 29, 2026), the origin of Daiei's sci-fi legacy, and the 60th anniversary of "Daimajin" (April 17, 2026), the pinnacle of Daiei's special effects artistry. A must-see for fans of classic Japanese tokusatsu cinema.

西の大魔神、東のガメラ。円谷英二が特撮を手がけた作品から、怪獣、妖怪、化け猫、怪談、歴史大作まで、大映特撮の技術を堪能する115作品!1942年から1971年まで続いた「大日本映画製作株式会社(大映)」の作品の中から、特殊撮影・特殊メイクを用いたものを大映京都と大映東京に分けて掲載。今回新たにネガから起こしたものを多数含む、貴重モノクロスチール・メイキングスナップの写真集。写真で紐解く大映特撮史。