Hirochika Muraishi

Hirochika Muraishi (村石宏實, Muraishi Hirochika) was a Japanese director, known for directing many Ultraman Series episodes during the Heisei era.

Career[]

Muraishi joined Tsuburaya Productions in 1967 and was a member of the optical photography staff for some of their earliest works.^[1] After that, he served as an assistant director for various tokusatsu works before making his directorial debut in 1973 with the film OH! Kao.

From 1993 to 2009, he was a director for many of Tsuburaya Productions' works.

Death[]

On March 27, 2022, Muraishi passed away at the age of 75.^[2]

Works[]

Ultraman (1967) - Optical photography^[1]^[3]
Ultraseven (1967-1968) - Optical photography^[1]^[3]
Mighty Jack (1968) - Optical photography^[1]
Operation: Mystery (1968-1969) - Optical photography^[1]
Gridman the Hyper Agent (1993-1994) - Director, 15 episodes
- Episode 5 "The Perfect Sword With A Man's Pride"
- Episode 6 "A Terror Melody"
- Episode 9 "Operation Evil Brainwashing"
- Episode 10 "The Dangerous Gift"
- Episode 15 "The Distorted Target"
- Episode 16 "Ippei is Scared!?"
- Episode 20 "Colors Disappear From the Planet of Earth"
- Episode 21 "The Execution, My Hero!"
- Episode 22 "Revival! Dinosaur King"
- Episode 27 "Big Surprise! A Toy Rebellion"
- Episode 28 "Yuka Vanished!!"
- Episode 34 "A Body Guard"
- Episode 35 "Yuka Becomes Delinquent"
- Episode 38 "The Earth in Danger"
- Episode 39 "Goodbye Gridman"
Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997) - Director, special effects director and writer, 15 episodes
- Episode 3 "The Devil's Prophecy" (director)
- Episode 4 "Sa-yo-na-ra Earth" (director)
- Episode 8 "On Halloween Night" (special effects director)
- Episode 13 "Human Collecting" (director, special effects director and writer)
- Episode 14 "The Released Target" (director, special effects director and writer)
- Episode 19 "GUTS to the Sky Part 1" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 20 "GUTS to the Sky Part 2" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 25 "The Devil's Judgement" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 26 "Evil Monster Realm of the Rainbow" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 33 "Vampire City" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 34 "To the Southern Limit" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 43 "Land Shark" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 44 "Inheritance of Shadows" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 51 "Master of Darkness" (director)
- Episode 52 "To the Shining Ones" (director)
Ultraman Dyna (1997-1998) - Director and special effects director, 10 episodes
- Episode 7 "Friend Inside the Box"
- Episode 8 "Bao-on from Afar"
- Episode 15 "The Kind-Hearted Target"
- Episode 16 "Battle! Monster Island"
- Episode 25 "The Clarkov Won't Surface! Part 1"
- Episode 26 "The Clarkov Won't Surface! Part 2"
- Episode 35 "The Smile of Destruction: Part 1"
- Episode 36 "The Smile of Destruction: Part 2"
- Episode 43 "Captain Long-Legs"
- Episode 44 "The Snow of Venus"
Ultraman Gaia (1998-1999) - Director and special effects director, 15 episodes
- Episode 1 "Seize the Light!" (director)
- Episode 2 "A Hero Appears" (director)
- Episode 9 "Seagull Takes Off" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 10 "Rock Fight" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 17 "Shadow of Space, Light of Earth" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 18 "Agul vs. Gaia" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 25 "The Showdown for Tomorrow" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 26 "The Final Resolution" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 33 "Battling the Legend" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 34 "Crash of Souls!" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 41 "The Resurrection of Agul" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 42 "Gamu vs. Gamu" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 49 "An Angel Descends" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 50 "The Cry of the Earth" (director)
- Episode 51 "Earth is Ultraman's Star" (director)
Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000) - Director
Ultraman Tiga Side Story: Revival of the Ancient Giant (2001) - Director
Ultraman Cosmos (2001-2002) - Director and special effects director, 10 episodes
- Episode 5 "Revenge of the Fireflies" (special effects director)
- Episode 6 "Monster Fishing" (special effects director)
- Episode 17 "Trap from Another Dimension" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 18 "The Legend of Mt. Nibito" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 31 "Rescue Gon" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 32 "The Nightmare Experiment" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 43 "Puppet Monster" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 44 "Ghighi vs Gon" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 55 "Final Test" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 56 "Kappa Village" (director and special effects director)
Ultraman Max (2005-2006) - Director and special effects director, 8 episodes
- Episode 3 "Proof of a Brave Man" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 4 "Infinite Invaders" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 9 "The Dragon's Lover" (special effects director)
- Episode 10 "Young DASH" (special effects director)
- Episode 19 "Person Coming from the Door" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 20 "Drifting Monster" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 28 "Attack of Evil" (director and special effects director)
- Episode 29 "Why Do Monsters Appear" (director and special effects director)
Ultraman Mebius (2006-2007) - Director and special effects director, 10 episodes
- Episode 3 "Only One Life"
- Episode 4 "Broken Bonds"
- Episode 13 "Marina of the Wind"
- Episode 14 "One Path"
- Episode 21 "Cry from Space"
- Episode 22 "Future Days"
- Episode 35 "The Ultramarine Light and Shadow"
- Episode 36 "Mirai's Younger Sister"
- Episode 45 "Deathrem's Plot"
- Episode 46 "The Immortal Grozam"
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle (2008) - Director, 4 episodes
- Episode 7 "The Stone Which Calls Monsters"
- Episode 8 "The Underwater King"
- Episode 9 "The Pendragon Doesn't Rise to the Surface!"
- Episode 10 "Unexpected Reunion"
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey (2009) - Director, 3 episodes
- Episode 9 "Armor of Darkness"
- Episode 10 "The New Horizon of War"
- Episode 11 "A Warrior's Grave Marker"

Stage[]

Ultraman Premier Stage 3 (2009) - Director
Ultraman Premier 2011 (2011) - Director

Other Works[]

Tetsujin Tiger Seven (1973)
Denjin Zaborger (1975)
Shichisei Tōshin Guyferd (1996)

Roles[]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	Ultraman Tiga	Bartender	Episode 33 "Vampire City"
1998	Ultraman Dyna	Bartender	Episode 33 "Star of Peace"
1998	Ultraman Dyna	Citizen of Osaka	Episode 35 "The Smile of Destruction: Part 1"
1999	Ultraman Gaia	KCB Director	Episode 37 "The Fourth Symphony of a Nightmare" Episode 49 "An Angel Descends"
2005	Ultraman Max	TV Crew Member	Episode 9 "The Dragon's Lover"
2005		Ancient Village Head	Episode 19 "Person Coming from the Door"
2006		Hunter	Episode 29 "Why Do Monsters Appear"
2006	Ultraman Mebius	Hunter	Episode 13 "Marina of the Wind"