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Operation: Mystery (怪奇大作戦, Kaiki Daisakusen, lit. Mysterious Strategy) is a mystery supernatural series produced by Tsuburaya Productions in 1968. It was filmed after the production of Fight! Mighty Jack. Tsuburaya Productions' official international title for the series is Operation: Mystery.

Rather than focus on giant monsters, the series focuses on paranormal phenomena and revolves around the exploits of the Science Research Institute (SRI) as they combat these threats.

Production[]

Operation Mystery 48

The two series proposals during the preparation phase of this series: Challenger and The Fearful Human.

This series primarily depicts the stories of members of the "SRI," who investigate mysterious scientific crimes that challenge modern society. Each instance of supernatural phenomena is revealed to be a result of human-engineered scientific wrongdoing, with the SRI tasked with solving these cases. The show also addresses heavy themes that raise questions about societal issues in Japan at the time.

By the end of 1967, TBS began preparations for a successor program to Ultraseven. Given the high production difficulty and resource demands of tokusatsu series, planning typically starts earlier than for other programs. Tsuburaya Productions historically confirmed production for its projects around ten months before the official broadcast, and TBS usually reserved a similar preparation period for such works.[1]

As the production of Ultraseven entered its second season, Yoji Hashimoto became the producer for TBS. At that time, Tetsuo Kinjo, the head of the planning and literary department at Tsuburaya Productions, was involved in the production of Mighty Jack, which prevented him from participating in the production meetings for Ultraseven. As a result, most of the meetings were led by Hashimoto. Filming for Mighty Jack began in early 1968, prompting Kinjo to assign the script for Ultraseven to Shozo Uehara and Shinichi Ichikawa. Despite his busy schedule, Kinjo left behind notes discussing ideas with Hashimoto and others. In a record dated January 12, 1968, Kaneko proposed a concept for the new program, defining it as a "scientific mystery" genre.[1][2]

At the time, Hashimoto believed that Tsuburaya Productions had gained significant recognition through works such as Ultra Q, Ultraman, and Ultraseven, and he aimed to create a new project that would establish a different style. He placed great importance on a narrative with literary depth, striving to convey a sense of realism in the characters, thereby depicting "humanity" itself in the new series. To achieve this goal, the new program centered on themes of science, horror, and drama, focusing on mysterious phenomena that modern science struggles to explain and exploring how human intelligence confronts the unknown terrors.[1][3]

As a means to express these themes, the show adopted the concept of "Mystery," incorporating a perspective that reevaluates humanity's relationship with technology to reveal the essence of fear within human nature. The target audience was children aged 3 to 12 and their families, and the structural inspiration was drawn from science fiction mystery films in which Eiji Tsuburaya participated, such as The Invisible Man Appears, The Invisible Avenger, The H-Man, The Secret of the Telegian, and The Human Vapor The narrative aimed to unfold a story that contrasts the forces of "good and evil," stemming from the darker side of science.[4]

SRI

The series explores how evolving science and the constant nature of humanity lead to new forms of terror, with SRI playing a key role in solving cases.

The project proposal featured a three-member scientific investigation team from the Science Police, comprising a 24-year-old hero, a 36-year-old scientific expert, and a 50-year-old elder with impressive physical skills. Without weapons, they relied on their intellect and resourcefulness to address challenges, emphasizing humanitarian values in a technologically advanced world and aiming to "restore forgotten aspects of humanity." Their opponents were depicted as cold-blooded criminals who used science for various crimes. Importantly, this series would not be part of the Ultra Q franchise and would avoid superheroes, monsters, or aliens, although there would be scientifically inspired creatures.

In meeting notes from February 27, it was advised that targeting older viewers could lead to a decline in overall ratings, suggesting the avoidance of puppet-like monsters. Instead, the focus should be on horror and bizarre elements drawn from observable scientific phenomena, prioritizing strange creatures and plants with an emphasis on realism and scientific accuracy. This led to the development of the Scientific Horror Series: Challenger (科学恐怖シリーズ チャレンジャー, Kagaku Kyōfu Shirīzu: Charenjā), with the final outline completed in March. The story would explore complex events resulting from technological advancements, featuring three detectives—Hōi Himura, Kyōsuke Ryūzaki, and Eitarō Ikuma—who specialized in mechanical engineering, chemistry, and electronic engineering, respectively, under the leadership of the Science Police chief.[4]

As the project evolved, the formal proposal for the Challenger was established. The special task force was redefined as the SRI, a "free investigation agency," aiming to broaden the audience while still appealing to children. The goal was to create a program suitable for children but engaging for adults, leading to a focus on emotional interactions between the main characters and the public in the storyline. This framework informed the final proposal for the Modern Mystery Series: The Fearful Human (現代の怪奇シリーズ 恐怖人間, Gendai no Kaiki Shirīzu: Kyōfu Ningen).[4]

Due to the horror-focused direction of The Fearful Human, Hashimoto raised concerns and asked Mamoru Sasaki to create some inspiring scripts. Sasaki quickly delivered a completed script, impressing Hashimoto and leading to a decision to pursue this direction for the new series. In July 1968, the official title was confirmed as Operation: Mystery. By this time, Kaneko's script "Man-Eating Moths" and Uehara's "Man Through the Wall" had been finished, while Sasaki's "The Grim Reaper's Lullaby" was in production.[4]

In Hashimoto's vision, the production of Operation: Mystery would consist of two main pillars: episodes written by Kinjo and directed by Hajime Tsuburaya, and episodes written by Sasaki and directed by Akio Jissoji.[5] However, for various reasons, Kinjo's "Man-Eating Moths" was postponed to the second episode, while Toshihiro Iijima's "Man Through the Wall" was filmed first, becoming the inaugural episode of the series. This change disrupted Hashimoto's overall plan, and Kinjo did not participate in any further scriptwriting after "Vampire Hell", with Uehara taking over Kinjo's collaborative work.[4][6]

As filming began, Tsuburaya Productions tightened the budget, retaining only the core crew for the production, as the series did not require large-scale special effects. Despite this, the crew's lack of experience with special effects led to difficulties in Iijima's filming progress. On the first day of shooting, Iijima felt that filming could not continue and handed over the production work to the special effects team from Ultraseven.[4]

Although TBS arranged only a single filming crew, it supported the series with a production budget of 5.3 million yen per episode. Ultimately, Operation: Mystery achieved an average viewership rating of 22.0%. However, the standards for Takeda Koji were exceedingly high, and by the end of the first season, it was decided not to renew for a third season. Following the conclusion of Fight! Mighty Jack in December, Tsuburaya Productions faced deteriorating management, halted the acceptance of new program orders, and decided to implement significant layoffs on December 12, 1968.[7]

Synopsis[]

The SRI confronts enigmatic scientific crimes disguised as inexplicable incidents. An eerie moth that dissolves humans with phosphorous powder. A French doll wielding a knife and attacking people. A phosphorescent human fused with sulfur. Bizarre and unsettling incidents, along with the hidden human darkness behind them, are exposed through scientific investigation.

The advancements in science and the unchanging human psyche have given rise to new forms of terrifying crimes.[8]

Characters[]

SRI[]

  • Tadashi Matoya
  • Shiro Maki
  • Kyosuke Misawa
  • Hiroshi Nomura
  • Saori Ogawa

Kaiju[]

Cast[]

  • Shiro Maki (牧 史郎, Maki Shirō): Shin Kishida (岸田 森, Kishida Shin)
  • Kyosuke Misawa (三沢 京助, Misawa Kyōsuke): Homare Suguro (勝呂 誉, Suguro Homare)
  • Tadashi Matoya (的矢 忠, Matoya Tadashi): Yasumi Hara (原 保美, Hara Yasumi)
  • Hiroshi Nomura (野村 洋, Nomura Hiroshi): Seiji Matsuyama (松山 省二, Matsuyama Seiji) (episodes 1-17, 19-26)
  • Saori Ogawa (小川 さおり, Ogawa Saori): Reiko Kobashi (小橋 玲子, Kobashi Reiko) (episeodes 1-5, 7-22, 24-26)
  • Taizo Machida (町田 大蔵, Machida Taizō): Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji) (episodes 1-2, 4-8, 10-21, 23-26)
  • Jiro (次郎, Jirō): Hiroshi Nakashima (中島 洋, Nakashima Hiroshi) (episodes 1-3, 11)

Staff[]

Music[]

Home Media[]

Operation: Mystery first released on multiple VHS and LaserDisc sets. In 2003-2004, it was released on six DVDs, each containing 4-5 episodes. Episodes were proportioned the same on a second series of DVDs in 2012-2013, which were also included in two box sets that released on September 21 and November 21 in 2012.[9][10] A Blu-ray set of the series in HD across four discs was released on March 6, 2019, with a fifth disc containing interviews and trailers.[11] The banned twenty-fourth episode is not included on any of the DVD or the Blu-ray sets.

German Dub[]

13 episodes were dubbed in German and aired in Germany under the name S.R.I. and the Sinister Cases (S.R.I. und die unheimlichen Fälle) in 1968. These episodes were released on DVD in 2013 by Pidax Film, along with a second volume containing the remaining episodes of the series with German subtitles.

Spin-offs[]

There have been three sequels/remakes of Operation: Mystery:

Manga[]

The series received a number of manga adaptions by various authors.

Novel[]

Puzzle-solving Experience Mystery: The Electronic Brain Exploder - inspired by Operation: Mystery (謎解き体験ミステリー 破裂する電脳 inspired by 怪奇大作戦, Nazotoki Taiken Misuterī Haretsu Suru Den'nō inspired by Kaiki Daisakusen) is an interactive novel based on the series. It was written by Shin Kibayashi and released on January 10, 2015. Readers solve the novel's mysteries by finding clues at Miraiya book stores.[12][13][14][15]

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • This is the last television series Eiji Tsuburaya contributed to before his death.

External Links[]

References[]

Productions
Showa Series Ultra Q | Ultraman | Ultraseven | Return of Ultraman | Ultraman Ace | Ultraman Taro | Ultraman Leo | Ultraman 80
Heisei Series Ultraman Tiga | Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Cosmos | Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy | Ultraman Nexus | Ultraman Max | Ultraman Mebius | Ultraseven X | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle | Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey | Neo Ultra Q | Ultraman Ginga | Ultraman Ginga S | Ultraman X | Ultraman Orb | Ultraman Geed | Ultraman R/B
Reiwa Series Ultraman Taiga | Ultraman Z | Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga | Ultraman Decker | Ultraman Blazar | Ultraman Arc | Ultraman Omega
Outside of Japan Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | Ultraman: Towards the Future | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Ultraman: Rising
Original Video and TV Special Ultra Fight | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ultra Super Fight | Ultraman Nice | Heisei Ultraseven | Ultraman Neos | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Idemitsujin | Ultra Zone
Showa Movies Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature | Return of Ultraman | The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army | Ultraman (1979) | Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle | Ultraman ZOFFY: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army | Ultraman Story
Heisei Movies Ultra Q The Movie | Revive! Ultraman | Ultraman Zearth | Ultraman Zearth 2 | Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna | Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia | Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey | Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact | Ultraman Cosmos 2 | New Century Ultraman Legend | Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice | New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend | ULTRAMAN (2004) | Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers | Superior 8 Ultra Brothers | Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy: The Movie | Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial | Ultraman Saga | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special | Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Battle Royale | Ultraman Ginga S The Movie | Ultraman X The Movie | Ultraman Orb The Movie | Ultraman Geed The Movie | Ultraman R/B The Movie
Reiwa Movies Ultraman Taiga The Movie | Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z | Shin Ultraman | Ultraman Decker Finale | Ultraman Blazar The Movie | Ultraman Arc The Movie
Short Films Ultraman, Ultraseven: Great Violent Monster Fight | Mirrorman Pilot Film | Ultra Q No.29: Darkness is Coming! | Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order | Ultraman Neos Pilot | Ultraman Tiga 〜To the Children of Light〜 | Fierce Battle! Ultraman Takamiy | ULTRAMAN_n/a | Ultraseven IF Story
Spin-Offs Andro Melos | Ultraman Zearth: Parody Chapter | Revival of the Ancient Giant | The Return of Hanejiro | Gaia Again | The Ultra Q Club | Ultraman Kaiju Legend | Hikari Saga | Armored Darkness | Ghost Rebirth | Ultraman Zero VS Darklops Zero | Q -Door to Another Dimension- | Killer the Beatstar | Ultra Zero Fight | Ultra Fight Victory | Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA | Ultra Fight Orb | New Generation Heroes | The Absolute Conspiracy | Sevenger Fight | Struggle of Special Section 3 | The Destined Crossroad | Continued Ultra Fight | Shin Ultra Fight | Return of Special Section 3 | Ultraman Regulos | Ultraman Regulos: First Mission | SKaRD Break Room
Dramas and Docudramas Fly in the Sea Breeze!! Ultraman | The Men Who Made Ultraman | Superhuman Detective Shuwatch | My Beloved Ultraseven | The Man Who Wanted to Be Ultraman | The Kaiju Club | The Two Ultramen
Rebroadcast Shows Ultraman Retsuden | New Ultraman Retsuden | Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle | Ultraman Orb: The Chronicle | Ultraman New Generation Chronicle | Ultraman Chronicle: ZERO & GEED | Ultraman Chronicle Z: Heroes' Odyssey | Ultraman Chronicle D | Ultraman New Generation Stars
Other Series and Movies Kaiju Booska | Captain Ultra | Mighty Jack | Fight! Mighty Jack | Operation: Mystery | Scat of Single | Chibira-kun | Mirrorman | Redman | Triple Fighter | Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 | Iron King | Horror Theater Unbalance | Fireman | Jumborg Ace | Mirror Fight | Jumborg Ace & Giant | Mars Men | Army of the Apes | Pro-Wrestling Star Aztecaser | The Last Dinosaur | Dinosaur Expedition Born Free | Dinosaur Great War Izenborg | Star Wolf | Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon | Our Baseball Detective Team | Anime-chan | Gridman the Hyper Agent | Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad | Moon Spiral | Cyber Beauties Telomere | Booska! Booska!! | Otasuke Girl | Mysterious Incident Special Investigation Team SRI | Mirrorman REFLEX | Bio Planet WoO | Operation: Mystery - Second File | Mirror Fight 2012 | Operation: Mystery - Mystery File | Gridknight Fight
Anime The☆Ultraman | Ultraman Kids (Pleasant Friends of Planet M7.8, Proverb Stories, 30 Million Light-Years) | Ultraman Graffiti: Wild! Ultra Country | Ultraman: Super Fighter Legend | Ultra Nyan | Ultra Nyan 2 | Ultraman M78 Theater Love & Peace | Gridman the Hyper Agent: boys invent great hero | The・Ultraman: Jackal vs. Ultraman | Kaiju Sakaba Kanpai! | Kaiju Girls | SSSS.GRIDMAN | ULTRAMAN (2019) | Kaiju Step Wandabada | SSSS.DYNAZENON | KAIJU DECODE | GRIDMAN UNIVERSE
Documentaries and Informational Series The Father of Ultra Q | Ultra Information Station | Ultra's Cradle | Ultra Heroine Legend (From Anne to Seven, Contest of Goddesses) | Ultra Q Kaiju Legend | Ultraman The Prime | Return of Izenborg | ULTRAMAN ARCHIVES | Takaya's Room | Ultra Science Fantasy Hour | Ultra Fight Club | UlSummer Information Station | Tomokazu Seki's ULTRA CLUB | Ultra Construction Tour | Ultra Information Center | Ultraseven Legend | Professor Teruaki's "Blazar Kaiju Academy" | Super Power! Ultra Encyclopedia! | Ultraman 4K Discovery | Ul-Katsu Life | THE ORIGIN OF ULTRAMAN
Outlaw Content Space Warriors 2000 | Project Ultraman | Ultraman The Animation | Ultraman: A Little Journey on Earth | Fun... English with Ultraman | Young Ultraman | Ultraman Big Transformation | Sinic Q | Red Jade | Dragon Force: So Long Ultraman | Dragon Force: Rise of Ultraman