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Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK

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Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK (ウルトラ特撮 PERFECT MOOK（パーフェクトムック）, Urutora Tokusatsu Pāfekuto Mukku) is a series of a data books published by Kodansha about the Ultraman Series and Tsuburaya's other tokusatsu series up to Ultraman Z. There are 41 volumes, beginning with a special issue labelled vol. 0[1] and followed by two releases per month from July 9, 2020 to February 24, 2022. The order of works covered by the series was decided by a vote.[1][2]

Contents[]

Each volume follows a similar format for its contents:

  • A contents list next to a column by Risaku Kiridoshi.
  • An introduction of the respective work(s), detailing production and release.
  • Pages about the main Ultras or heroes, often with separate pages per form. These give a short summary with descriptions and images of their numerous techniques. Some volumes describe the uniqueness of each suit actors' portrayal, or highlight a NG version of the character's suit.
  • The next pages introduce the main human characters, often beginning with an explanation of their defense team or organization, and followed by a breakdown of the team's arsenal and mecha. Protagonists are often give their own page. Ultras and heroes originally from other series are also covered, but in less detail compared to their own own volumes.
  • Special Interview (特別インタビュー, Tokubetsu Intabyū): An interview with a cast member or two, often the leading actor, a main cast member or a suit actor.
  • A number of pages collating all of the appearing kaiju, with short descriptions, voice actors, and their height and weight. It also describes human forms and some significant human characters.
  • A few pages summarizing the whole series' plot. For shorter series like Ultraman Neos and Mighty Jack, the plot of each episode is explained, but most volumes cover only the major events, each labeled as an "act".
  • For series with collectibles, a gallery of them.
  • Ultra Special Project (ウルトラ特別企画, Urutora Tokubetsu Kikaku): A unique section focusing on a specific topic, often unrelated to the works covered by the volume. Some entries cover two different topics.
  • Ultra Testimony (ウルトラの証言, Urutora no Shōgen): An interview with a staff member associated with the respective work, namely directors, writers, producers, designers, composers or suit actors.
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye (円谷AGEの眼, Tsuburaya Ēji no Me): A single-page column by designer Tsuyoshi Nonaka talking about the volume's works, accompanied with a unique illustration or photo by him.
  • Towards the end are episode lists for all the works covered the volume. These display airdates, appearing kaiju, directors and writers, as well as a complete list of all the staff.

Volumes[]

Vol. Cover Information
0 UPM vol. 0 Ultra & Tsuburaya Productions Tokusatsu Vote
  • Release date: July 19, 2019.[1]
  • Summarizes all of the works that will be covered in future entries.
  • Special Interview: Hiroko Sakurai (Yuriko Edogawa and Akiko Fuji).
  • A feature on Tsuburaya Productions' uniqueness by Risaku Kiridoshi.
01 UPM vol. 01 Ultraseven
  • Release date: July 9, 2020.[3]
  • Special Interview: Kohji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on the filming sets used in Ultraseven.
  • Ultra Testimony: Kiyoshi Suzuki (producer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: The UG's mecha, with art and Nonaka's thoughts on their designs.
  • A feature on heroines in the Ultraman Series and Tsuburaya's other works, followed by a second Special Interview with Yuriko Hishimi.
02 UPM vol. 02 Ultraman
  • Release date: July 28, 2020.
  • Special Interview: Susumu Kurobe (Shin Hayata).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on Tsuburaya's works in the 60s.
  • Ultra Testimony: Bin Furuya (Ultraman's suit actor).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Kaiju sofubi toys, with a photo of Nonaka as a child holding a Gomora figure.
03 UPM vol. 03 Ultraman Tiga
  • Release date: August 6, 2020
  • Special Interview: Hiroshi Nagano (Daigo Madoka).
  • Ultra Special Project: The first feature on Defense Team uniforms, including the SSSP, UG, MAT, TAC and ZAT.
  • Ultra Testimony: Masato Oida (producer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's work in merchandise for Ultraman Tiga, with art of the Ultra and Mamoru Uchiyama's depiction of Ultraman Jack.
04 UPM vol. 04 Return of Ultraman
  • Release date: August 25, 2020.
  • Special Interview: Jiro Dan (Hideki Go).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on Tsuburaya's non-Ultraman works in the 70s.
  • Ultra Testimony: Akihiko Iguchi (designer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Watching Return of Ultraman as a child, with art of an Ultraman toy and an Ultraman bowling toy, as well as a picture of himself as a child with a MAT helmet.
05 UPM vol. 05 Ultraman Mebius
  • Release date: September 10, 2020.
  • Special Interview: Shunji Igarashi (Mirai Hibino).
  • Ultra Special Project: The first feature on kaiju designs, mentioning the staff involved, with examples from Ultra Q to Return of Ultraman.
  • Ultra Testimony: Akira Tanizaki and Masanao Akahoshi (directors).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Capsule Kaiju and their impact, with art of Kaiju Capsules, Maquette Capsules and their apparatus.
06 UPM vol. 06 Ultra Q
  • Release date: September 26, 2020.
  • Special Interview: Hiroko Sakurai (Yuriko Edogawa and Akiko Fuji) and Yasuhiko Saijo (Ippei Togawa).
  • Ultra Q The After: A section describing the media related to Ultra Q, including Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars, Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy, Ultra Q's colorization, and Neo Ultra Q. The characters and kaiju of Neo Ultra Q are also covered.
  • Ultra Special Project: A biography of Eiji Tsuburaya, the founder of Tsuburaya Productions.
  • Ultra Testimony: Shohei Tojo (director).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Ultraman books and magazines, such as Kaiju encyclopedias, with art of a dissection diagram of Kemur.
07 UPM vol. 07 Operation: Mystery / Horror Theater Unbalance
08 UPM vol. 08 Ultraman Zero / Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle
09 UPM vol. 09 Ultraman Leo
  • Release date: November 10, 2020.
  • Special Interview: Ryu Manatsu (Gen Otori).
  • Ultra Special Project: Coverage of Chibira-kun.
  • Ultra Testimony: Yoji Hashimoto (producer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: A breakdown of tokusatsu that released from 1970 to 1975. There is a graph sorting works by year, color-coded by company and sorted into tokusatsu transforming heroes with either giant or human-sized characters or anime starring either heroes or robots.
10 UPM vol. 10 Ultraman Ace
11 UPM vol. 11 Ultraman Taro
12 UPM vol. 12 Ultraman Orb
13 UPM vol. 13 Mirrorman
  • Release date: January 8, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Kentaro Kudo (Takeshi Fujimoto).
  • A feature on Mirrorman's pilot film, Mirror Fight, Mirrorman REFLEX, and Mirror Knight. This is followed by pages on Mirrorman Reflex and the series' characters and kaiju.
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on suit actors for heroes from Ultraman to Ultraman 80, including Tsuburaya's non-Ultraman series.
  • Ultra Testimony: Kazuho Mitsuta (director and producer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Thoughts on the Mirrorman series having seen it as a child, with art of Mirrorman's original manga design and the live-action version behind him.
14 UPM vol. 14 Ultraman Gaia
15 UPM vol. 15 Ultraman Geed
16 UPM vol. 16 Gridman the Hyper Agent
  • Release date: February 24, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Masaya Obi (Naoto Sho).
  • Ultra Special Project: Coverage of SSSS.GRIDMAN.
  • Ultra Testimony: Hirochika Muraishi (director).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's experiences in designing merchandise, Takara Tomy's involvement in the development of Gridman the Hyper Agent and when he was called to work on SSSS.GRIDMAN. Accompanied by art of King Gridman and Full Powered Gridman.
17 UPM vol. 17 Ultraman Nexus
  • Release date: March 10, 2021.
  • Also covers ULTRAMAN.
  • Special Interview: Takuji Kawakubo (Kazuki Komon).
  • Ultra Special Project: Coverage of Bio Planet WoO and the first feature on directors of the original Ultraman.
  • Ultra Testimony: Keiichi Hasegawa (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's experiences with the merchandise of Ultraman Nexus and thoughts on the series itself, with art of the Evoltruster, Blast Shot, Stone Fluegel and a silhouette of Nexus in the background.
18 UPM vol. 18 Ultraman Great / Ultraman Powered
  • Release date: March 24, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Kane Kosugi (Kenichi Kai).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on the Ultraman films mainly consisting of stock footage, from a screening of three Ultraman episodes in 1967 to Revive! Ultraman in 1996.
  • Ultra Testimony: Shin Kawabe (composer, formerly went by Shinsuke Kazato).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's experiences with the merchandise of Ultraman Great and Ultraman Powered, with art of toys of Powered, Alien Baltan and a Hummer.
19 UPM vol. 19 Ultraman X
  • Release date: April 8, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Kensuke Takahashi (Daichi Oozora).
  • A collection of Cyber Cards and Spark Dolls.
  • Ultra Special Project: The first feature on the special effects of Ultra Mecha, focusing on those of the 90s, from Ultraman: Towards the Future to Ultraman Gaia.
  • Ultra Testimony: Yuji Kobayashi (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Weapons used by Ultras, with art of Exceed X holding the Xlugger, Zero in the Ultimate Aegis, and the Ultra Spark.
20 UPM vol. 20 Jumborg Ace
  • Release date: April 24, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Mitsuru Saijo (suit actor).
  • Ultra Special Project: The second feature on Ultraman directors, this time for those of Return of Ultraman, as well as a feature on Ultraman miniseries that aired from 1988 to 1996 while the main series was on hiatus, with focus on the puppet show Ultraman M730: Ultraman Land.
  • Ultra Testimony: Kako Yonetani (designer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: The merchandise of Jumborg Ace with art of a advert for a Jumborg Ace toy that can transform between his aircraft form and regular form, as well as blueprints to show how the parts would fold into place.
21 UPM vol. 21 Ultraman 80
  • Release date: May 10, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Hatsunori Hasegawa (Takeshi Yamato).
  • Ultra Special Project: Coverage of Our Baseball Detective Team and other non-Ultraman works by Tsuburaya in the 80s.
  • Ultra Testimony: Toru Fuyuki (composer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on Ultraman 80, UGM, and the show's merchandise, along with art of the UGM's Space Mammy, Silver Gull β with extendable claws and Sky Higher attached to a tank with a drill.
22 UPM vol. 22 Ultraman Dyna
23 UPM vol. 23 Ultraman Max
24 UPM vol. 24 Ultraman Taiga
25 UPM vol. 25 Ultraman R/B
26 UPM vol. 26 Star Wolf / Pro-Wrestling Star Aztecaser
  • Release date: July 27, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Miki Shimamura (Shun Takaba).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on Koichi Takano and Kazuo Sagawa and their use of special effects.
  • Ultra Testimony: Hiroyasu Yamaura (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: The 70s Sci-fi boom in Japan and Nonaka's thoughts on Star Wolf, along with art of his ideas for a Bachhus IV ship with moving parts.
27 UPM vol. 27 Ultra Fight / Redman / Triple Fighter
  • Release date: August 10, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Kunihide Kuruma (suit actor and action choreographer).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on Ultra Super Fight.
  • Ultra Testimony: Shinichi Ooka (producer and cinematographer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on the tokusatsu hero shows he watched around 1970-1972, focusing on Triple Fighter, accompanied by art of Redman atop a pile of kaiju and Orange Fighter, Green Fighter and Red Fighter.
28 UPM vol. 28 Ultraman Cosmos
  • Release date: August 24, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Taiyo Sugiura (Musashi Haruno).
  • Ultra Special Project: The second feature on Defense Teams, this time from GUTS to GUTS-Select.
  • Ultra Testimony: Hiroyasu Shibuya (producer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's experiences working on the merchandise of Ultraman Cosmos, with art of translucent images of EYES' Rounder Shot and its attachments as well as the titular Ultra in Luna Mode.
29 UPM vol. 29 Kaiju Booska / Booska! Booska!!
  • Release date: September 8, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Tetsuo Yamamura (Chamegon suit actor).
  • A feature on Tsuburaya's works that feature other friendly kaiju, including Anime-chan, Ultraman Kids, Ultra Nyan and Ultraman M78 Theater Love & Peace, as well as Booska's appearance in Ultraman R/B.
  • Ultra Special Project: The second feature on the special effects for Ultra Mecha in the 60s, and a feature on scenes that introduce kaiju for the first time.
  • Ultra Testimony: Keisuke Fujikawa (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on the design of friendly kaiju, with art of Pigmon, Booska and Burezaren.
30 UPM vol. 30 Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 / Army of the Apes
  • Release date: September 27, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Toshio Kurosawa (Haruhiko Mouri).
  • Ultra Special Project: The third feature on kaiju designs, including examples from Ultraman, Ultraseven, Return of Ultraman, Fireman, Daigoro vs. Goliath, Mirrorman and Ultraman Tiga.
  • Ultra Testimony: Eizo Yamagiwa (director).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on Defense Team uniforms, mentioning helmets and logos in particular, with art of the SSSP uniform.
31 UPM vol. 31 Mighty Jack / Fight! Mighty Jack
  • Release date: October 7, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Annu Mari (actress).
  • Ultra Special Project: The third feature on the special effects of Ultra Mecha, this time focusing on those in the 70s.
  • Ultra Testimony: Eiji Shirakuma (practical effects artist).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on the Mighty, a toy of it he had as a child (with an illustration of his memory of the toy) and Isao Tomita, the composer of the show's opening theme song.
32 UPM vol. 32 The☆Ultraman
  • Release date: October 26, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Sumi Shimamoto (Mutsumi Hoshikawa).
  • A page on Ultraman Joneus's live-action appearance in Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle.
  • Ultra Special Project: A second feature on technical staff, mainly Ultraseven, as well as aliens in the Ultraman Series.
  • Ultra Testimony: Tadashi Mafune (director, real name Tei Mafune).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on the series, with art of Joneus and Battleship Ultria.
33 UPM vol. 33 Ultraman Ginga / Ultraman Ginga S
34 UPM vol. 34 Dinosaur Expedition Born Free / Dinosaur Great War Izenborg
  • Release date: November 26, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Katsuji Mori (Joji Kitayama).
  • Ultra Special Project: Coverage of the two pilot films, Giant Beast Planet and Tsuburaya 3D Animation, as well as Return of Izenborg.
  • Ultra Testimony: Tatsumi Nikamoto (suit actor and action choreographer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on both series, namely their mixture of live-action and animation and the mecha featured in the show, with an illustration of Nonaka's idea for a Carry Bird and Born Free plastic model.
35 UPM vol. 35 Fireman
  • Release date: December 8, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Sei Hiraizumi (Futoshi Chiba).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on the filming of underground and underwater scenes, and the second feature on Showa suit actors, this time focusing on those who portrayed kaiju.
  • Ultra Testimony: Shu Yamaguchi (designer).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on the differing quality and price of figurines.
36 UPM vol. 36 Ultraman Neos / Andro Melos
  • Release date: December 22, 2021.
  • Special Interview: Jun Takatsuki (Genki Kagura).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on scenes in space in the Showa era.
  • Ultra Testimony: Shinichi Kamizawa (director)
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on Andro Melos and experiences with magazine stories, with art of Andro Flor removing some of her armor and Andro Wolf.
37 UPM vol. 37 Ultraman Zearth / Ultraman USA
  • Release date: January 11, 2022.
  • Special Interview: Keiji Hasegawa (suit actor).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on headquarters rooms of Defense Teams.
  • A page on Ultra Zone and brief summaries of Ultraman docudramas, Superhuman Detective Shuwatch, and Ultraman Boy's Ultra Coliseum.
  • Ultra Testimony: Kazuya Konaka (director).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on Ultraman Zearth and the Ultraman Nice infomercials, with art of Ultraman Zearth, Ultraman Shadow and Ultraman Nice.
38 UPM vol. 38 Dinosaur Squadron Koseidon
  • Release date: January 24, 2022.
  • Special Interview: Yoshihiro Onishi (Go Toki).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on The Last Dinosaur and another feature on dinosaur kaiju and time-traveling kaiju and heroes in Tsuburaya's works.
  • Ultra Testimony: Masaki Tsuji (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Toys and mecha with drills, with art of various examples, including the Polar-Borer, Magma Riser, GUTS DIG and others.
39 UPM vol. 39 Ultraseven 1994/1998/1999/2002 (Heisei Ultraseven) / Ultraseven X
  • Release date: February 12, 2022.
  • The information on the Heisei Ultraseven NTV specials and the other direct-to-DVD entries are separated.
  • Special Interview: Katsuyuki Yamazaki (Masaki Kazamori).
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on alternate dimensions and worlds in Tsuburaya's works.
  • Ultra Testimony: Junki Takegami (screenwriter).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: The Eye Slugger, with art of a Eye Slugger cardboard cutout toy and a shampoo bottle shaped like Ultraseven.
40 UPM vol. 40 Ultraman Z
  • Release date: February 24, 2022.
  • Special Interview: Kohshu Hirano (Haruki Natsukawa).
  • A collection of Ultra Medals, Kaiju Medals and Ultra Access Cards.
  • Ultra Special Project: A feature on Ultras' battles against robots and another feature on the bonds between humans and Ultras.
  • Ultra Testimony: Takanori Tsujimoto (director).
  • Tsuburaya AGE Eye: Nonaka's thoughts on Ultraman Z, with art of Z in Delta Rise Claw form wielding the Juggler Sword, a weapon he designed.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • A binder that can hold 10 volumes of the series can be purchased.[4] It released on the same day as vol. 01.
  • vol. 22's release date falls on the 46th birthday of Takeshi Tsuruno, appropriately being centered around Ultraman Dyna.
  • The books contain some errors:
    • On page 6 of vol. 03, an image of Glitter Tiga from Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers is used, although the description is about Glitter Tiga's fight against Gatanothor.
    • On page 20 of vol. 08, the images of Luna-Miracle's techniques are mistakenly of Strong-Corona's techniques.
    • On page 14 of vol. 14, Georgie Leland's name in English is spelt "Josie Leland".

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://m-78.jp/news/post-5169
  2. ↑ https://ultrapmook.kodansha.co.jp/
  3. ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-5558
  4. ↑ https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/catalog/0000341840

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