Archive: G-FEST XXI Special Guests

The following special guests appeared at G-FEST XXI:

Guest of Honor: Koichi Kawakita Koichi Kawakita is a film and special effects director, best known for heading the special effects for the Heisei series Godzilla films. He won the Japanese Academy Award for special effects work on Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Kawakita also helmed the effects work on the Rebirth of Mothra series. In 2003, Kawakita established his own visual effects company, Dream Planet Japan.

Special Guest: Tomoko Ai The beautiful Tomoko Ai played the tragic character of Katsura Mafune in the final Godzilla film of the Showa series: Terror of Mechagodzilla, released in 1975. While this was her only appearance in a Godzilla film, Tomoko Ai remains one of the series’ most popular heroines. She also played in the Tsuburaya television series Ultraman Leo.

Special Guest: Katsuhiko Sasaki For Godzilla fans, Katsuhiko Sasaki is best known for his role as marine biologist Akira Ichinose, the protagonist, and romantic interest for Katsura in Terror of Mechagodzilla. He also starred as the inventor Goro Ibuki in 1973’s Godzilla vs. Megalon. Katsuhiko Sasaki also had parts in Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. He has since played in many television movies and series, as well as done voice work for television animation and film dubbing.

Special Guest: Hiroshi Sagae Hiroshi Sagae is a master maquette sculptor, and model maker for the film and toy collectibles industries. He has contributed maquette sculpts and miniature work for numerous modern-day Godzilla and Gamera films, and most recently did sculpting work on Ultraman Saga in 2012.

Special Guest: Shinpei Hayashiya Shinpei Hayashiya has achieved success in Japan as a master of Rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of comedic monologue. He is also a big fan of kaiju films, and has directed two movies that have been released to Japanese theaters: Reigo vs. Yamato and Deep Sea Monster Raiga. Mr. Hayashiya also directed the legendary independent production Gamera 4: Truth.

Special Guest: Don Frye Don Frye is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, actor, and professional wrestler, who rose to fame fighting in early Ultimate Fighting Championship events. He began acting in movies with Godzilla: Final Wars, playing the role of Captain Douglas Gordon. Don has made several other film appearances including No Rules, Nagurimono, Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy, Miami Vice and has even done voice over work for The Ant Bully.

Special Guest: Bob Eggleton Bob Eggleton is a multiple-award winning science fiction, fantasy, and horror artist, most recognized here for his work on dinosaurs, dragons, and of course Godzilla. Bob is known not only for his dramatic and true to source renderings of all manner of kaiju, but also for his promotion of the genre and his generosity to Godzilla fandom. This year’s coveted Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Bob at the G-FEST XXI Awards Luncheon. Congratulations, Bob!

Special Guest: Robert Scott Field

The star of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Scott has become an integral part of G-FEST since he first attended in 1999. Each year, G-FEST attendees look forward to renewing their friendship with Scott, and hearing about the latest happenings in the Land of the Rising Sun.