Japan Academy Prize winner wrote for Ultra Seven, Return of Ultraman, Ultraman Ace

Shinichi Ichikawa, a scriptwriter for several Ultraman series and other popular live-action television series, passed away on Saturday, December 10 at 4:43 a.m. due to lung cancer. He was 70.

Ichikawa was born in Isahaya City in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Nagasaki. After making his debut in the live-action special-effects program Kaijū Booska in 1966, he wrote for Ultra Seven (1966-1967), The Return of Ultraman (1971-1972), Ultraman Ace (1972-1973), Kizu Darake no Tenshi (1974-1975), and many other live-action series.

His work ranged from the epic NHK historical drama series Ōgon no Hibi (1978) and Sanga Moyu (1984) to more intimate human drama series such as Sabishii no wa Omae Dake Janai (1982). He won a Japan Academy Prize for the 1988 film Ijin-tachi to no Natsu (The Discarnates) . The live-action television special based on his Chōchō-san novel just aired last month with Aoi Miyazaki as the title character.

Ichikawa also served as a commentator on news and talk shows and presided over the Television and Radio Writers' Association of Japan. He received NHK's Hōsō Bunka Shō honor and just last month, the government's Order of the Rising Sun (4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette).

Source: NHK, Yomiuri