May 2, 2013
I met Akira Takarada at the Chiller Convention last weekend. There was a bit of a language barrier. I do not speak Japanese and he, despite traveling to the USA for the weekend, didn’t spend not one minute or so on that there airplane learning how to speak good American-like words. Sheesh, just another foreigner coming to our country to take money from his fans at a horror convention.
But I kid.
Akira Takarada is a legend in Japan. Here he is lauded for his roles in the original Godzilla and some of the other Godzilla franchise films. I had him sign my King Kong Escapes poster because I just love that thing.
The man is amazingly polite and respectful. He was dressed in a sharp suit and at nearly 80, was in better shape than I ever have been. He bowed to everyone, took pictures with everyone- as many as you wanted- and even beckoned my brother to take a picture with him, for free.
And I think he looks like an Asian Bob Barker. You decide.
As I said, he is a legend in Japan and, it seems, here to. This was his first American signing and there was a huge line to see him. And the fans? They recited lines to him, discussed their favorite scenes with him, one even acted out a Godzilla fight scene for him, all of which his assistant translated. The man was the very soul of refinement and respectability.
And now, on with the show!
AKIRA TAKARADA SINGS!
AKIRA TAKARADA IN THE ORIGINAL GODZILLA TRAILER!
AKIRA TAKARADA (edited out of) KING KONG VS. GODZILLA SET TO METALLICA’S MASTER OF PUPPETS
Mr. Blog's Tepid Ride 
Good eye on the Bob Barker look-a-like!
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