Keizō Murase

Keizō Murase
村瀬継蔵
Born(1935-10-05)October 5, 1935
Ikeda, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan
DiedOctober 14, 2024(2024-10-14) (aged 89)
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Suitmaker, stuntman,
sculptor, modeler, film director
Years active1958–2024

Keizō Murase (村瀬継蔵, Murase Keizō, October 5, 1935 – October 14, 2024) was a Japanese suitmaker, stuntman, sculptor, modeler, and film director. He is particularly well known for his work in giant monster films, including Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and The Mighty Peking Man (1977).

Life and career

Murase was born in Ikeda, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan on October 5, 1935.[1][2]

In 1958, Toho hired Murase to sculpt the Varan suit for Varan the Unbelievable.[3] An amateur photographer, Murase extensively documented his work which was published in his 2015 autobiography, Monster Maker: Keizo Murase.[4] After working for Daiei Film on Gamera, he, Masao Yagi, and Akira Suzuki founded the modelling company, Ex Productions, he later left in 1972 to form his own company, Twenty.[4]

Murase died from cirrhosis of the liver on October 14, 2024, at the age of 89.[5]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

  1. ^ 特撮造形師 村瀬継蔵さん作品展
  2. ^ Homenick, Brett (2018-05-23). "MEMORIES OF JAPAN'S MASTER MONSTER MAKER! Keizo Murase Shares the Secrets of the World's Greatest Kaiju!". Vantage Point Interviews. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  3. ^ "平成25年度メディア芸術情報拠点・コンソーシアム構築事業 日本特撮に関する調査" (PDF). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Murase, Keizo; Wakasa, Shin'ichi (September 9, 2015). Monster Maker: Keizo Murase - Treasured KAIJU Photobook (in Japanese). Yosensha. ISBN 4800307562.
  5. ^ ""怪獣造形界のレジェンド"村瀬継蔵さん死去　89歳　公開中の特撮映画『カミノフデ』で総監督". Sankei. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ^ "SRS Cinema Acquires North American Rights to New Kaiju Film HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG". SciFi Japan. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05.
  7. ^ "怪獣造形のレジェンド 村瀬継蔵が挑む最初で最後の監督作 劇場用特撮映画『神の筆』制作支援プロジェクト | MOTION GALLERY". motion-gallery.net (in Japanese). Retrieved July 19, 2021.


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