Overview

Renowned for its creation of the Ultraman series, Tsuburaya Production followed the opuses "Ultra Q," "Ultraman," and "Ultra Seven" with "OPERATION: MYSTERY" (Kaiki Daisakusen). Although no monsters appear in it, the "OPERATION: MYSTERY" series is a masterpiece adopting bizarre incidents of human causes as its theme, and takes the science fiction element, human drama, and streak of social satire manifested in "Ultra Q" and "Ultra Seven" to even higher levels.

Centering on stories of horror and mystery, the "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" (Kyofu Gekijo Unbalance) series mobilized the talents of several first-rate directors. In spite of this, it was long regarded as a phantom undertaking because of the long time taken before it was actually shown.

Although both of these series were produced about 50 years ago, between 1968 and 1970, they are studded with themes that remain current even today, such as the destruction of nature and motiveless murders.

The Program will show the finest works from the two series. Sit back and savor their world of mystery and horror while immersing yourself in the scenes and air of their times!

Program

*Doors open 15 minutes before the start of each program.
*Tickets are valid for one program only.

Sat. 24 August	Sun. 25 August
Progam A 10:00-11:45 "OPERATION: MYSTERY" "The Woman with Blue Blood" 25min "A Tale in the Fog" 25min "Good Night" 25min "The Weasel's Slash" 25min ― intermission ― 11:55-13:35 "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" "Graveyard of the Mask" 48min "Murderer in the Morgue" 48min	Progam B 10:00-11:45 "OPERATION: MYSTERY" featuring Film director, Akio Jissoji "Horror Telephone" 25min "Lullaby of Death" 25min "The Accursed Urns" 25min "I Want to Buy Kyoto" 25min ― intermission ― 11:55 - 13:35 "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" "The Company Man's Medal" 48min "Hand of the Curse from the Grave" 48min
Program B 14:30-16:15 "OPERATION: MYSTERY" featuring Film director, Akio Jissoji "Horror Telephone" 25min "Lullaby of Death" 25min "The Accursed Urns" 25min "I Want to Buy Kyoto" 25min ― intermission ― 16:25-18:05 "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" "The Company Man's Medal" 48min "Hand of the Curse from the Grave" 48min	Progam A 14:30-16:15 "OPERATION: MYSTERY" "The Woman with Blue Blood" 25min "A Tale in the Fog" 25min "Good Night" 25min "The Weasel's Slash" 25min ― intermission ― 16:25-18:05 "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" "Graveyard of the Mask" 48min "Murderer in the Morgue" 48min

●OPERATION: MYSTERY
"Kaiki-Daisakusen"『怪奇大作戦』
(Broadcast from 1968 to 1969 [Showa 43-44] on TBS)

This is a series of television dramas in which villains who abuse science to commit crimes are pitted against the investigators of the Science Research Institute (SRI), who expose them in the end.
The SRI is a semi-governmental, semi-private research laboratory that does work on cases commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
The famed series crowned the finale of Tsuburaya Production's first golden age, and is still strongly supported by drama lovers.

《CAST》
SRI employees: Kyosuke Misawa (Homare Suguro), Shiro Maki (Shin Kishida), Hiroshi Nomura (Seiji Matsuyama), Saori Ogawa (Reiko Kohashi)
SRI director: Tadashi Matoya (Yasumi Hara)
Metropolitan Police Department: Taizo Machida (Akiji Kobayashi)
-- The name of the character is followed by that of the actor in parentheses.

●HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE
"Kyofu Gekijo Unbalanace"『恐怖劇場アンバランス』
(Broadcast in 1973 [Showa 48] by Fuji Television)

If you have a weak heart or are by yourself, the management advises you not to view any installments of "Horror Theater Unbalance" …

Production staff and actors on the front lines of the television and movie industries of the times were recruited to make works of "genuine horror" stemming from absurdity, deep-seated grudges, and curses.
The series was produced over the years 1969 - 1970. It was a period of great change exemplified by the Apollo 11 lunar landing and the holding of the Japan World Exposition, Osaka. Against this background, Tsuburaya Production took up the challenge of depicting horror in earnest for this milestone series.

●Program A (Sat. 24 August 10:00-13:35, Sun. 25 August 14:30-18:05)

From "OPERATION: MYSTERY" ("Kaiki-Daisakusen"『怪奇大作戦』)

"The Woman with Blue Blood"
("Aoi Chi no Onna"「青い血の女」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Toshitsugu Suzuki/ Script: Bunzo Wakatsuki/ Special Effect: Koichi Takano/ Starring: Jun Hamamura, Hiroshi Yamanaka, Keisuke Tate and others

SRI's Misawa renews his acquaintance with an old friend from his school days at the latter's home. But when he spends the night there at his friend's invitation, he is assaulted by someone in bed! Immediately afterward, an office employee walking down the sidewalk on a nearby street is killed by a doll with a knife built into its hand.
The piece is packed with thrills, and the unique special-effect sounds also merit attention.

"A Tale in the Fog"
("Kiri no Dowa"「霧の童話」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Toshihiro Iijima/ Script: Shozo Uehara/ Special Effect: Toru Matoba/ Starring: Yoshio Yoshida, Setsuo Wakui, Hiroyuki Takano and others

Pursued by a mysterious renegade samurai, a youth falls off a cliff and is severely injured. In response to a request for an investigation, Misawa visits the village of Onino and becomes friends with the lad, who is named Kenichi and lives there. The legend of the samurai has been passed down through the ages in the village, which is embroiled in controversy over national plans to build an expressway and problems involving the construction of a plant by a major U.S. automaker.
Revolving around the theme of the environment and development, this classic makes us ask ourselves 50 years later whether our choices were right.

"Good Night"
("Oyasumi Nasai"「オヤスミナサイ」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Toshihiro Iijima/ Script: Keisuke Fujikawa/ Special Effect: Toru Matoba/ Starring: Isao Sasaki, Maya Kitajima, Hiroshi Sekita and others

Yuki and Tatsuo hold a party just for themselves in a highland hut in late autumn. But when Yuki throws a decorative Indian plume at Tatsuo in jest, its sharp point pierces his chest, and he dies. Then SRI's Maki, who had gotten lost in the woods while hunting, makes his way to the hut and asks Yuki to let him spend the night there. After going to bed, he is beset by a nightmare.
This is a suspenseful drama that unfolds in the closed space of the hut. The plot makes several twists and turns, and leaves viewers wondering what will happen next in this first-rate mystery.

"The Weasel's Slash"
("Kamaitachi"「かまいたち」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Takashi Nagano/ Script: Shozo Uehara/ Special Effect: Koichi Takano/ Starring: Osamu Kato, Sinjiro Asano, Shunsuke Ikeda and others

After exiting the railway station, a woman senses someone behind her. With a sudden roar, a whirlwind attacks her and cuts her body to pieces. Later, a second murder occurs in the same place. The police are asked for their assistance with the crimes, which occurred in a scant amount of time when their attention was elsewhere. The weapon is presumed to be not a knife, but a natural phenomenon along the lines of a weasel's slash.
The script by Shozo Uehara carries even more weight today, about 50 years later.

From "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" ("Kyofu-gekijo Unbalance『恐怖劇場アンバランス』)

"Graveyard of the Mask"
("Kamen no Hakaba"「仮面の墓場」1973/ 48min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Eizo Yamagiwa/ Script: Shinichi Ichikawa/ Starring: Kara Juro, Mako Midori, Isao Hashizume, Noboru Mitani and others

The little theater troupe Mustard Seed has fallen out of favor with the public. With a burning desire to lead its latest offering to success, Inuo, the troupe's head, compels Shirahama, the actor playing Death, to perform a role that goes to extremes. As a result, Shirahama is killed in an accident. But in spite of his death, Inuo tries to have the show go on anyway.
The piece stars Kara Juro, who was then leader of the avant-garde company Situation Theater. The cast includes Mako Midori, who exudes a coquettish appeal.

"Murderer in the Morgue"
("Morgue no Satsujin"「死体置場（モルグ）の殺人者」1973/ 48min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Yasuharu Isebe/ Script: Hiroyasu Yamaura/ Starring: Koreharu Hisatomi, Mieko Nishio, Sanae Nakahara and others

Dr. Mizukami, a surgeon who teaches anatomy at a university, runs over and kills a corporate employee while taking a drive with his student and lover Ryoko. He hides the corpse and attempts to continue advancing his career, as if nothing had happened.
The piece is also notable for the special makeup, which makes the wounds and sores on the corpse look remarkably real.

●Program B (Sat. 24 August14:30-18:05 / Sun. 25 August10:00-13:35)

From "OPERATION: MYSTERY" ("Kaiki-daisakusen"『怪奇大作戦』)

"Horror Telephone"
("Kyofu no Denwa"「恐怖の電話」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Akio Jissoji/ Script: Mamoru Sasaki/ Special Effect: Jun Ohki/ Starring: Hiroko Sakurai, Kikuo Kaneuchi, Eiji Muto and others

One night, the phone rings at the home of the Takiguchi family. The daughter Reiko hands the receiver to her father, who then instantly goes up in flames and is burned to death! Subsequently, another incident of apparently spontaneous human combustion occurs right before Reiko's eyes.
This masterpiece was directed by Akio Jissoji and written by Mamoru Sasaki. For the "Ultraman" series, the pair produced works of excellence in terms of both thematic content and visual beauty.

"Lullaby of Death"
("Shinigami no Komori Uta"「死神の子守唄」1968/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Akio Jissoji/ Script: Mamoru Sasaki/ Special Effect:Jun Ohki/ Starring: Yuri Fukagawa, Rokkou Toura, Daigo Kusano and others

"Ten girls set out on a journey…the first died after being struck by a waterfall…" A succession of homicides occur as sung in the lyrics of a song by a new singer. Radiation is detected from the corpses of the victims, and there is speculation that a spectrum G ray, which has not yet been fully elucidated in the world of science, was used to commit the crimes.
What is the sad motive hidden behind the incidents? This social-commentary drama raises a sobering subject.

"The Accursed Urns"
("Noroi no Tsubo"「呪いの壺」1969 / 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Akio Jissoji/ Script: Toshiro Ishido/ Special Effect: Jun Ohki/ Starring: Kotobuki Hananomoto, Eizo Kitamura, Saburo Ukita and others

A string of weird incidents occur in Kyoto. Elderly men die after their ocular nerves are burned when they peek into antique urns on the veranda at their homes. At the request of the Kyoto Prefectural Police, Director Machida and other members of the SRI team pay a visit to the police identification section, when a young man by the name of Hino appears before them. He runs a business in antiques, and reveals that all of the victims were customers at his store.
The script by Toshiro Ishido and direction by Jissoji sparkle in this work, which is surely one of the high points in the whole "Operation: Mystery" series.

"I Want to Buy Kyoto"
("Kyoto Kaimasu"「京都買います」1969/ 25min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Akio Jissoji/ Script: Mamoru Sasaki/ Special Effect: Jun Ohki/ Starring: Chiyako Saito, Naoji Iwata, Yuji Sato and others

Buddhist statues are disappearing from temples in Kyoto. Maki pays a visit to Professor Fujimori, an archaeological authority, and encounters his assistant Miyako. At night, Miyako hands out flyers with the words "Please sell me Kyoto" on a busy street. She says that she wants to buy the ancient capital from people who do not understand the beauty of Buddhist statues.
An encounter and a parting, both portrayed with a poetic poignancy. This installment is one that is most dear to the hearts of fans of the "Operation: Mystery" series.

From "HORROR THEATER UNBALANCE" ("Kyofu-gekijo Unbalance"『恐怖劇場アンバランス』)

"The Company Man's Medal"
("Salaly Man no Kunsho"「サラリーマンの勲章」1973/ 48min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Kazuho Manda/ Script: Shozo Uehara/ The Original Work: Taro Kinoshita "Shoshitsu-Keikaku" (消失計画)/ Starring: Sakae Umezu, Manami Fuji, Tsushima Keiko, Rie Yokoyama and others

Inukai, a typical company man, is going to be late for an early morning managerial meeting, his first since his promotion to the post of section head. He initially sets out for the company, but eventually turns back…
Unusually for the "Horror Theater Unbalance" series, not a single murder or mysterious incident occurs in this classic, which deftly portrays the psyche of the protagonist and serves up thrills with a distinctly realistic edge. The cast features a stellar lineup of actresses: Manami Fuji, Keiko Tsushima, and Rie Yokoyama.

"Hand of the Curse from the Grave"
("Hakaba kara Noroi no Te"「墓場から呪いの手」1973/ 48min/ 16mm/ color/ Tsuburaya Production)
Director: Kazuho Manda/ Script: Bunzo Wakatsuki/ Starring: Koichi Yamamoto, Noriko Maki, Rumi Matsumoto and others

Kuwata kills Kumi, his lover, when a conversation about breaking up turns into an argument. He dismembers her body and discards the parts in various places in an attempt to conceal the evidence, but there ensues a stream of strange happenings.
This work makes use of a gimmicky moving hand as only Tsuburuya Production could.