Kawakita Koichi dies

映画特撮監督
川北紘一さん
(2014年12月5日、肝不全で死去、72歳)

Special effects director Kawakita Koichi (died of liver failure on December 5, 2014, aged 72)

迫力の映像手作りの誇り

Powerful images and the pride of handcrafting

ミニチュアの街を作り、着ぐるみの怪獣たちに取っ組み合いをさせる。創意と手作りで生み出すスペクタクルシーン。そんな「特撮」のマジックに魅了された生涯だった。

He built a miniature city and had monsters in costumes fight each other. Spectacular scenes created through ingenuity and handcraft. He was fascinated by the magic of special effects throughout his life.

高校を卒業した1962年、東宝の門をたたいた。特撮の神様・円谷英二さん(1970年死去)の下で仕事を始め、撮影助手などを経て、特技(特殊技術)の助監督になった。組む機会の多かった特技監督の中野昭慶さん(79)には、あらゆることを聞いた。

After graduating from high school in 1962, he joined Toho. He started working under the god of special effects, Eiji Tsuburaya (who passed away in 1970), and after working as a camera assistant he became an assistant director for special effects. He worked with special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano (79) on many occasions, and we asked him everything he knew about the company.

「演出、撮影、美術、何でもいいから特撮の仕事をしたいと言っていた。要するにマニア、物好きの権化だね」現場では、とにかくよく動く。休憩時間、誰もいないはずの編集室で音がする。何かと思えば、円谷監督が捨てたと思えば、円谷監督が捨てたフィルムを集め、1本の作品に仕上げていたという。

“He said he wanted to work in special effects, whether it was directing, cinematography, art, or anything else. In short, he was the epitome of a maniac, someone who loves things.” He was always on the move on set. During breaks, there was a sound in the editing room, where no one was supposed to be. When we thought what it was, we realized that Director Tsuburaya had thrown it away, but then he collected the film that Director Tsuburaya had thrown away and turned it into a film.

アイデアも豊富。「日本沈没」(73年)で、群衆をグッと引いた位置から写す場面では、ミニチュアセットに砂鉄をまき、下から磁石を動かして人波を作った。「どうしたら良い映画になるか、常に考えていた。というか、それを楽しんでいた」と中野さんは振り返る。

He also had a wealth of ideas. In “Japan Sinks” (1973), in a scene where a crowd was shot from a distance, he scattered iron sand on a miniature set and moved a magnet from below to create a wave of people. “I was always thinking about how to make a good movie. Or rather, I enjoyed doing that,” Nakano recalls.

仕事人間だったが、2人の娘の父親参観などに喜んで参加した。ただ、何とも自己中心的。休日に急に思い立って家族を海や朝市に連れ出したり、宿も決めずに旅に出たり。「大人になりきれなかった感じです」と妻の繁子さん(69)は話す。

Although he was a workaholic, he was happy to participate in his two daughters’ father-in-law visits. However, he was very self-centered. On his days off, he would suddenly decide to take his family to the beach or the morning market, or go on trips without deciding where to stay. “It felt like he wasn’t fully grown up,” says his wife, Shigeko (69).

そして89年、「ゴジラvsビオランテ」で特技監督として初めてゴジラ作品に携わる。

In 1989, he worked on his first Godzilla film as special effects director on “Godzilla vs Biollante.”

植物が怪獣になるという異色作。大森一樹監督(63)は「編集したフィルムを置いておくと、勝手に直してしまう。それをまたこっちが直す。闘いでした」と懐かしむ。ヘリコプターの映像は実写かミニチュアかなど、2人の間で攻防が続いた。

This is a unique film in which plants turn into monsters. Director Kazuki Omori (63) recalls fondly, “If I left the edited film lying around, it would just edit it on its own. Then I had to edit it again. It was a battle.” The two continued to argue over such issues as whether the helicopter footage should be live action or a miniature.

最近になり、大森監督が「デジタル技術を取り入れて新しい作品にしたら」と提案すると、「それはダメ。あれだからいいんだ」と強く拒否した。自分の仕事への誇りからだった。

Recently, when Director Omori suggested “How about incorporating digital technology to create a new work,” he strongly rejected it, saying, “That’s no good. That’s why it’s good.” This was due to his pride in his work.

数年前から肝硬変を患い、病状は悪化していたが、ゴジラ公開60周年の昨年はあちこちで引っ張りだこで、渡米も2度した。夏には客員教授を務める大阪芸術大で開かれた「大ゴジラ特撮展」を監修。亡くなる2日前にも、病床から仕事の指示をした。

He had been suffering from cirrhosis of the liver for several years, and his condition had been worsening, but he was in high demand last year, the 60th anniversary of the release of Godzilla, and he traveled to the United States twice. In the summer, he oversaw the “Great Godzilla Special Effects Exhibition” held at Osaka University of Arts, where he was a visiting professor. Two days before his death, he gave instructions for work from his sickbed.

息を引き取ったのは、ちょうど72歳の誕生日。「まだやりたいことはあったと思う。けれども、ゴジラ60周年に関われて良かった」と繁子さん。今頃きっと、憧れの円谷さんと次作のアイデアを練っていることだろう。

He passed away on her 72nd birthday. “I think there were still things I wanted to do, but I’m glad I was able to be involved in Godzilla’s 60th anniversary,” Shigeko said. I’m sure he’s now working on ideas for the next film with his idol, Tsuburaya.

ることだろう。(東京本社文化部大木隆士)
(Tokyo Head Office Cultural Affairs Department, Takashi Oki)

Caption

「ゴジラVSビオランテ」で演出する川北さん。この作品は2014年、「日本映画専門チャンネル」のファン投票で第1位に輝いた(1989年撮影、ドリーム・プラネット・ジャパン提供) TOHO CO., LTD.

Kawakita directing “Godzilla vs. Biollante.” This film won first place in a fan vote on the Japanese Movie Channel in 2014. (Photo taken in 1989, provided by Dream Planet Japan) TOHO CO., LTD.