Kumiko Aso in RED SHADOW
2001s Red Shadow (aka Akakage) is the sort of remake/adaptation that watches fine if you are TOTALLY unfamiliar with the source property. That way, you’re not aware of the squandered opportunity for a modern digital-age superhero ninja vs. monster romp. … Continued
Ninja sliding puzzle
The art is surprisingly good on this mid-to-late 80s sliding puzzle. Although why he’s holding that tanto backwards is beyond me. Check out the others in the assortment, not missing a genre, and getting progressively… stranger. 70s porn Rambo I … Continued
HENSHIN NINJA ARASHI book covers
Gotta wonder about the mentality of the ‘monster-of-the-week’ in these tokusatasu properties… I can see the first boss baddie being all gung-ho, the second and third obsessed with revenge and whatnot, but after a year or two of the mystically-invulnerable … Continued
More MIKA HIJII coming to English-language DVD
Sci-Fi Japan is reporting Nukenin – retitled Rogue Ninja – is coming to Euro-regioned DVD. So where’s OURS!?!? This movie’s been out for years, ‘Merikins love our sword gals, too, and Alien vs. Ninja was a festival circuit hit. No … Continued
80s porcelain statues
This line of rather poorly sculpted and often more poorly painted porcelain statues was EVERYWHERE during the 80s craze – Chinatown video shops, flea market vendors, martial arts supply stores, the Smithsonian’s souvenir stand, ball park peanut vendors, the Automat … Continued
McMunn prints
Circa January, 1982, H. McMunn of New York sold two things: 17×22″ art prints and vicious caltrops. I’ve never sen these prints, or even good repros or scans of them, but I’m really curious about that one on top in … Continued
Weird NINJA-KUN knockoffs…
…over at the excellent Toypedia blog:
Antique kabuki postcards
These mostly un-marked, supposedly pre-war postcards, have been showing up at some of the cheesier souvenir shops in LA’s Little Tokyo. Authentic antique or not, the imagery is great. I’m no student of kabuki theater, but I do know wizard … Continued
Select Merchandise ninja cardback art
They might just be the most coveted line of 80s ninja toys clinging to the edges of obscurity, sought after by elite ninja super-collectors worldwide. (translated: a half-dozen or so of us really competing for these on eBay). We first featured … Continued
Name the KUROZUKIN actor…
No, this isn’t a contest or anything, I’m just stumped on who this is playing the oft-filmed Black Hood and what year it’s from: Of course, it could also be one of the myriad Kurama Tengu, as well… UPDATE: Thanks … Continued