Exhibition: Visiting the “Ultraman Exhibition” in Kitakyushu! The Dedication to the Costumes and the Miracle of 3 Minutes ✨ | Riri Ititama / Vtuber
This time, I’ll bring you the story of my visit to the Ultraman 60th anniversary event, the “Ultraman Exhibition," held in Kitakyushu, featuring everyone’s beloved Giant of Light! ♪
I myself hadn’t followed the Ultraman series all that closely, but as a tokusatsu fan, I headed to the venue thinking, “I just have to go see this!" with my heart full of excitement ✨
🔴 Booth 1: Successive Ultramen and the Secrets of the Crew Uniforms
The exhibition was broadly divided into three booths.
The first booth had explanatory panels about the successive Ultramen.
Since the first work I ever encountered was the original Ultraman, I ended up reading the original’s panel especially carefully.
And the newer the Ultraman, the bulkier the design gets, which really made me feel the evolution of technology and the times!
Then, displayed in the center, were the “uniforms of the successive crews"!
As someone with cosplay experience, I couldn’t help but be riveted not only by the designs, but by the “fabrics" themselves (lol).
- Science Special Search Party: Made from a familiar, calm fabric, with a classical texture
- GUTS and others: Made with sturdy leather material, and so stylish!
The dedication of each era came through so directly that, as a costume lover, I just couldn’t get enough ✨
🔴 Booth 2: Powerful Kaiju and the Dark Giants
The next booth was a monument area for kaiju and rivals.
Figures and dolls of the nemesis Belial and the Dark Giants were on display.
Combined with the darkness and light effects, the atmosphere was so eerie and weighty…!
It was such an authentic production that I worried a little, thinking, “Won’t small children cry if they see this? lol"
🔴 Booth 3: The Moving Video and the “3 Minutes" Photo Time!
In the third booth, a special video of about eight minutes was being shown.
As the successive Ultramen fall into danger, the cheers of the children in the venue become the “power of hope," they rise again, and achieve a splendid victory…!
Precisely because it’s simple, the story struck me right in the heart, and I almost teared up.
And the very next moment after the video ended…
All the successive Ultramen gathered together on stage!
The whole venue was buzzing at the spectacular sight, but I couldn’t help laughing at the fact that the photo time we were guided to was limited to “exactly three minutes" (lol).
Classic Ultraman — three minutes is exactly how long cup noodles take, too!
I got carried away and took tons of photos ♪
The Ultraman busts that saw us off as we left the venue also had eyes that shone so clearly, and they looked so cool.
There was also a statue of the latest work, Ultraman Teo, which made me really look forward to what’s coming next!
📸 Bonus: The Heroes Found Outside the Venue
Outside the venue, too, there were large monuments of Ultraman, Ultraman Tiga, and Ultraman Cosmos on display!
Because they were set up in an exposed spot, the paint had peeled a bit and they had a weathered look, but somehow that felt real and charming in its own way (lol).
💭Finally
It was an exhibition I went to after being invited by a friend, but it turned out to be far more satisfying than I had imagined!
I hadn’t really touched the Ultraman series before, but thanks to this event, the feeling of “I want to see all sorts of works!" is bubbling up inside me ✨
Tokusatsu fans, please tell me your recommended Ultraman works and highlights ♪