In a recent Daily Yomiuri article by Ozaki Mio, Ozaki features a conversation by pop artist Nakagawa Shoko aka Shokotan and Mangaka Shigeru Mizuki.

Ozaki wrote, “It’s virtually impossible to discuss yokai, folkloric supernatural beings, without bringing up mangaka Shigeru Mizuki, who set Gegege no Kitaro in a shadowy, yokai-filled world. Midnight airings of Hakaba Kitaro–the newest take on Mizuki’s now-classic story–started this year, which also marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of the first Gegege no Kitaro animated TV series. With the release of a live action film, Gegege no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta, also this year, the “Mizuki World” is taking on a new luster.”

“Shoko “Shokotan” Nakagawa, an otaku personality, singer, voice actress and mangaka, as well as a great fan of Mizuki, recently had her first thrilling encounter with the yokai manga giant. Shokotan, almost too nervous to speak before the interview, did manage to say, “I may throw up.” But Mizuki, who met her at his office in Chofu, Tokyo, was very relaxed, which helped relieve Shokotan. The following are excerpts from their conversation.”

“Shoko “Shokotan” Nakagawa: When I was small, my father [the late actor and musician Katsuhiko Nakagawa] gave me the whole Gegege no Kitaro series as something I would have to read to become a grown-up.”

“By reading it while I was still young, I learned many things…Sorry, I’m too nervous to talk.”

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Daily Yomiuri’s Saori Kan reported, “This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Gegege no Kitaro, the animated show based on Shigeru Mizuki’s manga, Hakaba Kitaro. In commemoration of this milestone, NTV has begun airing Hakaba Kitaro, the newest take on the now-classic story.”

The show’s main character, Kitaro, is the last living member of a tribe of ghosts that have emanated from his dead mother’s decayed body.

The first installment garnered a 4.8 percent share of the TV viewing public, which was the highest figure of any show in the late-night time slot. It depicted Kitaro’s birth and his father–Medama Oyaji (literally daddy eyeball)–as a fully-formed adult. Following his death, his eyeball was reborn as Medama Oyaji to protect Kitaro. Medama Oyaji is well versed in monsters and species of mythical creatures known as “yokai.”

Mizuki, who told The Daily Yomiuri in an e-mail interview he thinks yokai are lovable, seems to be happy with the outcome of Hakaba Kitaro, which airs Thursdays at 12:45 a.m. When watching the new show, the 85-year-old said he felt it was, “Interesting, and the animators are very skillful, too.”

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The “Gegege no Kitaro” movie that aired last year starring WaT’s Wentz Eiji (22), will return this summer as a sequel. The movie created quite a buzz because it was an adaptation of the very popular youkai (demon) manga series of the same name.

The Kitaro Family, including Kitaro (Wentz), Nezumi Otoko (Ooizumi You), Neko Musume (Tanaka Rena), Konaki Jiji (Hazama Kanpei), and Sunakake Baba (Muroi Shigeru) will all be back for the star-studded sequel. The heroine of the last movie played by Inoue Mao (20) will not be back for the sequel, but there will be various new youkai appearing this time around.

Kitaro’s most notable enemy, Nurarihyon will be played by Ogata Ken (70). Other new additions include Nure Onna played by Terajima Shinobu (35), Jakotsu Baba played by Sano Shirou (52), and Ido Sennin played by Sasano Takashi (59). All of them are veteran actors that will transform into their youkai counterparts with the help of special makeup.

The story this time around focuses even more on the forbidden love between humans and youkai, and features a human (played by Hagiwara Masato (36)) who falls in love with Nure Onna. Director Motoki Katsuhide (44) takes the megaphone once again for this picture and it is set to air this summer.

Filming had started on the 11th of last month and the new cast members are enjoying their special makeup. “The staff members were scared,” Terajima said with a smile. Despite being a man, Sano will be playing a “baba” role (baba means old woman) and said, “Apparently they’re going to wrap a real snake around me so this is not going to be easy,” on the filming that would be coming up.

The author Mizuki Shigeru (85) commented, “I’m so happy on the persistence,” in regards to the sequel. Wentz also commented, “I want to make an entertaining picture that even adults will enjoy watching,” and is doing PR for the movie enthusiastically.

Youkai Profiles:
Nurarihyon: A powerful youkai often refered to as the youkai’s commander in chief.
Nure Onna: A female youkai who tries to pull humans under when they try to get across rivers.
Jakotsu Baba: An eldery female youkai that has a huge snake wrapped around her.
Ido Sennin: A Sennin (hermit) that lives by breathing the methane gas produced in wells.

For the original article and more pictures, click here.

For the official webpage of the original movie, go to http://www.gegege.jp/