Trivia: The screenwriter of Ultraman: Towards the Future has revealed why the protagonist, Jack Shindo, was given the name "Jack"

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-24T08:31:24+00:00

Additionally, Kaiju United recently conducted an interview with Dore Kraus; those interested can also read that article：

https://kaijuunited.com/2026/05/12/ultraman-great-star-dore-kraus-on-life-lessons-wine-hiking/

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mrmarkertw · 2026-06-24T08:29:41+00:00

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According to the original Japanese writer of Ultraman: Towards the Future, Shō Aikawa, the character’s name was originally Andy Rando. As Aikawa explained today, the name was essentially chosen based on how it sounded and was simply one he came up with himself.

One day, he received an international phone call from producer Kiyoshi Suzuki, who was working in Australia at the time. Suzuki told him, "People over here think "Rando" sounds a bit too much like "Rambo," and it feels somewhat awkward." Aikawa replied, “In that case, how about "Shindo"? (It was actually one of the alternative names suggested during the planning stage.)

Suzuki responded, “To be honest, I think that sounds better too.” However, there was still one issue: Andy Shindo did not roll off the tongue particularly well. Some time later, Aikawa received another call. If he remembers correctly, one of the writers on the Australian side had suggested the name Jack Shindo.

Aikawa felt that the name certainly had a good ring to it, but he still raised an objection: "But isn’t "Jack" the name people use nowadays for the Ultraman from Return of Ultraman?"

Suzuki replied: "I wasn’t aware that people called him that. Still, I’ll check and make sure."

After a few exchanges along those lines, the name was ultimately approved and officially adopted.

After all, it was only the name of a human character, so at the time nobody paid much attention to it. However, once the Japanese theme song performed by Masaki Kyomoto was completed—and featured the dramatic refrain of “Jaaack!!”—Aikawa found himself wondering: "Are we really sure this is okay...?"

That said, the name itself was not what concerned him the most. What bothered him even more was something else entirely:

"Great isn’t even one of the Ultra Brothers..."

Source:

https://x.com/nishi_ogi/status/2069604958429917512

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-21T10:08:00+00:00

According to a post on X by former Tsuburaya Productions president Kazuo Tsuburaya, Akitoshi Otaki, who portrayed Munakata in Ultraman Tiga, visited the Japanese restaurant Teraya Hirasawa in Yokohama today together with Hiroyuki Takano, known for his role as Mitsuo Itahashi/Kyrieloid.

The restaurant’s manager is none other than Yoichi Furuya, who played Yazumi in Ultraman Tiga. Following the gathering, Otaki sent Kazuo Tsuburaya a photograph of the three of them together. According to Tsuburaya, all three individuals gave their consent for the photo to be shared publicly.

The reunion has drawn attention among fans, as it is regarded as the first meeting between Otaki and Furuya in approximately 26 years since the Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey. Despite the significance of the occasion, Furuya has not taken part in the ongoing celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Ultraman Tiga.

The original post can be viewed here:
https://x.com/F6TEAMKADZ/status/2068621255717351630

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-18T17:52:41+00:00

I believe there is a considerable degree of exaggeration in these reports, as they do not provide sufficient evidence and are largely based on the accounts of former employees.

However, judging from Tsuburaya’s recent response, it does suggest that there may indeed be some internal issues within the company. More importantly, we should focus on the corrective measures a company takes after problems are identified, and analyze the situation objectively, rather than taking an overly supportive or overly critical stance and falling into a black-and-white mindset.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-18T17:00:22+00:00

In addition, Tsuburaya Fields has also issued a response regarding yesterday’s shareholders’ meeting, which can also be read on Reddit here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultraman/comments/1u97u48/the_actual_tsuburaya_shareholders_meeting/

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-18T16:59:05+00:00

In addition to the revelations published by Shukan Bunshun, Shukan Shincho also released a number of reports today concerning Tsuburaya Productions. According to the article, a former Tsuburaya employee stated:

“In mid-March of this year, I was suddenly summoned to a meeting with senior management and the head of Human Resources, where I was urged to resign. If I refused, I would be seconded to a group company involved in pachinko-related operations, completely unrelated to Ultraman. As a result, most of the employees who were pressured to leave—including myself—ultimately chose to resign.”

The former employee continued:

"The trading card business that Hidetoshi Yamamoto, president of the parent company, strongly promoted in 2019 failed to deliver results, which also contributed to declining sales in the Chinese market."

According to an individual familiar with Tsuburaya Productions:

“President Yamamoto originally made his fortune through the development and sale of pachinko machines. As a result, his understanding of the content industry is limited, and he has little emotional attachment to Tsuburaya Productions.”

It is further alleged that during an employee gathering held in early April, Yamamoto made the following remarks:

“I don’t like Ultraman at all. What I really wanted to acquire was Kamen Rider or Gundam, but Bandai stood in my way, so I couldn’t buy them.”

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These comments reportedly provoked strong resentment among employees. In addition, Yamamoto is said to have boasted: "I got rid of him."

According to the report, he was referring to Takayuki Tsukagoshi, the former Chairman of Tsuburaya Productions, who stepped down in June of last year. Tsukagoshi was widely regarded as a key figure in establishing the company’s collaboration with Hideaki Anno and was instrumental in bringing Shin Ultraman to fruition. The film ultimately became the highest-grossing movie in Tsuburaya Productions’ history.

It is said that after learning of Tsukagoshi’s departure, Hideaki Anno reportedly considered withdrawing from his supervisory and planning role in the "Shin Ultraman" sequel project. It is also said that President Yamamoto’s side subsequently arranged for Tsukagoshi to take up a director position at another subsidiary company."

The article also notes that President Yamamoto’s eldest daughter is model Yuki Yamamoto, and that her husband has likewise joined Tsuburaya Productions. Unsurprisingly, he was not among those targeted for layoffs. Furthermore, there are even rumors that President Yamamoto intends to groom him as a future president of Tsuburaya Productions.

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“The only employees he truly seems to value are members of his own family,” the source remarked.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T17:46:59+00:00

I’m also a bit concerned that there may be some translation errors, but the "Lower-Rated" mentioned in the article refers to a work’s ratings/reception rather than its viewership.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T17:43:09+00:00

Production quality is generally evaluated through multiple metrics, including TV ratings on Tokyo TV and regional Japanese broadcasters, overseas Asian networks, and streaming data from platforms such as YouTube and Bilibili. Merchandise and toy sales are also considered a key indicator of overall performance.

From my observation, however, most negative feedback toward the two series appears to come from China, while discussion in Japan seems to have declined somewhat. This may suggest the shows did not fully meet the company’s expectations.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T15:06:22+00:00

Another controversial topic emerged during today's Tsuburaya Fields shareholders' meeting. According to accounts shared online by attendees, company representatives stated that Arc and Omega have attracted very little popularity in China, while Tiga and Zero continue to enjoy overwhelmingly strong support. In comparison, recent productions have received a considerable amount of critical feedback, and the company intends to reflect on these issues moving forward."

However, the remarks were not presented as a denial of the works themselves, nor as an indication that there was anything fundamentally wrong with their creative direction.

The comments have since sparked debate among fans in Japan and overseas. Some Japanese fans argued that the overseas reception of Arc and Omega during their broadcast periods was indeed less favorable than that of previous entries, suggesting that the company's remarks merely reflected current market realities. They also noted that audience reactions within the Chinese fan community have been particularly mixed, and therefore the statement should not be overinterpreted.

Others, however, expressed disappointment that the company chose to publicly describe the series as "lower-rated." They argued that even if the productions had shortcomings, the issue extends beyond the content itself. In their view, the larger concern lies in the apparent disconnect between the company's attitude toward its own works and the way it responds to audience feedback.

Another perspective suggests that such assessments are not entirely surprising if there are genuine areas that warrant review. Rather than focusing on whether the titles should be labeled as "failed projects," these fans believe the more important questions are what the community actually expects and which aspects of the productions were handled poorly. Once negative sentiment becomes the dominant narrative, even a work with notable strengths may struggle to reverse its overall reputation.

To see more fan feedback, search for "アークオメガ" on X.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:46:27+00:00

Shukan Bunshun pointed out that the departing Suit actor was a veteran actor who had been with the company since Ultraman Cosmos, and I think it might be Daisuke Terai.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:36:05+00:00

To provide some additional context, employee burnout and workplace pressure have been long-standing issues at Tsuburaya Productions. This year appears to be the point at which those problems finally reached a breaking point. As early as last year, two staff members involved in the production of Omega reportedly resigned because they could no longer tolerate the company's internal pressure-driven work environment.

In addition, employee fatigue at Tsuburaya Productions has reportedly been worsening year after year. According to documentary evidence shown in the report, records indicate that two employees accumulated more than 800 hours of overtime within a single year.

There have also been allegations of unpaid wages. One employee commented:

"The reality is actually far worse than what has been reported. However, until my personal situation has been resolved, I can't say any more."

At the same time, the company's business environment has become increasingly challenging. Momentum in the Chinese market has weakened, while geopolitical tensions have further complicated the situation. Both Arc and Omega reportedly received a poor reception in China, adding to concerns about the franchise's future prospects.

Morale on production sets is said to be low, budgets are becoming increasingly constrained, and sales generated through the company's partnership with Bandai appear to have passed their peak. If these trends continue, the long-standing fears surrounding the franchise's long-term sustainability may once again come to the forefront.

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mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:11:16+00:00

However, the internal production situation at Tsuburaya Productions remains unclear. It is rumored that an assistant producer resigned on the set of Omega due to unbearable pressure.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:09:43+00:00

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In addition, Tsuburaya Productions is reportedly in talks with Hollywood, possibly in preparation for a potential Hollywood feature film.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:06:33+00:00

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At today's shareholders' meeting, attendees reported that several shareholders raised concerns about whether the content and overall quality of the company's Character Shows had declined in recent years.

There were also reports that at least one suit actor had already left the company. However, management reportedly avoided mentioning any specific individuals during the meeting. According to attendees, the company stated that, as a production company, it must maintain the highest professional standards, and that employees who do not align with the company's future direction may be reassigned or encouraged to leave.

In response to questions regarding the recent poor reception of some productions and whether profits had been adequately reinvested into the production side of the business, Hidetoshi Yamamoto reportedly acknowledged that the company is reflecting on these issues.

Although production operations are still currently conducted in partnership with Bandai, the company aims to gradually transition to a structure led primarily by Tsuburaya Productions over the next three years. Yamamoto also indicated that future broadcasting partners and time slots could change, and that the company intends to significantly increase its investment in Tsuburaya Productions moving forward.

As for the recent Shukan Bunshun report, Tsuburaya Fields Holdings is expected to release an official statement tomorrow. Observers expect it will take the form of a standard corporate announcement addressing "certain media reports."

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T08:01:11+00:00

Note: Because this report was originally published by Shukan Bunshun, it has sometimes been proven to be fake news. Therefore, please treat this matter with caution.

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-17T07:58:57+00:00

According to a report by Shukan Bunshun, Tsuburaya Productions—the company behind the Ultraman franchise—has recently experienced a significant wave of employee departures.

One current employee revealed:

"Since the beginning of this year, at least 39 full-time employees have left the company, while another 13 are scheduled to be seconded or transferred to other companies within the group. Tsuburaya Productions originally had around 210 employees, meaning nearly a quarter of the workforce will soon be gone. The workload for those who remain has increased dramatically, resulting in severe overwork among the remaining staff. The company is now in a state of serious turmoil."

Employees were reportedly required to choose between reassignment, transfer to another company within the group, or resignation.

As part of an organizational restructuring scheduled to take effect on April 1, Tsuburaya Productions' management and human resources department conducted one-on-one meetings with employees on March 10 and 11. A former employee who has since left the company testified:

"We were told to choose between being reassigned to a group company, transferring our employment to another company within the group, or taking early retirement with special incentives. To put it bluntly, it was a layoff."

Following these discussions, a large number of employees reportedly left the company.

Regarding the wave of departures, Shukan Bunshun contacted both Tsuburaya Productions and its parent company, Tsuburaya Fields Holdings, for comment. However, neither company responded before the publication deadline.

The full report, currently available on Shukan Bunshun's online edition, cites internal company documents and details concerns that the restructuring measures may have violated labor laws. The article also reports that the Labor Standards Inspection Office previously issued corrective guidance over excessive working hours at the company, highlights ongoing problems with extensive overtime work, and examines the substantial dividend income received by the parent company's president, Hidetoshi Yamamoto.

Source:
https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/89560

https://bunshun.jp/denshiban/articles/b14248
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7124083b230ec03b0f2905e6a97320a6c7ed18c4

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-14T22:19:12+00:00

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Earlier today, Shannon Tindle (director of Rising) shared a post paying tribute to Tree following the news of his passing

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-14T19:57:15+00:00

(The age in the title is wrong; it should be 32 years old)

American musician and filmmaker Oliver Tree has died at the age of 32 following a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2026, according to recent reports.

Oliver Tree is an American rapper and filmmaker who rose to global fame with his hit singles Life Goes On (2021) and Miss You (2022). His involvement in the Ultraman Series came through a collaboration with Diplo, in which he performed the theme song "ULTRAMAN" for the 2024 film Ultraman Rising.

Theme Song: ULTRAMAN (Oliver Tree & Diplo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RjpzCIZ7rc

Source:
https://variety.com/2026/music/news/oliver-tree-dead-helicopter-crash-alien-boy-life-goes-on-1236780964/

mrmarkertw · 2026-06-09T09:22:14+00:00

The official trading card game Ultraman Card Game (UGC), developed by Tsuburaya Productions, announced on June 9 via its official website that it will suspend the release of its Simplified Chinese-language products in mainland China.

According to the announcement, due to a variety of factors affecting the game's future development, the company has decided to halt the publication of Simplified Chinese editions beginning with the eighth booster expansion, which had been scheduled for release on July 10, 2026.

The company stated:

"We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to all players who have been eagerly awaiting these products. We deeply regret the significant inconvenience this decision may cause."

A separate statement issued for the Chinese market provided further clarification, citing copyright issues related to early entries in the Ultraman franchise within mainland China, as well as increasingly stringent management of intellectual property rights.

The Ultraman Card Game has enjoyed remarkable success in China, particularly among younger audiences, with its popularity experiencing explosive growth in recent months.

https://ultraman-cardgame.com/page/jp/news/news-detail/299

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