OSAKA — Sakyo Komatsu, one of Japan’s most popular science fiction writers, died in a hospital here Tuesday, July 26, from pneumonia. He was 80.
MSTies will recognize him as one of the writers of the movie shown in episode 306- TIME OF THE APES. His most famous work, however, was “Nippon Chinbotsu” (“Japan Sinks”), a novel about the seismic destruction of the Japanese archipelago, published in 1973. His other stories, many of which have been turned into films, include “ESPY,” “Virus,” “Sayonara, Jupiter” and “Tokyo Blackout”.
See a full obituary here.
Thanks to our pal Jay for the heads up.
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If there was ever a good reason to put time of the apes out on DVD, MST3K and non-MST3K, is is now.
RIP
Does this loosen up any movie rights? Sorry folks, too soon?
But you were thinkin’ it, werentcha?
RIP Sakyo Komatsu- I care, but Johnny still doesn’t. Sad, really.
I suspect he would prefer not to be known for writing a made for TV Planet of the Apes rip-off, but his contribution to MST3K was great. One of the most fun movies on the show even if it was chopped to bits from its original source and re-dubbed with western friendly names and dialogue.
@pablum: I imagine it’s like Ennio Morricone and his work on the movie Diabolik.
Komatsu’s novel “Japan Sinks” was a huge hit in Japan, as was the 1974 film version. Japan was suffering from both the worldwide energy problem and its own national identity, so the book and movie captured a nationwide angst — who are we? What about our proud nation? Where will we go? Also, the movie was so successful that it may well have saved Toho Studios from bankruptcy. There was a remake in 2006, helmed by Shinji Higuchi, who directed the special effects for the 1990s Gamera films. Great visuals, but the story was very watered down (Spoiler: Parts of Japan are saved).
Oh yeah, the goofy monkey series. That’s great, too.
When I first saw the picture, I thought maybe Larry King had died.
@1: Woah, radioman970, are you with that institute for psychical research?