THE ORIGINAL ULTRAMAN TO LAND IN WINDSOR
Brimstone Games presents the Northern National Collectors’ Convention featuring the Cartoon Kingdom Fan Experience, has announced that legendary Japanese actor, Bin Furuya, will be making his first-ever Canadian convention appearance this fall in Windsor, Ontario at Caesars Windsor, September 29-October 1, 2023.
Bin Furuya (古谷敏, Furuya Bin) is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the 1966 Ultraman series. Furuya later portrayed Amagi in the sequel series Ultraseven. He has also made appearances in Mothra (1961), Gorath (1962), High and Low (1963), Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964); Ultraman Zearth (1996); Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009); and Shin Ultraman (2022).
“I look forward to making my first-ever Canadian convention appearance in Windsor,” says Furuya. “Shuwatch, here I come Ultraman fans!”
Ultraman, also known as the Ultra Series (ウルトラシリーズ, Urutora Shirīzu), is a Japanese superhero media franchise including a television series, films, comic books, novels, video games, and related merchandise.
Created by Eiji Tsuburaya, the franchise centres on a fictional alien race of superheroes who often combat kaiju or other aliens. The series debuted with Ultra Q and then Ultraman in 1966 and is now one of the most prominent productions in the Japanese tokusatsu genre. References to Ultraman are abundant in Japanese pop culture, much like references to Superman in the U.S.
In Japan, the Ultraman brand generated $7.4 billion US in merchandising revenue from 1966 to 1987, equivalent to more than $19 billion (adjusted for inflation). Ultraman was the world’s third top-selling licensed character in the 1980s, due to his popularity in Asia.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bin Furuya to Windsor,” says Northern National president, Jeremy Renaud.
He is Japan’s equivalent to Superman in the U.S. and will be a must-see guest for fans who attend!”
Furuya will be at the show all three days, offering rare Shikishi board sketches of Ultraman, autographs, photographs, and memorabilia will be available for sale, as well as copies of his autobiography The Man Who Became Ultraman, published in 2009.
