The first iron shooting crane, completed by Eiji Tsuburaya in October 1934, remains in use globally today. Born in 1901 in Sukagawa, Tsuburaya emerged as a foundational force in Japanese cinema. Over a career spanning five decades, he pioneered the domestic special effects industry, earning six Japan Technical Awards and creating the visual language for major science fiction franchises.
Early Career and Technical Innovations
Tsuburaya attended Tokyo Denki University before entering the film industry in 1919 under the guidance of Yoshirō Edamasa. Working initially as an assistant cinematographer, he contributed to productions such as A Tune of Pity and A Page of Madness. His interest in special effects intensified after watching King Kong at age thirty-two. By 1935, he was implementing advanced techniques in Princess Kaguya, and his 1937 film The Daughter of the Samurai featured the first full-scale rear projection.
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In 1937, Tsuburaya joined Toho, where he established the company's effects department. He directed the effects for The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya, the highest-grossing Japanese film of its time. Following the conclusion of World War II, his career faced interruption in 1948 when the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers purged him from Toho due to his involvement in wartime propaganda films. During this period, he co-founded the Tsuburaya Special Technology Laboratory with his son, Hajime, and contributed to films like The Invisible Man Appears.
The Rise of Kaiju and Television
Tsuburaya returned to Toho in 1950, leading a creative crew that defined the kaiju genre. He gained international recognition for his effects work on Godzilla (1954), later supervising productions including Rodan, The Mysterians, and King Kong vs. Godzilla. In 1963, he founded Tsuburaya Special Effects Productions, pivoting toward television. This company produced Ultra Q, Ultraman, Ultraseven, and Mighty Jack. These shows cemented his reputation, leading media outlets to dub him the God of Tokusatsu.
Fast facts
- Born: 1901, Sukagawa, Japan
- Died: 1970, Ito, Japan
- Education: Tokyo Denki University
- Occupations: Screenwriter, cinematographer, producer, director
- Burial place: Fuchū
- Religion: Catholicism
- Notable contribution: Invented the first iron shooting crane
- Career span: Five decades
Questions readers ask
What is Eiji Tsuburaya known for?
He is recognized as the Father of Tokusatsu for pioneering Japan's special effects industry and co-creating the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises.
Did Tsuburaya work exclusively in film?
No, while he worked on approximately 250 films, he also founded a production company that created successful television series including Ultra Q and Ultraman.
Achievements
- Worked as cinematographer, television producer and film director
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