Am I Evel?

If Evel Knievel hadn’t died four years ago, today would be his 73rd birthday.

Coincidentally, Evel Knievel spent the last few years of his life in Clearwater, Florida...the same town that I grew up in!

Do you know who Evel Knievel was?
Maybe only Americans recognize that name…and maybe only Americans who are at least my age.

When I was a child in America during the 1970’s, Evel Knievel was one of my idols.
He was a daredevil stunt motorcycle jumper who often jumped rows of cars and trucks with his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on live television.
He also attempted jumps over the Caesars Palace fountains, lions, rattlesnakes, tanks of sharks, and the Grand Canyon!

Evel Knievel jumping the Caesars Palace fountains.

He crashed many times and he’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having sustained the most broken bones in his lifetime.

When I was a kid I had an Evel Knievel lunchbox and motorcycle rider toy.

Did you know who Evel Knievel was? Did you watch his jumps on TV?

Evel Knievel 1938 October 17 – 2007 November 30, R.I.P.
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Also, today is the 21st anniversary of the day I came to Japan. I came here on 1990 October 17.
I can’t believe it’s already been twenty-one years…I’ve lived in Japan longer now than I lived in America!
Japan has changed a lot since I first came here.

American 80s icons died

A couple of weeks ago, David Carredine, famous from the U.S. TV show “Kung Fu” from the 70s / 80s died.

Then two days ago, Ed McMahon, famous from the “Tonight Show” and “Star Search” died.

Yesterday, Farrah Fawcett from “Charlie’s Angels” died.

And right now, the TV morning variety shows are saying Michael Jackson may have just died.

Ultraman

「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) is a Japanese superhero television show from the 1960’s.

「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman)

The story is basically about an organization that protects Earth from giant alien attacks. But they are always overwhelmed by the monster…fortunately, one member of the organization has a “Beta Capsule” that can be used to summon 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) from the Sun.

「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) can only stay on Earth for a short time before he must return to the Sun…otherwise he’ll die. The 「カラータイマー」 (“Color Timer“) on his chest blinks to indicate that he must return soon.

I used to watch 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) reruns dubbed in English on TV in the ’70s when I was a child in America.

In America, 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) is considered low-standard and cheesy.
But here in Japan, 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) is a pop-culture phenomenon. 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) is still popular with young boys in Japan today.

In Japan, there have been numerous spin-off shows including 「ウルトラセブン」 (Ultra Seven), 「帰ってきたウルトラマン」 (Return Of Ultraman), 「ウルトラマン・エース」 (Ultraman Ace), etc as well as 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) movies. And stores in Japan sell 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) toys, clothes, shoes, lunchbox sets, towels, and all kinds of other merchandise.

Ultraman Alarm Clock

「ウルトラ・サイダー」 ("Ultra Cider") drink

「ウルトラセブンワインセット」 ("Ultra Seven" 40th anniversary wine set)

「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman) was supposed to take place in the 1990’s…thirty years in the future from when it was filmed.

Have you ever watched 「ウルトラマン」 (Ultraman)? Do you like the series?