Big Man Japan On the opening evening of this year’s Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison (running through Sunday, April 6th), I found myself embarking on a weird journey with “Big Man Japan” (”Dai-Nipponjin”) — a Japanese superhero starring in his own reality show. If ever a justification was needed for allowing alcohol to be consumed during screenings, this movie would be it. A beer is just what you need to enter into the weirdness.

In mock documentary style, a film crew follows the mundane routine of Masaru Dai Saito (Hitoshi Matsumoto) as he basically waits to be called into action by Japan’s Department of Monster Defense. See, mild mannered Dai Saito is actually Dai Nipponjin (”Big Man Japan”) the sixth in a line of giant villain vanquishers employed by the government to fend off monster attacks on a first-serve basis. When the time comes, he locates the nearest power plant for a healthy jolt of electricity that transforms him into a humongous taiko drumstick wielding hero with serious Eraserhead/Don King hair.

But before all that, we’re introduced to a lethargic Dai Saito just riding the train, answering questions fielded from the off-camera documentarian. The deadpan humor that will be the atmosphere of the film is revealed right away, as Dai Saito responds to the question of why he always carries an umbrella with, “because they expand and get big only when they’re needed.” It’s the same reason he likes eating dehydrated seaweed.

He complains about not being paid enough for his services, philosophizes about the identification of cats as “strays,” and bemoans only being able to see his daughter once a month. During one these visits, he argues with his ex-wife over blurring their daughter’s face for the cameras, with hilarious results. His grandfather (”the fourth” as he’s identified, for those scoring their superheroes at home) suffers from dementia, and Dai Saito visits him at the nursing home. Typical family responsibilities… until he is called on for his “job.”

In a crisis, his enormous signature purple briefs are run up dual flagpoles in preparation for his electrifying metamorphosis and an ancient ritual is performed. Of course, if the cameraman doesn’t catch it all, he had no problem interrupting the process mid-stream for reshoots. Even the power plant guards grouse about the unnecessary ceremony.

The truth is the popularity of Big Man Japan is waning. Dwindling TV ratings have landed his show in a late night slot, he’s hassled by the local populace for being too noisy/messy/fat/uncool while he’s fighting the baddies. His manager Kobori (Ua) sells advertising across his chest to supplement declining income. Dai Saito draws the line at sponsoring his hips. Kobori implores him not to cross his arms in battle so the corporate logo is not obscured. In one episode, he runs away from a new threat and while others brand him a coward, his agent comments that at least there was a good look at the logo on his back.

Meanwhile, the villians are as goofy as they are destructive. “The Strangling Monster” has a self-conscious comb-over. “The Jumping Monster” features the face of Riki Takeuchi planted on the top of a pogo stick leg. “The Evil Eye Monster” wields his orc like a giant penis. “The Stink Monster” has an odor the strength of ten thousand human feces. Monsters worse than anything in my nightmares… until now.

The madcap finale is an Ultraman/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers send-up like you’ve never seen. As a satire of Japanese culture, “Big Man Japan” revels in its strangeness yet has you chuckling along at all the absurdity. It’s a cult classic waiting to happen.

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Director: Hitoshi Matsumoto

Cast
· Hitoshi Matsumoto
· Riki Takeuchi
· Ua
· Ryunosuke Kamiki

Official Website: www.dainipponjin.com