"When I am acting I think of it as lending my body to Ultraman rather than "moving on my own." Because of this, I can say with confidence that I can "hear" Ultraman's voice more intimately than any other human. "
―Hideyoshi Iwata on portraying Ultraman Blazar [1]
Hideyoshi Iwata (岩田 栄慶, Iwata Hideyoshi ) is a Japanese actor, suit actor, and stuntman, known for portraying most of the titular Ultras since
Ultraman Nexus . He is a member of
Tsuburaya Productions ' action team,
CASTAFF , and also runs an action training academy called 4ARTS.
[2]
Career [ ]
In May 1999, at the age of 18, Iwata went to Tokyo from the countryside. After watching a hero stage show at a amusement park, he immediately knew he wanted to be a suit actor, and knocked on the door of the stage show's dressing room.[3] [4] [5] He would eventually meet Motomi Iguchi, a member of CASTAFF and suit actor at Tsuburaya,[6] [7] who helped him enter the industry.[8]
His first Ultraman Series work was Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey in 2000, but his exact role is unknown. Since Ultraman Nexus in 2004, he was one of multiple suit actors for the titular Ultras of each series, but was the sole suit actor for Ultraman Hikari , Victory , X , and Geed onwards. He is also known for playing Zenna 's human form in Ultraman Geed .
In addition to suit acting, Iwata has written and supervised scripts for minor Ultraman Series stage shows since 2013, mainly in the Kanto region.[9]
He started a YouTube channel in April 2023, where he talks about his experiences as a suit actor.
Personal Life [ ]
Screenwriter Junichiro Ashiki was his junior in college,[10] [11] with Iwata eventually inviting him to work on the Ultraman Series .[12] [13]
On July 10, 2019, an annual date known as 'Ultraman Day,' Hideyoshi publicly announced his marriage to his Ultraman Geed co-star Mayu Hasegawa , who portrayed Moa Aizaki , via his Twitter account.[14] Hasegawa had earlier announced her retirement from acting on April 30, 2019.[15] On September 8, 2020, Hideyoshi announced that his wife Mayu had given birth to their first child.[16]
Roles [ ]
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2000
Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey
Action[Note 1]
2002
New Century Ultraman Legend
Ones of the 28 Ultra Heroes
Suit
2003
New Century 2003 Ultraman Legend: THE KING'S JUBILEE
Ultraman Justice
2004
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
Riot Police Officer
Episode 1 "Dancing Garagon "
Ultraman Nexus
Ultraman Nexus [17] [18]
Suit
Dark Faust [19] [20]
Dark Mephisto [19] [21] [20]
Citizen[22]
Episode 34 "Blockade - A.D. 2009 - " Uncredited
Dark Zagi [19] [21] [20]
Suit Episode 34 "Blockade - A.D. 2009 -" Episode 37 "Bond - Nexus - "
ULTRAMAN
Action[Note 1]
2005
Ultraman Max
Ultraman Max [23] [24] [25]
Suit
2006
Ultraman Mebius
Ultraman Hikari /Hunter Knight Tsurugi[26] [27]
Ultraman Mebius [28] [29]
2007
Ultraseven X
Alien Vo-Da
Suit Episode 5 "PEACE MAKER "
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle
Reimon [28]
Suit Episode 12 "Reiblood " Episode 13 "Planet Escape " Only credited in episode 13
2008
Superior 8 Ultra Brothers
Ultraman Tiga [30]
Suit
Ultraman Mebius[30]
Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey [Note 2]
ZAP SPACY Guard
Episode 1 "Reionics Hunter " Uncredited
Alien Hook
Voice Episode 2 "Reionics Battle " Episode 10 "The New Horizon of War "
2009
Reimon[28]
Suit Episodes 3-5, 9, 12
Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy: The Movie
Resident of the Land of Light
Both an Ultra and an Ultra in humanoid form[31]
2010
Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero VS Darklops Zero
Ultraman Zero [31]
Suit
Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial
2011
Ultraman Retsuden
Suit actor
Episodes 14-26, 40-104
Ultra Zone
Alien Zarab [28]
Suit "THE LOVE" sketch (ep. 6)
Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar
Ultraman Zero[31]
Suit
2012
Ultraman Saga
Ultraman Saga [31]
Ultra Zero Fight
Ultraman Zero[31] [32]
Ultraman Zero Darkness [31]
Suit Part 2 "Shining Zero "
2013
Ultraman Ginga [Note 3]
Tiga Dark [33]
Suit Episode 5 "The Dream Destroyers " Episode 6 "The Dream Battle "
Ultraseven Dark [33]
Suit Episode 9 "The Jet Black Ultra Brothers "
Ultraman Ginga Theater Special
Dark Zagi[33]
Suit
2014
Ultraman Ginga Theater Special: Ultra Monster ☆ Hero Battle Royale!
Suit actor
Ultraman Ginga S
Ultraman Victory [34] [35]
Suit
2015
Ultraman Ginga S The Movie: Showdown! The 10 Ultra Warriors!
Ultraman Zero[31]
Ultra Fight Victory
Action
Ultraman X
Ultraman X
Suit
Ultraman Zero
Suit Episode 5 "When the Aegis Shines "
Ultraman Victory
Suit Episode 13 "Sword of Victory " Episode 14 "The Shining Sky, and the Land Beneath It "
2016
Ultraman X The Movie: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman
Ultraman X
Suit
Ultraman Orb
Ultraman Orb [36]
Suit Spacium Zeperion, Burnmite, Orb Origin[28] [37]
Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA
Suit
2017
Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!
Ultra Fight Orb
Ultraman Geed
Ultraman Geed
Alien Shadow Zenna
Human form and suit[38]
2018
Ultraman Geed The Movie: Connect the Wishes!
Ultraman Geed
Suit
Alien Shadow Zenna
Human form and suit[38]
Ultraman R/B
Ultraman Rosso [39]
Suit
Ultraman Ruebe [40]
Suit Uncredited
2019
Ultraman R/B The Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bond
Ultraman Rosso
Suit
Ultraman Taiga
Ultraman Taiga
Ultra Galaxy Fight: New Generation Heroes
Action
2020
Ultraman Z
Ultraman Z
Suit
GAFJ Pilot
Episode 22 "Individual Tomorrows "
Ultraman Taiga The Movie: New Generation Climax
Ultraman Taiga
Suit
Ultraman Reiga [41] [42]
Suit Uncredited
2021
Ultraman: A New Power of Singapore
Suit actor
Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga
Ultraman Trigger
Suit
INTO THE STORY: Ultraman Trigger -The Ultra-Ancient Treasure-
2022
Ultraman Real-Time Motion Capture Labo
Virtual Hero's Human Host
Ultraman Chronicle D
Suit actor
Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z
Ultraman Trigger
Suit
Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad
Action
Ultraman Decker
Ultraman Decker
Suit
Windom [43]
Suit Episode 14 "Birth of a Dark God " Credited as Hideki Sena
TPU Soldier
Episode 18 "Invitation from Another Dimension "
2023
Ultraman New Generation Stars
Suit actor
Season 1, episodes 1, 4-5, 8, 18-22
Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond
Ultraman Dinas [44]
Suit Uncredited
Ultraman Decker
Suit
Ultraman Regulos
Action
Ultraman Regulos: First Mission
Ultraman Blazar
Ultraman Blazar [1] [45]
Suit and voice
2024
Ultraman Blazar The Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown
Ultraman Arc
Ultraman Arc
Suit
Video games [ ]
Stage [ ]
↑ 1.0 1.1 Role not specified in credits, but is likely to be an action-related role such as a stunt performer or suit actor based on its placement in the credits.
↑ Credited under "suit actors" in episodes 2-5, 9-10, 12-13. Credited for voicing Alien Hook in episodes 2 and 10 separately.
↑ Credited under "suit actors" in episodes 5-6, 9-10, EX.
Other Roles [ ]
Chouseishin Gransazer - Sazer Gans
Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger - Suit actor[47]
Kamen Rider Saber - Couple at Wonder World
Good Morning, Sleeping Lion 2
Ninja vs Shark
Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger 20th: The Unforgivable Abare - AbareKiller
Works [ ]
Iwata was the writer for the following stage shows:
Ultraman Taiga stage show at Mallabu Shoge (2019)[48]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (September 2019)[49]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (August 2019)[50]
Drive-in Ultraman Z Show in Tokyo AEON MALL (November 2020)[51] [52]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (February 2021)[53]
Ultraman Z Show (August 2021)[54] [55]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (August 2021 and February 2023)[56] [57]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (March 2022)[58]
Ultraman Decker Show (July 2022)[59] [60]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (August 2022)[61] [62]
Ultraman Decker stage show (August 2022)[63]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (August 2022)
Ultraman Decker Show (December 2022)[64] [65]
Ultra Athletic Original Show (March 2023)[66]
Ultraman Decker Special Show: After the Journey (April 2023)[67] [68] [69]
Ultraman Blazar stage show (July 2023)[70]
Ultraman Blazar Show (July 2023)[71]
Power of the Earth (September 2023)[72] [73]
Ultraman Blazar Show (March 2024)[74] [75]
Ultra Hero Show (May 2024)[76] [77]
Ultraman Blazar Show (June 2024)[78] [79] [80]
Ultraman Arc Show (July 2024 and August 2024)[81] [82]
Ultraman Arc Show (September 2024)[83] [84]
Ultraman Arc Special Show (October 2024)[85] [86]
Gallery [ ]
Iwata as a Citizen in Ultraman Nexus
Iwata as a ZAP SPACY Guard in Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: Never Ending Odyssey
Iwata as Alien Shadow Zenna in Ultraman Geed
Iwata as a GAFJ Pilot in Ultraman Z
Iwata as a TPU Soldier in Ultraman Decker
Miscellaneous [ ]
Off-shoot image of Iwata as Gurego from Masahiro Sugie's Ameblo blog
[87]
Trivia [ ]
On Twitter, director Hideki Oka described Iwata as "Mr. Stoic" (ミスターストイック, Misutā Sutoikku ) .[32]
During the filming of Ultraman Geed , Iwata trained Yuta Ozawa with Zero's fighting skills for scenes where his character was to be possessed by said Ultra.
According to a 2021 interview with Iwata and Daisuke Terai :[88]
Iwata was unable to appear as Ultraman Z in episode 13 of Z as his wife was giving birth at the time of recording, so Terai had to fill in. Knowing that Iwata was very particular about Z's image, Terai was worried when director Naoyuki Uchida asked him to exaggerate his movements and add ad-libs, with him even apologizing to Iwata afterwards, but was relieved when he learned that his "most reserved" takes had been used in the final edit.
Koichi Sakamoto had originally asked Terai to portray the unnamed GAFJ pilot in episode 22 , but Terai suggested Iwata play the role as a "baby shower gift".
According to both Naoyuki Uchida and Kohshu Hirano , Terai and Iwata's depictions of Ultraman Z are subtly different. Uchida stated Terai's portrayal was more "cute" compared to Iwata's more "deliberate" style, while Hirano described Terai's portrayal as having a "warm aura" compared to Iwata's portrayal having a "divine feel".[89] [90]
Shimba Tsuchiya was one of Iwata's students at 4ARTS.[91] [92] [93]
Iwata's stage name for portraying Windom in Ultraman Decker is named after Zenna's alias.
As both the suit and voice actor for Ultraman Blazar, Iwata simultaneously performed the same on-screen gestures while dubbing for the Ultra, which director Kiyotaka Taguchi commented was "strangely fitting".[94]
References [ ]
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↑ https://twitter.com/ashiki_u40/status/1292451871945195520
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↑ https://twitter.com/iwatahideyoshi/status/1148937532958076928
↑ https://twitter.com/HasegawaMayu/status/1123134961932881920?s=19
↑ https://twitter.com/iwatahideyoshi/status/1301891875318579206
↑ TV Magazine Special Issue: Ultraman Nexus & Ultraman Max , pg 12
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 17: Ultraman Nexus , pg 10-12
↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Uchusen Yearbook 2006 , pg 28
↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 17: Ultraman Nexus , pg 24-25
↑ 21.0 21.1 TV Magazine Special Issue: Ultraman Nexus & Ultraman Max , pg 25
↑ https://twitter.com/jyukkanbo_77/status/1262950292338937856
↑ Uchusen Yearbook 2006 , pg 24
↑ TV Magazine Special Issue: Ultraman Nexus & Ultraman Max , pg 52
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 23: Ultraman Max , pg 6
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 05: Ultraman Mebius , pg 10
↑ https://twitter.com/iwatahideyoshi/status/1414881923550236676
↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Character Land SPECIAL: Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA , pg 52-54. Interview with Hideyoshi Iwata, Shinnosuke Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Arai, Daisuke Terai and Satoru Okabe.
↑ https://x.com/iwatahideyoshi/status/1473159671964127234
↑ 30.0 30.1 TV Magazine Special Issue: Ultraman Tiga Special , pg 4
↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 Ultraman Official Archive: Zero vs. Belial 10th Anniversary Book , pg 68-70. Interview with Hideyoshi Iwata.
↑ 32.0 32.1 https://x.com/hidekiokahideki/status/247727240958312448
↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Ultraman Taiga & New Generation Pia Super Encyclopedia , pg 95
↑ Uchusen Yearbook 2015 , pg 26
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 33: Ultraman Ginga / Ultraman Ginga S , pg 19
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 12: Ultraman Orb , pg 6-13
↑ Character Land SPECIAL: Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA , pg 55
↑ 38.0 38.1 Uchusen Yearbook 2018 , pg 24
↑ https://tamashiiweb.com/t_kokkaku/111/
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 25: Ultraman R/B , pg 11
↑ Uchusen Yearbook 2020 , pg 24
↑ Ultra Tokusatsu PERFECT MOOK vol. 24: Ultraman Taiga , pg 11
↑ https://twitter.com/iwatahideyoshi/status/1581640584863051776
↑ Uchusen Yearbook 2023 , pg 25
↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-6778
↑ Ultraman Fighting Evolution Rebirth credits
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↑ Ultraman Z Perfect Super Complete Works , pg 129. Interview with Hideyoshi Iwata and Daisuke Terai.
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↑ Ultraman Z Perfect Super Complete Works , pg 125. Interview with Naoyuki Uchida.
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