Arikawa Sadamasa was a Japanese special effects cinematographer and director. After his tour as a bomber pilot during WWII, he joined up briefly with Toho, but soon left over disputes with the workers’ union. He encountered Tsuburaya Eiji and joined his private film effects company during the time when Tsuburaya had been blacklisted from working in film. Together, these men developed the techniques that would give rise to Japan’s booming science fiction and giant monster film genres. When Tsuburaya returned to Toho, so did he.

In 1967, with the release of Son of Godzilla, he was officially the second individual to bear the title “Director of Special Effects” from Toho. He likened himself to Minya from that film, looking up to Tsuburaya’s Godzilla-like father figure. After Tsuburaya’s death in 1970, he decided not to remain at Toho and left after completing "Space Amoeba" (1970).

(Source: Godzilla Cineaste) Edit Biography