Shot on location - Films and TV-series: December 2014

The film YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is almost completely set in Japan. James Bond (Sean Connery) arrives on a secret mission to investigate the hijacking of an American spacecraft. The tracks lead him from Hong Kong to the Japanese capital Tokyo.

You Only Live Twice, 0:15:26

Filming took place nearly 50 years ago, between July 1966 and March 1967 to be precisely. Most streets with their neon adverts have changed beyond recognition and the arena where the sumo wrestling match is held has been replaced with a new building. The remaining locations in Tokyo are easy to find and have hardly changed since the movie was shot here.

During a visit to a sumo wrestling match James Bond meets secret agent Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) who introduces him to Dikko Henderson (Charles Gray), an agent of MI6. Before Henderson is able to tell what he knows he is being stabbed and James Bond goes after his killer. This nightly chase was filmed in the gardens of hotel The New Otani, which are open to the public for free. Because of the expansion of the hotel the gardens were redesigned in the ‘80s. A waterfall was added and there are less lawns but a few elements have remained. The statues of the two deer that can be seen when James Bond captures the killer are now placed next to a small restaurant, a bit hidden.

You Only Live Twice, 0:22:56

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 0:23:11

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

When James Bond notices a getaway car waiting he disguises himself as the killer, acts as if he is wounded and enters the backseat. The stairs and the parking lot have been renewed but can still be recognized, although the stairs may have been moved.

You Only Live Twice, 0:23:14

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 0:23:53

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

The gardens can again be seen briefly when the story is situated at Himeji castle in Hyōgo. This wooden castle is the location where James Bond receives his ninja training. Because the building was accidently damaged by a stuntman, permission to film was revoked. The scene with a member of SPECTRE attacking James Bond was completed in the gardens of The New Otani, that are much greener than those of castle Himeji.

You Only Live Twice, 1:17:00

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 1:17:16

The New Otani gardens, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

Hotel The New Otani, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

The car takes James Bond to Osata Chemicals, the company responsible for the theft of the spacecraft. In reality this is The New Otani hotel itself, which opened its doors in 1964. On top of the building is a revolving restaurant. In the film The New Otani is seen several times, first at night, then at daytime. The luxurious hotel was expanded several times with additional buildings. The fountain near the entrance has disappeared, it is now a small park.

You Only Live Twice, 0:36:17

Hotel The New Otani, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 0:36:19

Hotel The New Otani, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 0:36:24

Hotel The New Otani, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

You Only Live Twice, 0:36:30

Hotel The New Otani, Tokyo, 4 December 2014

With the help of Aki James Bond escapes the building of Osata Chemicals when his identity is being discovered. She stops her car at a secluded metro station. When she enters James Bond follows her inside. These scenes were filmed at Nakano-shimbashi, a metro station that is part of the Marunouchiline. It was opened in 1961 and still functions as a station. The platforms have now safety fences. The warning signs that read (in Japanese) ‘Danger - do not try to cross the tracks’ are still present. During our visit renovation of the station had just started.