Action at the mall

Like other Japanese boys born in the late 1970s, Takashi Yoshioka remembers watching “Ultraman”, which first aired in 1966 and remains a staple of children’s TV.
Now the 33-year-old actor is in Bangkok to play the leading role, Gamu Takayama, who’s the human host of Ultraman Gaia.
 “I was fascinated with ‘Ultraman’, when I was young. Now that I’m grown-up, I have the same sentiments as Ultraman – I want to protect children from danger,” says Yoshioka who also played the same character in the 2008 movie “Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers”.
Yoshioka was talent-scouted as a teenager and starred in his first movie, “Friendship”, at the age of 19. Since then, he’s appeared in several films, plays and TV shows.
 “I always wanted to be on TV,” says the actor after rehearsals for “Ultraman Live 2012”, a Japanese show imported by Dream Express and featuring Ultraman Mebius, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna.
“At first, I found it very hard to adopt different accents. Even today, I am learning all the time. ”
A fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, Yoshioka has a collection of the American actor’s movies and says he watched 1993’s “This Boy’s Life” and 1995’s “The Basketball Diaries” again before going to audition for Ultraman.
Ultraman Gaia, he says, has the power of red light from the Earth. While Gaia did not come from other planets like other Ultramans, this character protects the Earth and humanity from invaders. Since Gamu is science student, Gaia can fight with monsters by using his science knowledge.
“Playing Gamu has taught me that we should give more importance to this world, friendship and love,” says Yoshioka, who was amazed at being welcomed by so many fans on his arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport. “From such natural disasters as Japan’s tsunami and Thailand’s flood, I think what the world is telling us – world peace and no more wars.”
In the story, Alien Hipporito comes up with an evil plan to conquer the world by bringing different worlds from different dimensions together. To thwart this evil plan, Ultraman Gaia and other Ultramans have to unite, bringing their powers to bear in defeating monsters and bringing peace to the worlds.
“We will make Thai children feel happy with our show,” says Yoshioka, adding that he hopes to see a muay thai fight before ending home.

KICKING EVIL OUT
“Ultraman Live 2012” runs from today until Saturday at Central Plaza Chaeng Wattana.
Shows are at 11am, 2.30 and 6pm.
Tickets are Bt400 to Bt800. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.