Sekizawa Shin'ichi

Sekizawa Shin'ichi was a prominent Japanese screenwriter at Toho Studios who, along with fellow screenwriter Mabuchi Kaoru (Takeshi Kimura), penned the vast majority of Toho's sci-fi output in the 1950s and 1960s.

Sekizawa's screenplays often contained considerably more humor and wit than Mabuchi's, which were generally considered darker and more serious. Sekizawa attributed his lighter touch to his Kansai heritage, as the Kansai dialect is considered the most conducive to humorous dialogue in Japan.

Outside of screenwriting, Sekizawa was also a successful lyricist for recording artists at Columbia Records, including Misora Hibari and Miyako Harumi. He most famously co-wrote the lyrics for "Mothra's Song," which debuted in Mothra (1961) and has persisted in Japanese pop culture ever since.

In his later years, he worked as a dedicated railway photographer and boasted an extensive HO scale model train set in his home. In 1990, Sekizawa was awarded the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for his numerous contributions to film.