Trailer - Gwashi! Umezu Kazuo Desu

A trailer for the upcoming Kazuo Umezu documentary Gwashi! Umezu Kazuo Desu has been posted via the film’s official website. The 73-year-old Umezu has been creating manga since his debut in 1955 and is most famous for horror works like “The Drifting Classroom” and “Orochi: Blood”—as well as the gag manga “Makoto-chan” (which spawned the phrase “Gwashi!” and accompanying hand gesture).

According to Tokyograph, director Koji Ito also works on Umezu’s website (UMEZZ.com) and has been filming him for 3 years now in preparation for the documentary.

Aside from Umezu, the first person shown being interviewed in the trailer is book designer Shin Sobue, who’s quirky, artistic-minded innovations in book and manga design have delighted otakus while sending shivers up the spin of publishers and binders throughout Japan. The next guy is manga writer and editor Kentaro Takekuma. And finally, there’s Hideki Egami, current editor-in-chief of IKKI magazine.

“Gwashi! Umezu Kazuo Desu” will open on Monday, November 23, 2009 (Labor Thanksgiving Day) at Shimokitazawa Tollywood.