Taroman: Expo Explosion Hits Theaters

A special video has also been released!

The popular NHK Educational TV program TAROMAN: Taro Okamoto-style Special Effects Action Drama, known for its unique fusion of Taro Okamoto’s avant-garde art and 1970s-style tokusatsu (special effects), is being adapted into a feature film titled Taroman: Expo Explosion, set for release on August 22nd. A new teaser trailer and visuals have recently been revealed.

Originally aired as a series of five-minute episodes in a late-night slot on NHK Educational TV, TAROMAN captured public attention by blending the explosive creativity of Taro Okamoto with the nostalgic aesthetic of classic superhero shows. It was created with the concept of a “1970s special effects hero show” inspired by Okamoto’s quotes and artworks. The series quickly gained momentum through word of mouth and trended on social media platform X with each broadcast.

Its influence extended beyond the screen, spawning sequel productions, successful events, and reprints of related publications. The show also received critical acclaim, including the Excellence Award in the Entertainment category at the 49th Broadcasting Culture Foundation Awards, and writer-director Ryo Fujii was honored for both screenplay and direction.

Please note that the visuals are still in production and may differ from the final version.

Taroman: Expo Explosion is a feature film written and directed by Ryo Fujii, arriving in theaters this summer. The story has been scaled up from the TV version and promises to be even more absurd, delivering an outrageous movie experience that will leave viewers exclaiming, “What is this?!”

Adding to the excitement, a “Taroman Bendable Action Figure” produced by Kaiyodo Kochi/Nangokudo will also be released. A special limited-edition ticket set—bundling the movie ticket card with the exclusive figure—will be available for purchase.

One day in 1970, a terrifying beast from the future appears at the site of the World Expo. The story jumps from 1970 to 2025, presenting a bizarre time-travel adventure. However, this is not the real 2025—it’s the future as imagined in the 1970s. Expect to see geometric buildings, flying cars traveling through transparent tubes, and a futuristic city that communicates with outer space. It’s a dreamlike future, the kind that children of the Showa era once envisioned with sparkling eyes and excitement.

Now, Taroman must fight in that nostalgic future—a world full of hopes and dreams!

▼Production Message: Creating Something “Outrageous”

The entire TAROMAN project has been driven by the spirit of Taro Okamoto’s philosophy—statements like “What is this?” and “Try something nonsense.” This film will go further by exploring “Taro Okamoto’s thoughts on the Expo,” a theme that was not addressed in the original TV series, but one we believe must be told today.

At the 1970 World Expo, while the official theme promoted the idea that “technological progress leads to a richer and happier society,” Okamoto boldly rejected this narrative. Instead, he planted the outrageous Tower of the Sun at the heart of the expo grounds, disrupting the sleek, modernist atmosphere with raw, provocative energy.

With Taroman: Expo Explosion, we aim to create something equally outrageous—something that challenges and questions, just like Okamoto’s tower once did.

Just as people who first laid eyes on the Tower of the Sun exclaimed, “What is this?”, we hope audiences will leave the theater after watching Taroman with the same feeling—“What is this?”—and a deeper connection to the radical spirit Taro Okamoto poured into the Expo.