Keizō Murase (村瀬継蔵, Murase Keizō; October 5, 1935 – October 14, 2024) was a Japanese suitmaker, stuntman, sculptor, modeller, and film director. He is particularly well known for his work in giant monster films, including Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and The Mighty Peking Man (1977). In 1958, Toho hired Murase to sculpt the Varan suit for Varan the Unbelievable. An amateur photographer, Murase extensively documented his work, which was published in his 2015 autobiography, Monster Maker: Keizo Murase. After working for Daiei Film on Gamera, he, Masao Yagi, and Akira Suzuki founded the modelling company Ex Productions; he later left in 1972 to form his own company, Twenty. Murase died from cirrhosis of the liver on October 14, 2024, at the age of 89.
Keizô Murase has 37 screen credits in a career dating back to 1958. Their work spans 3 cinematic universes — most prominently Gamera (Showa) Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include Terror of Mechagodzilla, King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Mighty Peking Man. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Universe traveler — spans 3 universes
