The Far East Base (極東基地, Kyokutō Kichi) is a highly fortified underground headquarters of the Earth Defense Force (EDF) in Ultraseven. As the primary command center of the Ultra Guard, it serves as the nerve center for Earth's defense against alien invasions.
Location and Structure[]
For security reasons, the Far East Base was constructed several hundred meters underground at the foot of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is one of the most heavily fortified installations within the EDF, utilizing the region's natural landscape as camouflage. Despite its hidden nature, it houses around 3,000 personnel who operate within its expansive underground facilities.
Facilities and Features[]
The base is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and strategic infrastructure, including:
- Operations Room: The command center where the Ultra Guard plans and executes missions.
- Medical Center: Staffed by Anne Yuri, this facility provides medical support for Ultra Guard personnel.
- Individual Quarters: Private rooms for each Ultra Guard member.
- Fuel and Power Stations: Supply energy to the entire base.
- Hangars and Launch Gates: Store and deploy various defense vehicles and mecha.
- Ultra-Sensitive Radar System (超感度レーダー施設, Chōkando Rēdā Shisetsu): Monitors potential threats from space.
- Guest Hotel: Accommodates visiting dignitaries and personnel.
- Secret Highways & Underground Railways: Facilitate rapid transport within the base.
Despite its advanced security, the base has been infiltrated multiple times by alien invaders. In episode 49, it suffered severe damage from a direct assault by a Alien Ghose's spacecraft.
Evolution and Relocation[]
In The Solar Energy Operations special, the base is referred to as "the Far East Branch at the foot of Mount Fuji". However, in later Ultraseven video productions, it is relocated to the Tokyo Bay area. This move was not the result of a newly built structure but rather the repurposing of an existing EDF facility, as implied by Captain Shiragane's mention of an "original construction passage" dating back to the creation of the EDF.
In the novel Ultraman Mebius: Anderes Horizont, it is revealed that after the base was decommissioned, a space launch facility was built on its former site. Meanwhile, in the novel Episode: 0, the Far East Base remains underground at Mount Fuji, and in Ultraseven Evolution, it is destroyed early in the story but later rebuilt in its original location.
Set Design and Production[]
- The Far East Base set was constructed on Stage No. 6 at the Tokyo Art Center. The design avoided overly flashy panels, opting for a more subdued and spacious look with textured walls to create a realistic military atmosphere. This approach followed the precedent set by the SSSP's command room in Ultraman (1966), which was designed to allow dynamic camera angles and detailed direction.
- According to Koji Moritsugu, who portrayed Dan Moroboshi, the base's automatic doors were not actually automated during filming. Instead, two crew members manually operated them off-screen, requiring precise coordination to avoid retakes.