You Only Live Twice (film) Mie Hama were eventually chosen and started taking English classes in the UK. Hama, initially cast in the role of Tanaka's assistant, had difficulty with the language, so the producers switched her role with Wakabayashi, who had been cast as Kissy, a part with significantly less dialogue. Wakabayashi only requested that her character name, "Suki", be changed to "Aki". Filming of "You Only Live Twice" lasted from July 1966 to March 1967. The film was shot primarily in Japan. Himeji Castle in Hyōgo Prefecture was depicted as Tanaka's ninja training camp. His private transportation hub was filmed at the Tokyo
Motifs in the James Bond film series can be a private island ("Dr. No", "The Man with the Golden Gun"), underwater ("The Spy Who Loved Me"), mountaintop retreat ("On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "For Your Eyes Only") volcano ("You Only Live Twice"), or underground base ("Live and Let Die"), a ship ("Thunderball", "Tomorrow Never Dies"), an oil rig ("Diamonds Are Forever") or even a space station ("Moonraker")—among other variations. Bond usually sabotages the lair and, with time ticking down, dispatches the supervillain, rescues the principal Bond girl and they escape as the place blows up. In some cases, the villain or his primary henchman escapes to launch