Step into the shadows of forgotten television history with Cults And Kaiju a gripping new podcast that investigates a bizarre cult’s attempt to launch a tokusatsu-style kids’ show in the 1970s. At the center of it all is Rogue Fighter X, a masked hero battling inter-dimensional kaiju—created not just as entertainment, but as part of a cult’s twisted belief system. What was marketed as a children’s TV show may have been a recruitment tool for something far darker.
Hosted by investigative journalist Trenton Payne, Cults And Kaiju peels back the layers of a decades-old murder mystery that spans three generations. From lost footage and cult propaganda to chilling interviews with survivors and experts, this podcast uncovers how fantasy bled into fanaticism—and how the legend of Rogue Fighter X may have masked real-world horrors. Subscribe now and follow the path… if you dare.
In the final episode of Ren's journey, we take up where the end of Episode 9 left off...
Cult members have just destroyed Shingo's hideout and Ren is trying to get the wounded Shingo to a hospital. Only an hour of time stands between the portal to heaven opening and Ren's destiny.
Keep up to date on new information about this project by subscribing on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju/videos (https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju/videos)
If you think this story would make a good manga graphic novel, let us know and we'll add you to the status of that potential project by emailing here: cultandkaiju@gmail.com (mailto:cultandkaiju@gmail.com)
17 Dec 2025
Episode 11: Murder Of The Fox Witch
On this episode, we try to fill some of the lore about the "Fox Witch" and how the cult would defeat her with the help of Angel Sentinels. Ren also further explains his relationship with his mysterious therapist. He also describes some of the monster visions he saw, as well as his imaginary friend that sat on his shoulder and warned him when danger was near!
In episode 12, we'll pick up where episode 9 left off.
As a treat to our listeners, we released a brief AI "short" on youtube of what Artificial Intelligence thinks "Rogue Fighter X" should look like. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju/shorts (https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju/shorts)
Concerning the Fox Witch...This episode references the below video from episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LggTp6SkmtU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LggTp6SkmtU)
2 Dec 2025
Episode 10: Cutting Room Horrors
Before we pick up the story in Shingo's destroyed hideout, we've found new information we think is vital to the story...
In this weeks episode, we are lucky enough to speak to Isamu, the director from Japan who was supposed to direct the Tokusatsu kids show "Rogue Fighter X". He was able to dig up 35 glorious seconds of pieced together trailer created by the cult leaders Jimmy and Imi Muzaki. This tiny bit of history also has the movie song added as well.
Here is link to the snippet of the trailer on youtube: https://youtu.be/LZS-WHy4Q3I?si=YtEZIeglTHQVJKem (https://youtu.be/LZS-WHy4Q3I?si=YtEZIeglTHQVJKem)
18 Nov 2025
Episode 9: Into The Mouth Of Manga
In this episode we continue to follow Rin's story in his teens. From a terrifying experience with a zealous school janitor, to a new stranger stalking Rin at night, Rin has few people he can turn to for help. And just to make it all the more weird, strange manga drawings start showing up on the sidewalk outside his house. What happens when he follows the bizarre artists who draws them? Tune in and find out...
10 Nov 2025
Episode 8: Artifacts of the Gods
In this episode, we are lucky enough to speak to a representative of the new version of the "Heavenly Path" religion. They discuss the purpose of the new church and how it is connected to Emi Hayashi...aka Emi Muzaki.
Remember the urban legend stories about stairs found in forests that lead to nowhere? Weird sensations when standing on these stairs?
We would say learn more about this religion by going to www.heavenlypath.org (http://www.heavenlypath.org) but unfortunately between the time of this interview and releasing the podcast, the website has gone missing...
31 Oct 2025
Episode 7: Riddles In The Light
On this episode, we continue our story with "Rin" in his teen years, the chosen child that would create the steps into heaven, and bring about the end of the world according to the cult "The Heavenly Path". While most people are naturally afraid of the dark, Rin is more afraid of daylight because the monsters that come out of the hole in the sky were stronger under the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
At night, it was a different story...Happy Halloween!
As halloween gift, we added an AI concept of the original torn image of "Rogue Fighter X" as a full blown tokusatsu show. You can find it here (https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju/shorts).
-The Cults & Kaiju Team
24 Oct 2025
Episode 6: Sins Of The Father
On this episode, we are introduced to "Rin" the supposed son of Jimmy Muzaki. Rin gives us his take on growing up in his Mother Emi's cult called "The Heavenly Path".
Rin will walk us through those early years of his life as he and his mother sneak out of Japan and move to America. Do some of the cult members come with them? Does the cult grow in both Japan and America? Tune in and discover more about Rin's bizarre childhood while he and Emi constantly live in hiding until an unexpected death in the family changes everything...
20 Oct 2025
Episode 5: Terror From Above
On this weeks podcast, we piece together an online conversation from our mysterious you-tuber that uploaded the bizarre cult videos. He talks about strange sightings in the woods during cult meetings and bizarre encounters with 'angel sentinels' that bite.
Can he add insight into the disappearance and possible murder of Jimmy Muzaki, the cult leader? Or is our mysterious connection really trying to hide the truth about what happened to Jimmy over fifty years ago, deep in that forest in Japan. One thing is for certain, it will be difficult to pull information about the tokusatsu kids show "Rogue Fighter X" if the Heavenly Path cult members don't even want to be found...
13 Oct 2025
Episode 4: A Cult's Champion
In this episode, we take a close look at an old photo of "Rogue Fighter X" from the unproduced Tokusatsu show of the same name. Even though the photo is in bad shape after sitting in the bottom of a drawer for years, we remaster it to what we think is it's former glory.
Plus, we get to hear the original soundtrack to the show pulled from old reel-to-reel footage from one of our guests "Isamu." Thanks to him and everyone that worked on this episode.
To see the actual image, please view "Reference Video for Episode 4" by visiting:
https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju (https://www.youtube.com/@CultsAndKaiju)
-Thanks!
-T and The Crew
3 Oct 2025
Episode 3: False Confessions
Tune in to episode 3: False Confessions. We interview "Mr. Isamu" a tv director who worked with the cult leaders Emi and Jimmy Muzaki back in the 70's in Japan. Mr. Isamu spent a lot of time with Jimmy and learned intimate details about Jimmy's chaotic childhood, and how it affected the group of drugged out kids in the woods, forming into a gang, and finally a larger cult with dangerous consequences.
Mr. Isamu paints a picture of Emi's obsession with power. Mr. Isamu actually tried to help cut a trailer for the kids show with a crazy story concept. Perhaps there is a clip of a trailer? Maybe there is actually a theme song for the Ultraman-type show?
And what happened to Jimmy Muzaki? This is where we start to realize there is a murder mystery in there waiting to be discovered...
3 Oct 2025
Episode 2: Forgotten Heroes
In episode 2 entitled, 'Forgotten Heroes', we interview someone who worked at the Japanese ad firm back in the 1970's who tells us about a secret tokusatsu kids show in pre-production created by a cult entitled, "The Heavenly Path". Are there Kaiju in the show? What was the name of the Superhero? Find out and subscribe to the show as this mystery, deep-seated in mystery and horror, slowly unravels...
2 Oct 2025
Episode 1: Ghost Protocol
In Cults and Kaiju Episode One: "Ghost Protocol", host Trenton Payne stumbles upon a rabbit hole unlike any other when a mysterious stranger uploads a series of unsettling 1970s Japanese church recruitment films. What starts as a curious dive into vintage oddities quickly unravels into the chilling story of The Heavenly Path—a secretive cult that’s evaded detection for decades. Blending religious zealotry with mythology, this episode brings to light an organization that eerily blends faith, fear, and fantasy. Hidden for years. Exposed by accident. You won't believe what’s been lurking in the shadows.
Note: Reference Archival Footage Video 1:
"Heavenly Path Fox Witch Plans Explained" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LggTp6SkmtU)
"Recruitment Video for Heavenly Path, Reel #1" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na3HO1ywjuM)
"Recruitment Video for Heavenly Path, Reel #2" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBXLUKIMfE0)
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