2.8.2025 (Revised 5.10.25)

Dream Planet held a free exhibition (ゴジラ関連特別展示) remembering the late great Toho SPFX Director Kawakita Koichi (川北 紘一, 12/5/1942-12/5/2014) at the Kawasaki City Aso Civic Hall Gallery in Shin-Yurigaota on February 1st and 2nd. Director Kawakita was the special effects director for the Heisei Godzilla series (1989-1995). He founded Dream Planet Japan (株式会社　ドリーム・プラネット・ジャパン) in 2003 after leaving Toho.¹ Dream Planet has released many product over the years such as the Koichi Kawakita vs Burning Godzilla Special Effects Diorama (川北紘一vs バーニングゴジラ特撮ジオラマ), Heisei script black notebooks, and Heisei and anniversary posters. The exhibit was part of the Kawasaki 100th Anniversary Festival in Asao that also held a screening of Godzilla vs Biollante (1989) and talk show. Kawakita lived in Ozenji, Kawasaki, for many years. Last year I was in Kawasaki City last year to visit the road Ichiro went to school and back home in All Monsters Attack.

The Kawasaki 100th Anniversary Festival in Asao (2025) flyer

On display was a timeline of Kawakita’s films along with his favorite desk and office shelves. Some of the readily available photos of Director Kawakita are set in his room where his shelves and items can be seen in the background. On display was the oxygen destroyer which he proudly holds in the photo below. His Godzilla bust and MechaGodzilla 1993 head sat on the top shelf along with Godzilla dorsal fins and his books on the lower shelves. The second shelf had a collection of figures, one of which caught my eye. I did a double take. It looked oddly familiar. And then I realized what I was gifted by a wonderful friend last November during my trip to Japan for Godzilla Fes.

Dream Planet Director Kawakita Exhibit (Map): Reception counter( 受付用カウンター), 1m Roaring Godzilla (1m咆哮 ゴジラ), Oxygen Destroyer (オキシジェン•デストロイヤー), Heisei Godzilla Head (平成ゴジラヘッド), Director Kawakita’s bookshelf (川北監督書棚), Director Kawakita’s Desk (川北監督デスク), Chair (椅子), Koichi Kawakita Chronology (川北紘一 年表), Poster panels of works in charge (partial list) (担当作品ポスターパネル (一部)) (Source: Dream Planet) and Burning Godzilla 1995 on shelf (Source: @sakuri_godzilla)

Little did I know of the importance and significance of the amazing gift from Makuta-san until I saw Director Kawakita’s Godzilla toy. I must admit that I was very distracted by the U.S. elections taking place back home. The election weighed heavily on my mind that afternoon when we met in person. I didn’t expect a gift. And I failed to grasp how special and unique his gift was at the moment. Upon returning home, I had planned to share his gift in a post along with a more formal and robust expression of appreciation. But the timing could not have been any better in conjunction with the exhibition of Director Kawakita office items and collection.

Special Effects Director Koichi Kawakita (Source: battleclub.jp) and standing with Nana-chan

Let me rewind and go back in time. In July 2014, I was packing up my belongings to return home from Nagoya which had been my home for seven months. Near Nagaya station stands Nana-chan, a landmark 20-foot-tall mannequin doll dressed to advertise seasonal events. I walked past her almost every day. I had just started to try Godzilla toy photography. And months before I decided to collect Godzilla toys and memorabilia again. In May, Godzilla (2014) had been released in the U.S. and soon would make its debut in Japan. Just days after, I left Godzilla’s hand smashed through the wall and grabbed Nana-chan. A short time after, Director Kawakita had a picture taken beside Nana-chan as well. Sadly, the director passed away on December 5th, the day of his birth 72 years later.

Advertisement for Special Effects Director Koichi Kawakita Screening at Kawasaki Art Center (12/27/2015)

A year after the Director Kawakita passing, Dream Planet invited fans to the “Special Effects Director Koichi Kawakita Memorial Screening” (特技監督 川北紘一 追悼上映会), three screenings of Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995) along with two other films (Super Star Fleet Sazer X: The Movie (2005) and Armored Titan Gunbot: Danger! Abeno Harukas (2014) on December 12, 2015 to pay tribute to the late director. Memorial ticket holders were given a special Bandai “Thank you Director Kawakita for Godzilla” (バンダイ 川北監督ありがとうゴジラ) figure (160mm x 260mm x 100mm). Since that time I was not aware of this figure and the event. And to my surprise, Mr Keita Makuta, Ultraman/Godzilla/kaiju writer and friend, gifted me his “Thank You” figure in November during my last trip to Japan.

“Thank you Director Kawakita for Godzilla” (バンダイ 川北監督ありがとうゴジラ)

The “Thank You” figure is a beautiful orange clear molding with glitter. It was based upon the Bandai “Movie Monster Series Burning Godzilla.” On its bottom right foot appears “Bandai 2001 China 03154” and “© 1995 Toho • Toho Movie Burning Godzilla” (©東宝 東宝映画 バーニングゴジラ) on its left foot. The Heisei Burning Godzilla figure was distributed as a non-sale item. On it was a special tag with a message of thanks to the director. There are two variants. The first was given at the Farewell Meeting Attendee Distribution held in February 2015. The tag has the copyright and the distribution number is unknown. The second was limited to 50 participants of the Memorial Screening Attendee Distribution (December 2015).² This soft vinyl figure was distributed prior to the screening to people who had a relationship with Director Kawakita when he was alive.³ Its tag has the gold Godzilla copyright seal on the tag card. Kawakichi’s translucent orange figure. This Kawakita Godzilla is a treasure to be cherished and exhibited as a tribute to the director’s genius and work. And so I will do. By the way the tag on my figure says,「幕田さんありがとう」”Thank you Makuta-san!”