July 24 – August 1
Tuesday
‘Twas the night before leaving for Japan, when all through the house not a person was stirring, not even my Mac mouse. Well, my trip is here and the countdown is nearing zero. This has been an eventful couple months of preparation. But with prayer the bumps in the road are smoothing out and disappearing. All my needs are met. All purchases made. My bags are packed. I’m checked in for my first flight and ready to go. Tomorrow morning I’ll head up the turnpike and catch the first of two flights to the land of the rising sun. When I hit the ground I got much to do and to see. My trip to Okinawa looks to be back on! I appreciate each of you who visit MyKaiju.com. Thank you! Please continue to follow my journey each day. 7.24.2024
いよいよ旅が始まります。明日は日本に向けて出発します。ワンフェス、特撮のDNA、沖縄など、楽しみがいっぱいです。ウェブサイトを訪問していただきありがとうございます。旅行日記をフォローしてください。ありがようございます。
Wednesday
I intended to write each day but this was my most challenging trip. So I’m going to recount each day as it happened. On the first day of travel, I woke up at 12:22 but got out of bed at 2:27 am. I worked through my check list until it was time to go. At 3:30 my cousin and mother drove me to the Newark Airport where my first flight was plagued with multiple delays. After having to taxi back to the terminal to fix a software issue, our plane waited in line for 30 minutes to take off. Despite all the delays in New Jersey I made it to Chicago 15 minutes before boarding my flight to Tokyo. I arrived at Haneda close to schedule a little around 4 pm but only after rerouting around a volcanic eruption in Russia. The flight was smooth and restful. Newark & Chicago | 8.5.2024
ニュージャージーでの遅延にもかかわらず、私は東京行きの飛行機に搭乗する15分前にシカゴに到着しました。
Thursday
As soon as the plane touched down, I hit the ground running. I activated my eSim card right away. I got my JR Rail Pass and immediately headed to my favorite spot, MyCUBE by MYSTAYS in Asakusa Kuramae. After a quick check in, I jumped on the Asakusa Line to Higashi-ginza Station as a short walk to Tokyo Hibiya Midtown to catch the last showing of Godzilla (1954) at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. There were no empty seats. Seeing the first Godzilla in Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget. Outside the theater Shin Godzilla guards the square as the Kazaguruma Garden cooled each passerby during hot Tokyo night. It was a perfect night to conclude the perfect first day in Tokyo. Tokyo | 8.5.2024
最終日の夜、東京のTOHOシネマズ日比谷で『ゴジラ』（1954年）の最終上映を観ることができて光栄でした。
Friday
My first full day in Japan started early meeting friend Kyle, fellow co-host of Collect All Monsters, at Ueno Station on our way to Ueda for the Tokusatsu DNA Exhibit. All was well until a misunderstanding split our trains at Takasaki, sending me to Niigata two hours out of the way. This was the beginning of the trouble sending my trip sideways. Enduring brutal heat we entered the Ueda City Museum Of Art for an amazing display of props from the 70 year history of Godzilla and tokusatsu from the original Godzilla novel and scripts to the miniature Mothra Fairies to the magnificent Showa MechaGodzilla 2 suit, which was the star of the show. The exhibit’s scope and span is impressive. I was blown away and it surpassed my expectations. But upon exiting I become exhausted and sick from heat exposure and exhaustion that put me in bed for the next three days. Ueda | 8.6.2024
猛暑に耐えながら上田市立美術館に入り、ゴジラと特撮の70年の歴史を物語る小道具の素晴らしい展示を見ました。オリジナルのゴジラ小説や脚本から、ミニチュアのモスラ小美人、そしてショーの主役である壮大な昭和メカゴジラ2スーツまで。展示の範囲と広がりは印象的です。私は圧倒され、期待を上回りました。
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Mothra
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Godzilla Minus One statue
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Godzilla 1984 head
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Original novels and manga
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Destoroyah
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: MechaGodzilla 1975 and Me
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: MechaGodzilla (1975) and MFS-3 Kiryu
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Baby Godzilla
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Mothra's Fairies
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Kamoebas
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: bus shelter advertisement
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Space ships props
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Flying Jet Jaguar
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Godzilla vs Megaguirus set
Tokusatsu DNA Ueda: Oxygen Destroyer
Saturday – Tuesday
What was a promising vacation became a disaster. Heatzilla appeared and he’s undefeated. I left Ueda in the morning after my fever broke overnight. I succumbed to heat exhaustion and couldn’t wait until I got back in bed upon returning to Tokyo on Saturday morning. Tokyo was on fire and the record temperatures were not letting up. On Sunday morning I felt better but I was too weak to go to Wonder Festival. I was looking forward to meeting Master Yuji Sakai, seeing Jeremy, Matsubara-san and Gee-san from X-Plus along with my friends and fellow Godzilla fans. I missed the release of my latest X-Plus box art. Wonder Fest was amazing from what I could see on social media. I also didn’t get to see Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla on Sunday afternoon. Then it went from bad to worse when I had to cancel my trip to Okinawa. Top things off there was a 4.7 earthquake early Wednesday morning that woke me up and Godzilla Maker Shinichi Wakasa as well. But things turned around from there. Although I was disappointed, I was not upset. Taking care of my health was most important. I didn’t want to end up in the hospital. This was the first time I got sick on a vacation. It was a learning experience and very clarifying. I decided to purchase an airline ticket directly home from LAX to cut down on my travel time back home. Tokyo | 8.7.2024
期待の持てる休暇は大惨事に。ヒートジラが現れ、負け知らずです。私は一晩で熱が下がったので、朝に上田を出発しました。熱中症にかかってしまい、東京に戻ってベッドに戻るのが待ちきれませんでした。4日間の休息と早朝のマグニチュード4.7の地震の後、体調は良くなり、旅行は軌道に戻りました。
Wednesday
I was down but my trip was not over. And Wednesday morning I got up and got out cautiously. After a small breakfast from the nearby McDonald’s my dear friend met me with a sun umbrella and a neck cooling necklace. We had a great lunch at CoCo Ichibanya Curry House that I longed for since arriving in Tokyo. To salvage my trip and to stretch the extent of my recovery, we head to see Godzilla at the Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Department Store, a remarkable historical story that reminds me of the Wanamaker Building here in Philadelphia. Godzilla Minus One stood below the Statue of Magokoro on the main hall of the first floor. Surrounding him were various Godzilla branded merchandise and on the back side were posters of all the Godzilla movie posters. After a cold beverage my day upstairs and a long goodbye I was done I returned to my cube. I had a great day and the trip was not completely lost. Through the night I wrestled with the idea of doing so more stuff around Tokyo on Thursday before my late flight in the evening out of Narita. I was feeling better and figured out how to best beat the Tokyo summer heat. And I’m so glad I did. Tokyo | 8.9.2024
落ち込んでいましたが、旅はまだ終わっていませんでした。旅を救い、回復の度合いを伸ばすために、友人と私は日本橋三越デパートのゴジラを見に行きました。それは美しく、注目すべき歴史的な物語で、私の故郷フィラデルフィアのワナメーカービルを思い出させます。私は素晴らしい一日を過ごし、旅が完全に無駄になったわけではありませんでした。私は気分が良くなり、東京の夏の暑さをしのぐ最善の方法を考え出しました。
Thursday
I got up Thursday morning with resolve to go to the place I wanted to visit most, my secret Godzilla place. I planned to go there immediately upon arriving at Haneda. But my last day was the perfect day to go there. Stay tuned for the reveal of this special Godzilla location. Check out where I went! It was a beautiful Tokyo day and my sun umbrella protected me so well. Little did I know that as I headed there I would go through a Shin Godzilla location. Finding this new location made my trip. I was so happy to be in that place. Then to cap off the perfect day I went to the Godzilla Store in Shinjuku. I picked up a few items that I was looking for. And then I saw an autographed photo of Master Yuji Sakai on the wall as if it was put there just for me to see since I missed Wonder Fes. Before heading to the airport on the Narita line from Kuramae Station, I had my last meal in Japan at CoCo Curry House. Getting sick was not on my list of things to do, but although not a perfect trip in the end it was a good trip. I flew to the amazing Honolulu before heading to Los Angeles and home. The following days I’ve been recovering from jet lag and doing some shopping online and at local shops to make up for what I missed in Japan. Tokyo > Honolulu > LAX > Philadelphia | 8.9.2024
木曜日の朝、私は一番行きたかった場所、私の秘密のゴジラの場所に行く決心をして起きた。その場所を見つけたことで私の旅は終わった。その場所にいられてとても幸せだった。そして完璧な一日を締めくくるために、私は新宿のゴジラ・ストアに行った。日本での最後の日は、カレーハウスCoCo壱番屋での最後の食事で終わった。
Tickets & Trip Update
I have been busy the last few days getting ready for Japan. Weather might keep me from Okinawa with an approaching typhoon. But it will be great using those three days going to Nagoya and Osaka. Good news Godzilla Theater has been extended another week making it possible for me to see Godzilla (1954) when I arrive in Japan. And with regard to tickets my dear friend has done it again securing our Wonder Fest tickets. 7.19.2024
Countdown
Peace & Quiet
The last couple trips the noise in the plane cabin has been too much. So I decide to invest in wireless noise canceling headphones. I got a good deal on Prime Day. 7.19.2024
Wallpaper
It’s 1954 again and Godzilla is in the theater
In an amazing turn of events with the help of my wonderful friend, the clock turns back. If my flight are on time, then I’ll see Godzilla (1954) in Hibiya upon arrival in Tokyo. The release is part of Toho Godzilla Theater celebrating his 70th anniversary. In 1994 I saw Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla on my first trip. Now I will return 30 years later to see Godzilla’s first film for the last showing. Thanks Yuu-san for the ticket. 7.22.2024
Update
My bags are 97% package just waiting for my iPad and a couple small amenities. Inside is my travel carry-bag with electronics and supplies for the flight. This larger bag will be stowed in the overhead storage. 7.20.2024
Director Yamazaki is coming!
I woke up to good-bad news. Director Yamazaki will be at Wonder Fest on Sunday. The director will speak during the “Godzilla-1.0” Godzilla Sculpture and Design at 4 PM. Ugh, I was planning to see Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla at 4 PM. Stay tuned! AP Photo, Asahi.com | 7.24.2024
The events just don’t stop. The World of Hara Eito, the Legendary Monster Sculptor” is being held in the 4th floor event hall of Tokyu Plaza Shibuya until August 28. His Godzilla provided the shadow for the iconic Godzilla public notice poster Godzilla (1984). He was a pioneer in the world of Godzilla and kaiju garage kits. I’ve gotta see his exhibit! 7.24.2024
Checked-in. As of 8 AM EST I’m all checked in with my airline. I’m ready to go with no luggage and just my one carry-on. My flight status is “on time” given all the computer issues since last week. I’m grateful to be one day closer to Japan. 7.23.2024
What I didn’t know that. Talking with my friend about the need for Google Maps to get around Japan, he said I can download the map for Japan. During previous trips I turned my pocket wi-fi on then off when using maps to save power on my devices. This is big! 7.20.2024
Godzilla give me water
Godzilla appears “not to destroy the city, but to cool it down with ‘uchimizu’” held at hotels and theaters in the Hibiya area every year to help passersby cool down during the intense heat. Watch Godzilla and participants sprinkled water from a bucket using a ladle. Uchimizu will continue at 5pm until the end of next month. This is on my list of things to do to keep cool. Source: NHK | 7.22.2024
Godzilla and Uchimizu (Photo: @ToYou1107)
Okinawa Here I Come?
Going to Okinawa has been in the balance since learning of an approaching typhoon that has begun to turn away from the Japanese island. With that the weather forecast has steadily improved from over 50% chance of precipitation to partly sunny with only 35 to 41% spotty showers. That’s great news. But time will only tell. I’m praying for the Philippines and their neighbors. Okinawa | Mon 28 – Tues 29 | | 90° | 7.20.22.2024
Welcome to MyKaiju Daily, a daily diary and journal. While I’m in between writing articles and doing new toy photography, there’s daily Godzilla news I would like to comment on. This is a space for my quick blurbs, shares, comments and more on the old and new stuff about Godzilla.