4.25.2024

Godzilla Attacks Shinjuku

Start April 27 Godzilla attacks the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in projection mapping od “life-size” Godzilla and the new weapon “Super X2.”

4.25.2024

Time to Celebrate

Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary and Birthday is kicking into high gear. Godzilla Osaka is this weekend! Godzilla Minus One is back in Japan theaters. New announcements every week and more to look forward to. So much to celebrate and the 70th logo short video does the job!

4.23.2024

Monsters are real

My good friend told me a sad story last night. I was reminded why Godzilla is for me more than a retreat from the harsh reality of life. I remembered why Godzilla is more important to me today than my childhood memories and fun. Godzilla has an important lesson for humanity. The origin of Godzilla is a story of a monster made by humans. On Odo Island the people willingly sacrificed their daughters to restore their fishing livelihoods and to save themselves from Gojira. But therein lies the problem Godzilla shows us. Who are we willing to sacrifice and scapegoat to get what we want and even what we need? It appears to only cost the life of one. But in the future the unimaginable price is all of us. Every monster has a backstory. Discover it. Research it. Don’t make any harsh decisions. Monsters most often are our victims first. Determine what was taken from them and why they are so angry. Anger is a feeling that one has experienced an injustice. Monsters are great for crowd funding and scapegoating. But they are often misunderstood. Getting rid of them without violence might work for a moment. But tomorrow another monster will appear because we failed to address how monsters are made. If we didn’t harm them, they probably won’t harm us. Monster movies are stand-ins for human stories. What chain of events led to Godzilla? Back on the island, sacrificing a girl today guaranteed no children for tomorrow. Superstition and tradition can get a lot of people hurt.

4.22.2024

Come aboard

This is a wonderful whimsical illustration by Ryohei Yanagihara (柳原良平) of the Queen Coral (クイーンコーラル 照国郵船) and the Sunflower prominently featured in Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla (1974). I found this framed A4 print on Buyee Japan. Yanagihara (August 17, 1931 – August 17, 2015) as he was known, was Japanese illustrator, manga artist, animation writer, essayist. He is known as the creator of “Uncle Tris.” And he was an unrivaled ship lover. I love his work and this piece. I can’t wait to hang it on my Godzilla wall.

4.22.2024

The -1.0 Bible

Not only is Godzilla Minus One coming on Blu-ray but the big book is coming too. After a month delay, the 400-page Record of G -1.0 is scheduled for May. It promises to be just a great as the Art of Shin Godzilla. Loaded with content that promises a complete record collection containing all the behind-the-scenes details of the film from the early stages of panning in 2019 to the production process to publicity and release: interviews, VFX process, modeling, filming sites, miniatures, costumes, makeup, the draft and completed scripts, storyboards, animation images and much more. This incredible A4 hard covers book will also include an A2-size Godzilla-1.0/C” Japanese poster. This is a must for those who love Minus One and want to know everything about the Oscar’s-winning film. Available at the Godzilla Store

4.21.2024

A Cybot Sighting

The Cybot is coming! The Cybot is coming! Spotted on X this morning and reported much bigger than the usual 30cm figure, the much-anticipated and long-awaited Godzilla 1984 Cybot sculpted by MM28 has been released in vinyl by X-Plus in its Favorite Sculptors Line (Photo credit: たくー @b_tairyu). I have a secret. During my visit to X-Plus in March 2023, I asked Gee-san if there were plans for a Cybot release. He replied, “Wait.” Sworn to secrecy, that was all I had to hear. I left with bottled up jubilation for a wait that was worth every day. An amazing figure was fitting for the 40th anniversary for Godzilla’s return to the big screen in 1984. That was a watershed year in many ways. A giant Godzilla boom, the discovery of Rocketships and Accessories and a two-story tall Godzilla. I hope you preordered yours.

4.21.2024

A Godzilla Find

My November Godzilla -1.0 Japan trip was amazing. I bought up everything Minus One that I could. I wanted to see the new Godzilla movie at least three times. On my last go around I had to see it at Ikebukuro Humax Cinema where I saw my first Godzilla movie in Japan back in 1994. So the day before the release I went to buy my ticket in advance. Waiting for the theater to open I sat on a brick partition where I looked down and found a small Godzilla Minus One figure on the ground. Usually I won’t pick up anything from the ground but I couldn’t resist. It was like a little Godzilla gift waiting for me to adopt.

4.20.2024

Godzilla Day Joy

Godzilla Day was a blast but I regret missing Jet Jaguar’s debut. But being with old friends and meeting new ones made that day even better. Collector Mike Ross was collecting autographs on the banner I created for him several years ago. I didn’t know so many of our great fandom I’ve met on social media would be so represented that day.

4.20.2024

Osaka Oasis

Once you I a trip to Japan, when I return home you can’t stop thinking about being in Japan. That’s a trip I never want to end. Pictures never captures all the memories. Last March, going to Admski in Osaka was dream. All that goodness, Godzilla and no stag in one space. The photos don’t do this amazing shop justice. It was a beautiful sunny day in Osaka I won’t ever forget.

4.18.2024

Godzilla -1.0 is on the way

Just a couple weeks from now on May 1, Godzilla Minus One will be released on Blu-ray and other formats in Japan. My copy should arrive too. Japan can enjoy it at home also on Amazon Prime which will have an all-you-can-watch exclusive distribution on May 3. And it will return to Japanese theaters where a cool Golden Godzilla -1.0 Sticker (9cm x 6cm) will be given away to 300,000 people nationwide on April 19. On the 19th, at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku, the Godzilla -1.0 Operation Kaijin support event will be held tomorrow nd attending the screen will be Captain Hotta..

4.18.2024

Godzilla on My Mind

I got today working and writing through my next blog article. And I recalled that Saturday afternoon in Nagoya when my way of thinking about Godzilla changed. I had recently started Godzilla collecting again and decided to watch Godzilla (1954) after my miles-long weekend walk to Osu Kannon Temple shopping district. Exhausted I lied down and watched Godzilla on my MacBook. The film hit me so hard it was as I watched Godzilla again for the first time.

4.18.2024

Godzilla Reader

I hope those who come to MyKaiju.com enjoy it, particularly the Godzilla Reader. Since the 90s I’ve wanted English translations of my Godzilla book collection, which has grown exponentially over three decades. I love to decode my Japanese books. There is always something insightful and something new to learn. As I worked on the translations for the next four days, I came to this quote from Ishiro Honda during the making of Godzilla 1954: “In the end, it’s the ordinary people who always get in trouble and become the victims, who have nothing to do with it.” As we watch Godzilla movies and kaiju movies in general we should always remember these are stories about victims. Unfortunately, every day is “a monster movie” for many people around the world.

4.16.2024

Tachibana!!

My favorite character in Godzilla -1.0 is Tachibana played by Munetake Aoki. His character not only makes repairs on fighters but he repairs the main protagonist Koichi Shikishima, who goes from “zero to hero.” Then I got tagged by my friend Kenji Hayashi on Facebook telling me, “Godzilla actor also shared this!” That Godzilla actor was Aoki-san! What a great honor! Thank you “Tachibana.”

4.15.2024

A Remarkable Piece of History

I came upon an amazing piece of Japanese tokusatsu history, an original script for Magma Taishi (マグマ大使, aka, The Space Giants) from P Productions. I could not leave it. I would forever regret it. Inside are the scripts for episodes 25 through 28. My favorite TV hero, even over Ultraman, was Goldar. To have this is priceless and privileged.

4.15.2024

Cherry Blossoms in Philly

It was cherry blossom weekend here in Philadelphia. And I had more than one reason for going to the event in Fairmount Park. There’s something really cool brewing up. I hope to announce it soon!

4.12.2024

Godzilla -1.0 Audible Audio Book

I woke up and did my morning X thing and saw Director Yamazaki’s comment and repost of the new Godzilla -1.0 audio book. I had to have it and I’m listening to it now. For those learning Japanese, it’s great for improving listening skills. Available on Amazon.com

4.12.2024

A “Like” unlike any before

As we waited for the big release of Godzilla -1.0 I started learning about Director Takashi Yamazaki and watching his work. I spend more of my social media time on X.com where I started to follow his account. Little did I know back in 2022, Director Yamazaki liked my toy photography post featuring the X-Plus Godzilla The Ride figure. I’m so honored! Thank you Yamazaki-san!

4.12.2024

Where in the World is MyKaiju

I’m surprised where my toy photography pops up. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes not good at all. My great friend Jon saw Godzilla -1.0 at the IMAX in London. And he saw something else, my Godzilla Minus One poster on the big screen!

4.12.2024

Godzilla Art

I have a large folder of Godzilla images that I’ve been saving and stowing for years. There are many images of things I wish I had. A couple weeks ago I was looking through the images and came across the Setagaya Film Festival graphic featuring a Godzilla illustration by acclaimed Makoto Wada (和田誠, April 10, 1936 – October 7, 2019). Wada-san is a Japanese illustrator, essayist and film director who designed more than 2000 covers for Shukan Bunshun magazine from 1972 to 2017 (Source: Wikipedia). As a graphic designer, I love the style of his illustration. I’ve wanted a print of this Godzilla illustration for a long time. Then I searched Buyee and found a framed copy.

4.12.2024

My Godzilla Tower Rug

I didn’t get the first run but I got it now. The Godzilla Tower Rug is awesome. It’s a must for every Godzilla collector and room. It is officially licensed Godzilla merch released by Middle of Beyond. Although it is sold out again, keep an eye on their site. Hopefully they will do another run of rugs.

4.12.2024

Godzilla Fes Osaka

The schedule for Godzilla Fes in Osaka (April 28) is available.

Stage timetable [Umekita Square]
12:00 “Godzilla Festival Osaka” opening
12:30 Special screening of the new season of TV anime “Chibi Godzilla Raids Again”
12:55 Latest information corner
13:20 Making of “Jet Jaguar Suit Reproduction Project” screening
13:35 Godzilla (2004)/Jet Jaguar/Chibi Godzilla Greeting
14:30 Latest information corner
14:50 Domestic live-action Godzilla series trailer screening
15:50 Godzilla (2004)/Jet Jaguar/Chibi Godzilla Greeting
16:40 Izakaya Godzilla Special Edition
17:45 “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” blockbuster talk show
18:30 “Fest Godzilla 4 Operation Jet Jaguar” revival screening & talk show with director Kazuhiro Nakagawa
19:30 Ending corner

*The timetable is subject to change.

For more check out the Godzilla Store website