Godzilla Finally Arrives

怪獣の元祖・ゴジラいよいよ登場!!

The Original Kaiju—Godzilla—Finally Arrives!!

怪獣の元祖であり、今なお現役の大スターであり、ゼニをとる劇場映画にしか出ない怪獣スターのゴジラが、テレビに登場する。四月二日から始まる空想特撮テレビ映画「流星人間ゾーン」にだ。

Godzilla—the progenitor of all kaiju, a superstar who remains at the very peak of his career, and a monster celebrity who appears exclusively in big-budget theatrical features—is making a television debut. He will appear in the sci-fi tokusatsu TV series “Meteor Man Zone,” premiering on April 2nd.

ゴジラのキャラクターが持つ魅力は、最も素朴なところにある。つまり、怪獣のふるさとである、太古の世界に生きた恐竜のチャンピオンの風格が十分な姿。

The true allure of the Godzilla character lies in its most fundamental essence—namely, its appearance as the undisputed champion of the dinosaurs that once roamed the primordial world, the very birthplace of the kaiju.

鋭い目、歯、ガッシリした首筋、太い腕、その先の爪、ドッシリ踏踏まえた両脚、そして一振りするとビルも木っ葉微塵にしてしまう重量感あふれる尻っ尾。背中に続くサンゴの枝のようなタテガミは、大きくてとがり、さわったら切れそうな鋭い刃のようだ。全身は一見、カシの大木の荒い木肌を思わせるウロコにおおわれている。

Piercing eyes, formidable teeth, a sturdy neck, massive arms tipped with razor-sharp claws, and a pair of legs planted firmly to the earth—all culminating in a tail of such immense weight that a single swing could shatter even a skyscraper into splinters. Running down its back is a mane resembling branches of coral—large, jagged, and sharp as a blade that looks as if it would slice through anything that dared to touch it. Its entire body is clad in scales that, at a glance, call to mind the rough, gnarled bark of a mighty oak tree.

東宝が、ゴジラ映画の第一号「ゴジラ」を二十九年に作り、次いで「ゴジラの逆襲」を作ったときまではゴジラは人類の敵だったが、あまりの人気に、ついに人類の味方にせざるをえなかった。以来、夏休み冬休みの子供映画シーズンには、東宝はゴジラで色々な新作を作ってきた。まさに東宝とっておきの大スターなのである。

From the time Toho produced the very first Godzilla film—“Godzilla”—in 1954, followed by “Godzilla Raids Again,” the monster was portrayed as an enemy of humanity; however, due to his overwhelming popularity, the studio was eventually compelled to transform him into an ally. Since then, during the summer and winter school breaks—the prime seasons for children’s cinema—Toho has consistently released a variety of new films featuring the monster. Godzilla is, quite simply, Toho’s ultimate, most prized superstar.

怪獣ものというと、テレビではこれまでTBS・円谷プロのウルトラマン・シリーズ』がずっと全盛で、次いでフジ・円谷の「ミラーマン」、これに負けじと乗り出したNET系の毎日テレビ・東映が「仮面ライダー」、NET・東映が「人造人間キカイダー」と出し日本テレビだけが、僅かに読売テレビ制作の「超人バロム1」でバスに乗りかけた程度。

When it comes to the “kaiju” (monster) genre on television, the TBS/Tsuburaya Productions Ultraman series has long reigned supreme. It was followed by the Fuji TV/Tsuburaya collaboration Mirrorman; not to be outdone, the NET network affiliates Mainichi Broadcasting and Toei entered the fray with Kamen Rider, while NET and Toei subsequently released Android Kikaider. Of the major networks, only Nippon TV barely managed to hop on the bandwagon—and then only with Superhuman Barom-1, a series produced by its affiliate, Yomiuri TV.

それで、最近は、円谷プロにつなぎをつけて「ファイヤーマン」を出して少し息をついたが、このさい元祖のゴジラをかつぎ出して、群をなす怪獣番組の人気を一挙にさらって、大勢をばん回しようと、ゴジラの著作権を持つ東宝をしつこく口説いたのだそうだ。

And so, having recently managed to establish ties with Tsuburaya Productions—leading to the release of Fireman and a brief moment of respite—it is said that they subsequently set their sights on the original Godzilla. Their aim was to sweep up the popularity currently monopolized by the multitude of rival monster shows in a single stroke, thereby completely turning the tide in their favor; to this end, they reportedly engaged in persistent and relentless persuasion of Toho, the copyright holder of Godzilla.

東宝側もOKはしたものの、そこは商売で、ゴジラは毎回は出さず、セミレギュラー。もちろん、善玉のゾーン・ファミリーの味方で、ファミリーが悪い怪獣にやられそうになったときだけおもむろに登場させる。

Although Toho gave their approval, this was, after all, a business venture; consequently, Godzilla did not appear in every episode, serving instead as a semi-regular character. Naturally, he acted as an ally to the heroic Zone Family, making his dramatic entrance only when the Family was on the verge of being defeated by an evil monster.

ともかく、ゴジラだけは四十代の大人にも懐かしい。大げさにいえば力を与えてくれたような存在。だから、テレビに出れば、子供だけでなく大人の視聴者層もつかむことうけ合いだろう。

In any case, Godzilla is a figure that evokes a sense of nostalgia even for adults in their forties. To put it somewhat dramatically, he is a presence that feels as though he once empowered us. Therefore, if he were to appear on television, it would be virtually guaranteed to capture the attention of not only children but the adult viewing audience as well.

そして、著作権を持つ東宝では、この機をのがさず「ゴジラ対メガ口」を今月上旬に劇場公開してテレビの前ぶれもし、将来はテレビの人気とタイアップしてかせぐつもりだ。昔売り出したゴジラのチャチなプラモデルも、作り直して、「仮面ライダー」に負けじと売り出す。「ゴジラを精巧に作ったモデルなら、大人も買いますよ」とは、オモチャメーカーの話。

Seizing this opportunity, Toho—the copyright holder—released Godzilla vs. Megalon in theaters earlier this month, utilizing the theatrical run to build anticipation for its upcoming television debut; their strategy is to capitalize on the monster’s future popularity on TV to generate revenue. Furthermore, they are redesigning the rather flimsy plastic Godzilla model kits sold in the past, relaunching them as high-quality products intended to rival the popularity of Kamen Rider merchandise. As one toy manufacturer noted, “If the Godzilla models are crafted with a high degree of realism and detail, adults will buy them, too.”

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Caption

ゴジラとゾーン・ファミリ一のファイター
Godzilla and the Zone Family’s Fighter