12.10.14
On December 5, 2014, Godzilla Visual Effects Director Koichi Kawakita (訃報 川北紘一特撮監督, b. 12/5/1942) passed away. It was Kawakita who revived and stamped the identity upon the Heisei Gojira with which many G-fans grew up.
Kawakita worked under the famous Eiji Tsuburaya. He worked on Gorath and Ultra Q. He was Assistant Visual Effects Cinematographer for Godzilla vs Ebirah (1966). He was the Chief Assistant Visual Effects Director for all the 70s films (except Gigan and Megalon).
Although Godzilla made in Japan is back, Kawakita will be sourly missed.