Meeting MechaGodzilla

8.25.2024

No other Toho monster comes close to my love for Godzilla than his Showa doppelgänger MechaGodzilla. The great imposter revealed himself as the mechanical marvel in the 70s before my eyes and I could never look away. I chose MechaGodzilla as first Bandai figure over Godzilla when I laid my eyes on him at Rocketships and Accessories during their 30th birthday bash for the Big G. For Godzilla’s 70th birthday I headed to Japan just several weeks ago to see MechaGodzilla on display at the Tokusatsu DNA Exhibit in Ueda (特撮のDNA in 信州上田展). For years I was not able to schedule my trips with his appearances. But finally I laid my eyes on the recovered and restored MechaGodzilla who took Godzilla to the brink of death.

MechaGodzilla was the creation of designer Akihiko Iguchi and special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano. MechaGodzilla was brought to life in both Showa films by actor Kazunari Mori. What became of the suits? In the July 1979 issue of Kodonsha’s TV Magazine, the MechaGodzilla 2 suit is featured alongside Godzilla 1975 titled “Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla Deluxe Bromide.”¹ In 1985, the suit appears in Kodansha’s Comic Bon Bon Special 3 Godzilla ’85 in the Toho Museum section.² The Special Edition Movie Treasure Showa MechaGodzilla Steel Picture Book documents a composite version of the suit believed to be from 1980(?).³ The upper body was from No. 1 and the lower body from No. 2 similar to current restored suit, leading me to believe they are same. In 1984, manga artist and suit actor Hurricane Ryu entered the suit which was captured on video.⁴

Reminiscent of the recovery and restoration of the alien robot from the ocean floor in the Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975), the MechaGodzilla 2 suit has been salvaged and restored with parts from his predecessor and replica parts as needed. The restored MechaGodzilla is a patchwork of remains from the 1974 and 1975 suits. In the Showa MechaGodzilla Steel Picture Book, the design and modeling techniques of the restored suit are provided by the author Kento Tomoi, sculptor Nobuyuki Yasumaru and restorer and movie director Tomoo Haraguchi.⁵

MechaGodzilla 2 was made of fiber-glass reinforced plastic (FRP). The first suit was made of hard urethane that accounts for its survival. The second was made mainly of latex. The suit stands 203cm (80 inches) high, 110cm (43 inches) wide and 160cm (63 inches) in length. The legs are variations of FRP, wood and plastic.6 Head 2 is attached to the body of No 1. Head 2 has a single row of dorsal fins at the back of the head, while head 1 has three rows. The eyes were made from motorcycle tail lights to reflect light. There are four screws embedded behind the chin. The shutter/half-closed blinds on the neck was a peephole for the actor. The shutter door that emits the cross attack beam is made of wood. The belt buckle was modified for Terror of MechaGodzilla but now uses that of No. 1. The arm parts were damaged and replaced with precisely molded replicas. The “MG” mark is a replica made from the real thing.

Other parts of MechaGodzilla 2 were on display as well. His head used for attractions. His electronic brain has also survived. Its base is made of wood, model parts and the dome made by a method called heat pressing resin against a mold. The goal color is made by metallic tape. It is 280mm (11 inches) in diameter and 200mm (8 inches) in height. Beside his brain was his foot used to create jet propulsion effect by spraying gas through it.

When I saw the suit for the first time, my memories of MechaGodzilla came full circle. I saw the mechanical marvel for the first time again like when I sat in front of my parents black-and-white television in the 70s.