Play Set
Do these look familiar? In 1979, the HG Toys Godzilla Battles The Tricephalon Monster Play set appeared with city, citizens, soldiers, tanks and more. After four decades, I got one last year. Time to let them fight! Learn More | 12.27
My Saturday TV
During this week, on Saturday, December 28, 1974, I was enjoying the best TV in the world.
7:30 6 Captain Noah
9:00 6 Hong Kong Phooey Intro
10:00 3 Land of the Lost
10:00 17 Johnny Sokko
10:30 17 Ultraman
11:00 17 Spider-man
11:30 3 Star Trek
12:00 12 Electric Company
12:00 48 Outer Limits
12:30 10 Fat Albert
1:00 12 Zoom
An
Irresistible
Godzilla
Merry Christmas! Yesterday, when the announcement of the new Spiral Studios Godzilla 2023 popped up on social media, I couldn’t resist. I added it to my cart but paused to think about the cost. But it became irresistible. This morning I preordered the standard edition which was a little cheaper. This big beast is sculpted by Tanaka Kenichi. It’s 53.43 cm high and 88.1 cm long, made of PVC and PU, which I prefer over resin. The pose captures the iconic stance from the official poster of Godzilla -1.0, when Godzilla towers over the streets of Ginza. Included is an awesome Wako Clock diorama. Learn More | 12.25
The sense of crisis shared by Hideaki Anno and Takashi Yamazaki
Quotes from the Directors Hideaki Anno and Takashi Yamazaki discussion of the future of Japanese entertainment and culture in a revealing interview by Fumiko Iwatsubo (岩坪 文子) for ForbesJapan.com on 12.24 |
Yamazaki: When we were making “Godzilla Minus One” (released in 2023), I didn’t think about the international market at all.
Yamazaki: I think the strength of Japanese works that succeed overseas lies in their uniqueness—things that are a little strange, but somehow interesting…. The question is, how much can we create something truly domestic—not in the sense of having Japanese content, but something created with a Japanese sensibility? That, I believe, is our greatest advantage.
Anno: [M]y thinking is in Japanese…. the drama is driven by the emotions of people thinking in Japanese. So, if people can understand that, I think it will be accepted overseas, but we can’t adapt to them. I’m sorry, but the audience will have to adapt to us.
Yamazaki: I’m still committed to the theatrical experience for now…. I try to create films that people can enjoy 100% when they come to the theater.
Anno: AI, like work-style reform, is a really difficult problem because people have completely different perspectives on it. However, since it already exists, we have to accept it and explore its possibilities…. You can’t just do whatever you want. For example, if Toho were to train an AI on footage from all the past Godzilla films and then tell it to create a new Godzilla film, no one would complain, right? Or rather, they couldn’t complain. It’s Toho’s copyright, after all.
Yamazaki: I’d like to see that. What kind of Godzilla would it turn out to be?
Anno: I’d like to see what kind of balance it would strike if we also fed it footage from the “Toho Champion Festival” (the film program from 1969-1978) Godzilla films.
Yamazaki: Godzilla is truly a diverse content, so it has an incredibly wide range of possibilities. I’d like to feed it everything and see what comes out (laughs).
Yamazaki: Our strongest motivation is the desire to let today’s children experience the same sense of excitement we felt…. But if we’re given such an opportunity, of course we’ll take it. I want to tell my younger self, “I’m going to work on Godzilla!” Being able to work on something I loved as a child is the greatest joy. And ideally, I want to expand the business itself, because it’s something of such value. I believe that what excited me as a child will surely excite children of any era.
My Christmas Godzilla Wish List
Growing up the JCPenny catalog and Sears Wish Book kicked off the Christmas season. Inside were the new toys and the old ones we had to have. My grandmother gave us both and said to circle whatever I wanted. I gave my parents a hand-written list. Long after this year my dear friend Eric and I exchanged our wish lists. Godzilla has always been on the top of my lists. And I still have most of my Godzilla Christmas toys from the 70s. Scroll through some of my favorite Godzilla Christmas gifts in wish book style. What’s on your wish list? 12.24
A
Godzilla All Pastic Model Kit
129
B
Shogun Godzilla
1688
C
Godzilla’s Gang
199 ea.
D
Godzilla Game
797
E
Rodan
1688
F
Godzilla Puzzle
399
G
View-Master Monster Gift Pak
438
H
Oversized Godzilla
10000
I
The History of Godzilla Vol. 2 CD
1999
A Aurora Godzilla All Plastic Assembly Kit (Glows in the dark). He’ll light up the city and ignite your imagination with his radioactive Glow-in-the-Dark power. Build and paint your model any way you want.
B Mattel Shogun Godzilla. A Mighty, Menacing Monster! He can “fire” his claws like rockets and has a flame-like flicking tongue. Movable arms, wheeled feet. Plastic. 191/2 in. Tall. Ages 3 to about 10.
C Mattel Rodan. The Big, Bad Bird. Rubber-band activated wings make a flapping, flying-motion—push lever at the back of his head, and his mouth opens and closes as he takes a squawking-type sound. Mouth and class pick up enemies as large as 3 in. tall, or even a toy car! Neck movies from side to side. Wing-span is a full 41 in. Ages 5 to about 12.
D Mattel Godzilla’s Gang. Monstrous favorites & friends! Collect ‘em all. Godzilla™ brought his friends! Eight horrifying monster figures, including Godzilla himself, faithfully rendered in frightful detail. Several have moveable limbs. Each monster is sold separately. Poly-bags have 4-color headers!
E Mattel Godzilla Game. Will you survive the mighty monster’s attack? Load the spaceships on the space platform! While the space spinner! Rotate the platform! Watch Godzilla spring out and grab a spaceship! No one knows when! For ages over 5.
F H-G Toys Godzilla 3 Title 150 Piece Puzzle Assortment. 150 piece puzzle of Godzilla, prehistoric champion. Huge 10” x 14” action scene poster suitable for framing. Fully interlocking pieces.
G GAF View-Master Monster Pak. Includes stereo viewer and 7 silent reels of Dracula, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein, and Godzilla. Just insert a reel, hold the viewer up to the light, and you see the scenes in 3-D. Viewer and 7 reels store in the handy container. For ages 4 to about 10 years.
H Bandai Oversized Godzilla. Godzilla roars with anger and sorrow! ︎Is it a warning to mankind or a prelude to destruction? Large soft vinyl articulated figure. 17.7 inches.
I The History of Godzilla Vol. 2 CD. The compact disc contains 20 tracks from Destroy All Monsters to Terror of MechaGodzilla.
Happy Holidays
It has been a busy holiday season, cleaning, organizing and shopping too. I finished my big two-month-long basement project which paved the way for reworking my Godzilla room. But I woke up Sunday to a failing TV that only came on after ten tries. It was not the first time, but it would be the last. So I bought a new Sony 4K TV at Best Buy. And it was a great buy. I thought I had experienced the quality of my Godzilla 4K movies. But when I popped Godzilla vs Biollante into my player, the picture blew me away. The picture was so clear. I thought I was watching the making of the movie. Do yourself a favor and gift yourself to a 4K TV and Godzilla movie! 12.23
The Design of Godzilla
The hands that painted light
Without the hands of the late great Sadao Iizuka Godzilla would not have his iconic atomic breath, King Ghidorah would not have gravity beams, and Ultraman would not have his Specimen Ray. Sadao Iizuka (飯塚 定雄, 12/26/1934-3/24/2023), nicknamed Den-san, joined joined Toho art department part-time as an assistant (美術助手) in 1954 during the production of Godzilla. He worked on set until SFX Director Eiji Tsuburaya, inspired by effects of The Ten Commandments (1956), tasked Iizuka to create optical effects which took him indoors, where he became the optical effects technician. His simple but sophisticated hand-drawn lines for optical effects defined the most iconic moments and signature weapons for our favorite monsters and heroes. Later he started Den Film Effects. His work is on display at National Film Archive of Japan, in the book ｢光線を描き続けてきた男 飯塚定雄｣ and the children’s book ｢ウルトラマンをつくったひとたち｣, he illustrated and wrote with my friend Makuta Keita.
1 2 3 4 5 | Watch | More | 12.18
Here comes SpaceGodzilla!
The official document of the Writers Guild of America has officially listed “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” as a work based on “Godzilla” and “SpaceGodzilla”! 12.15
The Mothra Year is upon us
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Heisei Mothra trilogy, and the 65th anniversary since its first appearance, marking a double anniversary a commemorative logo has been unveiled! 12.16
Godzilla Revealed
Check out our first official look at Godzilla in “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” season 2! 12.12
A Kaiju Christmas
It’s been “Kaiju Christmas” (怪獣のクリスマス, 1970) in my home since 1984 when I bought home my first Japanese Godzilla album from Rocketships & Accessories. The voice of Kenbo Kaminarimon (雷門ケン坊), born today, has made my season bright. Kenbo-san was a former Japanese actor, voice actor, and rakugo performer. He was also the lead voice in “Monster Game” (怪獣ゲーム). Listen Now | 12.6
The Design of Godzilla
Godzilla Dies
Second only to the script and perfect with the promotional video is the Godzilla Dies: Godzilla vs. Destroyah Press Sheet produced by Toho’s Publicity Department. This is a rare paper promotional material that opens from the center to the left and right and was distributed to the media at the preview screening. It features Destroyah’s six-stage transformation. This is one of many promotional materials that not only served the purpose of PR, but also heightened the anticipation of those about to see the film. The dimensions of the press sheet are 6.75 inches wide by 16.25 inches long. When the three-panels opened, they were 20.25 inches long. The power of the red Godzilla on black cannot be denied. And the words “Godzilla Dies” ｢ゴジラ死す｣ is jarring. 12.9
Cover
Inside
Outside
Back Cover
Select Translation
Oxygen Destroyer…
It all started with a devilish invention.
And now, the series comes to an end.
The greatest mystery of the century is finally revealed.
Prologue
In 1954, a series of ships wrecked in the Pacific Ocean for unknown reasons. While investigating an island near the site, Dr. Yamane was confronted by a gigantic creature. It was a dinosaur that lived from the Jurassic to Cretaceous periods, awakened by the effects of a hydrogen bomb test. The doctor named the creature “Godzilla.” The only thing that could eliminate Godzilla was the “Oxygen Destroyer,” but its inventor, Dr. Serizawa, refused to use it. However, Godzilla was able to destroy it with a radioactive heat ray.
Turn Tokyo into a sea of fire… After much anguish, Serizawa takes the Oxygen Destroyer and dives to the bottom of the sea where Godzilla lurks. With many thoughts running through his mind, including the anguish of having created a devilish weapon and the manufacturing method only known to him, Serizawa chooses to commit suicide with Godzilla.
And 41 years later… The time has come for the curtain to finally fall on this fierce battle. (From the first film in the series, “Godzilla,” released in 1954)
Introduction
· “Godzilla dies!”
The Godzilla series has evolved while constantly reflecting social trends, from the fear of nuclear weapons, to economic growth and pollution, to genetic engineering and bioethical issues, to money games and the collapse of the bubble economy. 1995 was a year in which, amid a series of end-of-the-century events, the stirrings of a new era were beginning to be heard in various fields, and Godzilla finally met his end.
· Destruction of the Capital / Urban Destruction Depicted on an Unprecedented Scale
Godzilla has destroyed countless cities and buildings, but his final battlefield is the capital, Tokyo. After an unprecedentedly fierce battle, Godzilla meets a tragic death, but it also leads to the destruction of Tokyo, a massive city that symbolizes Japan’s postwar prosperity.
· Destroyah: Godzilla’s Most Powerful Enemy
Godzilla’s final enemy is Destroyah, a new monster born 41 years after the Oxygen Destroyer that appeared in the original Godzilla film. A perfect lifeform that continuously transforms and evolves while destroying all living things, Destroyah attacks humanity with unprecedented terror and confronts Godzilla, who is on a rampage toward death.
· A Final Battle Featuring an Unrivaled Cast and Staff
Directed by Takao Okawara, Special Effects Director Koichi Kawakita, Screenplay by Kazuki Omori, and Music Director Akira Ifukube. The all-star cast of “Godzilla vs. Mothra,” which recorded the highest box office revenue in the series, has come together for Godzilla’s final battle. The diverse cast includes Takuro Tatsumi, Yoko Ishino, Yasufumi Hayashi, Emi Kodaka, Sayaka Osawa, Masahiro Takashima, and Saburo Shinoda. This film dramatically depicts humanity being driven into an unprecedented crisis.
Story
A red Godzilla appears in Hong Kong! It spits a fiery, radioactive heat ray unlike any Godzilla before, demolishing buildings and engulfing Hong Kong in flames and black smoke.
At the G-Summit, new director Mitsuru Kunitomo (Saburo Shinoda) convenes a meeting. According to Miki Saegusa (Emi Kodaka), Meru Ozawa (Sayaka Osawa) of G-Summit America, and Professor Marvin, something strange is happening in the nuclear reactor at Godzilla’s heart, threatening an unimaginable nuclear explosion. This incident leads Japanese student Kenkichi Yamane (Yasuhimi Hayashi) to access a paper online. 41 years ago, his father, Shinkichi, lost his family in a Godzilla attack and was adopted by Dr. Yamane. At Kunitomo’s request, Kenkichi joins the G-Summit team. Kenkichi’s sister, news anchor Yukari Yamane (Yoko Ishino), speaks with physicist Kensaku Ijuin (Takuro Tatsumi). The topic was Microoxygen (a miniaturized form of oxygen), which the doctor successfully developed and for which he received the International Prize in Physics.
Yukari’s aunt, Yamane Emiko (Kawachi Momoko), confides in Yukari her fears that Microoxygen might be similar to the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon said to be even more powerful than the hydrogen bomb that wiped out Godzilla 41 years ago.
Meanwhile, a mysterious lifeform reacts on the seabed of Tokyo Bay… This is the same place where the Oxygen Destroyer was used against Godzilla, who appeared in Tokyo in 1954. The Oxygen Destroyer that wiped out all life had given birth to Destroyah, a previously unknown lifeform completely different from any living organism on Earth today.
An attack on Godzilla, which is approaching Japan, would only trigger a nuclear explosion. The only way to prevent this is with the Oxygen Destroyer, a device that can scientifically eliminate Godzilla! However, the secret of the Oxygen Destroyer was buried in Tokyo Bay 41 years ago along with its inventor, Dr. Serizawa. Will it be possible to stop Godzilla’s rampage towards death?
Source: ゴジラvsデストロイアコンプリーション (Hobby Japan, p 61)
The Giant Director
Except for his Godzilla, no one looms larger over the Heisei era films than the late great Special Effects Director Koichi Kawakita (川北 紘一, 12/5/1942-12/5/2014). He brought Godzilla to life on the big screen. And he also gave us Godzilla off the screen with the most iconic Godzillas across Japan: the Godzilla Head atop Hotel Gracery, the Hibiya Godzilla statue, Heisei Godzilla statue and mural at Toho Studios, and the Godzilla slide at the Kurihama Flower Park. Learn More | 12.5
Godzilla December to Remember
No other month of the year has more Godzilla movie releases than December. So this month must always be remembered. What was your first Godzilla movie? Do you remember what you were doing at the time of Godzilla releases after you became a fan? Let’s celebrate this Godzilla season of releases with our memories about each. Here are mine!
In 2024, I had the privilege to travel to Osaka for the Godzilla Expo. There stood the Godzilla 1995 suit from Godzilla vs Destroyah (1995) who died and then came back to life again. This is a modified version of the Burning Godzilla suit used in the filming, featuring red glowing areas on the chest and abdomen, and repainted entirely in black. 1 2 3 4 | 12.9
GODZILLA
A Requiem
My choice of accommodations in Tokyo was not only determined by cost but proximity to the National Diet Building, the iconic building Godzilla destroyed during his first appearance in 1954. During the trip, I took my friends, who were on their first trip to Japan, along Godzilla’s march through Ginza from the Wako Building, whose clock tower was toppled, to the Nichigeki Theater, destroyed by the whip of his tail, and the Yamanote train crushed afoot. We stopped there and went no further. We turned left into Hibiya Godzilla Square. For years, I stopped there forgoing the short walk to the next corner to see the Imperial Palace. And similarly I forgot that Godzilla’s romp across Tokyo goes around the palace on his way back to the sea. I never gave deep thought about his path and why he didn’t destroy the residence of the Emperor. Little did I know that there were theories to explain the significance (if any) and reason why Godzilla stopped and made an about face and headed back to the sea destroying Kachidoki Bridge in his wake. It was a mysterious moment with profound meaning unknown to myself as a Western moviegoer.
Some explanations are simple and appear obvious such as directorial decisions, settings and production circumstances. Yet, other explanations are deeper rooted in World War II history. Novelist and monster collector Kihara Hirokatsu proposed the Great Tokyo Air Raid Reenactment Theory in which Godzilla recalls the memories of the allied air raids of B-29 formations that passed through Shinagawa and Ginza through the Sumida River and then returned to the sea avoiding the Imperial Palace, which was not targeted.1
Japanese film, literary critic and professor at Rikkyo University, Kawamoto Saburo, goes further, stating, “I think Godzilla is also a requiem for those who died in World War II, especially the soldiers who died at sea. Isn’t Godzilla, who ‘disappeared into the sea,’ a symbol of the fallen soldiers?” For Kawamoto Godzilla is a “’memory of war’ for the Japanese people.” Godzilla avoids the Imperial Palace because of the “dark, binding power of the imperial system.”Godzilla, like a soldier who fought in the name of the emperors and died at war, is “still under the spell of the imperial system.”2
But Folklorist Norio Akasaka argued, “Perhaps submerged beneath the surface of Godzilla is the unconscious composition of the scene in which the countless souls of young soldiers who perished in the southern seas at the end of the war, wandering aimlessly, face each other silently from afar, and the country’s highest priest, who had once sent them to the southern battlefields and who has now lost the spiritual power to appease the souls of those who have died, has returned to being just a human being.” Consequently, “after circling the Imperial Palace, Godzilla turns his back and returns to the southern seas.” Akasaka ponders, “Is this because he has realized that there is no one there to soothe and comfort the dead?”
For Akasaka, Godzilla is 「鎮魂歌」(ちんこんか chinkonka) translated “requiem.” A requiem is an act of remembrance but also “a religious ceremony for the dead or a musical composition for such a ceremony or as a tribute to the deceased.” Godzilla (1954) is both. His appearance on Odo Island and march through Tokyo coupled with the masterful compositions of Akira Ifukube (“Odo Island Kagura” (大戸島の神楽), “Japanese Army March”(フリゲートマーチ), “Godzilla’s Fury” (ゴジラの猛威 and “The Devastation of the Imperial Capital” (帝都の惨状)) fit that definition. 12.1
1 ゴジラはなぜ皇居を襲わないのか「シン・ゴジラ」はこの問題にどう答えたか 近藤正高 (8/31/2016)
2 連載「日中学術交流の現場から」第3回 ゴジラ・天皇制・市民科学―「令和ブーム」に抗して― csij 6/14/2020
Godzilla New Anime Series, Production Confirmed
For the first time in the series’ over 70-year history, a story with a “boy who possesses Godzilla’s power” as the protagonist begins. Is that boy human or Godzilla? The decision to produce a new Godzilla anime series was announced on stage at Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2025 in Singapore, and concept art was unveiled. The film is being produced by Orange, the studio behind Godzilla Singular Point, in collaboration with Igloo Studio, the cutting-edge Thai animation studio. Ota Keiji (Toho Co., Ltd. Senior Managing Executive Officer, Head of IP & Animation Division, and Chief Godzilla Officer/CGO) commented, “Throughout its 70-year history since its birth, Godzilla has always served as a mirror reflecting the times. This film is a first for the series, featuring a boy who possesses the powers of Godzilla, and we believe it will be able to more deeply portray both the fear and hope of today’s times. For TOHO animation, this is the challenge of stepping into a new story.” Source: @godzilla_jp | Yahoo News | 12.1
Dr. Yamane speaks of the danger posed by Godzilla, who is contaminated with strontium 9 released by the hydrogen bomb test, and Ogata even goes so far as to say, “Godzilla is like a hydrogen bomb dropped on the heads of the Japanese people.” It’s natural to associate the Bikini hydrogen bomb with Godzilla, and the image of Godzilla doesn’t make sense without this connection. It’s as if the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, bathed in the fallout, became enraged, transformed into Godzilla, and came ashore to rampage.
MyKaiju Godzilla box art is on Hobby Dengeki Web and Amazon Japan announcing the third installment of Toho’s “TOHO MONSTERS KIT” plastic model kit series, Godzilla (2023). It features three articulated parts, including the lower jaw and tail, and the first limited edition comes with a Godzilla card game! Pre-orders are now being accepted on Amazon! 12.1
Me & C4 Godzilla
Leaving the NYCC, I got my 7 seconds of fame and a gulp of the surprising good C4 Godzilla Drink and a spot in their social media post. I jokingly said, “Yeah. This is good. I’m afraid what’s it gonna do to me now?!… Yeah, Light up blue tonight.” 12.5
A Milestone
As I wound down a grueling month of cleaning my basement, I found this Godzilla vs Battra game sticker that reminded me that the work to reimagine my Godzilla has begun. 12.9
Godzilla Stamps
Collecting stamps at shrines and temples is a big deal in Japan. And Godzilla has had his share of stamp events. So when the new Godzilla Rubber Stamp Collection (Godzilla ラバースタンプコレクション ハンコ 昭和ゴジラシリーズ) was announced, I was a mist. This is the Showa set with 5 rubber stamps made of wood and natural rubber. I bought my set through JDirectItems Shopping on Buyee Japan. 12.1
Exploring Godzilla
I’m looking forward to reading Kawamoto Saburo full exposition on “Why is Godzilla ‘Dark’?” in “Once Upon a Time in Postwar Japanese Film” (ひとたびの戦後日本映画). 12.8
A Fake Godzilla
After a long wait, I got my hands on the X-Plus Fake Godzilla (1974). The perfect match for the 25cm Godzilla ’74 figure appears. 12.8
Godzilla Costumes
In my autographed copy of “Movie Costume Story Documentary Showa Film,” Makoto Ikeda, who was in charge of costumes for King Kong vs Godzilla (1962), writes about what he saw and heard on set. 12.8
Through Godzilla
In “Godzilla and Nausicaä: Those Who Came From Beyond the Sea,” Norio Akasaka (赤坂憲雄) interprets the “past” of Japanese life in Godzilla films and the “future” of the future in “Nausicaä.” 12.8
Gee, Figure King
When I learned that X-Plus COO and President Gee-san was in the latest Figure King no. 334, I had to get my copy. Gee talks Garamon while surround by a great collection of the Ultra Q kaiju. Congratulations Gee-san! 12.22
Ultra Stuff
Check out the amazing Complete Collection of Ultra-Cool Freebies from School Magazine (学年誌ウルトラふろく大全). 12.22
From Shinjuku
Shinjuku celebrate the 10th anniversary of Godzilla as its Ambassador of Tourism and there were goodies given out. Check out the copy of Godzilla’s special resident registration certificate. 12.22
Check out the Prime 1 Studio Shorai Noriyoshi’s Heisei Godzilla Godzilla vs King Ghidorah statue on display at the Next Level Showcase XVI. Merry Christmas from X-Plus and the Toho Daikaiju Series Godzilla Junior. Pre-order now! Spiral Studio proudly unveils The Legacy Series – Tanaka Kenichi Modeling Collection: Godzilla 2023 (Deluxe Edition). Sculpted by master artisan Tanaka Kenichi, this Deluxe Edition retains the same authoritative pose inspired directly by the official poster of Godzilla Minus One. Dimensions: height 53.5 cm, width 40.5 cm, length 88.1 cm. Materials: Translucent PVC and PU. Pre-ordering has begun. Ships in Q3 2026 (Edition Size: 149). The price is $1079 “Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla Completion” is scheduled for release on Monday, March 13, 2026. Check out the GAP and Godzilla collaboration. The Toho 30cm Series Gigan (2022) is bask. Check out the A new PeariA Godzilla vs Destoroyah Pocket Toy Set. Quick, get the Alamo Godzilla Popcorn Bucket before it’s gone. Pre-order the X-Plus North America Toho Kaiju Wars Series Destoroyah XPNA Exclusive Version. Check out the Burning Godzilla Junmai Sake with Gold Leaf (DX Version with Figure). The “first” and “last” Godzilla from the Heisei VS series make their simultaneous debut from Movie Monster Series: Godzilla (1984) & Super X and Godzilla (1995) Last Scene. Also “Burning Millennium Godzilla,” which appeared in “Godzilla Fes II: Shinjuku Ablaze,” has been turned into a 3D figure! Due to great popularity, secondary orders are now underway!
What’s on your list?
My PreOrder List
X-Plus Godzilla Junior
Spiral Studio Godzilla 2023
Alamo Godzilla Popcorn Bucket
XPNA TKWS Destoroyah
Toho Maniacs Dr. Serizawa Technicolor
Ichibansho Mechagodzilla 2
Monsters Roar Attack Godzilla (2004)
Godzilla (1954) Kaiju Collective Godzilla
KAIJU-DOU Godzilla (1974)
Godzilla Theater
On Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah 4K Digital Remastered Version begins at Godzilla Theater! 12.11
Winter Wonder Fes
Wonder Festival 2026 (Winter) is set for Sunday, February 8, 10am – 5pm, with a theme of Ultra Kaiju Wonder Fes. Learn More | 12.4
Tokyo Comic Con
Tokyo Comic Con 2025 is under from December 5th through 7th. And on display are some cool new Godzilla merch. 12.4
Cameron & Yamazaki Magic
Did you catch James Cameron telling Takashi Yamazaki he’s a huge fan and can’t wait for Godzilla Minus Zero. “If you get a little behind, I can come and do some second unit.” “You’ll end up taking my job from me if you do,” replied Yamazaki. Watch | Source: @CultureCrave | 12.11
Godzilla AR
“Godzilla AR: Godzilla vs Tokyo Dome,” a new attraction utilizing AR technology, announced at Godzilla Fes in November, has begun at Tokyo Dome City Attractions. 12.18
X-Plus Hedorah Landing
X-Plus Godzilla 1962
Happy Birthday
Akira Kubo (12.1)
Koichi Kawakita (12.5)
Saburo Shinoda (12.5)
Yuriko Hoshi (12.6)
Yasufumi Hayashi (12.7)
Akiko Wakabayashi (12.13)
Seiji Onaka (12.15)
Akihiko Hirata (12.16)
Tsutomo Kitagawa (12.21)
Katsuhiko Sasaki (12.24)
Satomi Ishihara (12.24)
1999: The American animated TV series “Godzilla: The Series” began airing on the Japanese satellite channel DIRECTV. It aired until February 29th, 2000. [For details, see the “Related Programs” section for the American broadcast start date, September 12th.]
2001: The “Great Godzilla Exhibition” was held at Hanayashiki Amusement Park in Asakusa. It ran until January 20, 2002.
1897: Birthday of Toranosuke Ogawa (小川虎之助, died December 29, 1967) [Roles: President of Nankai Kisen Kaisha in Godzilla]
1936: Birthday of Akira Kubo (久保明) [Roles: Tetsuo Torii (town inventor) in Invasion of Astro-Monster, Goro Mashiro (top businessman) in Son of Godzilla, Katsuo Yamabe (Captain of the Moonlight SY-3) in Destroy All Monsters, and others.]
1943: Birthday of Takehiro Koyama (小山武宏) [Voice of Colonel Alexander Hicks (Kevin Dunn) in the theatrical dub of Godzilla (1998).]
1962: Nikkatsu film “Dangerous Things Are Money” directed by Ko Nakahira is released. Shishido Joe is compared to Godzilla. [Kojiro Kusanagi says to Shishido Joe (played by Glass Joe in the trailer as Ace Joe), “Godzilla will shed tears if you get sentimental!” / King Kong vs Godzilla was released in the summer of the same year, and Godzilla was still a ruthless and harsh monster…or perhaps it was because it had become so ubiquitous that it was commonly used as a metaphor in films by other companies.]
1970: Toho Records releases an EP record featuring Godzilla songs sung by Kaminarimon Kenbo, “Monster’s Christmas/Monster Game.”
1971: “Fly Away, Mothra” (Toho Records) was released, featuring Sachiko Matsumura singing the “Mothra Song” with Japanese lyrics added.
1971: “Go! Go! Godzilla” (Toho Records) was released, featuring a Godzilla song sung by Susumu Ishikawa.
1991: Budget editions of the VHS tapes Godzilla, Godzilla Raids Again, King Kong vs Godzilla, Mothra vs Godzilla, and Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro-Monster (Toho) were released. [The first Godzilla video release around 1980 was ¥50,000 (and it was an abbreviated version), the re-release around 1983 was ¥22,000 (abbreviated version. The jacket was from Godzilla vs Megalon, making it strangely famous. For some reason, it was subtitled “King of the Monsters,” but the content was not the overseas version). The third re-release in 1988 was ¥12,950 (finally the complete version), and this latest release is ¥5,500, roughly halving the price with each release. The original negatives of King Kong vs Godzilla and Invasion of Astro-Monster were cut, so restoration took a long time, and they were not yet complete versions.]
1992: VHS Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla Sound Collection (Toho) released.
1993: 2-CD “Godzilla: Symphonic Fantasy – The World of Akira Ifukube: A Dinner of Film Music and Classical Music” (VAP) released.
1993: Toho released the two-disc laserdisc set Mothra vs Godzilla, which includes the main feature and the overseas version. [The overseas version includes an additional scene of Godzilla being bombarded by US forces, and this was the first time this version was released in Japan.]
1994: Toho released the collector’s edition laserdisc Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla
1929: Birthday of Ken Echigo (越後憲 (越後憲三, Kenzo Echigo)) [Played the role of a reporter in Mothra vs Godzilla, a bystander in Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster, Yoshikawa (crew member of the Moonlight SY-3) in Destroy All Monsters, and many others]
1930: Birthday of Ichiro Murakoshi (村越伊知郎, died May 23, 2007) [Voice of the radio announcer in Godzilla vs Megalon, voice of an alien in Gezora, Ganime, Kamoeba: The Great Monster of the South Seas, voice of the simultaneous interpreter for Country A’s representative and voice of international news in The Prophecies of Nostradamus]
1948: Birthday of Masamitsu Tayama (田山雅充) [Mothra as Shinji Nakajo (younger brother of Dr. Shinichi Nakajo). Some sources list him as Shinji, but the script and subtitles on the Toho DVD list list him as Shinji]
1997: Godzilla appears on the cover of “Diary of the 20th Century 1954: Showa 29” (Kodansha) [The release of Godzilla was chosen as a symbolic event of 1954.]
1995: The unveiling ceremony for the Godzilla statue installed at Nemu Plaza in Hibiya, Tokyo, was held. [Approximately 1 meter tall]
2002: “Godzilla” was selected as the Special Award winner for Best Overseas Buzzword at the Japan Buzzword Awards. [Yomiuri Giants player Hideki Matsui announced his intention to play in the US Major League Baseball starting next season]
1958: Birthday of Masahiro Sato (佐藤正宏) [Mothra: Battle at the Bottom of the Sea as Tatsuzo Itoman (elementary school physical education teacher)]
1965: Birthday of Arata Furuta (古田新太) [Shin Godzilla as Sawaguchi (Chief Cabinet Secretary of the National Police Agency)]
1998: Toho released the PlayStation game “Godzilla Trading Battle.” [This is a trading card game played on a monitor, with the cover featuring an unusual composition of Emmerich’s Godzilla vs. the Japanese (Heisei) Godzilla. As can be inferred from the release date, the Emmerich Godzilla is the main character…or rather, you can’t fight without him as your main force (the other monsters’ stats are too low). Game balance: While Japanese monsters can become stronger with level-ups, minor monsters like Gezora and Kumonga are more useful. Toho monsters from up until “Mothra: The Battle Under the Sea” appear, and even their roars are reproduced. All card illustrations are original.]
2004: Ryuhei Kitamura’s Godzilla: Final Wars was released [1.04 million viewers / Following this film, the Japanese Godzilla series entered its longest hiatus in history, a 10-year hiatus until the 2014 Hollywood release of “Godzilla,” and a 12-year hiatus until 2016’s Shin Godzilla.]
1940: Birthday of Katsutoshi Arata (新克利) [The War in Space] [role: Tadashi Mikasa]
1940: Birthday of Masaya Nihei (二瓶正也(二瓶正典, Masanobu Nihei)) [Role played by the dam police officer in Mothra, and Ito, a crew member of the Otori ship in Goras, among others]
1961: Birthday of Chafurin (茶風林) [Voice of M Space Hunter Nebula Man in Godzilla Island]
1974: Final draft of Yukiko Takayama’s script Terror of MechaGodzilla is printed. [Although this is the final draft, a revised version was printed on December 20th.]
1984: TV Asahi’s “Usopp Land,” episode 57, “Gazing at Love and Godzilla,” airs. Godzilla is born as a human child. “A child born as a salamander grows up to become Godzilla, but dies of an incurable disease. / Godzilla was a costume for attractions, but a photo of the original Godzilla was used as a memorial portrait after his death. / Tie-in with Godzilla (1984).]
1931: Birthday of Kyoko Kagawa (香川京子) [Michi Hanamura in Mothra]
1942: Birthday of Koichi Kawakita (川北紘一, died December 5, 2014) [Special effects director for Godzilla vs Biollante through Godzilla vs Destroyah / Has been involved in special effects production as an assistant since Gorath / First directed Godzilla in episode 4 of the TV series “Meteor Man Zone”]
1948: Birthday of Saburo Shinoda (篠田三郎) Shigeki Fukazawa (Professor of Geology at Tohto University) in Godzilla vs Mothra and Mitsuru Kunitomo (Director of the United Nations G-Force Countermeasures Center) in Godzilla vs Destroyah]
1963: Birthday of Richard Berger (リチャード・バーガー) [Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, as Grenchiko (23rd Century Human)]
1900: Birthday of Yoshiyoshi Nakamura (中村是好) December 6th, 1989 [Romantic priest in Godzilla vs Gigan]
1943: Birthday of Yuriko Hoshi (星由里子) [Romantic roles: Junko Nakanishi (Mainichi Shimbun journalist) in Mothra vs Godzilla, Naoko Shindo (Detective Shindo’s sister) in Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, Yoshino Yoshizawa (physicist) in Godzilla vs Megaguirus and others.]
1956: Birthday of Kenbo Kaminarimon (雷門ケン坊) [Singer of the theme songs “Monster’s Christmas” for Son of Godzilla and “Monster Game” for All Monsters Attack]
1965: Birthday of Ayako Sugiyama (杉山彩子) [Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack as Sugino (female navigator in the Defense Navy)]
1963: Birthday of Katsuya Terada (寺田克也) [Godzilla Final Wars Monster X, Kaiser Ghidorah design]
1971: Birthday of Yasufumi Hayashi (林泰文) [Godzilla vs Destroyah Yamane Kenkichi (Toto University student)]
1975: Birthday of Satoru Matsuo (松尾諭) [Shin Godzilla Izumi Shuichi (Vice Chairman of the Policy Research Council, then Acting Assistant to the Prime Minister)]
1994: CD “Akira Ifukube Special Effects Movie March Collection” (Toshiba EMI) released. [An album compiling only marches from Godzilla through Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla]
2014: The return of the Godzilla film series in Japan is announced [About Shin Godzilla]
1958: Birthday of Yutaka Izubuchi (出渕裕) [Designer of the Special Construction Equipment Platoon emblem in Shin Godzilla]
1992: Birthday of Kansuke Haruyama (春山幹介) [Romance as a young Taizo Tachibana (Ryūdō Uzaki) in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]
1995: Godzilla vs Destroyah, directed by Takao Okawara, is released [Godzilla disappears due to an internal meltdown, concluding the VS series / 4 million viewers]
1985: The second meeting for the production of Godzilla 2 (later Godzilla vs Biollante) is held at the Imperial Hotel [Attendees included Tomoyuki Tanaka, Fumio Tanaka, Koichi Ishii, and Shinichiro Kobayashi]
1991: The proposal for Godzilla vs Mothra, the sequel to Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, is completed.
1955: Birthday of Takeshi Masu (升毅) [Tokyo SOS – Nikaido (Special Self-Defense Forces Kamoeba Special Task Force)]
1955: Birthday of Hiroyuki Watanabe (渡辺裕之) [Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack – Hiroshi Hirose (Lieutenant Colonel of the Defense Forces)]
1962: Birthday of Wataru Shimodou (四方堂亘) [Godzilla: Final Wars – Rear Admiral Kunikida]
1977: Birthday of Daisuke Kuroda (黒田大輔) [Shin Godzilla – Tatsuya Negishi (Chief of the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s Surveillance and Information Division)]
1977: Birthday of Nobuhiro Amama (天間信紘) [Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack – Yamamoto (Communicator, Information Management Department)]
1980: Birthday of Issey Takahashi (高橋一生) [Shin Godzilla as Tatsuhiko Yasuda (Director of the Basic Research Promotion Division, Research Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)]
1988: Toho released the Family Computer game “Godzilla.”
1994: Toho released the Super Famicom game “Godzilla: Great Monster Battle.” [This is a port of the PC Engine game “Godzilla Bakutou Retsuden,” released on February 26, 1994, but the game system was significantly revised, and the monsters featured were changed to Godzilla, Anguirus, Showa King Ghidorah, Gigan, Megalon, the old and new MechaGodzillas, Biollante’s plant-beast form, Heisei Mothra, Super MechaGodzilla, and Gotengo.]
2004: Atari Japan released the PlayStation 2 game “Godzilla: Great Monster Brawl: Earth’s Final Battle.”
1985: Tatsuhiko Yamagami’s manga “Tekkin Tommy” (Futabasha) was published. Sumo wrestler Konishiki grows gigantic and destroys Tokyo, but a lie is spread: he can be defeated by the Oxygen Destroyer.
1995: Film Comic Godzilla vs Destroyah (Toho) was published.
1995: Harikenryu’s “Godzilla Way: I’ve Always Wanted to Be Godzilla Since I Was Born” (Fujinsha) was published [A book by the author discussing both art and action / A reprint of the manga “Kaiju Pakardai” (originally published in Godzilla Comic, Takarajimasha), written and illustrated by Minoru Kawasaki]
1994: Godzilla vs Space Godzilla, directed by Kensho Yamashita, is released [3.4 million viewers]
2015: The release date for Shin Godzilla has been set for July 29th, 2016, and Godzilla’s body length has been increased [Teaser visuals, special trailer, and the tagline “Japan vs. Godzilla” have also been announced.]
1963: Birthday of Takayuki Takeya (竹谷隆之) [Godzilla character design and modeling in Shin Godzilla]
1973: Birthday ofYuki Sato (佐藤友紀) [TV reporter (on the dining room TV) in Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla]
1994: CD release of “Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla Original Soundtrack” (Kitty Enterprises).
1970: Release of “Monster Attack” (Asahi Sonorama). The accompanying flexi disc includes re-recordings of the dramas “Godzilla vs. the Space Outlaws” and “Godzilla vs. Ebirah vs. Mothra: The Great Battle in the South Seas.”
1983: Release of “The Visual World of Eiji Tsuburaya” (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha), edited by Shingo Yamamoto [A complete and expanded edition was published on July 11, 2001]
1983: “The Complete History of Toho Special Effects Films” (Toho) published [A deluxe book compiling all of Toho’s special effects films]
1984: “Color Album Godzilla” (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) published [Contains 24 cards, 1 poster, and a Godzilla book (a photo story of “Godzilla (1984)”)]
1989: “Godzilla vs. Biollante,” a novelization by Jiro Arima (Kadokawa Bunko) published.
1991: “THE ART OF GODZILLA: The Art of Godzilla” art book (Wani Books) published. [The following year, “THE ART OF GODZILLA: The Art of Godzilla vs. Mothra” was also published on the same day.]
1992: “Godzilla Super Diorama Theater Godzilla” (Shogakukan) published. [A mook depicting an original Godzilla story using diorama photographs]
1992: Kazuhiro Okamoto’s “Cult Quest 5004 Godzilla” (Bandai) published.
1995: “Kodansha Manga Encyclopedia 31: Godzilla Giant Monster Illustrated Encyclopedia” (Kodansha) published [Includes color anatomical diagrams of monsters. Kodansha Manga Encyclopedia also published “Mothra Monster Encyclopedia” on November 25, 1996.]
1993: Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla, directed by Takao Okawara, is released [3.8 million viewers]
1999: Godzilla 2000: Millennium, directed by Takao Okawara, is released [The Godzilla series resumed after a three-year hiatus following Godzilla vs Destroyah. It became known as the Millennium Series. Subsequent films also became a regular Saturday release in early to mid-December.]
1966: Ebirah: Horror of the Deep was held on the rooftop of the Isetan Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo. [This was an extremely early monster attraction show held prior to the film’s release. Special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya was also invited as a guest.]
1931: Birthday of Kazutami Hara (原一民) [Cinematography for Godzilla (1984)]
Godzilla vs Mothra (The Great Battle) released. 1971 / At the Toho Champion Festival, director Ishiro Honda’s Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster was shown. This is a shortened and retitled version of Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla. The original 92-minute version from 1964 was re-edited to 73 minutes. The title Rodon was omitted, leading to a different interpretation of the “Three Great Monsters” by some people. Also shown alongside films like “Return of Ultraman: The Terror of the Tornado Monster,” “Countryside Boss: Even a Cat Will Find a Sparrow If It Walks, Whether It Hits or Misses Is a Matter of Luck,” “Hatch the Orphan: Wishing on a Forget-Me-Not,” and “The Little Match Girl.”
1992: Director Takao Okawara’s Godzilla vs Mothra was released. The title of the sequel, Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla, was announced in the trailer. [It drew an audience of 4.2 million, and remained the biggest hit of the Heisei Godzilla series until it was surpassed by Shin Godzilla in 2016.]
1998: Mothra 3: King Ghidorah Attacks, directed by Okihiro Yoneda, was released.
1960: Birthday of Masahiko Nishimura (西村雅彦) [Tank Commander in Godzilla 2000 Millennium]
1997: Kunio Miyoshi’s Mothra 2: The Guardian of the Sea was released.
2003: Masaaki Tezuka’s Tokyo SOS was released [Featured alongside “Hamtaro: Ham Ham Ha Grand Prix: Aurora Valley’s Miracle Ribbon-chan in a Close Call!” / 1.1 million viewers]
1991: “The World of Akira Ifukube” was held at the Fuchu no Mori Art Theater to celebrate Akira Ifukube’s 77th birthday, as a pre-release event for Godzilla vs King Ghidorah. The symphonic fantasy Godzilla vs King Ghidorah premiered.
1912: Birthday of Hisashi Shimonaga (下永尚) [Recording for Godzilla, King Kong vs Godzilla – All Monsters Attack, and other recordings, including editing]
1918: Birthday of Shin Watari (渡会伸, died May 28, 2001) (渡会伸) [Recording for Son of Godzilla]
1939: Birthday of Eiko Wakabayashi (若林映子) [Role of Princess Sarno in Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster, Tamie (Fumiko’s friend) in King Kong vs Godzilla, role of Hamako Natsui in Dogora the Space Monster]
1940: Birthday of Masataka Nakamura (中村方隆, died July 7, 2008) [Role of Professor Inagaki of the University of Tokyo in Godzilla 2000 Millennium]
1949: Birthday of Reijiro Koroku (小六禮次郎) [Godzilla (1984) Music]
1949: Birthday of Tetsuya Ushio (潮哲也) [Godzilla (1984) Role: Self-Defense Force Communications Base Operator]
1974: Ishiro Honda’s Mothra (short version) premiered at the Toho Champion Festival. [The original 101-minute version from 1961 was re-edited to a mere 62 minutes. Also shown alongside Latitude Zero (short version) and “Shigeo Nagashima’s Glorious Number 3.”]
1991: Kazuki Omori’s Godzilla vs King Ghidorah was released. [Opening on the 1st Saturday of December became the custom. 2.7 million viewers attended.] From this point on, the VS series was shown every second Saturday of December until 1995’s Godzilla vs Destroyah.
1996: Okihiro Yoneda’s Mothra was released [The Heisei Mothra series began, replacing the Godzilla series. Three films were produced up until 1998, released on the second Saturday of December.
2002: Masaaki Tezuka’s Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla was released [Featured alongside “Hamtaro: Ham Ham Hamuja! Maboroshi no Princess” / Attended by 1.7 million viewers.]
1984: On the eve of the release of Godzilla (1984), a special program called “The Godzilla Special” aired on TBS. Hosted by Tetsuya Takeda.
1915: Shigeru Komatsuzaki (小松崎茂, died December 7, 2001) [Design work on Earth Defense Force, Battle in Outer Space, Matango, Submarine Battleship, Dogora, and others]
1984: Godzilla, directed by Koji Hashimoto, is released. [The Godzilla series, which had been on hiatus for nine years since Terror of Mechagodzilla, is revived/3.2 million viewers]
2001: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, is released [Screened alongside Hamutaro the Movie: Ham-Ham Land Adventure / 2.4 million viewers]
1928: Birthday of Takashi Ebata (江幡高志) [Played the captain of the Daihachiman Maru in Godzilla (1984)]
1934: Birthday of Seiji Onaka (大仲清治) [Played a Pacific Pharmaceutical employee & crew member of the Daian Maru in King Kong vs Godzilla, a fisherman in Shizunoura & a police officer at the pier in Mothra vs Godzilla, a member of the Flying Saucer Club, a reporter in Ueno Park & a tourist in Matsumoto in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, a Self-Defense Force member in Invasion of Astro-Monster, a newspaper company employee, a customer at a rally dance & a member of the Red Bamboo team in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Godzilla suit actor (when Minilla appeared) in Son of Godzilla, a command center officer, a lunar base engineer & a reporter in Destroy All Monsters, and many others/most roles are uncredited]
1962: Birthday of Suzuki Matsuo (松尾スズキ) [Played Tatsuya Hayafune (freelance magazine reporter) in Shin Godzilla]
1967: Jun Fukuda’s Son of Godzilla released. Minilla makes his first appearance [Double feature with Happiness for You / 3.09 million viewers]
1989: Kazuki Omori’s Godzilla vs Biollante released [The first new Godzilla film in 5 years since the 1984 revival Godzilla. The VS series begins. After a one-year break, the VS series would be released annually from 1991’s Godzilla vs King Ghidorah to 1995’s Godzilla vs Destoroyah / 2 million viewers]
2000: Masaaki Tezuka’s Godzilla vs Megaguirus released [1.35 million viewers]
1927: Birthday of Akihiko Hirata (平田昭彦, died July 25, 1984) [Played Dr. Daisuke Serizawa in Godzilla, Dr. Shigezawa in King Kong vs Godzilla, Section Chief Okita in Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, Captain Ryu in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Fujisaki in Son of Godzilla, Hidehito Miyajima in Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla, Dr. Shinzo Mafune in Terror of MechaGodzilla, and others. He also appeared posthumously in Godzilla vs Destoroyah and Godzilla x MechaGodzilla in scenes featuring Dr. Serizawa (using archival footage).]
1949: Birthday of Kensaku Morita (森田健作) [Played Koji Miyoshi in The War in Space]
1959: Birthday of Fuyuki Shinada (品田冬樹) [Sculptor for Godzilla vs Biollante, Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack]
1965: Birthday of Inuko Inuyama (犬山犬子/犬山イヌコ) [Lyricist for the insert song “Seicho Gojirap” in Adventure! Gojiland]
1966: Jun Fukuda’s Ebirah, Horror of the Deep is released. [Shown alongside This is Youth / Attendance: 4.21 million]
1972: Ishiro Honda’s “Godzilla’s Electric Shock Operation” is released as part of the Toho Champion Festival. [A retitled and shortened version of Destroy All Monsters. The 89-minute original version from 1968 was re-edited to 72 minutes/Shown alongside Monster Great Battle: Daigoro vs. Goliath and Panda! Go, Panda!]
1977: Jun Fukuda’s The War in Space is released [The space defense battleship “Gouten” appears]
2005: Kazuki Omori’s film Super Star Fleet Sazer-X: Battle! Star Warriors is released. [The interceptor battleship Gouten, the mammoth monster Moskeeto (modeled after King Ghidorah), and the mechanical giant monster Bulgario (modeled after Mechani-Kong) appear]
1970: The final draft of the script for Godzilla vs Hedorah by Kaoru Mabuchi and Yoshimitsu Sakano is printed. [Published in “Bessatsu Eiga Hiho Tokusatsu Hiho vol. 4” (Yosensha) on August 27, 2016]
1989: Kazuki Omori, Koichi Kawakita, and Yoshiko Tanaka appear on Mainichi Broadcasting’s “Ryu’s Bar: A Carefree Good Night,” episode 112, in a tie-in with Godzilla vs Biollante [To host Ryu Murakami, who thought Godzilla was huge because its cells were large, Kazuki Omori, a graduate of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, dismisses the idea with “That’s impossible.” When Omori, smiling, says that filming Godzilla makes him feel like “Ah, I’m making a movie,” Murakami, also a film director, replies with a puzzled expression, “Is that so?”, leading to a series of mismatched conversations where neither side budges from their position.]
1941: Birthday of Yoko Fujiyama (藤山陽子) [Played Makoto Jinguji in Atragon, and Masayo in Space Monster Dogora]
1966: Birthday of Noriko Wakihama (脇浜紀子) [Played a TV station AD in Godzilla vs Destoroyah] [Appearing as a Yomiuri Television announcer]
1997: “NOW AND FOREVER,” the theme song for Mothra 2: The Undersea Battle, sung by Folder, is released.
1914: Birthday of Tatsuo Matsumura (松村達雄, died June 18, 2005) [Played Dr. Makioka in King Kong vs Godzilla]
1944: Birthday of Osamu Kume (久米攻, died December 23, 2011) [Special effects for Godzilla (1984) to Godzilla Final Wars]
1950: Birthday of Nobuaki Fukuda (福田信昭) [Voice of Dr. Mendel Craven (Malcolm Danare) in the theatrical dubbed versions of GODZILLA (1998) and “Godzilla: The Series”]
2014: PlayStation 3 game “Godzilla -GODZILLA-” (Bandai Namco Games) released.[An action game where the player is Godzilla. The setting is that a mysterious energy called “G-Energy” was created through research on Godzilla, who appeared 60 years prior, and this energy has become the world’s lifeline. Buildings and defense weapons also contain “G-Energy,” which Godzilla absorbs to grow and become stronger. In short, the more of the world you destroy, the stronger you become… which is fortunate since the player is Godzilla.]
1965: Ishiro Honda’s Monster Zero (also known as Invasion of Astro-Monster) is released. [This film became a topic of conversation because even Godzilla imitated the “Sheeeh!” pose of Iyami, a popular character from Fujio Akatsuka’s manga Osomatsu-kun, which was booming at the time. It was screened alongside The Young General of Electric Guitar. Attendance: 5.13 million]
1970: Ishiro Honda’s Mothra vs Godzilla (shortened version) is released at the Toho Champion Festival [The 89-minute original version from 1964 was re-edited to 74 minutes. It was screened alongside Judo Star, Attack No.1: Tears of the World Championship, and The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee]
1966: Arthur Rankin Jr. and William J. Keenan complete the second draft of the plot for King Kong Escapes [Synopsis for King Kong Escapes]
1992: It is reported that a contract has been finalized between Toho and TriStar Pictures for the production of a Hollywood version of a Godzilla film.
2015: A Top League official rugby match at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium is held as “Godzilla Day.” This is the first installment of the Godzilla Top League support project [A new award, the Godzilla Award, also known as GODZI-MEN, was established for players.]
1988: Mami Matsuyama (松山まみ) [Voice of Remy Friede in Super Star Fleet Sazer-X: The Movie – Battle! Star Warriors]
1964: Ishiro Honda’s Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is released. King Ghidorah makes his first appearance [The film’s setting is January 1965 / Double feature with Hana no Oedo no Musekinin / Attendance: 5.41 million]
1969: At the Toho Champion Festival, Ishiro Honda’s All Monsters Attack and Jun Fukuda’s Konto 55-go Space Adventure are released [The Toho Champion Festival, a children’s program combining monster movies and anime films, begins. Konto 55-go Space Adventure, shown as a double feature, uses special effects shots from The Last War and a miniature of the P-1 space rocket from Invasion of Astro-Monster. Star of the Giants: Go Go Hyuma was also shown simultaneously / Attendance: 1.48 million]
1973: At the Toho Champion Festival, Ishiro Honda’s King Kong Escapes (shortened version) is released [The original 1967 version of approximately 104 minutes was re-edited to approximately 59 minutes / Double feature with Samurai Giants: Roar Banbabang, Ultraman Taro: Burn! Ultra 6 Brothers, Rocky Chuck the Mountain Mouse: Go Go Chatara, Aim for the Ace!: Cinderella of the Tennis Kingdom, and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: Electronic Monster Ranger]
1974: Yukiko Takayama’s revised script (final draft) for Terror of MechaGodzilla is printed.
2007: Then-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba of the Liberal Democratic Party stated at a press conference after a cabinet meeting that “If Godzilla appears, the Self-Defense Forces will be deployed,” clarifying that Article 83 of the Self-Defense Forces Law regarding “disaster relief” would apply [Defense Minister Ishiba stated, “Godzilla is a kind of natural disaster, and Mothra is the same; it would be a disaster relief operation.” He also said, “The Self-Defense Forces appear in Godzilla movies, but there aren’t any scenes in the movies where the Defense Minister makes any decisions, are there?” Regarding UFOs, he stated, “It’s not a foreign aircraft, so can it be considered to be using lift from its wings?” implying that it would be difficult to determine if it was a violation of airspace. …There were no reporters who asked questions like, “Would King Ghidorah be considered a natural disaster or a violation of airspace? Would Mothra not be considered a natural disaster, but rather a violation of airspace and national sovereignty?”]
1899: Birthday of Minoru Takada (高田稔, died December 27, 1977) [Played the role of the Minister of Home Affairs in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, the Director-General of the Defense Agency in Atragon, and others.]
1949: Birthday of Takao Okawara (大河原孝夫) [Director of Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla, Godzilla vs Destoroyah, Godzilla 2000 Millennium, and others.]
1972: Birthday of Gen Urobuchi (虚淵玄) [Story concept and screenplay for the animated film Godzilla (2017)]
18 years ago: Hideo Oba’s Shochiku film “The President and the Female Employee” was released. The music was by Akira Ifukube. The melody of the Godzilla theme was used for the first time as film music in the main title. [Outside of film music, the melody was used in “Cold Forest,” composed by Ifukube in 1944, and in the “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra” (later retitled “Concerto Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra”), which premiered on June 22, 1948. A similar melody was also used in the 1950 Daiei film “Spider City.”]
1970: Filming begins for Godzilla vs Hedorah
1999: Toho holds a chat with Godzilla fans on the internet as “Godzilla Chat 1999/12/21”
1924: Birthday of Hiroya Morita (守田比呂也, died June 16, 2016) [Played Captain Nakatani of the Akatsuki 1 in Terror of MechaGodzilla]
1928: Birthday of Kei Sato (佐藤慶, died May 2, 2010) [Played Editor-in-Chief Godo in Godzilla (1984)]
1953: Birthday of Hajime Anzai (安齋肇) [Played Passenger C on the train in Godzilla 2000 Millennium]
1953: Birthday of Ikuji Nakamura (中村育二) [Played Koji Kanai (Minister of State for Special Missions, Cabinet Office) in Shin Godzilla]
1957: Birthday of Tsutomu Kitagawa (Kitagawa 2tom) [Godzilla suit actor in Godzilla 2000 Millennium, Godzilla vs Megaguirus, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, Godzilla: Final Wars]
1963: Ishiro Honda’s Atragon released [The popular Toho special effects mecha, the submarine warship “Goten-go,” makes its first appearance. Goten-go would later reappear in modified forms in The War in Space, New Atragon, Godzilla: Final Wars, and Super Star Fleet Sazer-X the Movie: Fight! Star Warriors. / Shown alongside Hong Kong Crazy Operation]
1930: Kentaro Watanabe (渡辺謙太郎, died November 14, 2006) [Played the role of Watanabe the announcer in Godzilla vs Hedorah. He was a TBS announcer at the time of his appearance.]
1931: Birthday of Kozo Nomura (野村浩三 (野村明司, Akiji Nomura)) [Played Kenji Uozaki (Dr. Sugimoto’s assistant) in Varan the Unbelievable, a Self-Defense Force member in Mothra vs Godzilla, a survey team member in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, and others.]
1965: Birthday of David S. Goyer (デヴィッド・S・ゴイヤー) [Co-writer of Godzilla (2014)]
1995: “Super Godzilla Legend” held at Ariake Coliseum. Ran until January 7, 1996 [Featured a recreation of the special effects set from Godzilla vs Destoroyah, as well as exhibits related to past Godzilla series. Held to commemorate the opening of the Yurikamome line.]
2000: “Monster King Godzilla Exhibition” held at Kitakyushu City Multimedia Experience Center Alice Lab. Ran until January 8, 2001.
1911: Fuyuki Murakami (村上冬樹, died April 5, 2007) [Played Dr. Tanabe in Godzilla, the medical representative in Monster Zero, Dr. Mashima in Varan the Unbelievable, and others. Provided the voice of Dr. Yamane in the radio drama “Monster Godzilla” (July 17, 1954 – 11 episodes).]
1944: Birthday of Katsuhiko Sasaki (佐々木勝彦) [Roles include Goro Ibuki (Jet Jaguar creator) in Godzilla vs Megalon, Akira Ichinose (oceanographer) in Terror of MechaGodzilla, Takeda (Head of Science and Technology Research Department) in Godzilla vs Biollante, Hironori Masaki (paleontologist) in Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, the voice of Major General William Stenz (David Strathairn) in the dubbed version of Godzilla (2014), and others]
1971: Birthday of Tomoko Oho (大寶智子) [Role includes Nurse in Mothra (1996)]
1986: Birthday of Satomi Ishihara (石原さとみ) [Role includes Kayoko Ann Patterson (U.S. Presidential Envoy) in Shin Godzilla]
1998: Printing of the draft script “G” by Kanji Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura. [The first draft of Godzilla 2000 Millennium]
1992: The “Great Godzilla Exhibition”「大ゴジラ展」was held at Tsuruya Department Store in Kumamoto. Until January 7th.
1971: Birthday of Yoji Shinkawa (新川洋司) [Designer of the New Gotengo and Earth Defense Force in Godzilla Final Wars]
1956: Ishiro Honda’s Rodan released [Japan’s first color special effects monster film / Double feature with Nemuri Kyoshiro: The Rogue’s Chronicle]
1959: Ishiro Honda’s Earth Defense Force released [A sister film to The Mysterians, with different cast but some characters sharing the same names / Double feature with Sazae-san’s Wayward Wife]
1983: Toho announces production of the new film Godzilla (1984).
2002: The “Great Godzilla Exhibition”「大ゴジラ展」was held at Shinjuku Takashimaya. It ran until January 6, 2003.
1941: Birthday of Isao Hashimoto (橋本功, died February 12, 2000) [Played the role of Commander Akiyama in Godzilla (1984) and a researcher in The War in Space]
1964: Birthday of Kentaro Sakai (酒井健太郎) [Played the role of a crisis management information bureau executive in Godzilla 2000 Millennium and a police officer on Ishigaki Island in Mothra 2: The Battle Under the Sea]
1999: Masami Yamada, “Godzilla: The Viewers and the Creators” (Soft Garage) published. [A book compiling the thoughts of the staff to help enjoy Godzilla 2000 Millennium / Includes the manga “The Birth of a New Godzilla,” originally conceived by Masami Yamada and illustrated by Shinji Nishikawa]
1958: Birthday of Takashi Tsushimi (都志見隆) [Composer of “Kanashimi no Godzilla,” the theme song for the 40th anniversary of Godzilla’s birth, featured in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla]
1966: Birthday of Naomi Uemura (植村なおみ) [Played a TV reporter in Godzilla vs Destoroyah. She was a Yomiuri TV announcer at the time of filming.]
1989: Toho releases the American version of Godzilla (1984), re-edited with added scenes featuring Raymond Burr, as GODZILLA 1985 on video in Japan for the first time. [The video “Godzilla vs. Monster Army ~You Can Become a Monster Expert~” (containing a compilation of Godzilla vs Biollante) was also released on the same day.]
1957: Ishiro Honda’s The Mysterians released [Toho’s first color widescreen special effects film / Shown alongside Sazae-san’s Youth]
1990: Kazuki Omori’s script for Godzilla vs King Ghidorah draft printed.
1958: Birthday of Naomi Fujiyama (藤山直美) [Played a patient in Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla]
1964: Birthday of Shingo Tsurumi (鶴見辰吾) [Played the role of Yajima (Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff) in Shin Godzilla]
1971: Birthday of Ryosuke Watanabe (渡部遼介) [Played the role of the Secretary to the Minister of Finance in Shin Godzilla]
2015: The “Godzilla x Noriyoshi Ohrai Retrospective Exhibition”「ゴジラ×生賴範義回顧展」was held at Shibuya Parco. Until January 17, 2016.
2015: NASA warns of a “Godzilla El Niño” phenomenon [‘Godzilla’ phenomenon hits America… The predicted strongest El Niño phenomenon in history is referred to as Godzilla / [Daily Mail article publication date]]
1934: Birthday of Russ Tamblyn (ラス・タンブリン) [Played Dr. Stewart in Frankenstein’s Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira. American actor.]
1963: Printing of the draft script for Shinichi Sekizawa’s Mothra vs Godzilla.
1994: Godzilla & Little Godzilla (both from Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla) appear at the 45th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (NHK Red and White Song Contest).
1968: Toshifumi Shimizu (清水俊文) [Assistant Director on Godzilla 2000 Millennium to Godzilla Final Wars]
Source: ゴジラ365日 毎日がゴジラの日, Yosensha Publishing Co, Ltd.
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. Growing up we had the Weekly Reader in school. This is my version as an adult Godzilla fan. Made by my Mac and best for desktop browsing. Thanks for visiting!
