Godzilla Fes is drawing near
Godzilla Fes 2024 (ゴジラ・フェス 2024) is ramping up with the release of the event graphic featuring 70th Anniversary logo with Godzilla 1954 facing the left and the Japanese movie titles set within the number “70.” The 10th annual Godzilla Festival will be held on Sunday, November 3rd at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Hibiya Godzilla Square and other locations. There will be various events such as Izakaya Godzilla and special effects shorts. The Ghidorah suit project is underway. The full schedule of events is to be determined. What else is coming nobody knows, but there is so much to be excited for. I’m hoping to make another trip to Japan for Godzilla Day. Stay tuned. 9.13.2024
Minus One Strikes Back
When we thought it was safe to go into the water, another Godzilla Minus One returns. This time the much-anticipated Super 7 Toho Ultimates Godzilla Minus One figure arrives. Along with it comes the announcement of the release of the complete original soundtrack in a deluxe edition on October 16th. There will be 10 new tracks. The CD is now available for preorder on Amazon Japan (4400 yen) for about $45 USD total that includes shipping. 9.13.2024
My First 10 Godzilla Books
I don’t know what I would do without my Godzilla books. My books and magazines are just as important as my Godzilla figure collection. Although my collection was small in the 70s, it began to grow in the 80s before exploding in the 90s and later. These are my earliest books that still mean everything to me. Started 9.13.2024
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Famous Monsters
(1979)
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A Great Collectible Weekend
On Friday, my buddy Eric and I went to New York City to snatch up the SH Monster Arts Godzilla 1989 exclusive at the Tamashii Nations flagship store. The coming Jet Jaguar figure and more were on display. I was overwhelmed by the Godzilla selection at Kinokuniya. Books, calendars and figures I didn’t know existed. Then we hit up Mitsuwa in Edgewater, NJ. On Saturday, we headed to Retro Con in Oaks, PA, where I couldn’t believe the amazing selection of Godzilla toys and collectibles. I left with the Super NES Super Godzilla game, Japanese Godzilla vs Mothra (1992) poster, Kaiyodo Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1964 vinyl kit, Mr. Chops (The Nagging Dragon) and a virtually brand-new working JCPenney’s black-and-white TV with its box. To cap the day off, I saw Mike Temple who I met in Japan in 1994. On the way out we met Linsay Wagner, the Bionic Woman. 9.8.2024
Another chance to see Director Yamazaki
Breaking News: Kaiju News Outline reports “Godzilla Minus One” director Takashi Yamazaki will be a part of the Godzilla vs. NYCC: 70 Years of the King of the Monsters Panel on October 19th at NYCC. And I’m going to be there! Thanks to my friend Eric! Of all years to finally get NYCC tickets, this would be the year. After missing out on seeing the director at Wonder Fest in Tokyo during my trip, I get another chance. This will make up for a lot. Source | 8.30.2024
Godzilla Reader
“We are Monster Makers”
That’s the title of the article in Godzilla Complete Deciphering (ゴジラ完全解読) published by Takarajimasha in 2016. This is a summary of the thought-provoking content in this article and inside: “Mankind has brought unwanted things to the earth, such as environmental destruction and war. The symbol is the existence of monsters such as Godzilla… There are things that science has unexpectedly created. It’s the monster that destroys civilization and causes disasters to humans… Godzilla awakened by a hydrogen bomb experiment. Hedorah synthesized by pollution. Biollante was created with biotechnology. They are all descendants of the monsters of the Gothic novel Frankenstein or Modern Prometheus.” Read Now | Buy | Reader | 8.28.2024
I love my Bandai’s The特撮Collection model kits. I never put them together but MosuGoji beats them all. 8.30.2024
It’s been 25 years and I’ve never open my Sega Dreamcast Godzilla Generations. I bought this during my trip to Japan in 1999 from Sofmap, one of the largest personal computer and consumer electronics retailers. Generations is an action game by General Entertainment and published by Sega exclusively released in Japan. The player can become Godzilla and four other kaiju to destroy Japan. Included are Godzilla movie trailers. 8.28.2024
Cool Pics
How Ichiro became a monster
Ichiro was like Minya when he stood up against the bully. But he was also like Gabara. Victims can become victimizers when they fight back responding to hurt. Fighters become identical twins making it difficult to know who is right and wrong. After Ichiro pushed back on Gabara and pranked the billboard painter as was demanded of him to appease his bully, all the gang followed him. They were united against a common victim. In a world full of bullies don’t become a Gabara. 8.29.2024
“Godzilla is a supernatural being that exerts such overwhelming power over nature that it makes human existence seem small.”
Shinji Higuchi, 2016
I got the box!
A couple months ago while looking through my old collectible boxes. And I found my 44-year-old Mattel Rodan box from Christmas in 1980. Learn More | 8.31.2024
Coming Soon from X-Plus
The 1962 Godzilla Classic Color Version from X-Plus North America is coming with MyKaiju Godzilla box art created with friend and colleague Jeremy Soles. Wishing him great success! Source | 9.1.2024
Buried Treasure
Yesterday was an adventure into the past as I searched for my Rodan box. I dug up artifacts and I found my earliest Ultraman drawing from the 70s and this mockup Godzilla website from the late 90s. 9.1.2024
My New Favorite Godzilla
Like I often say, when I saw it, I had to have it. When Mondo announced the James Groman Godzilla, it was destined to be mine. And it is disappointing. This Godzilla is my new favorite. He has the charm of a stylized sofubi, the detail and paint-application of a suit-accurate sculpt and adorableness of super-deformed and Defo Real figure. The size (12” tall and 21” wide) is just right. And he makes me want to hug him like a plushy. He comes with “fully swappable battle damage head, arm and tail in a big cool box. He has the making of a classic must-have Godzilla like the Mattle Shogun Godzilla. You’re lucky if you got one too. 9.7.2024
The Legend of Mothra Super Mook just released by Futabasha arrived joining The Battle of MechaGodzilla and The Battle of Ghidorah. 9.7.2024
A Showa Box Daze
Today is my Showa box day with the cool stuff I love to collect. Three items are from the great resurrection and return of Godzilla in 1983-84. When I see a Godzilla audio cassette tape I jump at it. This is unused Toho Software Cinematic Godzilla Roar Sound Cassette (ゴジラ雄叫びサウンドカセット) with Godzilla (1984) Main Theme and Super X Theme (ゴジラ(1984)メインテーム〜スーパーXのテーム). I can’t wait to listen to it. I usually don’t collect stickers but Godzilla 1984 and Showa stickers are the exception. This is a new and unused pack of four sold in the theater. Godzilla is described as a “dreadful carnivore.” The last item is a ticket stub from the Godzilla Exhibit (復活！ゴジラ展) held at the Shibuya Tokyu Department Store (東急東横店) during the Godzilla Revival from 7/27 to 8/1/1984. 9.5.2024
Today’s last treasure is the Toho Monster Picture Book No. 4: Godzilla The No.1 Monster (東宝かいじゅう絵本4 怪獣No.1 ゴジラ) without the obi. For several days I debated whether I should buy it or not because of its condition. But I’m glad I did since I already have volume 6 Space Monster King Ghidorah with the obi. This book accompanied an 8mm color film in a 10-volume set published by Osawa Shokai Co., Ltd in March 1972. Each picture book is attached to a vinyl storage case. The illustrations are gorgeous and represent the best of the Showa era. Learn More | 9.5.2024
MyKaiju Sighting
My reward from toy photography is seeing collector photos of my X-Plus box art on social media. I feel like I did my job. It is an amazing honor, opportunity and dream come true to be a small part of the history of Godzilla. I’m always want to get better and to go beyond my best for my clients and show off Godzilla at his best. 9.2.2024
Masaru Sato
I love composer Masaru Sato ((佐藤 勝, 5/29/28-12/5/99) just as much as Akira Ifukube. His big band sound sets the tone for every scene so perfectly. My favorites are Son of Godzilla, Ebirah Horror of the Deep and Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla. 9.2.2024
A Godzilla Invitation
In July, I attended the Godzilla Theater showing of Godzilla (1954) at Toho Cinemas Hibiya. I love Godzilla events, exhibits and expos and collecting their memorabilia. Today, I received a special invitation to the Godzilla Festival 1995 (ゴジラまつり ’95) held in Nagoya on August 27, 1995, to commemorate the release of Godzilla vs Destoroyah with a screening of King Kong vs Godzilla (1962). It’s a postcard with postal marks on the back side. Along with the invitation I got an old ticket to the Godzilla at the Museum exhibit (ゴジラ展). 8.26.2024
Top Secret
Check out the Norman Report 2001-2002 (2004) by photographer, film reporter & filmmaker Norman England, who recently published Behind the Kaiju Curtain: A Journey Onto Japan’s Biggest Film Sets. His latest work is a collection of his writing for Godzilla GMK (2001) and Godzilla X MechaGodzilla (2002) websites. It’s written in Japanese & full of great photos. GET A COPY | 9.3.2024
That Yellow Hat
I love All Monsters Attack (1969) because as an adult I want nothing more than to cherish my childhood growing up with Godzilla. Over the summer I found the rail yard where Ichiro’s father worked and he walked to school. Both wear yellow hats. Ichiro’s is the Tokyo (Yomiuri) Giants baseball cap with logo and seal. I’ve been trying to find one but no luck. Until I find it, this one will have to do. 9.3.2024
I can only wish
Get a look at the Godzilla Store Exclusive Wooden Godzilla (1954) sculpted by Hideo Kanno using the fine wood of Hokkaido known for its wooden carved bear souvenirs. Rather than salmon Godzilla takes a bite out of a Tokyo train. Godzilla is 17cm long, 26cm high, and 13cm in width. It’s so cute and awesome! I love! And I want it, but the price tag is ￥162,800. 8.26.2024
Let Them Fight
Doing research yesterday on the Showa MechaGodzilla 2 suit, I opened my Kodansha TV Magazine from 1979 and I had a Showa sticker surprise. There were these two cool Showa Godzilla and MechaGodzilla peel-offs as part of a set of “Popular Hero Shiny Stickers” on the inside cover. Also inside is a deluxe bromide of Godzilla and MechaGodzilla. 8.26.2024
Wallpaper
My Top 10 Favorite Godzilla Incarnations
10. 1964
9. 2001
8. 1962
7. 1991
6. 1989
5. 2016
4. 1984
3. 1954
2. 2023
1. 1974
September Calendar
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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. Hero illustration is by Tatsuji Kajita (梶田達二).