The History of Godzilla – Pt 1

The History of Godzilla

ゴジラ年表
Godzilla Timeline

1954

上の写真はビキニ環礁での水爆実験……。

The photo above shows the hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll.

1954(昭和29)年のことだ。

It was in 1954 (Showa 29).

原水爆に眠りを覚まされたゴジラの年表もここに始まる。

The chronology of Godzilla awakened by the atomic and hydrogen bombs also begins here.

ゴジラが時代の中に生きている証が見えてくる。

You can see the proof that Godzilla is living in the times.

1954(昭和29)
1954 (Showa 29)

この年の3月、ビキニ環礁で水爆実験が行われた。当時、この海域で操業中だった日本のマグロ漁船が、被爆。いわゆる「第五福竜丸事件」である。米ソ冷戦下の状況ともあいまって、核兵器の脅威を、人々に肌で感じさせた。

In March of that year, a hydrogen bomb was tested at Bikini Atoll. At that time, a Japanese tuna fishing boat operating in this area was exposed to the atomic bombing. This is the so-called “Daigo Fukuryu Maru Incident.” Combined with the situation during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, it made people feel the threat of nuclear weapons.

その事件の記憶も生々しい、11月3日、水爆大怪獣「ゴジラ」がスクリーンにその異形の姿を現した。世紀のスーパーモンスターの誕生である。

The memory of the incident is still fresh, and on November 3rd, the giant hydrogen bomb monster “Godzilla” appeared on the screen in its grotesque form. It is the birth of the super monster of the century.

1953(昭和30)
1953 (Showa 30)

前作では東京を壊滅の危機に追い込んだゴジラが再び大阪に上陸する。『ゴジラの逆襲』(4月26日公開)のクライマックスはアンギラスとの大阪城決戦だ。

Godzilla, who drove Tokyo to the brink of destruction in the previous work, lands in Osaka again. The climax of “Godzilla Raids Again” (released on April 26) is the decisive battle at Osaka Castle with Anguirus.

7月、石原慎太郎が、『太陽の季節』を発表。太陽族という言葉が流行語となった。トランジスタラジオが初めて発売される。

In July, Shintaro Ishihara released “Season of the Sun.” The term solar tribe became a buzzword. Transistor radio is sold for the first time.

Season of the Sun is a Japanese novel written in 1955 by Shintaro Ishihara, who later became a politician and was governor of Tokyo for 13 years from 1999 to 2012. It is the source of the name of the rebellious taiyozoku youth culture which emerged after World War II. The novel won the 1956 Akutagawa Prize. (Source: Wikipedia)

1956(昭和31)
1956 (Showa 31)

日本原子力研究所が発足(6月)。気象庁ができたのもこの年、7月のことである。

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute established (June). The Japan Meteorological Agency was established in July of this year.

第一次南極観測隊が南極観測船「宗谷」で11月に日本を出発。翌年1月、昭和基地を設営。

The first Antarctic expedition departs from Japan in November on the Antarctic research ship Soya. In January of the following year, Showa Station was established.

ゴジラのライバル、ラドンが、『空の大怪獣ラドン』(1月26日)でスクリーンデビュー。

Godzilla’s rival, Rodan, made his screen debut in “Rodan” (January 26).

〝機関車よりも強く”でおなじみのスーパーマンが日本のブラウン管に登場したのもこの年。

It was also this year that Superman, who is known as “Stronger than a Locomotive,” appeared on Japanese CRTs [cathode-ray tube (TV)].

1957(昭和32)
1957 (Showa 32)

8月、東海村に日本初の原子炉がともった。大陸をわたって、敵国を直接攻撃できるICBM(大陸間弾道弾)の実験がソ連で成功。(8月)

In August, Japan’s first nuclear reactor was turned on in Tokai-mura. The Soviet Union succeeded in testing an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) that can directly attack enemy countries across continents. (August)

さらに、10月には、世界初の人工衛星の打ち上げにも成功するなど、宇宙開発両面でソ連がアメリカの優位に立った。

Furthermore, in October, the Soviet Union succeeded in launching the world’s first artificial satellite, giving the Soviet Union an advantage over the United States in terms of both space development.

上野動物園にモノレールがオープン。

Monorail opens at Ueno Zoo.

1958 (昭和33)
1958 (Showa 33)

アメリカもこの年、人工衛星の打ち上げに成功(1月)

The United States also successfully launched a satellite this year (January)

Source: Encyclopedia of Godzilla, Gakken, p 95