Author and Photographer: Edward L. Holland 

The meteoric star power of Godzilla burned brighter at this year’s annual Godzilla Fest 2024 in Hibiya, Tokyo presented by Toho Studios in honor of the King of Monsters 70^th birthday on November 3, attracting approximately 38,000 fans in person and countless more online.

Godziban Puppet Stage by Edward L. Holland Godzilla ©TOHO CO., LTD

Former Fuji TV personality, actor and returning Master of Ceremonies, Shinsuke Kasai kicked off festivities in the afternoon and led thousands of kids and their families in cheering on Godzilla in all its iterations. As expected, a plethora of products and previews on the big screen ensued delighting the growing audience. Heisei-era actress, model, and fan favorite Yumiko Shaku fought valiantly in a GODZILLA BATTLE live gaming tournament on stage, assuring male and female devotees she would continue to always do her best for the community.

Tokyo Midtown’s Godzilla Square offered: Godzilla-related foods, Godziban puppet demos, kids games, two Godzilla Store pop-up shops and opportunities to meet favorite costumed characters. Throughout the day, long lines of young and old waited to meet Godzilla (1954), Chibi (Little) Godzilla, Jet Jaguar, Godzilla 2004 from GODZILLA: FINAL WARS and Gigan from the Showa-era films GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (1972) and GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973).

 

Later in the afternoon a GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1974) 50^th anniversary talk show with GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002) and GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS (2003) director, Masaaki Tezuka and veteran SFX director, Eiichi Asada where they discussed the different organizations in control of the Mechagodzillas, some of the anecdotal memories from developing scripted elements and shooting the legendary films.

Overflow crowds cued up for FES GODZILLA 5, the final installment of previous shorts, as preorders of a Blu-ray compiling all the vignettes went on sale after the festival slated for an April 2025 release. Creature maker, Shinichi Wakasa of Monsters Inc. said afterwards, “I used the same Jet Jaguar suit as last year’s which is as compatible as possible to the original and added this year’s new Gigan-like claws for this latest film.”

Godzilla Illustrator and Actor Yuji Kaida at Tsubucon 2023 by Edward L. Holland

Master artist, Yuji Kaida briefly featured in the latest short, once again plays a stoic commander with the final decision-making power within the Godzilla countermeasure team. Kaida spoke of the 2024 festival while looking back at the August 2023 shooting at Toho Studios stage number 9 in Setagaya, Tokyo. “The recent Godzilla Festival was a huge success, even more than usual. I was very happy, because this sequel to last year’s short where I play the same determined role was well received, even though as an actor I am an amateur,” said Kaida.

Across the Pacific, Godzilla Day continues to grow with complimentary events in the Little Tokyo section of downtown Los Angeles that included screenings, a Godzilla film fest and a parade to the popular store Jungle, whose parent stores are firmly based in Japan.

The day-long commercial pitch for the “Big G” back on home turf culminated in a sold-out Japan 4K premiere of GODZILLA (1954) at Toho Cinemas Hibiya during the Tokyo International Film Festival. Prior to the English subtitled, screening press and theater goers were treated to a talk show with GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023) director, Takashi Yamazaki who carried an Oscar home for Best Visual Effects at the 96^th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. The Japan premiere also highlighted Yoshio Suzuki, an original modeler and production designer of Godzilla costumes for the God of Japanese Special Effects filmmaking Eiji Tsuburaya, and director Ishiro Honda, close friends of Oscar honored director, Akira Kurosawa of SEVEN SAMURAI, also released by Toho in 1954.

It was explained that the Shodai (first generation) costume was made of scarce materials. It was extremely rigid, heavy, crude and unforgiving by today’s standards, but faithfully worn and animated by “Mr. Godzilla,” Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka decades ago in postwar Japan.

Suit actor Nakajima once in a while during production would hurl complaints at Suzuki, because it was extremely hard for him to act in such a difficult to move costume. Suzuki mentioned, “Since Nakajima was not in a position to complain to superiors he would get angry and sometimes punch me for making such an immobile suit.” To the surprise and amusement of the audience and director Yamazaki, it was derided that this type of action on set would only have happened 70 years ago.

The lucky attendees at the 4K premiere were pleasantly shocked as the talk show ended and rows of Toho Visual Effects producers, directors, camera men, suit actors, technicians, and family, some still working in the industry assembled for a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity on stage. Thirty-six stalwart keepers of movie making magic proudly held a 70^th Anniversary banner flanked by Yamazaki from the latest epic and Suzuki from the first generation of the biggest, baddest, box office draw of all time, Godzilla King of the Monsters.

Jet Jaguar Final Wars Godzilla and Chibi Godzilla entertain fans at Godzilla Fest 2024 by Edward L. Holland Godzilla ©TOHO CO., LTD

Designer and content creator John Ruffin who eagerly awaited the premiere commented after, “The Godzilla 4K Remaster was more than a movie experience, but a reunion of legends that made it a historical event for Toho on and off the screen. I will not forget it.”  

Godzilla Fest is a beast of a day even for the seasoned fan, but one can only imagine what directors Honda, Tsuburaya, and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka would think about the enduring significance of Godzilla culture on society. The icon has seen it all and continues to leave an indelible foot print since the feature’s first horrific and thought-provoking projection at Japanese cinemas eons ago.

Kyle Yount, host of COLLECT ALL MONSTERS highlighted the significance of the 2024 festival. “After seeing so many of these past events unfold during live broadcasts, it was a refreshing experience to be with the crowd in Japan as they cheered and rallied the excitement presented on stage,” said Yount.  

Upon GODZILLA MINUS ONE’s monumental Oscar win earlier this year, director Yamazaki exclaimed, “I think Godzilla has opened up so many doors for us through this project. I don’t know where those doors are going to lead, but I don’t want to turn down any opportunity.” Later he added “…Japan is such a small country that we need international box office revenue to sustain the industry. This should be the start of something bigger, I hope for the industry as a whole.” Thankfully Toho has fully greenlit the next Godzilla film now in preproduction with Yamazaki appropriately at the helm. “Go Go Godzilla!”

Edward L. Holland is a US veteran, correspondent for international websites and magazines and co-founder of the seminal America and Japan based magazine, Monster Attack Team formerly published by Famous Monsters of Filmland. Follow his photographic exploits on Instagram @edwardlholland