Godzilla at 70: Fans still falling for Japan’s ‘king of monsters’

Key Points

The first Godzilla film, directed and co-written by Ishiro Honda, was released in November 1954.
The fictional monster has picked up fans around the world with its environmental messages.
Australian cinemas and museums are commemorating the 70th anniversary.

When Sydneysider Elizabeth Wilkinson decided to get a tattoo of Godzilla on her upper arm five years ago, she tried four studios before she found an artist who said yes to her request.

“I think he (Godzilla) is timeless. His movies can be set at any period. In this new age, when we do have lots of natural disasters that happen in our world, he’s still part of it somehow … We always need Godzilla, for all time,” she told SBS Japanese.

The Japan Foundation Sydney hosted a free talk event to celebrate 70 years of Godzilla. Credit: Japan Foundation Sydney

Wilkinson was seven years old when she first set eyes on the Japanese fictional monster, playing the video tape of the original Godzilla film (1954) over and over.

“I couldn’t get enough of it. Yes, the black and white one. Even with no subtitles. I had no idea what was happening, I can’t speak Japanese. I loved the big monster, the scenes in Japan, the connection with all the cast.

“I loved how the movie made you feel for Godzilla even though he was trampling the city (Tokyo),” Wilkinson said.

Since that debut 70 years ago, Godzilla — or Gojira in Japanese — has been the star of more than 30 films, as well as TV and anime series. The filming of a new production, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, is currently underway on the Gold Coast.

Now anniversary celebrations have started globally. In Japan, the mint has readied special commemorative coins, while Australian cinemas like Dendy in Sydney and ACMI in Melbourne are holding special screenings to mark Godzilla Day, 3 November.

‘A monster with significance’

On the screen, Godzilla is depicted as a prehistoric creature which has survived 140 million years in the deep sea, only to wreak havoc on Tokyo after being awoken by hydrogen bomb testing.

Dr Jason Jones, lecturer and coordinator of Japanese Studies at Monash University, explained Godzilla is not merely a monster to be combated by humankind’s military might.

Dr Jason Jones, lecturer and coordinator of Japanese Studies at Monash University. Credit: Dr Jason Jones

“Godzilla is interpreted as a god from a different world. If Godzilla visits the human world, that means humans did something wrong. You can’t defeat God. It was resurrected again and again. You just need to calm the anger,” Jones said.

“That is one of the reasons why Godzilla has been popular for such a long time. It’s a monster with significance. It’s been evolving with the times.”

Jones said he had fond memories of watching the weekly anime series over cereal while growing up.

According to him, “studying Godzilla equals studying Japan”.

While the original film was a reaction to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the bombing of Tokyo, in 1945, he said later films also reflected actual events.

A special edition of a Japanese newspaper displayed at the Godzilla 70th anniversary event at the Japan Foundation Sydney. Credit: SBS

“If you look at a modern film like Shin Godzilla (in 2016), it was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (in 2011). Rebuilding cities after destruction is a very Japanese theme,” Jones said.

“No other monster reflects actual events like Godzilla. It’s always been close to Japan, gone through things with Japan (for 70 years).”

‘He was like my first love’

For Wikinson, her Godzilla tattoo is a daily reminder of her personal growth.

“For me, Godzilla symbolises my love for Japan. I love him so much that I just want to have him like part of me, forever. Because that’s never going away,” Wilkinson said.

One day, Wilkinson said she was at an event when an elderly couple in matching Godzilla shirts walked past and noticed her tattoo. The three of them ended up talking about their shared passion for half an hour.

“I kind of want to show off my love for him like that. Then maybe other people see it and want to know more about it,” she said.

Elizabeth Wilkinson with her Godzilla collection. Credit: Elizabeth Wilkinson

“I grew up in a very white community, so I had no Asian influence or anything like that, except for Godzilla. Then I got older and discovered more things, I discovered anime, Japanese metal bands, getting a job in the city and meeting more Japanese people at work.

“He (Godzilla) just opened a lot of doors for me. He was like my first love.”

Rare Aussie fan gathering

Wilkinson attended a recent two-day Godzilla celebration at the Japan Foundation Sydney, which was her first time to meet fans locally.

Despite bad weather, the event was almost a full house on both days.

“I really loved it. I thought I was like the number one (fan) but no, I didn’t even win the quiz,” Wilkinson said.

“Many people talked about Godzilla for hours.”

According to Wilkinson, there are some Facebook groups for international fans, but there are none specifically for Australians.

Godzilla 70th anniversary event in Sydney

The Japan Foundation Sydney recently held an event to mark the 70th anniversary of Godzilla. Credit: SBS

Jones was a speaker at the same event, and he praised the audience for their knowledge.

“Everybody brings their own experience and are ready to share. I have my favourite Godzilla films, but when I ask the audience about their favourite, almost everyone had a different one, which was a bit surprising to me,” he said.

Wilkinson, who works in a hotel, said she was looking forward to celebrating her next birthday with her first trip to Japan next year.

She has booked a room at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, known as the ‘Godzilla hotel’, in Tokyo.

“If one (a Godzilla hotel) was to open in Sydney, I would be the first person to sign up to work there,” she said.

“I already know the drill. I know what needs to be done. I’m ready.”

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