Can Godzilla Save The Japanese Tourism Industry?

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima (right) during his Godzilla days. Can Godzilla and Nakajima help save the Japanese tourism industry?

Getting up this evening from much-needed sleep (I have to work the graveyard shift in Burbank again tonight), I found an email about a Twitter Tweet from Tom Baker of The Daily Yomiuri:

Can Godzilla help save Japan's tourism industry? Monster expert @ArmandV comments on an editorial from @DailyYomiuri.

I think Godzilla would be a great help in saving Japan's tourism industry. He's as internationally recognizable as Mickey Mouse. Of course, the tourism industry would need the cooperation from Godzilla's owner, Toho Co., Ltd., but ads featuring the King of the Monsters promoting Japan tourism could do the trick. Also, taking on Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor, as a goodwill ambassador in a advertising campaign for Japan tourism would be a plus. Given his age (he's 82), his participation would have to be limited a bit. But seeing the crowds gather around him on Hollywood Blvd. (see photo below from his daughter Sonoe) convinced me that he could be useful. And, I think he'd have a ball!

Above, Haruo Nakajima drew a crowd on Hollywood Blvd. last month. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

As I said before, the Japanese tourism industry needs to think "outside of the box" to get travelers over to Japan. It's worth a try!

Godzilla (Haruo Nakajima) Takes Hollywood! Take 2

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima and his daughter Sonoe pose at the Godzilla star on Hollywood Blvd. Mr. Nakajima played a major role in the popularity of the Godzilla character which led to the Walk of Fame honor. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

The original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima, conquered Hollywood while he was in Southern California as a special guest at this year's Monsterpalooza in Burbank.

Above, ever the performer, Haruo Nakajima poses with the Godzilla star for the tourists. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

While he was here, and during some free time, he was taken to Hollywood Blvd. and posed with the Godzilla star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is located in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Sonoe sent several of their personal photos of their visit and these are some of them.

Above, back home in Japan, Mr. Nakajima poses with his Certificate of Welcome from the Mayor of Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

Godzilla (Haruo Nakajima) Takes Hollywood!

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima gives his famous "Godzilla attack" pose at Godzilla's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

After getting home from work tonight, I found an email from Sonoe Nakajima in Japan with photographs of her and her dad's visit to Hollywood. The photos accompanying this blog post are just part of what she sent of their personal collection.

Above, Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima pose at the Hollywood Sign. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

Back in early April, the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima and his daughter Sonoe, attended Monsterpalooza at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Mr. Nakajima was a special guest of Monsterpalooza.

Mr. Nakajima was a big hit at the show, and that's an understatement!

While in Los Angeles, the Nakajimas were taken around Los Angeles by August Ragone, David Chapple and others. Their stops included the Hollywood Sign up Beachwood Canyon and Godzilla's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd.

Above, Haruo Nakajima drew a crowd on Hollywood Blvd. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

The Nakajima's visit to the Godzilla star on Hollywood Blvd. was originally going to be a nice, quiet visit. However, once word got around to the tourists on the boulevard that Godzilla himself was in their midst, they gathered around to have their pictures taken with him (photo above).

One can tell from these photographs that the Nakajimas had a great time while visiting Hollywood!

The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) ought to hire Mr. Nakajima. He'd make a great "goodwill ambassador!"

Kaiju Life

by Armand Vaquer


When I finalized my plans for a trip to Japan to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, I contacted Sonoe Nakajima, the daughter of the original Godzilla suit-actor Haruo Nakajima, and invited them to lunch or dinner while I was in Tokyo.

Sonoe Nakajima wrote back and said that they were going on a vacation trip at the time of my vacation in Japan and wouldn't be available. She did say that she would have a copy of her father's book, Kaiju Life (Kaiju Jinsei) that was published by Yosensha Co., Ltd. for me at my hotel, Hotel Asia Center of Japan.

I arrived late in the afternoon on Sunday, December 5 at the hotel. When I checked in, the clerk went to the back room and brought out a package saying it was from "Nakajima." I knew immediately that it was the book Sonoe said she'd leave for me. After I got settled in my room, I opened the package and there was the book and autographed "To Armand" with his signature and the date "2010.12.3" (December 3, 2010).

The book itself is an attractive softcover edition with a jacket. The book is in Japanese, but it contains many rare photographs of Mr. Nakajima in action as Godzilla and other monsters in Toho's stable as well as his private life and history. Some are in color on slick paper, the rest are in black & white and on non-slick paper. They are all well reproduced regardless. The number of photos Mr. Nakajima included in his book rivals the number contained in August Ragone's book on special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya. There's that many of them!

Although the book is in Japanese, and I don't read Japanese, I would have bought a copy anyway just for the photographs. Fans of Godzilla and Mr. Nakajima would find this book essential to their collections.

In return, I left copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan for the Nakajimas.