Ten More Days Until "In The Footsteps of Godzilla"

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Godzilla approaches the Kachidoki Bridge on the Sumida River in 1954. Photo: Toho Co., Ltd.

Ten more days from today is the Japan Society of Northern California's "In The Footsteps of Godzilla" event in San Francisco.

The April 26 event begins with a screening of the original Godzilla (1954). It is in Japanese with English subtitles. Following the movie screening, I will be talking about Godzilla movies with a focus on the locations and landmarks used. After this, we will be migrating to the Izakaya Roku Japanese restaurant for a V.I.P. dinner. I will have copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available for purchase.


Here's the schedule:

This event benefits the Japan Society of Northern California as it will help to fund future programs.

As we are nearing the date of the event, now is the time to purchase your tickets while you still can.

For further information, including tickets, go here.

16 More Days To "In The Footsteps of Godzilla"

by Armand Vaquer

The Japan Society of Northern California jumped on the news about Godzilla's "appointment" as tourism ambassador for Shinjuku, Tokyo over at Twitter. Their Tweet is shown above.

In only 16 more days, their "In The Footsteps of Godzilla" event will be held in San Francisco that includes a theatrical screening of the original 1954 movie that started it all, a discussion of Godzilla movies (with an emphasis on their real-life locations and landmarks) and a V.I.P. dinner.

Above, Yuu Asakura with The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speaking of movie locations, I will have copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available. If you want to get a copy, this would be a good time to do so!

For more information, including tickets, go here.

"In The Footsteps of Godzilla" Event News Release

by Armand Vaquer

The Japan Society of Northern California will be holding a special screening of the original Japanese version of "Godzilla" (1954) at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street, San Francisco on Sunday, April 26. The doors open at 3:30 PM. 

"Godzilla" will be shown in Japanese language with English subtitles. 

Following the movie, Armand Vaquer, author of "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" will discuss the special effects techniques used in Godzilla movies, the locations and landmarks used and other tidbits of information. A question & answer period is included. 

Following the screening and discussion, a V.I.P. dinner will be held at the Izakaya Roku Japanese restaurant in San Francisco. 

For more information on the screeening, discussion and V.I.P. dinner along with ticket information, go to http://www.usajapan.org/event/in-the-footsteps-of-godzilla/. The public is invited. 

The event will benefit the Japan Society and help to present future programs.

"In The Footsteps of Godzilla" Dinner Information

by Armand Vaquer

The Japan Society of Northern California has posted the menu and information on the post-event dinner that will follow the screening of Godzilla (1954) and the question & answer session on Sunday, April 26 in San Francisco.

 Here's a snapshot of the menu:

To go to the website of Izakaya Roku, go here.

To go to the Japan Society of North America's website on the event (including ticket information), go here.

Japan Society of Northern California "Godzilla" Event April 26 In San Francisco

by Armand Vaquer

Above, an iconic image of the 1954 Godzilla. Photo: Toho Co., Ltd.

Now it can be told!

Yours truly will be heading up San Francisco for a Godzilla event sponsored by the Japan Society of Northern California. The event begins at 3:30 PM (check-in) on Sunday, April 26. 

First, a screening of the Japanese original Godzilla (1954) by Toho Co., Ltd. at the Roxie Theater at 3117 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 starts at 4:00 PM.

 Following the screening:

After the film we’ll have the unique opportunity to hear from Japanese-monster expert Armand Vaquer.   Armand will provide commentary on the movie we’ve just seen, including tidbits not generally known to the public. He will also share his knowledge about classic Japanese classic movie monsters (including not only Godzilla but also Rodan, Mothra, Gamera and many others), and the techniques used in the making of Japanese monster movies.

Copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will be available for purchase following the discussion period.

 Lastly:

For those who want more opportunity to interact with Armand, and to meet and socialize with fellow Japanese movie fans over a delicious Japanese meal, we will also have a special VIP post event at a nearby  Japanese restaurant. (The event will benefit the Japan Society  and help us present future programs.) Please check back soon for VIP tickets.

 For details, go here.

"Space Battleship Yamato" In New York

by Armand Vaquer

During my December 2010 trip to Japan,  I was able to see Space Battleship Yamato in Tokyo at the Toho Cinemas Nichigeki in the Yurakucho Mullion Building (above photo).

You won't have to travel that far next month as it will be the closing feature at the Japan Society's Japan Cuts 2012 Film Festival on July 28 at 9:00 PM in New York.

The landmark 1974 animated series Space Battleship Yamato finally gets
a live-action treatment from director Takashi Yamazaki! In the year 2199, earth
has become a wasteland after five years of radiation attacks from an unseen
alien enemy called the Gamilons. One of the survivors is Kodai Susumu (Kimura
Takuya), who picks up a mysterious device one day while hunting for scrap metal.
After discovering a map to a planet inside the device, the military sends out
its last battleship--the Yamato-- in the hopes that it'll be the key to
save humanity. Kodai joins the Yamato crew and quickly proves to be a worthy
team member. With only a year left before the end of earth, what will the Yamato
crew find at the end of their long and perilous journey? One of the
highest-grossing Japanese films of all time, Space Battleship Yamato is
a sci-fi spectacular for audiences of all ages. 

Japan. 2010. 137 min., 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki.  With Takuya Kimura, Meisa Kuroki, Toshiro Yanagiba.

For ticket information, go here.