New "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Trailer Released

by Armand Vaquer





Spanish producer and director Jonathan Bellés has unveiled a new trailer for his doctoral project documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga.

The trailer, with an original music score, features Godzilla suit-actors Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma, actor Akira Takarada and directors Shusuke Kaneko and Masaaki Tezuka.

The trailer also features shots of the Lucky Dragon No. 5, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, the torii gate at Miyajima as well as the Godzilla statue and the Seven Samurai mural at the main entrance of Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

Above, Jonathan Bellés at the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I joined Bellés in Japan last February when he began his interviews, starting with special effects Eiichi Asada (Godzilla x Mechagodzilla, Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. and Godzilla Final Wars) and first assistant special effects director Yoshikazu Ishii (Godzilla Final Wars). 

Jonathan Bellés Making Progress On "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Documentary

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés with Eiichi Asada at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jonathan Bellés, who is currently hard at work in Japan conducting interviews for his upcoming documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga, has already interviewed the following (whose names kaiju fans should be familiar with): Akira Takarada, Koichi Kawakita, Eiichi Asada, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Yoshikazu Ishii, Shusuke Kaneko and Teruyoshi Nakano.

Last week, I joined Bellés at Toho Studios when he conducted the first two interviews (Eiichi Asada and Yoshikazu Ishii) and was his guide around the Hibiya and Ginza sections of Tokyo. We found that the Lucky Dragon No. 5 exhibit was closed for the day when we arrived. Bellés said he would go back on another day.

Along with the interviews with the aforementioned (and more to come), Bellés plans to take a trip to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

40 Years of "Godzilla vs. Hedorah": The Men Who Played Godzilla and Hedorah

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Kenpachiro Satsuma (Hedorah) and Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla) take a break during the filming of "Godzilla vs. Hedorah." This still was signed by both actors. From the personal collection of Armand Vaquer.

As posted previously, July marks 40 years since the release of Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) in Japan.

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the two men who gave it their all in their portrayals of Godzilla and his foe, Hedorah.

Above, Kenpachiro Satsuma (left) and Haruo Nakajima share a laugh in Hollywood 29 years after making "Godzilla vs. Hedorah." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I had the good fortune to first meet Kenpachiro Satsuma (Hedorah) and Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla) at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. Since then, I have gotten to know Mr. Nakajima well and attended a dinner party in the Nakano section of Tokyo with Mr. Satsuma in 2001, following the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Both men are some of the nicest people I've ever met in show business.

Satsuma played Hedorah and other monsters before he took over the Godzilla role in 1984 in Return of Godzilla (a.k.a. Godzilla 1985). His stint as Godzilla ended with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah in 1995.

Above, the Bandai Hedorah toy I bought during my 2007 Japan vacation.

Nakajima's appearance of Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Hedorah was second to the last before his retirement from the role. He began his run as Godzilla in the original 1954 feature. His last appearance as Godzilla was in the following year's Godzilla vs. Gigan. Nakajima published an autobiography of his life and career in Japan last year. He is now a spry 82-year-old.

A tip of the cap to both men and domo arigato gozaimasu!