Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again

[Jack]

This is a stub for Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama, translated by Jeffery Angles. It is a possible selection for March but, if not, there has been some interest in reading this from our group. Allison Fincher wrote a review of it on Nov 3 , 2023 attached to the goodreads book listing.
Her full review is here:
https://asianreviewofbooks.com/conten...

[Carol]

Jack wrote: "This is a stub for Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama, translated by Jeffery Angles. It is a possible selection for March but, if not, there has ..."

I'm interested in this one. Will order.

[Jazzy]

I got it, and going to read it soon! (i hope)

[Alison]

Thanks for posting my review, Jack. I'm honored.

Personally, I would have enjoyed the book more if I'd started with the translator's afterward. So there's my suggestion or advice.

I'm excited to join the conversation!

[Carol]

my copy won't arrive until Friday, so I'll plan to start this weekend, depending on what everyone else is doing.

[Jack]

I will work on my partially read stack and wait to start ‘till you get your copy. -j

Godzilla fans fact:
There are 33 Godzilla movies in the Japanese series by Toho.
There are 5 additional American produced films.

My favorite, from my childhood, was the 1964 Mothra vs. Godzilla.

Please share your favorite Godzilla film if you have one.

[Jack]

I finally started on Godzilla, my apologies to the valued buddy readers. I was delayed by my standard going down literary rabbit holes (almost literally, this month I was comparing illustrations of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to get ready for a copy of the one with artwork by Yayoi Kusama. Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with Artwork by Yayoi Kusama )

I was informed by the translators note on sound effects, Japanese onomatopoeia. There is a lot to comment on in the first novella but I will save it for after I complete reading that one.

[Carol]

I've gotten waylaid, too, Jack. realistically, I'm probably going to need until late this week to start.

Fave Godzilla movie - I have 2 answers. In terms of recent depictions, I really, really loved Godzilla Minus One. Of the classics, I didn't see one the whole way through until the early '90s when our son was little and I bought 4 films on VHS. We played them over and over without truly paying attention to the titles, in terms of which we were watching at the moment. I think they were: Godzilla, Godzilla v Megalon, Mothra v Godzilla and Son of Godzilla. I'm pretty certain Mothra was our favorite, but it's been a minute.

[Alison]

Jack wrote: "this month I was comparing illustrations of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to get ready for a copy of the one with artwork by Yayoi Kusama. Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with Artwork by Yayoi Kusama."

Want!

Quite frankly, I am most excited to discuss the translator's notes. (Although happy to listen and pipe up on anything.) Good translator's notes make almost any book worth reading. These are EXCELLENT!

[Jeffrey]

Thanks for the nice comments on my translator notes, Allison! Much appreciated. And thank you for all do to keep the world reading Japanese literature!

[Alison]

Thanks, Jeffrey. 😅

[Jack]

I finished my first read through. I will hold comments until others are ready. Very glad to have a buddy read on this, esp after the cinema and history books we read.

[Jack]

If you haven’t seen the two movies, Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again, or want to see then again, they are available on at least two streaming services: Max and The Criterion Channel. You might be able to also find them on YouTube or Plex. r/Jack

[Alison]

Thanks, Jack!

[Jack]

The Godzilla movies were tied into real world problems relating to nuclear testing:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/202...

This article is about events that were in the audiences minds at the time.

[Jazzy]

Whilst atomic energy made the americans super heroes, in Japan it created horrific monsters. Great bit of reading.

[Jack]

It was very intense seeing the 1954 movie after reading the novellas. I understand much more about the historical significance of the film and references to the experiences that the adults watching would have relived.

[Jack]

Alison’s new podcast is about Atomic Bomb Literature!

https://readjapaneseliterature.com/20...

(I need more of me to read more!)

[Alison]

Jack W wrote: "Alison’s new podcast is about Atomic Bomb Literature!

https://readjapaneseliterature.com/20...

(I need more of me to read more!)"

Thanks, Jack! (I had to cut what I wanted to say about Godzilla, but I did end up using Angles's afterward.) You make me feel appreciated.

[Jack]

I so want to go to this but I will be on the wrong coast.....

It is a free! lecture by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, is thrilled to be supporting the Godzilla-thon! Movie Marathon at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (AMMP) by offering two exciting lectures from Godzilla scholars Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski on November 2 and 4.

This first session discusses how the five films in the Godzilla-thon! are responding to geopolitical, economic, and environmental changes and challenges.

This lecture series is offered through a community partnership with AMMP.

https://www.jflalc.org/event-details....

[Carol]

Jack wrote: "I so want to go to this but I will be on the wrong coast.....

It is a free! lecture by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, is thrilled to be supporting the Godzil..."

I so wish I could go to this. Alas. Also on the wrong coast.

[Jack]

Content Warning: This is just a for-fun post!

Dr. William "Bill" Tsutsu, William Tsutsui, is an American academic, author, economic historian, Japanologist, university administrator, and Godzilla expert.
(Jack's note: He is also a funny guy!)
He was recently on "Krewe of Japan" podcast, a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by Japan Society of New Orleans.

So just for fun here is a video that Bill posted about "What do you get when you take Godzilla to..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kssRM...
you have to skip the ads but, hey, it's free and funny. One of Bill's Godzilla non-fiction books (and he has other very serious non-fiction) is Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters

Krewe of Japan explores the pop culture history and social impact of Godzilla on Japanese society, and how it came to be the world's King of Monsters:
https://krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com...
the main part starts at 1:30m in.

The three films "Dr. Godzilla" recommends are the original Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs Hedorah (smog Monster) (1971), and Godzilla Minus One (2023). I think these were recommended due to their Japan social commentary in the context of the film.
enjoy, Jack