Japan Travelogue Series: Godzilla and Kabukichō
Shinjuku (新宿区 ), literally meaning “New Lodge,” is a district of Tokyo and is where the KCP campus is located. Shinjuku is conveniently the business, entertainment, and shopping center of Japan’s capital city where there’s always something that catches the eye, whether it’s the bright store lights by the streets or the spectacular foliage in Shinjuku Park or the lively Kabukichō.
Kabukichō is always bustling with activity with lots of shops, restaurants, night clubs, and hotels to explore. It was once known as Tsunohazu and was a mere swamp. During the Meiji Period, the place became a duck sanctuary and in 1893, the Yodobashi Purification Plant was built and the ponds were filled in. The area is often known as the “Sleepless Town” (眠らない街, Nemuranai Machi), for its endless array of small bars. The name Kabukichō stems from the 1940’s plan to build a kabuki theater in the location. Though the plan never pushed through, the name stuck.
A popular landmark and tourist attraction in Kabukichō is the Godzilla head. Godzilla (ゴジラ ) is a popular tokusatsu (live action film or television drama full of special effects) character. Since its debut, Godzilla has become a pop culture icon worldwide with 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. in Japan alone. The famous tokusatsu character is also popular in novels, comic books, television series, and video games.
In ateji (kanji used phonetically) Godzilla is written as Gojira, a combination of the Japanese words gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale). The giant monster was initially befittingly described as a cross between a gorilla and a whale as seen in its power, size, and origins from the ocean.
The Godzilla head is located at the Shinjuku Toho Building and is on the outdoor terrace on the eighth floor. It’s a life-sized model of about 12 meters and is modeled from the 1992 movie “Godzilla VS Mothra”. Godzilla’s head is made from 80 tons of special material reinforced with fiberglass. It surely is a spectacle to behold!
Join Michelle as she tours Toho Cinema, checks out the amazing Godzilla merchandise, and gets close to the fangs of the monster.
