This first Godzilla Film 'Gojira' as he was first known was directed by Ishiro Honda and is believed to have been a reaction to the USA's use of the nuclear bomb. The monster was created to represent the nuclear treat that affected Japan and was a direct result of nuclear testing performed by the United States during the 50's. When in at Bikini Atoll, a Thermo Nuclear bomb code named Castle Bravo was tested on March 1, 1954. This led to the accidental contamination of a tuna fish trawler (Daigo Fukuryū Maru) that was covered in radio active fall out killing Kuboyama Aikichi, the boat's chief radioman.
This same test was also blamed for the adverse weather that was recorded at that time. For many Japanese felt they had become test subjects in something they had no control over. Godzilla was the creation of a nation that had been devastated by war, Japan was now policed by the USA and therefore needed a way to express the fears of the people this came in the form of Godzilla who, as a result of a later American version of the film, is now a house hold name through out the world and has gained a cult status with many followers. This blog shall also look at the development of Godzilla himself throughout the decades, the hope being that it shall show the cultural changes from Japans fear of the nuclear bomb through to the 90s ideas towards technology and the creation of 'Generation X'.
This blog will explore the ideas in more detail using, comparisons and parallels of other 'real' or 'traditional' religions. It will be possible to compare the adventures of Godzilla with those of the Greek myths, Biblical texts and Newage theories towards nature. This Blog also welcomes the interaction of those who read it and hopes for your input upon the subject. So this would consist of the first entry.
I will leave you with a question. Is it wrong to Compare Godzilla to Religions?
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