Godzilla Minus Zero Cast Brings Hollywood Ovation Home to Tokyo

The cast of "Godzilla Minus Zero" appeared at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival on Sunday, two days before Yamazaki Takashi's follow-up to his Oscar-winning "Godzilla Minus One" opens in Japan.

Kamiki Ryunosuke, who returns as lead character Shikishima Koichi, and Hamabe Minami, who reprises the role of his wife Noriko, had flown back to Japan only two days earlier from the film's premiere at Los Angeles' TCL Chinese Theatre.

"The energy was simply extraordinary," Kamiki said. "Feeling that raw enthusiasm firsthand made me realize all over again just how deeply Godzilla is loved around the world. It was an invaluable experience."

What happened in Los Angeles?

Applause in the 900-seat theater reportedly ran on without a break. Hamabe said the cast later met premiere-goers at an after-party, where many approached them with big smiles to share their reactions. Some had dressed in Godzilla-themed outfits or wore Godzilla badges.

The red carpet was open to passersby, Kamiki recalled. Some fans held up large posters and asked for autographs, while chants of the director's first name broke out from the crowd. "It wasn't just a polite 'Takashi,'" he said. "It was like: 'TAKASHI! HEY, TAKASHI!' It was roaring." When Yamazaki went over to sign autographs, the crowd erupted again, leaving Kamiki convinced that "Takashi of the world is truly amazing."

A child actor's return

The Tokyo event also marked the first stage appearance of child actor Nagatani Sae, who returns as Shikishima Akiko. Kamiki walked her onstage.

In "Minus One," which aired on Japanese TV's "Friday Roadshow" on Friday, Akiko's part consisted mostly of crying or single words such as "Where?" This time, the script gave her full dialogue. "We were like, 'Really? Can she do this?'" Kamiki said. "But when we got on set, she had all her lines memorized perfectly and delivered them flawlessly."

Hamabe said Nagatani had barely left toddlerhood during the first shoot and was easily frightened by the many adults on set. "So reuniting on this film, I was amazed by how much of a wonderful young girl she had grown into," she said. "She chatted with us so much, taught me various things, and was very dependable in her acting."

Nagatani said she was not nervous during filming. She recalled Kamiki continuing to rub her back even after the cut was called on a scene in which Akiko cries. She then asked her co-stars how she could become a fine actor while still in elementary school. Kamiki told her she already outshone them both, and said that appearing in both films at her age was "an amazing achievement in itself."

What changes in the story?

According to Kamiki, the new film picks up two years after the events of "Minus One." "I hope viewers can imagine what those two years were like for them, and see how the family stands together against what comes next," he said. Hamabe put the gap at two to three years. She said the family had settled into everyday life together before Godzilla resurfaces to threaten it.

Asked why the franchise has endured, Kamiki echoed the view of the director and fellow cast members that each Godzilla film mirrors the era in which it is made. "But personally, when I reflect on it, take Godzilla's existence or the theme music: I cannot even remember when I first heard it or realized, 'Oh, this is Godzilla's theme song,'" he said. "It has always been alongside us, which is why I personally think it has remained loved for so long."

Hamabe said that from a human standpoint, Godzilla is overwhelming and impossible to defeat. "Yet, when Godzilla appears, humans unite and stand together to face it," she said. "I think seeing that human resolve is the first thing that moves people's hearts."

"Minus One," the 30th Japanese live-action entry in the Godzilla franchise, grossed more than JPY7.65 billion ($50 million) at the local box office. It became the first Asian production to take home the visual effects prize at the 96th Oscars, and went on to collect more than 50 honors at home and abroad.

"Minus Zero" is the first Japanese film to be certified as Filmed for Imax. That milestone, combined with the Hollywood reception, sets a high bar for the film's Japanese opening this week.