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| The one and only Godzilla |
The Good: the standard Japanese cuisine that you and I could get at a restaurant in our respective countries. Also, automobiles and electronics! Depending on your point of view, there is also anime (animation) and manga (comic books).
The Bad: things that are so cute that it makes me want to barf. Things like Hello Kitty! I mean, I suppose if I was an eight-year-old girl, that would be cool... or if I was sleeping with a woman who liked it, that would be cool... but I'm not either of the two above mentioned examples.
The Ugly: Monster movies. I guess I love ugly, because I love Japanese monster movies! Did you know that the Japanese word Kaiju (怪獣) means 'strange beast', but when translated to English, it essentially means 'monster'.
Unless you've been living under a rock, the most famous Japanese kaiju is Godzilla. Godzilla is actually spelled and pronounced: Gojira( ゴジラ), with perhaps the next most famous being the classic Mothra (giant moth), Rodan (famous sculptor* or the more famous bird-like critter), Gamera (giant flying turtle) and King Ghidorah (the three-headed monstrosity).There's also Anguirius!
Godzilla has crushed Tokyo and saved Tokyo, and saved the world. Gamera seems to like kids and has saved the planet numerous times.
Here for your viewing pleasure is a list of Japanese monsters from both movie and television. As far as I can tell, I have tried to give you their Japanese name and the year of their birth to the viewing public.
Hey... I had some time today.
Monsters:
Agon (1968);
Akuma-Kun {aka Devil Boy} (1966);
Anguirus (1959);
Appurushîdo (2004);
Baragon (1965);
Barugon (1966);
Biollante (1989);
Dagora, the Space Monster (1965);
Dai Majin {Great Majin} (1966);
Demekingu (2009);Destroyah (1995);
Doreijuu (2000);Ebirah, (1968);
Futo (1977);
Gabara (1959);
Gaira (1966);
Gamera (1965);
Ganime (1970);Gappa (1967);
Gehara (2009);
Gezora (1970);
Ghidrah (1964);
Giant Condor (1968);
Gigan (1972);
Girara( 1967);
Godzilla (1954);
Godzilla Jr. (1967);
Goliath (1972);
Gorosaurus (1968);
Guilala (2007);
Guiron (1969);
Gyaos (1967);
Hedorah {aka Smog Monster}(1971);
Ika resuraa (2004);
Iris (1999);
Juiger (aka Monster X) (1970);
Kairyu Daikessen {Froggo and Droggo}(1966);
Kamacurus (1968);
Kameba (1970);
King Ghidorah (1991);
Kujira gami {aka The Killer Whale} (1962);
Kumonga (1968);
Legion (1996);
Manda (1968);
Megalon (1973);
Mechagodzilla (1974);
Megaguira (2000);
Minilla (1968);
Monster Zero (1970);
Mothra (1964);
Negadon (2005);
Nezulla The Rat Monster (2002);
Ogre of Mount Oe (1960);
Orga (1999);
Raiga (2009);
Reigo (2008);
Rodan (1956);
Sanda (1966);
Space Godzilla (1994);
Sûpâ robot Maha Baron (1975);
Tekkouki Mikazuki (2000);
Varan (1959);
Viras (1968);
Wasei Kingu Kongu {aka Japanese King Kong} (1933);
Zigra (1971);
Zoon (1973);
For those of you who like the pure good guys... here are some space policemen from the Ultraman series... oh, and for the record Ultraman and Urutoraman are the same.... Urutoraman is how the Japanese pronounce Ultraman:
Ultraman (1966);
Urutora Q (1990);
Urutoraman Teiga (1998);
Urutoraman Daina (1998);
Urutoraman Gaia (1999);
Urutoraman Kosumosu (2001);
Ultraman Cosmos (2003);
Ultraman Justice (2003);
Urutoraman Mebiusu (2006);
Urutora kyôdai (Ultra) (2006);
Urutorasebun Ekkusu (2007);
Urutoraman Zero (2010).
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| Gates of Hell - Rodin |
Files compiled by Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title id by the Blue Oyster Cult: OHNO!
PS: * Rodan is the Kaiju (monster); Rodin (Auguste) is the sculptor of classic art like The Thinker and The Kiss and The Gates of Hell (photo below taken by myself in Ueno Park, Tokyo.
PPS: Back to the regular life and times of yer idiotic traveler tomorrow.
