Japan's Disaster Movies

[Lizette Bernal]

 

Professor Tsutsui covered the fascination Japan has with disaster movies - and huge, rather angry, creatures. The distinction made that Hollywood films are more “colorful” than Japan’s darker film customs makes total sense. What’s also interesting though, is that the darkness in Japanese films is also seen as joyful and humorous! Professor Tsutsui discussed the idea that the Japanese culture tends to translate their worst fears into something approachable and easy to defeat which is why huge turtle monsters are brought to life. The reality found in some of these movies is incredible. Today’s seminar taught me to trust my younger brother a lot more. He actually told me that Godzilla’s first film, the original made in 1954, is named Gojira which was confirmed in today’s seminar. I thought he was kidding! I should have known that his interest in everything Godzilla would have led him to do some research about it and therefore, I should have trusted him. It’s pretty awesome to think that an 11 year old can discuss the origins of a film that was made way before his time. He would have loved this session!