Day of the Kaiju (2014)

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Day of the Kaiju
The Japanese poster for Day of the Kaiju
Directed by Kazuhiro Nakagawa
Producer Kazuhiro Nakagawa
Written by Kazuhiro Nakagawa
Music by Masaaki Sasaki
Running time 30 minutes
Aspect ratio 1.78:1
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Day of the Kaiju (怪獣の日,   Kaijū no Hi, lit. Day of the Monster) is a 2014 short kaiju film. Set after a confrontation between the JSDF and a giant monster, the story focuses on the efforts of a small town to dispose of the seemingly dead creature's body. It served as a calling card for director/writer/producer Kazuhiro Nakagawa, who has since worked on the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises.

Plot

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces have defeated a monster the government dubs "Giant Creature No. 1." One month after it is officially declared dead, it washes ashore in the town of Hamae, well-known as a site for beached whales. Dr. Nagamine and Professor Hirata of the University of Marine Science and Technology rush to examine the body. A government analyst named Yamamoto pressures them to confirm the kaiju's death to alleviate public concerns as a temporary storage facility is built around it. Though it has stopped breathing and has enlarged pupils, Hirata refuses to do so; as the kaiju is unknown to science, it could be merely hibernating. Yamamoto is insistent, proclaiming that the JSDF's international reputation is at stake.

Mayor Kagawa makes a different case for the death certificate at a subsequent meeting: Hamae is in financial peril, and the government has offered a yearly grant of ¥2 billion to study the kaiju there. If one is not issued, the town will be solely responsible for disposing of the body. Hirata relents, knowing that he and Nagamine will be locked out of researching the kaiju otherwise. One week later, the town approves the storage facility, but postpones further research of the kaiju until it is completed. Nagamine resigns in protest.

Nagamine's assistant, Wakui, tells his wife Emi about Nagamine's doubts, who in turn tells their neighbors, sparking a protest movement against the facility. Speaking to Nagamine after Kagawa holds a press conference defending his decision, Yamamoto dismisses the kaiju as a local problem that the rest of Japan has already forgotten about. Nagamine decides to go public, speaking to a small group of residents, adding his name to a petition against the facility, and taking part in a blockade of the road leading to the kaiju. Three months later, on the day of the facility's completion, Giant Creature No. 1 revives and smashes it, bellowing to the skies.

Staff

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

  • Directed by   Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Written by   Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Produced by   Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Music by   Masaaki Sasaki
  • Cinematography by   Heita Tanaka
  • Edited by   Kazuhiro Nakagawa
  • Visual effects by   Linto Ueda

Cast

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

  • Satoshi Iwago   as   Dr. Nagamine
  • Teruaki Matsuzawa   as   Mayor Kagawa
  • Koiku Misawa   as   Yamamoto, Senior Analyst at the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Center
  • Kosuke Takagi   as   Wakui
  • Katsuya Tanabe   as   Takenaka
  • Keiji Yamashita   as   Professor Hirata

Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, Vehicles, and Races

Development

Kazuhiro Nakagawa made Day of the Kaiju as a response to the Japanese government's mishandling of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.[1] The design of Giant Creature No. 1 was inspired by whales, with its tusks coming from Gamera.

Production

Nakagawa filmed Day of the Kaiju in the town of Hinode, Tokyo.[2]

Gallery

Main article: Day of the Kaiju/Gallery.

U.S. release

Day of the Kaiju played at G-Fest XXI in Rosemont, Illinois, on July 12, 2014, with director Kazuhiro Nakagawa in attendance.

Videos

Day of the Kaiju with English subtitles
Day of the Kaiju trailer

Trivia

References

This is a list of references for Day of the Kaiju. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. Byrd, Kyle (16 August 2017). "Kaiju Transmissions Interview: Kazuhiro Nakagawa". Maser Patrol.
  2. Ragone, August (6 February 2014). "DEAD MONSTER DISPOSAL IN "DAY OF THE KAIJU" New, Independent Film by Kazuhiro Nakagawa!". The Good, the Bad, and Godzilla.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (20 September 2013). "Bryan Singer To Produce Modern Monster Drama Project For Syfy". Deadline.

Comments

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