Takashi Naganuma, Veteran Toho SFX Technician, Passes Away at 78

Takashi Naganuma in June 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Takashi Naganuma, a veteran of Toho models and miniatures, passed away in November 2025. He was 78.

Born on July 20, 1947, in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Takashi Naganuma began his Toho SFX career with Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) and finished with Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992).

The high-powered laser-beam vehicle from Godzilla 1985 (1984), designed by Takashi Naganuma, on display at an event in November 2019. Photo by Brett Homenick.

His work at Toho focused on mechanical miniatures, and he produced all the JSDF weaponry seen in Godzilla 1985 (1984). Not only did Mr. Naganuma build the dolphin boat seen at the beginning of Megalon, he also built the miniature truck during the dam scene.

Takashi Naganuma and director Tsugunobu "Tom" Kotani in November 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On a personal level, this news is extremely devastating, given that Mr. Naganuma, known as Nini-san to his friends and colleagues, is one of the Toho luminaries I've met the most during my time in Tokyo. He also had a wonderful sense of humor with a particular fondness for wordplay between Japanese and English. You couldn't say the Japanese word omoshiroi in his presence without his immediately responding, "White tail." (If you know, you know.)

Takashi Naganuma in June 2022. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mr. Naganuma was such a prolific figure at various events and fan gatherings that I started to believe he'd outlive us all. And, having been born in the late '40s, he was actually on the younger side of Showa-era Toho personalities, which I suppose gave me a false sense of security that he'd be around forever. 

Teruyoshi Nakano and Takashi Naganuma in October 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Starting in 2015, Mr. Naganuma and Toho SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano appeared at so many events together they started to seem like brothers. It was hard to imagine one without the other. It's even harder now to realize both are gone. 

Takashi Naganuma in August 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was privileged to have interviewed Mr. Naganuma about his work at Toho. If you'd like to know more about his career in tokusatsu, here's your best resource. 

Toho SFX director Eiichi Asada with Takashi Naganuma, holding a script for Tokyo Blackout (1987), in June 2023. Photo by Brett Homenick.

But I'll share a couple of fun stories that came directly from Mr. Naganuma.

With Takashi Naganuma in June 2022.

Mr. Naganuma was an extra in Godzilla vs. Mothra in a Ginza scene, running away from Mothra, who was in flight. The scene was shot with a blue backdrop at Toho Studios. All the extras in that scene had to wear a suit, necktie, and black shoes because they were supposed to be playing office workers.

Teruyoshi Nakano, Takashi Naganuma, and director Kensho Yamashita next to a Battle of Okinawa (1971) poster in July 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Mr. Naganuma gave an original Super X prop from Godzilla 1985 to an American he worked with on Tokyo DisneySea.

With Takashi Naganuma in August 2022.

In 2016, when Mr. Naganuma was hosting a launch party for a book he had written, he invited me to join, but I had a commitment elsewhere, so I politely declined. But then Mr. Naganuma listed some of the Toho veterans who would be in attendance.

Takashi Naganuma, wearing his Toho Eizo Bijutsu jacket, in September 2022. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When he mentioned Godzilla suitmaker Nobuyuki Yasumaru, I must have had an incredible look of surprise on my face because Mr. Naganuma always loved telling that story. It's true, though -- when he said Mr. Yasumaru would be in attendance, I canceled my other plans as soon as I could and went to the launch party.

With Takashi Naganuma in January 2023.

There are many such stories. I'm sincerely grateful that my paths crossed with Takashi Naganuma. Rest in peace, sir. Thank you for everything.

UPDATE 1/6: According to one of his friends, Mr. Naganuma passed away on November 19.