YANAGI PARK! Rediscovering a 'Godzilla vs. Megalon' Filming Location!

Signage at Yanagi Park. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On Friday, March 10, I returned to Suzukakedai Station in Machida, Tokyo, for the first time in almost exactly eight years. The reason was simple: I wanted to revisit a Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) filming location. The location in question is Yanagi Park (Willow Park in English), which is about a five-minute walk from the station.

More signage for Yanagi Park. Photo by Brett Homenick.

It was where the scene in which Rokuro (Hiroyuki Kawase) is kidnapped by the Seatopian agents while riding his Baby Rider. The location can also be seen when Hiroshi Jinkawa (Yutaka Hayashi) tries to catch up with the kidnapped brothers Goro Ibuki (Katsuhiko Sasaki) and Rokuro in his car, just before getting chased by other Seatopian agents. 

Even more signage for Yanagi Park. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I first visited the location in March 2015, I didn't have much to go on, other than I knew that a sign for Yanagi Park could be seen in the movie. But the area had changed so much in the previous decades that it was just about impossible for me to look for actual shooting spots. As a result, I didn't think much about Yanagi Park for years after that and simply moved on to other things.

The Spirit of Willow monument in Yanagi Park. Photo by Brett Homenick.

After revisiting Tsukushino Park Road last week (which, by the way, is just one station down from Suzukakedai Station), however, I decided to research Yanagi Park again to see if I might be able to uncover any new details. As luck would have it, I was able to find a couple of comparisons of shots from the film and the present-day park made by Japanese fans interested in Showa-era shooting locations that basically solved the puzzle for me.  

The sidewalk on which Rokuro (Hiroyuki Kawase) rides his Baby Rider. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I got to the park, it was easy for me to find the shooting spots. Obviously, a lot has changed in the last 50 years, but you can still sort of see the resemblance, at least in terms of the general slope of the road next to the park on which the Seatopian agents drive their car in the film. However, the real key to unlocking the mystery was the placement of the Spirit of Willow (Yanagi no Sei) monument. This monument can be seen very briefly when Rokuro is kidnapped, but it is much clearer when Hiroshi Jinkawa is driving past it after escaping his Seatopian captor. 

Yanagi Park's low-lying plaza. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The presence of the monument in the scenes removed any doubt in my mind about the authenticity of the spot as a shooting location for Godzilla vs. Megalon. It really sealed the deal for me. So it put to rest a years-long mystery, and it gave me a fun afternoon during which I was able to walk where Rokuro, Jinkawa, and various Seatopians once drove their respective vehicles.

Another shot of the sidewalk used in Megalon. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Yanagi Park opened on November 11, 1971, which would have made it about a year old at the time Megalon was filmed there. The area in general was just starting to be developed at the time, and it is almost completely unrecognizable now.

The intersection at which the Seatopian agents hastily turned after kidnapping Rokuro. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Another bit of trivia is that the plaza you can partially see in one of the photos above (which is lower than the surrounding area) is also used as a regulating pond in order to help prevent the area from flooding during torrential downpours. So the park is not just used to preserve Godzilla history.

I probably don't need to tell you how cool it was to see these shooting spots at long last. I remember being a bit disappointed during my first visit here because I simply couldn't recognize anything from the movie. But this trip more than makes up for whatever disappointment I may have felt back then.

I look forward to paying another visit here in the future. It is certainly well worth checking out again, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Megalon!

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON REUNION! Two of the Film's Stars Join Fans in Yokohama!

Actors Katsuhiko Sasaki (left) and Hiroyuki Kawase (right) reunite to celebrate Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973). Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today I attended a great event in Yokohama that saw a small Godzilla vs. Megalon reunion take place with two of the film's stars, namely Katsuhiko Sasaki (Goro Ibuki) and Hiroyuki Kawase (Rokuro Ibuki).

The event kicked off with a screening of an excellent 35mm print of Godzilla vs. Megalon. I've never seen the film look better, and I was able to notice small details I've never noticed before. Of interest, the "Action!" blooper that found its way into the American release was absent from this print.

If it's July, I must be hanging out with Katsuhiko Sasaki!

After the film screen, Sasaki-san and Kawase-san sat together and reminisced about the movie with the help of two interviewers. They discussed their memories of director Jun Fukuda, co-star Yutaka Hayashi, and some of the various locations used in the film.

 Meeting Hiroyuki Kawase again after director Yoshimitsu Banno introduced us a few weeks ago.

Following the Q&A session, the special guests signed autographs for the fans. I had a couple of items signed, but seeing the goods brought in by the other attendees made me feel completely unprepared! I saw some pretty incredible posters, production stills, and lots of other cool items in tow.

Sasaki-san and Kawase-san sign autographs for lucky fans. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Once folks had their swag signed, it was time to eat dinner with the guests. Everybody enjoyed gabbing with the guests, who were completely friendly and accessible, which is the way it should be.

Thanks to everybody who made this event one for the history books. On to the next one!

ANOTHER GODZILLA VS. MEGALON FILMING LOCATION! Highlighting Yanagi Koen in Machida, Tokyo!

Yanagi Koen in Machida, Tokyo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In late March, I paid a visit to Yanagi Koen, a small park in Machida, Tokyo, that was seen in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973). During the sequence in which Rokuro (Hiroyuki Kawase) rides his Baby Rider (just before he is kidnapped by the Seatopian agents), signage for Yanagi Koen can be seen in the background.

A lot can change in 42 years, but if Kawase-san was actually riding on the sidewalk next to Yanagi Koen, it is practically unrecognizable these days.  As you can see from the photos, it looks like a completely different area from what we see in the film.

Naturally, it is rather difficult to find comparison photos of Yanagi Koen from the time Godzilla vs. Megalon was shot, but it is possible that the park underwent some major changes over the years. Otherwise, perhaps the sign was pointing visitors in the direction of the park. Whatever the case, at least we can say with some certainty that Yanagi Koen does play a part in the film.

Yanagi Koen is about a five-minute walk from Suzukakedai Station on the Den-en-Toshi Line. While I would not consider it a major filming location, it is nonetheless an interesting part of Godzilla history, especially for those wanting to check out more than just the routine kaiju locations like Tokyo Tower.

It's also just a nice park to visit, even if it is off the beaten path. But, for those Japan travelers who have seen and done it all, it is well worth a look.