Returning to Godzilla the Art by Parco!

Godzilla at Shibuya Parco. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I made an unexpected return to Godzilla the Art by Parco, which will remain open until May 15, at Shibuya Parco. I was on a mission to buy him the figure you can see below in the last three photos, which was exclusively available at the venue.  I'm sure he'll be quite happy with it once he receives it.

Godzilla the Art by Parco!

Godzilla the Art by Parco. Photo by Brett Homenick.

A friend of mine informed me about Godzilla the Art by Parco, which is currently being held (where else?) at Shibuya Parco from April 27 (today) through May 15. It highlights some "interesting" interpretations of Godzilla by some hip young artists, so you could imagine that I didn't care much for what I saw.

There were some interesting photos on display of the original Godzilla maquette from Godzilla (1954) that I'd never seen before, and I guess that was a tie-in for some toy or model that was being offered for sale as an online exclusive. There was also a cool Godzilla diorama, but I'd already seen it just a few months ago. Admission was only 500 yen, though, so I can't complain. Here's what I saw.

Shinji Nishikawa and Yuji Kaida's Kaiju Art Invade Shibuya Parco!

The Shinji Nishikawa and Yuji Kaida art gallery in Shibuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

For a very limited time at Shibuya Parco, there was a gallery dedicated to the art of Shinji Nishikawa and Yuji Kaida, two veterans of the tokusatsu world. The art on display focused mainly on Shin Ultraman and SSSS.Dynazenon, and none of it featured Godzilla.

Yuji Kaida's rendition of Eleking. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I had a bit of time to visit earlier today, which was pretty good timing, given that it was the last day the gallery would be open. It was held in the same spot in Shibuya Parco that the Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) Hedorah suit was on display last year. When I entered, I was given a pack with four coasters. Not sure which characters are featured on them yet since I haven't opened it, but I hope the coasters come in handy one day. 

Shinji Nishikawa brings the kaiju to life! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Photography was not allowed in the gallery, except for the above drawings, one done by each artist. It was a fun exhibit, but I was done pretty quickly. I'll admit that I thought the Hedorah exhibit last year was a lot more interesting, but I'm grateful for any kaiju-related events that come my way.

Shibuya Parco Pays Tribute to Hedorah on His 50th Anniversary!

Signage welcoming you to Shibuya Parco's Hedorah 50th anniversary exhibit. Photo by Brett Homenick.

From November 12 until November 23, Shibuya Parco's Gallery X is hosting a special 50th anniversary salute to Hedorah. Shibuya Parco and a pollution monster seem like an odd pairing, but it works for me, especially because the highlight was the diorama of Hedorah filming suit from Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) -- complete with psychedelic lighting.

Another cool aspect was seeing a bevy of production stills on display, many of which showed Yoshimitsu Banno directing a variety of scenes. Most of these shots were new to me, but, unfortunately, photography of these stills was not allowed. There's also a gift shop with some Hedorah goods, but I kept my wallet closed this time. After, the GFW Hedorah suit was the main attraction for me. Anyway, here's what I saw.

GODZILLA SMASHES SHIBUYA PARCO! The King of the Monsters Makes a Grand Entrance in Tokyo!

Big in Shibuya! Godzilla bursts through the walls of Shibuya Parco. Photo by Brett Homenick.

As part of its major summer sale, Shibuya Parco has invited a familiar face to attract new customers to its premises: Godzilla! For a limited time, Godzilla fans in the Tokyo area can see Godzilla burst through the walls of Shibuya Parco (and steal the letter "R" in the process). It's certainly a fun time to be a Godzilla fan in Tokyo!

OUT AND ABOUT IN SHIBUYA! An Afternoon of Various Sights!

Can you tell Godzilla Resurgence is about to come out? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today was a busy day, and a good chunk of it was spent in Shibuya. As soon as I got off the JR Yamanote Line, I was inundated with posters promoting a Godzilla Resurgence/Shibuya Parco cross promotion that runs until July 14. I'll have to check that out! 

I also got to see the massive renovation currently taking place, as Shibuya is undergoing a complete overhaul. Cerulean Tower looms in the background.

With election season gearing up, Hachiko is getting in on the action. I wonder which party he supports.

Guess who came back? I was surprised to see the same cat back at the Hachiko statue for more attention. There were even more people hovering around the cat than last time, making pictures of our feline friend even more difficult.

I spent the remainder of the day with Hal Foster, an actor and journalist who has recently returned to Japan. We had many great conversations!