Marketing Japan: Destroy All Monsters! The Cinema of Ishiro Honda...

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Ishiro Honda was the guy, depending on who you talk to, that destroyed Japanese cinema or made Japanese cinema world famous...

I think he helped make Japanese cinema crappy, but then again, when I was a kid, I liked Mothra and Godzilla movies (the early ones that Ishiro Honda directed). I remember watching the classic, "Destroy all Monsters" and being terrified at the scary woman who wanted to take over the earth! 


I also recognize that without Ishiro Honda, Japanese pop culture most probably wouldn't be what it is today. 

Original Japanese poster for 1968 "Destroy all Monsters!

No matter what you think - good or bad - I do believe that there is an evolutionary line between Honda's work and, say, today's more fantastic Japanese anime or even Hatsune Miku. Honda was definitely influential on Japanese pop culture.

Well, now it seems that Honda might finally be getting his due in the west as a book is coming out celebrating his life and works. The book is called "Mushrooms Clouds and Mushroom Men - The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda."

"Mushrooms Clouds and Mushroom Men - The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda" 

by Peter H. Brothers

The press release reads: 

For the first time in America, a book has been published on Japan's foremost director of Fantasy Films: MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.

Known primarily for directing such classic Japanese monster movies as Rodan, Mothra, Attack of the Mushroom People and the original Godzilla, Honda has been a much-overlooked figure in mainstream international cinema.

MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN is the first book to cover in English print Honda’s life as well comprehensively evaluates all 25 of his fantasy films.  It is also gives objective and critical analysis of Honda's filmmaking methods, themes and relationships with actors and technicians.

The book looks like an interesting read if you want to know who to blame, or thank, for today's Japanese "camp" or Anime.


And for your viewing pleasure, here's the trailer from the 1968 "Destroy All Monsters"

DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN!


DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN!
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KEYWORDS: Ishiro Honda, Mike Rogers, Godzilla, Hatsune Miku, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Japanese cinema, Japanese anime, Mothra, Destroy all Monsters, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men, Peter H. Brothers, Marketing Japan, Japan, Tokyo