Technically, the term Kaiju began to be used before its popularity in cinema and television, but we all agree that its original explosion happened after the debut of Godzilla in 1954. Since then, a large number of giant monsters and robots have paraded across Japanese screens, as well as conquering distant lands whenever they got the chance. Today we're sharing a gallery with some of the most memorable retro Kaiju, dominated by creativity, improvisation, and quite humble budgets…
Some are very easy to recognize. Others have been lost in time, and only the most hardcore fans can identify them correctly. Japanese entertainment changed forever after Godzilla came out of the waters, and over the decades variants such as Daikaiju, Kaijin and Seijin emerged. With 64 years on his shoulders, Godzilla continues to be the absolute king of the Kaiju, and next year he will have a new super-battle against his historical enemies. In fact, appreciation for Godzilla is so great that they have declared him "cultural ambassador" and "pride of Japan".
Now, if you think that's the strangest thing to come out of Japan, you are selling yourself short. From its video game ads with giant faces and weird hairstyles to the themed cafés full of pink and sweets, let's say the land of the rising sun is a box of surprises...
The Retro Kaiju Gallery
