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On July 15, the King of the Monsters is set to trample all over Japan’s southern city of Fukuoka! Er, well, maybe just the art museum…

From July 15 to August 31, visitors to the Fukuoka Art Museum can celebrate Japan’s legendary daikaiju (“giant monster”) Godzilla through the lens of a special exhibit titled Godzilla at the Museum: Creative Tracks of Daikaiju (ゴジラ展－大怪獣、創造の軌跡).

The world was first introduced to the monster awakened by nuclear radiation in Toho’s 1954 film Godzilla. The studio has, to date, produced 28 domestic films, with the first new installment in 12 years, Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence), set to hit theaters in Japan on July 29. The upcoming exhibit in Fukuoka serves to both hype the new film and to reminiscence over 62 years of Godzilla greatness by displaying a range of memorabilia and other items used in the films, including character moldings designed for special effects shots, original monster suits worn by actors, design drawings, set diagrams, sketches, and photographs from production, for a total of approximately 520 items.

▼ A small sampling of the materials that will be on display from Godzilla films made in (clockwise) 1967, 2003, 2003, 1954

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▼ Continued (left to right) 2003, 2001

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Actor Shiro Sano, who has appeared in multiple Godzilla films, will narrate the exhibit’s audio guide. In addition, the museum will screen the original Godzilla film on July 24, and art director and Godzilla special effects expert Toshio Miike will give a public talk on August 11.

Not a bad way to beat the heat if you ask us! While you’re waiting for the exhibit to open, brush up on your monster trivia by reading about where Godzilla’s name comes from and how its distinctive roar was made here.

Exhibit information
Fukuoka Art Museum / 福岡市美術館
Address: 810-0051 Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Chuo-ku, Ohori-koen 1-6
810-0051 福岡県福岡市中央区大濠公園1-6
Dates: July 15 – August 31, 2016
Open: 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Sunday and national holidays until 5:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays and July 19 (open on Monday, July 18 for Umi no Hi)
Admission: Regular tickets/Advance tickets
General admission — 1,400 yen (US$12.80)/1,200 yen; University and high school students — 800/600 yen; Junior high and elementary school students — 500/300 yen
Tel: 092-714-6051
Website: English, Japanese

Source: Tenjin Keizai Shimbun 
Images: Fukuoka Art Museum