
Get excited with us with these real-time thoughts about Shin Godzilla as viewers celebrate its debut on Japanese television.
Finally…at long last! On November 12, Shin Godzilla made its long-awaited debut on Japanese TV. This big hit movie has become a social phenomenon since its release into Japanese theaters on July 29, 2016.
Even among the legendary Godzilla films released in the last half-century, this one has something special that makes it stand out from the crowd. Here are 40 real-time reactions from Japanese viewers that will get you hyped to re-watch it, too.
If you haven’t watched it though, beware….minor spoilers may be ahead!
Ready? Go!
40 Japanese reactions to Shin Godzilla
1. The first Japanese Godzilla film in 12 years!!
2. Can you believe that Hideaki Anno, legendary director of Neon Genesis Evangelion, directed and wrote the screenplay?!
3. The worldview in this movie is weird….
4. Is this going to be okay????
5. (After seeing the movie) It definitely was okay!!!!
6. It’s a masterpiece. A major success!
7. I’d expect no less from Anno-san!
8. I’ve got to re-watch Evangelion now.
9. Aaand now I can’t stop thinking about how maybe Godzilla was some kind of an apostle in this movie.
10. Who the heck came up with a Godzilla like this??
11. It’s the biggest Godzilla ever! It’s 118.5 meters (almost 390 feet) tall!!!
12. Is he EVOLVING?!
13. The audience is going nuts for the visuals of this second form!
14. Actually it was kind of gross…
15. The dripping body fluids kinda turned me off.
16. Somehow I love the nickname “Kamata-kun”.
17. Kamata-kun got so excited for the second production!
18. No matter how many times I hear Godzilla’s theme song, I get chills…
19. Godzilla’s fourth form is so cool!!
20. Radioactive waves are not so cool, though.
21. The dialogue is so fast!
22. I think I need subtitles for this…
23. I’m going to start saying “Gajira” like Kayako Anne Patterson (played by Satomi Ishihara) instead of the original Japanese “Gojira”.
24. I totally understand how useless it is to consult experts in emergency situations now…
25. The council scenes are so real.
26. It was so smart to call Yaguchi’s plan to defeat Godzilla the Yashiori Plan. (Yashiori is a legendary sake from Japanese mythology that was used to defeat an eight-headed, eight-tailed Japanese serpent.)
27. Check out that unmanned train bomb blowing up Godzilla!
28. Trains were always Godzilla’s victims in the old movies, but not this time, buddy!
29. The song “Uchuu Daisensou March (Battle in Outer Space)” is so awesome!
30. Even though he wasn’t on screen for long, Shouichi Izumi (Satoru Matsuo) from the Conservative Party had a strangely impressive presence.
31. So many personal connections…
32. I think shadows are the real main characters in this movie.
33. “First, you’ve got to calm down!” must be the catchphrase of Shin Godzilla.
34. “This is no time for manners. This is work,” is now my favorite motto (as said by Japan Self-Defense Forces Chief of Staff Masao Zaizen, of course).
35. These characters are totally different from the ones in Godzilla: Final Wars.
36. Even though she loses to Kayoko in the movie, we can’t deny the heroism of Hiromi Ogarashi (played by Mikiko Ichikawa). She doesn’t lose to Kayoko in my book.
37. It’s beautiful how little makeup they use.
38. All of the characters are so human, I feel like I know them!
39. Shin Godzilla: A movie that brings to light a lot of problems in our modern age!
40. I loved it. You better love it too.
Are you planning your re-watch party now? It’s even better the second time around! Plus, if you watch closely you might find some of these freeze-frame sight gags that some fans found while watching the movie…or maybe you can even find more! Happy watching!
Top image ©SoraNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]

Evangelion and pizza: The weird freeze-frame sight gags of Shin Godzilla
‘Shin Godzilla’ movie listed on sign at Tokyo filming locale
Shin Godzilla could be the biggest Japanese live-action movie hit of the year!
Shin Godzilla trailer released, hits very close to home【Video】
Screaming crowds stampede through Tokyo as new Godzilla movie starts filming 【Video】
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Number of foreigners living in Japan has grown 50 percent in four years, hits historic high
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Man in Japan falls into hole with a bear in it
Japan asked to vote on what to officially call insanely hot days
As rumors swirl of 7-Eleven shorting customers on rice ball fillings, we check on their sujiko
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The new Shin Ultraman movie is out, and here’s what both an Ultraman fan and nonfan think of it
Teaser gives us our first peek at Japan’s upcoming Godzilla movie—and he’s gonna be BIG!【Video】
Rocky Horror Kaiju Show? Video of Japan’s amped-up Shin Godzilla audience participation screening
Japanese-produced CG Godzilla movie coming soon from anime’s hottest scriptwriter
Godzilla figure based on Shin Godzilla CG model is stunningly detailed, shockingly expensive
Here it is: the first look at the new Ultraman movie from Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno【Video】
Japan’s Godzilla movie looks darker than ever in director Hideaki Anno’s new trailer【Video】
Hideaki Anno’s Shin Ultraman gets May 2022 release date, new preview video
Evangelion and Attack on Titan directors team up to create 2016 Godzilla movie
Godzilla/Evangelion crossover figure: Two giants of Japanese storytelling in one awesome package
Evangelion fans brace for another release delay as creator is rumored to be making Ultraman movie
Behind-the-scenes video shows the CG process used to create Japan’s new Godzilla 【Video】
Godzilla, Evangelion, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider have formed a giant robot in tokusatsu clip【Vid】
Crazy movie coincidence reveals Godzilla’s true weakness: Films called Your Name