I don't know where to start exactly. It's been sixty-nine years since TOHO made the first ever Godzilla movie. Time flies so quickly. As you should know, I worked at TOHO when I was a young man. I was the new blood at the movie studio and it has been my long life dream since I was a child. Well, that very dream…just became my worst nightmare. As I worked with something unnatural that would still haunt my nightmares. This is my experience working along with The Man in The Suit.
In 1954, I was fortunate enough to secure a new position at TOHO, a renowned movie studio. The prospect of working in the film industry was incredibly thrilling for me, as it represented a fresh and exciting endeavor. Upon entering TOHO, I had the pleasure of meeting the esteemed founder, Ichizō Kobayashi, who warmly welcomed me into the fold of dedicated workers. Eager to begin my journey, I inquired about the specific movie project I would be involved in. To my astonishment, Ichizō informed me that I would be working on a colossal monster film called Gojira. The mere mention of a giant monster movie left me awestruck, and without hesitation, I gladly accepted the job offer. Shortly thereafter, I found myself on the set of Gojira, ready to contribute to the enchantment of movie-making. The set resembled a meticulously crafted miniature city of Tokyo, complete with buildings that could be demolished and scaled-down cars, trains, and houses. I was captivated by the intricacy of the set, until my attention was drawn to a sight that truly mesmerized me. An actor was donning the iconic Godzilla Suit, a remarkable and imposing creation. In that moment, I knew deep within me that I had found my true passion.
On my initial day at work, I was tasked with handling the special effects, which involved creating realistic battle scenes with tanks shooting fire and missiles and planes flying at Godzilla's direction. I didn't mind the job as long as I did it well. During my break, I had a pleasant conversation with the actor who is still wearing the Godzilla suit. He seemed to be impressed with the suit and didn't want to take it off. However, I was a bit concerned as the suit was made of fabric and could get quite hot inside. Despite the heat, the actor seemed to have developed a fondness for the suit. While I found it a bit strange, I didn't dwell on it too much.
After completing my first day at TOHO studio, I was heading towards my car when I noticed the actor still wearing the Godzilla suit and walking towards his car. I was a bit confused as I didn't think he should be taking the suit home. I approached him and asked him why he was doing so, but he didn't respond. All I could hear was his breathing inside the suit. This made me a bit uneasy, and I asked him again. This time he responded, saying that he had permission from Ichizō to take the suit home. However, the way he spoke made it seem like he was addicted to it, which concerned me. I tried to talk to him, but he got into his car and drove off while still wearing the suit. I was left alone in the parking lot, worried about his attachment to the suit. I thought that the movie's production would be over soon, but I was mistaken.
In the production of The Godzilla suit, five days later, the actor continues to wear the suit regardless of his activities or whereabouts. He even claims that his nickname would be Goji. As a newcomer to TOHO, I would attempt to disregard this peculiar situation. I was on set, working on another scene depicting Godzilla's rampage. The director, Ishiro Honda, shouted "action" through a megaphone. I observed the actor portraying Godzilla, causing chaos in Tokyo, with his tail swaying and stomping around. However, as the actor approached the miniature Tokyo tower, something unfortunate occurred. The actor in the Godzilla suit suddenly came to a halt. He appeared frozen, and I honestly couldn't comprehend what had just transpired. Both the workers and I stared at the actor, perplexed by his immobility. Seven minutes later, he resumed walking, only to stop once again. The director appeared both furious and bewildered by the actor's behavior. He believed it to be a joke. Ishiro approached the actor and began prodding him, attempting to snap him out of his trance. However, the actor remained motionless.
After two minutes, the actor in the Godzilla suit was still motionless on the set. The director instructed me to check on him and remove the suit, which I did with the help of three other men. However, as we attempted to open the suit, we were met with a gruesome sight. The actor's flesh was tearing away from his body, and blood was gushing out as we opened the pocket on the back. The eyes on the suit were also bloodshot, and when it turned towards me, I was filled with terror. It became clear that the actor had transformed into a monster, and I quickly fled the studio. The entire experience was horrifying for everyone involved.
I burst into Ichizō Kobayashi's office, urgently informing him about the actor in the Godzilla suit and the terrifying events I had witnessed on set. Despite my panic, the founder calmly instructed me to lead him to the set. As we approached the door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as the man in the suit appeared before us, his bloodshot eyes and unconcerning expression sending shivers down my spine. Ichizō's face remained emotionless as I turned to him for guidance on how to handle the situation. He instructed me that we must keep it contained and prevent it from being exposed to the world.
I have been employed at TOHO alongside The Man in The Suit, who stealthily lurks wherever he goes. Despite his portrayal as Godzilla in the movies, he exhibits aggressive behavior when provoked. For instance, he would ruthlessly bite off a portion of a worker's face or neck, or slash them with his sharp claws. It has been confirmed that the actor inside the Godzilla suit was under the influence of an unknown drug that caused him to physically grow into the suit. Interestingly, he was not the only one who became attached to their respective monster suits. Some of the other actors also transformed into monsters, such as the actor who portrayed Anguirus in Godzilla Raids Again, the actor who played King Kong in King Kong vs. Godzilla, and the two actors who portrayed Mothra in Mothra vs. Godzilla. This entire situation has been nothing short of a horrifying nightmare for me.
After enduring years of working with that abominable anomaly, I decided to resign from my position at TOHO. The individual donning the Godzilla suit single-handedly shattered my lifelong aspiration. As I stormed out of the studio, it would simply fixate its gaze upon me. I believed it would be in my best interest to let go of the past. However, the unsettling image of that creature continues to haunt me, making it arduous to erase from my memory. Undoubtedly, The Man in The Suit will forever remain as my most terrifying nightmare.