What Did Tomoyuki Tanaka Say And How Did He Say It?

Above, director Yoshimitsu Banno at dinner following G-FEST in 2005.

Shades of Senator Howard Baker! The Howard Baker who said, during the senate Watergate hearings in 1973, "What did the president know and when did he know it?"

How does this fit in with Godzilla vs. Hedorah? Read on.

In this case, Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno seems to have changed his story on what Godzilla executive producer Tomoyuki Tanaka said and his demeanor after he saw the finished Hedorah movie's scenes of a flying Godzilla.

A noted kaiju historian says he has a 1990 tape of Banno saying that Tanaka irately exclaimed, "You've ruined the image of Godzilla!" Whereas, in 2005 at G-FEST, Banno stated that Tanaka was not too upset over the scene and said something akin to "it's too late to change it now." (I was there and remember this.)

Naturally, people's memories fade and have a tendency to change over time. But it does make one wonder what is the real story. Banno never again directed a movie for Tanaka. That should tell you something!

Generally, when I (as an adjuster) take a recorded statement from a claimant or witness in relation to an accident claim, every effort is made to talk to them immediately as possible before the story changes and while facts are still fresh in their minds.

So, "What did Tanaka say and how did he say it?"