The Last G-FAN Arrives

Above, G-FAN #150.

Earlier today, J. D. Lees and I had a small exchange over one of our favorite non-kaiju topics, Ronald Reagan. I sent him the blog post of the photo of Reagan hosting Death Valley Days. This was before he ran for California governor.

A little while ago, I made my eight-mile trek to the post office at Continental Divide to pick up my mail. Included in my mailbox was the last issue of G-FAN (number 150), the Godzilla/kaiju fan magazine J. D. published since the 1990s. Funny how things work out. Here we were discussing another favorite topic and, lo and behold, the last G-FAN arrives.

While it is sad that an end of an era is here, at least now that J. D. has retired from teaching and now G-FAN, he can enjoy more of life's pleasures. He (and wife Ruth) have an open invitation to come down to visit New Mexico and the Four Corners region. I think they would enjoy seeing Durango, Colorado and Monument Valley (which, by the way, made it into 2004's Godzilla Final Wars) and sample New Mexico cuisine.

G-FAN #150 is a thick issue with 130 pages (or, if one is counting the inside front and back covers, 132 pages) and is loaded with lots of good stuff for leisurely summertime reading. My last G-FAN write-up is on page 59. J. D. included a photo of Kenji Sahara and me from 2009. It has been a while since I've seen that picture and noticed that I was heavier back then. I'm now in the 150s. 

Anyway, as others have posted online (mainly at Facebook), while it is sad to see the end of G-FAN, but at least we can dig the issues out on occasion for re-reading pleasure. 

G-FAN #150 At The Printers

Above, G-FAN #36, the first issue I saw.

Mrs. Ruth Lees reported on Facebook that the last issue of G-FAN is currently at the printers and should be done by the May 27.

It is issue number 150 and she said that it will be "extra long & extra good."

While it is sad that this is the final issue, but it is still remarkable that it lasted for so many years. I first discovered it in 1998 with issue number 36 at Tower Records in Sherman Oaks, California. It was started in 1992 by J. D. Lees. I don't think any other fan magazine has lasted so long with so many issues. I checked, but I didn't see anything in the website of Guinness World Records for longest-running fan magazine (or fanzine). 

However, the AI feature of Google posted this:

• G-FAN: Deemed the world's longest-running fanzine (fan magazine) dedicated specifically to a film subculture, this quarterly publication began covering Godzilla and Japanese monsters in 1993.

G-FAN started out "as a four-page photocopied newsletter for distribution to three recent acquaintances who were also Godzilla fans." (Source: G-FAN.com history.)  It began its run as a professionally printed magazine with issue number 8.

So we should be seeing G-FAN #150 arriving in our mailboxes in early June. 

G-FAN #149 Arrived

Yesterday, I headed off eight miles to our post office in Continental Divide, New Mexico to pick up my mail.

At least the trip was productive as G-FAN #149 was waiting for me (along with a box of cigars I ordered). The package included a 2026 calendar!

For those of you who aren't aware, the issue of G-FAN is second to last issue to be published. J. D. Lees is ceasing publication with issue number 150. While it is sad to see an end of an era, it is good that he is about to embark on newer life experiences. 

Fortunately, G-FEST will be held this coming July, so fans can still enjoy kaiju camaraderie with like-minded fans.  

For details on the convention, go to www.g-fan.com.

G-FAN #145 Arrives

Above, the cover of G-FAN #145.

Today, I headed down to the Flying J to check my mailbox at the post office.

A welcome item was in the mailbox: G-FAN #145.

After returning home, I took a preliminary look-see of the issue's contents. Included was my article on the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had completely forgotten that I submitted it back in July, for it was a busy summer with trips to Fort Sumner, G-FEST, the Bahamas, Colorado, Iowa and Utah. 

Unless J. D. Lees changes his mind ("Is there something wrong with the one I have?" - Captain Spock in Star Trek IV) it looks like issue number 150 will be the last G-FAN. He mentions that he's been producing the magazine for around 30 years. I sometimes have a hard time grasping 30 years, often thinking 1970s instead of the 1990s. I think he's done his bit for king and country by producing G-FAN for 30 years. 

Interestingly, not too many fans were impressed with Legendary's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, but loved Toho's Godzilla Minus One. Although both movies were entertaining, Godzilla Minus One is a far superior movie in my opinion.

Since we're to get some more snow this coming weekend, at least I have something to read while taking refuge indoors.

Best Airlines To Fly To Japan

Above, the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 I flew to Japan on in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past 23 years, I have traveled to Japan eight times. 

I have flown there via several airlines. They include, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Korean Airlines. Of these, Korean Airlines is my personal favorite. Their food was great. I had a reasonable amount of legroom in Economy. They also had Astro Boy cartoons to be entertained by.

My last trip to Japan was on a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. I was disappointed with it. Although the world's biggest passenger plane, the plane's Economy legroom left much to be desired. I felt cramped and had to take walks every half hour.

Travel Noire has an article with their choices of the "best airlines" to travel to Japan with. The article doesn't list prices, though.(

Those planning on joining Daikaiju Enterprises' (G-FAN magazine) G-TOUR 4 this coming October may want to review the article before selecting an airline.

They begin with:

Summer has arrived, and traveling season is in full swing. Are you planning on adding Japan to the bucket list?

Japan is a brilliant and fascinating country, home to over 20 world heritage sites. Through tourism alone, Japan has attracted over 2.5 million international tourists since February of 2024. In recent times, out of 141 countries, they have rank high in cultural resources and business travel.

When traveling to a foreign country, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is choosing the airline for your journey. With numerous options, it’s essential to pick an airline that offers comfort, reliability, and unforgettable service.

So what is the best airline to fly to Japan? Let’s weigh our options. 

To read more, go here. 

How Banno's Scrapped Godzilla Film Led To Legendary's Monsterverse

Above, Yoshimitsu Banno disclosing his plans for a Godzilla movie
 in 3D and IMAX to G-TOUR in Roppongi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that this year marks 20 years since the first G-TOUR to Japan by Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd. (of G-FAN magazine fame) took place in 2004. I was a part of the 60-person tour group.

While the tour was in Tokyo, a dinner was held in the Roppongi section of the city at T.G.I. Friday's. One of the guests at the dinner was Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno.

Banno gave a talk and divulged that he was planning on making a Godzilla movie in IMAX and 3D. A working title was Godzilla 3D To The Max. This was the first news that Godzilla fandom received of this project. Some got very excited of the prospect of a 3D and IMAX movie while others dismissed it (largely for fandom political reasons).

The movie never got off the ground, but it did lead eventually to Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Monsterverse series of movies with Banno as one of the executive producers. 

Slash Film has posted an article one how the scrapped IMAX Godzilla short led to the Monsterverse.

It begins with:

Much like any other long-running franchise, "Godzilla" is filled with a great many would-be projects that never managed to see the light of day. Perhaps no scrapped project featuring the King of the Monsters is more consequential than what is most commonly known as "Godzilla 3-D." The film, which was in development in the early 2000s, was going to be a short filmed for IMAX made with American audiences in mind. It never came to be, but development of the project indirectly led to the creation of the MonsterVerse franchise, which kicked off with 2014's "Godzilla" and is still going strong today.

So, how do we go from theatrically-released short film to blockbuster-sized, American-produced theatrical feature? It's an odd, messy journey, and one that is a little heartbreaking in some ways for both fans and one of the franchise's most unique directors. Namely, Yoshimitsu Banno, who helmed 1971's "Godzilla vs. Hedorah," which remains one of the franchise's most bizarre entries to date, yet also one of its most celebrated. The story of this big-budget short film begins with Banno and his desire to once again step behind the camera to tell a tale about Godzilla and the Smog Monster.

To read the full article, go here.

G-TOUR "Details Soon"

Above, Godzilla peers over the Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

G-FAN magazine (i.e., Daikaiju Enterprises) is planning G-TOUR 4 in October.

According to the official website:

After multiple cancellations, we are pleased to announce that G-TOUR 4 is finally a go, expected to depart in late October of 2024. Check back soon for complete details.

However, according the current issue of G-FAN, plans are complicated due to the massive influx of foreign tourism to Japan. Thanks to the current currency exchange rate (now at ¥145.68 per dollar in Tokyo), massive numbers of tourists are flocking to Japan.

I am seriously considering joining G-TOUR 4 (I went on the first G-TOUR in 2004). It depends upon the cost and duration.

For information on G-TOUR 4, keep tabs at the offical website at http://www.g-fan.com/html/gtour4.php

G-TOUR 4 Cancelled

Above, the Great Buddha of Kamakura visited by the first G-TOUR. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With Japan's restrictions/rules on foreign tourists, it is no surprise that G-TOUR 4 to Japan set for this autumn has been cancelled. 

According to the official G-TOUR website:

We are very sad to announce that this fall’s G-TOUR 4 has been cancelled. Japan’s anti-COVID restrictions on foreign tourists simply won’t allow all the fun, experiences, and opportunities we intended to provide. Thanks to all who signed up, and very sorry for your disappointment.

I have to wonder if Japan enjoys shooting itself in the foot. Despite past and current actions by the Japanese government in combating COVID-19, citizens are still getting infected, although by less lethal variants. The exchange rate of the yen against the dollar and other currencies would be a boon to their economy and foreigners would benefit in getting more yen for their buck. But, they are still being rigid in their approach.

Maybe G-TOUR 4 can be re-scheduled for next year. Only time will tell.

Japan To Allow Foreign Tour Groups As Soon As This Month

Above, fans may be able to visit the Big G at Toho
Studios as soon as this month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is looking to allow foreign tourist groups into the country as soon a this month.

The Japan Times is reporting that this "experiment" will be a "lifeline" for Japan's ailing tourism industry. This is good news for tour operators and for those looking to participate in this year's G-TOUR by Daikaiju Enterprises set for this autumn.

According to the Japan Times:

Japan is set to experiment with opening its borders to small groups of vaccinated foreign tourists as soon as this month, Fuji News Network reported Friday, in a potential lifeline for the country’s ailing travel industry.

Those wishing to visit must have undergone three COVID-19 vaccination shots and be part of a package tour with a fixed itinerary, FNN said, citing multiple government officials. The limited resumption of inbound tourism will be treated as an experiment and, if infections do not spread, the program will be expanded, it said.

Japan is also looking at doubling the daily entry cap to 20,000 and accepting overseas tourists from June, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources. That report said a decision could come by the end of this month.

The reports came a day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a speech in London that he planned to relax pandemic-related border restrictions starting in June, in line with other wealthy democracies. He later added a note of caution, telling reporters he needed to look at the state of infections after the Golden Week holiday period, which wraps up this weekend.

To read more, go here. 

G-FAN: Best Thing To Do Is Subscribe

Above, the cover of G-FAN #135.

G-FAN #135 arrived in the mailbox today.

The cover is a familiar one to oldtimers (and younger fans), it is from the U.S. poster of Godzilla vs. Megalon featuring both monsters atop the New York World Trade Center towers (a scene that never showed up in the movie).

During my initial perusal of the issue, a letter caught my attention. I was by a reader who came across an issue at a newsstand while he was out-of-town. He was pleased to see it, but confessed that he didn't know G-FAN was still being published.

This reminded me of when I discovered G-FAN. It was in 1998 while I was in the Sherman Oaks, California Tower Records. I stopped at the magazine rack and spotted it and bought it. Prior to this, I was unaware of such a fan magazine.

Since some areas (like rural ones) probably don't carry G-FAN, the best thing to do is to subscribe.

G-FAN.com has a subscription page that reads:

G-FAN Magazine Subscriptions

Subscriptions to G-FAN magazine are available from Daikaiju Enterprises, ensuring that you never miss an issue. Subscribers are also treated to special contests, prizes and premiums. The price is only $25.00 for four issues or $45.00 for eight issues. Issues of G-FAN are mailed in a sturdy brown envelope with no mailing label placed on the cover and generally arrive in the mail before they hit the newsstands.

You can subscribe online with PayPal.

There, problem solved! 

To access the G-FAN subscription page, go here.

G-TOUR 4

Above, the first G-TOUR took the group to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Daikaiju Enterprises is currently planning G-TOUR 4 to Japan.

On the official website, it is posted:

G-TOUR 4 2022

Daikaiju Enterprises is pleased to announce a return to Japan for G-TOUR 4, taking place from November 1st through November 12th, 2022. G-TOUR is the name given to a series of Godzilla-centric voyages to Japan and is an opportunity to visit iconic sites from kaiju cinema, soak up some of the country’s incredible natural beauty and culture, and engage in shopping experiences found nowhere else.

At present, the tour is on, but Japan currently has a ban on foreign tourism due to the pandemic.

One of the good points is that it is planned for November, the autumn season. Hopefully, by then, all tourism restrictions of Japan will have been lifted. As of now, foreign tourism to Japan is banned. Besides that, as the website also states, it also avoids the stifling heat of Japan's summer. 

The planned itinerary is very inviting, if I can get a cat-sitter for those 12 days I would sign up. I was planning to go to Japan two years ago, but the pandemic nixed that. (I went on the first G-TOUR back in 2004.)

For more information, go here.

Visit Japan With "G-TOUR 3.5 2016"

Above, the Hotel Gracery will be the headquarters hotel for the tour. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Guided group tours may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there are those who have trepidation about visiting a foreign country on their own. So a group tour may be something that would fit them nicely, especially one with some nice perks.

Daikaiju Enterprises/G-FAN has announced "G-TOUR 3.5 2016" on their website:

Daikaiju Enterprises is pleased to announce a return to Japan for G-TOUR 3.5, taking place from July 22nd through July 31st, 2016. This new tour, conducted by Stan Hyde, is aimed at fans who weren’t able to attend last year’s tour, as it had sold out so quickly. G-TOUR 3.5 will visit many places of importance to kaiju fans and Japanese culture enthusiasts, including Wonder Festival 2016, the Studio Ghibli museum, the 50th Anniversary Ultraman Festival, Tokyo Skytree, as well as seeing the Shin-Godzilla movie premiere. Download the full itineray below. The tour will once again be operated by MYK Enterprises Ltd., who did a fantastic job for us on G-TOURs II and III.

Looking over the itinerary, I find that the tour will be confined to the greater Tokyo area. It is, as the above indicates, to be conducted by Stan "The Man" Hyde. I don't see Toho Studios on the list of stops as it is a "place of importance" to kaiju fans, but a stop there to see the Godzilla statue and mural may be included [J.D., can you confirm this?]. Considering the goodies that are included with the tour (staying at the new Hotel Gracery is a big plus), the cost is quite reasonable.

For details, go here. 

G-FAN 2010 Calendar

Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd., the folks who bring you G-FAN, North America's journal of everything Godzilla, Gamera and Japanese science-fiction, is offering a 2010 calendar.

Each month features a full-color kaiju masterpiece by renowned fantasy artist Jolyon Yates, as well as tons of trivia every fan of the genre will enjoy.

The scheduled release date is July 1 (just in the nick of time for G-FEST XVI).

Suggested retail price: $9.95

Here is one dealer offering the calendar.