Submitted "Godzilla" Review To Deep Japan

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While just kicking back this evening, I was requested to write a review of Godzilla (2014) for Deep Japan. They wanted a review since Godzilla is opening in Japan on Friday.

Thankfully, I had already written a review of the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. thriller and sent off a mini version of my prior review. I titled that one, "Godzilla, Guardian of the Universe" as the movie had more of a Heisei Gamera feel to it. This was especially so as Godzilla triumphantly returns to the sea after defeating the MUTOs. The only thing missing was Kow Otani's Gamera march.

Once it is posted, I will post a link for your viewing pleasure.

UPDATE: It is now posted: http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3376

Thanks To Jarman International K.K. For The Plug

Not too long ago, I signed on as a contributor to Deep Japan, whose goal is to "to take Visitors further in for a more "Local" experience in Japan. 100-plus Senpais answer detailed questions about how to go deeper, get involved and join the fun and wonder of this amazing destination, Japan."

This led to a nice little article by Jarman International K.K. which is a promoter of businesses in Japan.

This is from their "About Us" page:

We are in the business of helping your business develop and grow in Japan. Established in 2012, Jarman International is already the most well-connected Japanese firm run by a non-Japanese CEO. Our company draws on over twenty-five years of in-the-trenches effort by CEO, Ruth Jarman Shiraishi, who started out in Japan in 1988 with Recruit Company (Japan’s top publishing and information firm) to eventually become a Director of Business Development at Space Design Inc. (a respected provider of office space and serviced apartments in Tokyo and Yokohama). Jarman International‘s unique business model focuses on non-competing partner companies and provides a turn-key solution to living, working and succeeding in Japan.

 Their article, in which I received a big mention, states:

One of our more unique senpais however is the author of “The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide to Japan”, Mr. Armand Vaquer. 

He was deeply interested in the whole monster movie and sci-fi character culture of Japan since his first experience with Godzilla in 1954. As the title of his book suggests, he not only is interested in the monster media itself, but also how this has come to play a role in shaping modern Japan. We are very excited to hear his input on a variety of subjects in the future on Deep Japan.

A big thank-you to Jarman International K.K. and to Deep Japan.

To see Jarman International's full article, go here.

Today At Deep Japan: Monster Movies

Above, Godzilla stomping through the National Diet Building.  Toho photo.

A new website on Japan and Japanese culture posted a new topic, "Tell all about Japanese monster movies." They asked me to start it off, so I did with how I discovered Godzilla.

I also added some photos to go along with my reply.

To see the post and my reply, go here.

"Deep Japan" Website Launched

Source: News Release

Tokyo, Japan (PRWEB) August 06, 2013-Japan fans around the world now have a brand new information resource – Deep Japan - that taps the local knowledge of long-term international residents and English-able Japanese. Hatched among friends during a casual dinner of braised yakitori chicken and chilled “Nama” (fresh from the tap) mugs of beer, the idea for this Japan travel resource struck the imagination of over 100 long term “Senpai.” The community of long-term residents the site terms “Senpai,” the word used in reference to someone a bit older and more experienced, hail from countries including the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Canada, and of course, various parts of Japan. During the month before the August launch, the site accrued over 650 advice posts on everything from where to find a foreign currency friendly ATM or tips on how to order delicious ramen noodles.

“We wanted this to be a site that allowed more visitors to Japan into the typical living style of regular, fun-loving residents. So, maybe you have a free day between business meetings in Tokyo and want some local tips on how one of us might spend that time? Well, this site aims to provide that type of information,” says Mitsuyoshi Daijo, head of the Deep Japan new business project and CEO of Deep Japan founding firm, Zeroin Inc.

Deep Japan brings visitors further into the “real Japan” by providing detailed hints and tips to have on hand.

Japan, with its clean high tech transportation system, world-renowned safety level, delicious cuisine and cultured, civilized people, is a prime destination for travelers seeking a unique vacation filled with beautiful countryside, ocean vistas and cutting edge cityscapes. An English-speaking visitors’ single most obvious concern would be the inability to “experience” off-the-beaten-track Japan due to language barriers. Deep Japan hopes to lower these barriers and make all of Japan more accessible even to its first time guests.

Deep Japan is the perfect supplement to current Japan guides, tourist websites and resources.