Spiders in Japan: The Tiniest Kaiju

Above, Kumonga from Godzilla Final Wars. Toho Co., Ltd.

One of the most "popular" monsters in horror movies are spiders, big ones (as in Tarantula (1955)) and small ones (as in Arachnophobia (1990)).

Godzilla movies have featured a giant spider named Kumonga (sometimes called Spiga) who first appeared in Son of Godzilla in 1967 and later in Godzilla Final Wars (2000).

Above, a scene from Tarantula (1955). Universal-International Pictures.

However, spiders have play roles in Japanese folklore and Tofugu.com has an article about them, "Spiders in Japan: The Tiniest Kaiju."

It begins with:

Arachnophobes be warned. Today’s article is all about our little eight-legged friends. Spiders, and monsters inspired by them, have held a place in Japanese culture for centuries. Japan is also currently dealing with the problem of a spider species from abroad. Meanwhile, a Japanese company has developed a spider-derived technology for the future.  Grab your flashlights, and let’s see what we can find in Japan’s nooks and crannies.

 To read the full article, go here.

Godzilla Slide Re-enacting End of "Son of Godzilla"?

Above, snow was falling at the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka during my visit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Snow was falling when I went down to Yokosuka to see the Godzilla slide at the Kurihama Flower World today.

It was quite a feat for this 60-year-old to hike the steep switchback trail to reach the slide, especially with snow falling and the wind blowing. But I made it. It pays to have experience in hiking. I definitely burned a few calories. I figured, if my mother could handle the Weeping Rock trail at Zion National Park at age 70, I can do this at age 60.

When I got to the slide, there was snow on the ground and more snow was falling. I was thinking that the Godzilla slide was doing a re-enactment of the end of Son of Godzilla.

It was beginning to snow in Tokyo when I got back.