I’m just as excited to write this blog on last week’s episode on The Mysterians as I was recording it. As Nathan said on the podcast, it’s one of my favorite tokusatsu films. He was able to use most of his research in the episode, although most of his notes on the film itself did not make it in. His script was originally part of a 42-page paper he wrote on six Ishiro Honda films as part of an independent study in grad school.
Anyway, let’s get to this. Like with my blog on the previous mini-sode, I didn’t hear anything that needed fact-checked, so I’ll just be sharing Nathan’s leftover notes, although with a handful of comments.
Afterward, I’ll announce the winner of the Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt.
The Film:
- This was the first Toho tokusatsu film in TohoScope.
- The satellite dish (and tsunami) get recycled as stock footage in the US version of King Kong vs. Godzilla. Some military footage recycled later in 1970s G-films.
- The festival at the beginning is Bon Festival (also called an Obon), which is a Japanese Buddhist-Confucian custom to honor the spirits of ancestors. Due to the use of several different calendars, there are usually three time periods these festivals will be celebrated between July and September. The dance seen at the festival in the film is a traditional dance called the Bon Odori. You can learn about it here. (Nathan wants to go to one. Maybe we can have one on the Island? –Jimmy)
- Starts with a bang—or rather a forest fire. Exciting. Spectacular effects. Burning from the roots. Foreshadowing.
- Takashi Shimura plays another scientist.
- Lots of science enters. Mysteroid. Astronomy. (Which is one reason I love this film! –Jimmy)
- That looks more like a sinkhole than a landslide. May have been deliberate. Because radioactive. Or not.
- The JSDF vehicles and personnel are actual military. Made in cooperation.
- Dead fish in river. More foreshadowing.
- Hot radioactive ground. Burns tires. Melts mountain.
- Moguera appears 14 minutes in.
- Honda’s naturalism with disasters: Etsuko in bath as Moguera attacks.
- The flamethrower is real—but I don’t know how it could reach that far or get that big against Moguera.
- Scientists are presented as foremost authorities and absolutely trustworthy. Mysterians want to meet with them and not politicians.
- The character plot at beginning is dropped as invasion plots takes over.
- Not Toho’s first tokusatsu film in color (that was Rodan), but the colors are more spectacular.
- Takashi Shimura dresses like Colonel Sanders.
- 29:30: We’re off to see the wizard.
- “Please put on your cape.” Not to keep warm, but because it looks cool.
- Yoshio Tsuchiya insisted on playing Mysterian Leader. Liked playing weirdos.
- “There are no boundaries in science.” Says “these people” (military) will cause war.
- “Selling land on Mars” line ab-libbed by Tsuchiya.
- The humans waste no time kowtowing.
- Almost 38:00: U.N. scientists mentioned as coming to discuss the matter.
- Japan behind America in science. Mysterians even more advanced. Shiriashi.
- Mysterians originally want 2 miles of land. It keeps increasing. Goes to 75. All intruders would be evicted by force. Inspired by America?
- Shiraishi says scientists, not military, should stop attack.
- The Mysterian dome looks amazing.
- Nakajima played Moguera. Nearly killed him. Hot suit, hot studio lights. Over 100 degrees. Staff in underwear.
- Sometimes editing of special effects shots is jumpy.
- Cool POV shot of plane over dome.
- Mysterian ships reused in Battle in Outer Space. Almost sequel. (The second entry in the “pseudo-trilogy.” It’ll be covered in a later episode. –Jimmy)
- 46 mins: POV shot from tank on dome.
- Figure ejects from model tank as it sinks. Cool.
- Japanese earthquake of 1923 mentioned.
- Mysterians say they don’t like war but will fight if attacked. They want peace on Earth. Weird way of doing it. America again? Want to end atomic wars. Mankind will perish in 20 years. Fearmongering? Mankind has ruled animals with science. Mysterians see humans as animals.
- World comes together, but this is mostly a Japanese problem.
- Japan calls for international meeting. “Japan’s trouble today will be theirs tomorrow.” Adachi somehow knows they won’t stop with the land.
- 51:45: Shiriashi starts doubt if he chose the right side when they mention taking over eastern Japan.
- America launches satellite from Arizona against Mysterians. (When was their first satellite?) (America’s first satellite was Explorer 1, which was launched January 31, 1958, just one month after this film was released in Japan. –Jimmy)
- “Defense Force of the Earth.” Human unity. Many flags in background of conference scene. Japanese officer addresses UN council with plan. Translator present. Reps visible: USSR, USA, India, China, Vietnam, Thailand. Two resps from each. Three of 5 members of Security Council.
- I love how the interpreter’s words aren’t exactly the same as the subtitles.
- “A war has already begun. A quiet war…. There are no canons, aircraft, or tanks.” 57:15.
- Alpha and Beta look awkward, but I don’t care. Part of the charm. VTOL tech, though.
- Complaints about the female characters: useless damsels in distress. “Women often fainted back then” (Koichi Kawakita in his commentary).
- Mysterians don’t use subterfuge, but they do increase their demands. Somewhat arrogant.
- US Air Force planes seen landing. Speaks to alliance between America and Japan.
- I love the satellite dish weapons in these movies.
- Tsuchiya’s gestures as Mysterian Leader are great. Sharp and commanding.
- Mysterians don’t like heat. Opposite of Kilaaks. (Let’s not talk about the disco space nuns. Okay, Marchand? –Jimmy)
- Mysterian suits inspired Super Sentai/Power Rangers. (Maybe. –Jimmy)
- 74:00: How did they not see him? (He means Shiraishi. –Jimmy)
- Wanting women sounds incredibly sensationalistic, but it isn’t talked about much.
- Mysterian science is advanced but can’t fix their genes.
- The acting from the westerners is…underwhelming.
- Mysterian dome does have what look like drill ends.
- Mysterians try to negotiate saying they will retaliate is humans don’t stop (weren’t you already?). Humans tell them to leave Earth. Were the Mysterians bluffing? Afraid? They do retaliate with a massive flood.
- I’m sure much of the stuff in these sets did anything, but they look cool.
- Shiraishi says he was “tricked.” Was he? (Sadly, probably not. He seems quite complaisant with them. –Jimmy)
- The tragedy of the Mysterians is a lesson to us. Don’t misuse science. Don’t repeat the tragedy! –Shiraishi
- A second Moguera appears! For five seconds. (Still less useless than the Heisei incarnation. Extra spare parts for me to rebuild Mechani-Kong! –Jimmy)
- Shiraishi has chance to shoot Mysterians but doesn’t. Mercy.
- Like Godzilla, Shimura ends the film with an admonition.
- Satellite is launched in the end to watch for Mysterians.
This is a footnote from Nathan’s grad school paper that did not make it into the episode:
Yet despite all of this involvement, Japan has not been allowed to join as a permanent member of the UNSC. Most of the opposition has come from South Korea and China, who believe Japan must still atone for the war. On the other hand, three members of the UNSC—the U.S., the UK, and France—support Japan becoming a permanent member. The U.N. at large possibly thinks that since Japan’s military is unable to contribute significantly to the safety of the world, they do not deserve a seat at the UNSC table (“Episode 6: Rodan” 00:44:20-00:45:31). Even if that were to change, China continually exerts its veto power on the council to block Japan’s admission because “[f]ar beyond the unwanted symbolism of a fully rehabilitated and ‘normal’ Japan on the UN Security Council, the very real powers that permanent membership would afford Tokyo are simply anathema to Beijing’s interests.”
Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa, who served as the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations from 2013 to 2016, argues that “there is still a strong consensus among all members that the Security Council has to be reformed.” It reflected the political reality of 1945, but it is “no longer valid” and has “become obsolete.” New emerging powers, such as those countries who were defeated in the war, should be admitted. Not only is Japan advocating for reform, but so are the other G4 countries (which also include India, Germany, and Brazil). In 2005 they made a proposal that would change the criteria for who could become permanent and non-permanent members, but it was never put to a vote. The momentum has stalled since then.
Finally, these are unused excerpts from several articles Nathan cited in the episode, which are listed with links in its show notes.
“Japan and the United Nations” – Wikipedia
- “After the late 1950s, Japan participated actively in the social and economic activities of the UN’s various specialized agencies and other international organizations concerned with social, cultural, and economic improvement. During the 1970s, as it attained the status of an economic powerhouse, Japan was called on to play an increasingly large role in the UN. As Japan’s role and its contributions increased so did sentiment, expressed as early as 1973, that Japan should be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China.”
- “As of 2005, Japan is again a strong advocate of a UNSC reform, in a joint campaign with Germany, India, and Brazil. All four nations strive to gain a permanent seat in the chamber. While the United Kingdom and France,[1] and the United States back Japan’s candidacy, it faces strong opposition from its two closest neighbors, China and South Korea.”
“An Argument for Japan’s Becoming Permanent Member” – MOFA
- “Since Japan joined the United Nations in 1956, cooperation with the United Nations has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Japan has the world’s second largest economy, and based on this national strength, it has the capacity to assume ever greater global responsibilities through various contributions to the efforts of the United Nations and particularly the Security Council.”
- “Japan is committed to promoting international disarmament and non-proliferation while firmly maintaining its Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. Since 1994 Japan has submitted draft resolutions on nuclear disarmament at the UN General Assembly, which have been adopted with overwhelming support. Japan actively contributed to the success of the 2000 NPT Review Conference, and has been taking the initiative in facilitating the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.”
- “Moreover, Japan has been playing a leading role in disarmament of conventional arms, including small arms and landmines. It has provided substantial financial assistance for this purpose, and in 2000 established the Small Arms Fund within the United Nations.”
“Chapter 3: Japan’s Foreign Policy to Promote National and Worldwide Interests” – MOFA
- “In addition, Japan also places great importance on strengthening its initiatives as a member of the G4 (Japan, India, Germany, and Brazil), a group that cooperates on promoting the reform of the UN Security Council. The Ministerial Meeting of the G4 Countries was held in September. During the Meeting, the countries agreed on building further momentum for the UN Security Council reform and continuing to work towards a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.”
- “In addition, the Group of Friends on Security Council Reform was established in July. Comprising diverse groups such as the G4 as well as Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, France, and Northern Europe, all of which seek the reform of the UN Security Council. At the High-Level Meeting held in September, the Group members shared the recognition that the reform of the UN Security Council is an urgent issue, and affirmed their commitment to cooperate to realize a meaningful reform of the UN Security Council in an expeditious manner.”
- “In response to the nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missile by North Korea, as a member of the UN Security Council, Japan took a leading role in discussions at the UN Security Council, working closely with the relevant countries including the United States and the Republic of Korea. As a result, the UN Security Council Resolutions 2270 and 2321 were adopted, strengthening sanctions against North Korea, and putting greater emphasis on the importance of human rights and humanitarian issues including the abduction issue. The adoption of these resolutions demonstrated the attitude of the international community as a whole in taking decisive action against North Korea. In addition, Japan has been actively taking part in the work of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1718 and encouraging the relevant countries to fully and strictly implement the UN Security Council resolutions.”
“Why Japan will Never Be a Permanent Meber of the UN Security Council” by Peter Harris
- “Although the objective of permanent membership is longstanding, Abe’s diplomatic push ahead of October 2015 inevitably will be seen abroad in the same light as his other foreign policies, several of which have been criticized as hawkish by neighboring governments—not least of all the Chinese, which bitterly opposes the Japanese bid. Far beyond the unwanted symbolism of a fully rehabilitated and “normal” Japan on the UN Security Council, the very real powers that permanent membership would afford Tokyo are simply anathema to Beijing’s interests.”
And now for the moment you have all been waiting for! The winner of the Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt is Jim Hayes!
Congratulations!
The “Kong Quest” continues in the next episode with the infamous King Kong Lives. Nathan will be joined once again by kaiju author/scholar John LeMay (the only person we know of who genuinely likes that movie).
Our next mini-sode will cover the almost forgotten 1958 kaiju film Varan the Unbelievable.
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