Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In yet another impromptu episode (because reasons), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) and Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation) to discuss the semi-obscure Daiei proto-kaiju film, The Whale God. Released in 1962, it was largely unseen outside of Japan until it was released by SRS Cinema this past January. The boys unpack the tremendous talent behind and in front of the camera–including Takashi Shimura, Kojiro Hongo, and Akira Ifukube, among others–its connections to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and how it uses elements of J-horror to create a potent period drama. The Toku Topic, thanks to Danny’s in-depth research, is Japanese whaling. Then stay tuned after the credits to hear Elijah try to touch the Whale God!
Buy The Whale God on blu-ray and VHS from SRS Cinema! (https://srscinemastore.com/)
Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode here: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/03/14/jimmys-notes-on-episode-86-the-whale-god-vs-daniel-dimanna-vs-elijah-thomas/.
Post-credit scene suggested by Elijah Thomas.
Additional Music:
- “For Her Soul” by RoeTaKa
- “Kuwanga Banga” by PirateCrab
- “Here We Go” by Chris Classic
Additional sound effects sourced from www.Zapsplat.com.
Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, and Leon Campbell! Thanks for your support!
You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)
Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!
This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.
Timestamps:
- Introduction: 0:00-24:20
- Entertaining Info Dump: 24:20-32:21
- Toku Talk: 32:21-1:51:42
- Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:51:42-1:53:04
- Toku Topic (Japanese whaling): 1:53:04-2:21:31
- Outro: 2:21:31-2:43:48
- Credits/Post-Credit Scene: 2:43:48-end
Podcast Social Media:
- MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault
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- MIFV is one of Feedspot’s top 10 tokusatsu podcasts! (https://blog.feedspot.com/tokusatsu_podcasts/)
www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com
#JimmyFromNASALives #MonsterIslandFilmVault #TheWhaleGod #SRSCinema
© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media
Bibliography/Further Reading:
- “1962.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/1962.
- “Early Westernization & Modernization in Japan 1868-1900.” Japan Experience. 24 Dec. 2012. https://www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/understanding-japan/westernization.
- “Japan Heritage Living with Whales Story.” Japan Heritage. https://kumanonada-nihonisan.jp/en/story/#:~:text=In ancient times%2C the Japanese,as a means of livelihood.
- “History of Whaling.” Ja[an Whaling Association. http://www.whaling.jp/english/history.html.
- LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Vol. 1: 1954-1982.
- “Kaneto Shindo.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaneto_Shindo.
- “Killer Whale (1962).” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Killer_Whale_(film).
- “Killer Whale.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Killer_Whale.
- “Kōichirō Uno.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kōichirō_Uno.
- “Kôji Fujiyama.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0297893/.
- “Kojiro Hongo.” Gamera Wiki. https://gamera.fandom.com/wiki/Kojiro_Hongo.
- “Kojiro Hongo.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiro_Hongo.
- “Kojiro Hongo.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Kojiro_Hongo.
- “Kyôko Enami.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0256707/.
- “Kyoko Enami.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoko_Enami.
- Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. Originally published in 1961.
- “Michiko Takano.” TMDb. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1561981-michiko-takano?language=en-US.
- “Moby-Dick.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick.
- “Mocha Dick.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mocha_Dick.
- Monster Island Film Vault, The. “Episode 22: The Tourists vs. ‘Daimajin.’” http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2020/08/12/episode-22-the-metters-vs-daimajin/.
- Nakazono, Shigeo. “Sustaining Human Life: The Birth of Traditional Japanese Whaling.” Japan Forward. 31 Aug. 2020. https://japan-forward.com/sustaining-human-life-the-birth-of-traditional-japanese-whaling/.
- “Samurai.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai#Dissolution.
- “Setsuo Kobayashi.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0462054/.
- “Shiho Fujimura.” Gamera Wiki. https://gamera.fandom.com/wiki/Shiho_Fujimura.
- “Shiho Fujimura.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiho_Fujimura.
- “Shiho Fujimura.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Shiho_Fujimura.
- “Shintaro Katsu.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shintaro_Katsu.
- Takahashi, Junichi, et. al. “Japanese Whaling Culture.” https://www.marecentre.nl/mast/documents/Japanesewhalingculture.pdf.
- “Takashi Shimura.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashi_Shimura.
- “Takashi Shimura.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Takashi_Shimura.
- Thornton, Stuart and Meghan E. Marrero. “Big Fish: A Brief History of Whaling.” National Geographic. Last updated 19 Oct. 2023. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/big-fish-history-whaling/.
- “Tokuzō Tanaka.” Eigapedia. https://japanese-movies.fandom.com/wiki/Tokuzō_Tanaka.
- “Tokuzō Tanaka.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokuzō_Tanaka.
- “Toru Matoba.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Toru_Matoba.
- Venoms5. “Whale God (1962) review.” Coolass Cinema. 21 Feb. 2016. http://www.coolasscinema.com/2016/02/whale-god-1962-review.html?m=1.
- Vermeulen, Erwin. “Unlimited Slaughter, Criminal Intent: A small history of Japanese Antarctic whaling.” Sea Shepherd. 23 Dec. 2013. https://seashepherd.org/2013/12/23/unlimited-slaughter-criminal-intent-a-small-history-of-japanese-antarctic-whaling/.
- “Whaling Affairs.” https://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/e/whale/index.html.
- “Yôsuke Takemura.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1476947/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm.
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