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'{{Short description|Japanese filmmaker (1911–1993)}} {{Redirect|Ishirō||Ishiro{{!}}Ishiro (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Eastern name order|Honda Ishirō}} {{Infobox person | name = Ishirō Honda | image = Ishiro Honda in 1965.jpg | caption = Honda at the [[National Museum of Nature and Science|National Museum of Nature and<br>Science]] during the filming of ''[[Frankenstein Conquers the World|Frankenstein<br>Conquers the World]]''. | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1911|5|7}} | birth_place = [[Asahi, Yamagata (Higashitagawa)|Asahi, Yamagata]], [[Empire of Japan]] | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1993|2|28|1911|5|7}} | death_place = [[Setagaya|Setagaya, Tokyo]], Japan | resting_place = Fuji Cemetery, [[Oyama, Shizuoka|Oyama]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]], Japan | resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|35.3696|138.9079|type:landmark_region:JP|display=inline}} | alma_mater = [[Nihon University]] | occupation = {{flatlist| * Film director * screenwriter * film editor * actor }} | years_active = 1934–1992 | notable_works = <!--{{ubl|''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954)|''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' (1956)|''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' (1961)|''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'' (1962)|''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' (1968)|''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (1975)}}--> | spouse = {{marriage|Kimi Yamazaki|1939|1993|end=his death}} | children = 2 | website = {{url|http://www.ishirohonda.com/|www.ishirohonda.com}} | signature = Ishirō Honda Signature.svg | module = {{Infobox military person | embed = yes | serviceyears = 1934–1946 | allegiance = {{flagu|Empire of Japan}} | rank = [[File:帝國陸軍の階級―襟章―軍曹.svg|25px]] [[Ranks of the Imperial Japanese Army|Sergeant]]{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=31}} | battles = [[World War II]] ([[Second Sino-Japanese War]]) | module = {{Infobox Chinese/Japanese |child = yes | romaji = Honda Ishirō | kanji = 本多 猪四郎 | hiragana = ほんだ いしろう{{sfn|Takaki|Matsunomoto|Nakamura|Motoyama|1999|pp=260-261}} | hide = no }} }} }} {{nihongo|'''Ishirō Honda'''{{efn|Honda's given name has often been misread as {{nihongo|"'''Inoshirō'''"|いのしろう|Inoshirō|lead=yes}} because his parents only used the letter I from the [[kanji]] character for {{nihongo|''Inoshishi''|猪||lead=yes|{{literal translation|[[wild boar]]}}}}.{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=11}}<ref name="Inoshiro">{{cite web|last=Nakajima|first=Shinsuke|url=http://ishirohonda.com/messages/staff/s0020_nakajima002.html|title=イシロウ、それともイノシロウ？|website=IshiroHonda.com|language=Japanese|date=May 7, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513071240/http://ishirohonda.com/messages/staff/s0020_nakajima002.html|archive-date=May 13, 2021}}</ref> Additionally, some Japanese sources have erroneously written his surname as 本田, instead of 本多.<ref name="Surname">Some of these sources include: * {{harvnb|Bungeishunjū|1954|p=321}} * {{harvnb|Akiyama|1974|p=194}} * {{harvnb|The Asahi Shimbun Company|1990|p=62}} * {{harvnb|Takiguchi|Ōoka|1991|p=15}} * {{harvnb|Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art|1995|p=112}} * {{harvnb|Matsuda|1999|p=43}}</ref> He is also known by the nicknames {{nihongo|'''Ino-san'''|いのさん|Ino-san|{{literal translation|Piggy}}}} and {{nihongo|'''Inoshirō-san'''|いのしろさん}} in Japan.{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=11}}}}|本多 {{ruby-ja|猪四郎|いしろう}}|Honda Ishirō|<!--{{IPA-ja||pron}};--> 7 May 1911 – 28 February 1993|lead=yes}} was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 44 feature films in a career spanning 59 years.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=43}} The most internationally successful Japanese filmmaker prior to [[Hayao Miyazaki]], his films have had a significant influence on many blockbusters and filmmakers.<ref name="Godzilla's Conscience" /> Honda entered the [[Japanese film]] industry in 1934, working as the third [[assistant director]] on Sotoji Kimura's ''The Elderly Commoner's Life Study''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=13}} After 15 years of working on numerous films as an assistant director, he made his directorial debut with the short documentary film ''Ise-Shima'' (1949). Honda's first feature film, ''[[Aoi Shinju|The Blue Pearl]]'' (1952), was a critical success in Japan at the time and would lead him to direct three subsequent drama films. In 1954, Honda directed and co-wrote ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'', which became a box office success in Japan, and was nominated for two Japanese Movie Association awards. Because of the film's commercial success in Japan, it spawned a [[Godzilla (franchise)|multimedia franchise]], recognized by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the longest-running film franchise in history, and established the ''[[kaiju]]'' and ''[[tokusatsu]]'' genres; helping Honda gain international recognition and leading him to direct numerous ''tokusatsu'' films that are still studied and watched today.<ref name="JapanTimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/11/18/books/ishihiro-honda-master-behind-godzilla/|title=Ishiro Honda: The master behind Godzilla|first=Mark|last=Schilling|author-link=Mark Schilling|work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=November 18, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119001448/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/11/18/books/ishihiro-honda-master-behind-godzilla/}}</ref>{{sfn|Tanaka|1983|pp=539-540}} After directing his [[Terror of Mechagodzilla|eighth and final ''Godzilla'' film]] in 1975, Honda retired from filmmaking.{{sfn|Iwabatake|1994|pp=148-149}} Honda's former colleague and friend, Akira Kurosawa, would, however, persuade him to come out of retirement in the late 1970s and act as his right-hand man for his last five films.<ref name="Godzilla's Conscience">{{cite web|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|date=October 24, 2019|title=Godzilla's Conscience: The Monstrous Humanism of Ishiro Honda|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6648-godzilla-s-conscience-the-monstrous-humanism-of-ishiro-honda|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920044536/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6648-godzilla-s-conscience-the-monstrous-humanism-of-ishiro-honda|archive-date=September 20, 2020|access-date=January 19, 2022|website=[[The Criterion Collection]]|language=en}}</ref> == Biography == {{Expand section|date=November 2022}} === Childhood to war years (1911–1946) === ==== Childhood and youth (1911–1921) ==== [[File:Ishiro Honda, late 1920s.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Honda practicing [[Kendo]] in the late 1920s]] Honda was born in [[Asahi, Yamagata (Higashitagawa)|Asahi]], [[Yamagata Prefecture]] (now part of the city of [[Tsuruoka, Yamagata|Tsuruoka]]),{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=250}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=3}}<ref name="Biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.ishirohonda.com/biography/biography.shtml|title=Biography|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224154909/http://www.ishirohonda.com/biography/biography.shtml|archive-date=December 24, 2007|access-date=December 25, 2021|website=IshiroHonda.com|language=Japanese}}</ref> the fifth and youngest child of Hokan and Miyo Honda. His father Hokan was the [[Abbot (Buddhism)|abbot]] of Honda Ryuden-in temple.{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=250}} Honda stated that his forename was a combination derived from three words: "'I' stands for <mark>''inoshishi''</mark>, the boar, the [[Pig (zodiac)|astrological symbol of my birth year]]. ''Shi'' stands for the number four, the fourth son. And ''ro'' indicates a boy’s name. Literally, it means the fourth son, born in the year of the boar."{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=11}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=4}} He had three brothers: Takamoto, Ryokichi, Ryuzo, and one sister: Tomi, who died during her childhood.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=3-4}} Honda's father and grandfather were both Buddhist monks at Churen-ji, a temple in Mount Yudono, where the Hondas lived in a dwelling on the temple's property. The Hondas grew rice, potatoes, [[daikon]] radishes, and carrots, and also made and sold [[miso]] and soy sauce. The family also received income from a silk moth farm managed by one of Honda's brothers. Honda's father earned income during the summers by selling devotions in [[Iwate Prefecture]], [[Akita Prefecture]], and [[Hokkaido]] and would return home before the winter.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=4}} While Honda's brothers were given religious tutoring at sixteen, Honda was learning about science.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=4}} Takamoto, who became a military doctor, encouraged Honda to study and sent him scientific magazines to help, which started Honda's love for reading and scientific curiosity.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=5}} In 1921, when Honda was ten, Hokan became the abbot at Io-ji temple in [[Tokyo]],{{sfn|Honda|Yamamoto|Masuda|2010|p=250}} and the family moved into the Takaido neighborhood in [[Suginami]]. Though he was an honors student back home, Honda's grades declined in Tokyo and in middle school; he struggled with subjects involving equations such as chemistry, biology, and algebra.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=6-7}} After his father transferred to another temple, Honda enrolled in the Tachibana Elementary school in Kawasaki and later in Kogyokusha Junior High where Honda studied kendo, archery, and athletic swimming but quit after tearing his Achilles tendon.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=8}} ==== Film education (1931–1934) ==== Honda became interested in films when he and his class-mates were assembled to watch one of the Universal Bluebird photoplays. Honda would often sneak into movie theatres without his parents' permission. For silent films in Japan at that time, on-screen texts were replaced with [[benshi]], narrators who stood beside the screen and provided live commentary, which Honda found more fascinating than the films themselves.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=7-8}} Honda's brother, Takamoto, had hoped for Honda to become a dentist and join his clinic in Tokyo but instead, Honda applied at [[Nihon University]] for their art department's film major program and was accepted in 1931.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=9-11}} The film department was a pilot program, which resulted in disorganized poor conditions for the class and cancellations from the teacher every so often. While this forced other students to quit, Honda instead used the cancelled periods to watch films at theaters, where he took personal notes.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=11}} Honda and four of his class-mates rented a room in Shinbashi, a few kilometers from their university, where they would gather after school to discuss films. Honda had hoped for the group to collaborate on a screenplay but they mainly just socialized and drank. Honda attended a salon of film critics and students but hardly participated, preferring rather to listen.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=11}} While in school, Honda met Iwao Mori, an executive in charge of production for Photographic Chemical Laboratories ([[Toho|P.C.L.]]) In August 1933, Mori offered entry-level jobs at P.C.L. to a few students, including Honda.{{sfn|Tanaka|1983|pp=539-540}} Honda eventually completed his studies while working at the studio and became an assistant director, which required him to be a scripter in the editing department. Honda eventually became a third assistant director on Sotoji Kimura's ''The Elderly Commoner's Life Study'' (1934). However, Honda then received a draft notice from the military.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=12-13}} ==== Military service and marriage (1934–1946) ==== [[File:Ishiro Honda in China, late 1930s.jpg|thumb|Honda stationed in China during the late 1930s]] At twenty-three years old, Honda was drafted into the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] in the fall of 1934. Despite receiving a passing grade on his physical examination, he was not required to report for immediate duty. While waiting for his call-up, Honda continued working at P.C.L. Honda was then called to duty in January 1935 and was enlisted into the First Division, First Infantry Regiment in Tokyo. At the time, Honda began his training at the entry-level rank of Ippeisotsu, the equivalent of Petty Officer First Class.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=15}} In 1936, Honda's former commanding officer, [[Yasuhide Kurihara]], launched a coup against the civilian government, what would be called the [[February 26 Incident]]. Though Honda had no involvement with the coup, everyone associated with Kurihara were considered dangerous and the brass wanted them gone and as a result, Honda and his regiment were sent to Manchukuo in 1936, under questionable pretense. Honda would have completed his 18 remaining months of service had it not been for the coup and would be recalled to service again and again for the remainder of the war.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=16}} Honda met Kimi Yamazaki in 1937 and proposed marriage to her in 1939. Honda's parents and Kimi's mother were supportive, but Kimi's father was opposed to the sudden engagement. Though Kimi's father never approved of her marriage, he nonetheless sent her ¥1,000 upon learning of her pregnancy. Rather than having a traditional wedding ceremony, the two simply signed papers at city hall, paid their respects at [[Meiji Shrine]], and went home.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=23-25}} Kimi would pass away on November 3, 2018, aged 101. This was also ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]''<nowiki/>'s 64th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Ishiro Honda's Wife Passes Away at 101 |url=https://www.godzilla-movies.com/news/ishiro-hondas-wife-passes-away-at-101 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108054949/http://www.godzilla-movies.com/news/ishiro-hondas-wife-passes-away-at-101 |archive-date=November 8, 2018 |access-date=November 22, 2021 |website=Godzilla-Movies.com}}</ref> Honda was recalled to service in mid-December 1939, a week before his daughter, Takako, was due to be born.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=26}} Having already risen in rank, Honda was able to visit his wife and daughter in the hospital but had to leave afterwards immediately to China.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=27}} Between 1940 and 1941, Honda was assigned to manage a "[[Comfort women|comfort station]]", a euphemism for brothels established in occupied areas. Honda would later write an essay titled ''Reflections of an Officer in Charge of Comfort Women'' published in ''Movie Art Magazine'' in April 1966, detailing his experiences and other comfort women's experiences working in comfort stations.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=27-28}} Honda would then return home in December 1942, only to find that P.C.L. (now rebranded as [[Toho]] by that point) were forced to produce propaganda to support the war effort. The government took control of the Japanese film industry in 1939, modeling the passage of motion picture laws after Nazi policies where scripts and films were reviewed so they supported the war effort and filmmakers noncompliant were punished or worse.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=30}} Honda's son, Ryuji, was born on 31 January 1944, however, Honda received another draft notice in March 1944. He was assigned to head for the Philippines but his unit missed the boat and were sent back to China instead. To Honda's fortune, the conflict in China was less intense than it was in the Pacific and South-East Asia. Honda became a sergeant and was in charge of trading and communicating with civilians. Honda never ordered the Chinese as a soldier and was respectful to them as much as possible.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=30-31}} Honda was eventually captured by the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and relocated to an area between [[Beijing]] and [[Shanghai]] for a year before the war ended. During his imprisonment, Honda stated to have been treated well and was even befriended by the locals and temple monks, who offered him to stay permanently but Honda respectfully refused in favor of finding his wife and children. As a parting gift, the locals gave Honda rubbings of Chinese proverbs, imprinted from stone carvings of temples. Honda would later write these verses in the back of his screenplays.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=31-32}} During his final tour, Honda escaped death near [[Hankou]] when a mortar shell landed before him but did not detonate. When the battle ended, Honda later returned to retrieve the shell and took it back home to Japan where he placed it on top of his desk in his private study until his death.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=33}} Honda then returned home in March 1946; however, throughout most of his life, even as an old man, Honda would have nightmares about the war twice or thrice a year.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=33-40}} During his entire military service, Honda served three tours, with a total of six years serving at the front.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=32}} ===Early postwar years to ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'' (1949–1975)=== ====Return to the film industry (1946–1950)==== [[File:Akira Kurosawa, Ishiro Honda, Senkichi Taniguchi, and Kajiro Yamamoto.jpg|thumb|From the left: [[Akira Kurosawa]], Honda, and [[Senkichi Taniguchi]] with their mentor [[Kajirō Yamamoto]], late 1930s|left]] Honda returned to work at [[Toho]] as an assistant director. In 1946, he worked on two films: [[Motoyoshi Oda]]'s ''Eleven Girl Students'' and Kunio Watanabe's ''Declaration of Love''. In 1947, he worked on three films, ''24 Hours in an Underground Market'' (jointly directed by Tadashi Imai, Hideo Sekigawa, and Kiyoshi Kusuda) and ''The New Age of Fools'' Parts One and Two, directed by [[Kajirō Yamamoto]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} Due to issues with trade unions and employees at Toho, many left to form [[Shintoho]]. Kunio Watanabe tried to convince Honda to join Shintoho, with the promise of Honda becoming a director quicker, however, Honda chose to remain neutral and stayed at Toho.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=44}} Despite struggling at Toho, Honda worked on a handful of films produced by Film Arts Associates Productions.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} Between September and October 1948, Honda was on location in Noto Peninsula working on Kajirō Yamamoto's ''Child of the Wind'', the first release from Film Arts. From January to March 1949, Honda worked with Yamamoto again on ''Flirtation in Spring''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} Prior to being promoted to a feature film director, Honda had to direct documentaries for Toho's Educational Films Division. Toho sometimes used documentary projects as tests for assistant directors due to become directors.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=46}} Honda's directorial debut was the documentary ''Ise-Shima'', a twenty-minute highlight reel of [[Ise-Shima]]'s cultural attractions. It was commissioned by local officials to boost tourism to the national park. The film covers a brief history of the Ise Grand Shrine, the local people, the economy, and pearl farms.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=46}} The film is also notable for being the first Japanese film to utilize underwater photography successfully. Honda originally wanted to use a small submarine-like craft but the idea was scrapped due to budget and safety concerns. Instead, professional divers assisted with the production. Honda had commissioned a camera technician colleague who designed and built an air-tight, waterproof, metal-and-glass housing for a compact 35-millimeter camera.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=47}} The documentary was completed in July 1949 and became a triumph for Toho. The documentary was then sold to multiple European territories. It disappeared for a long time until it resurfaced on Japanese cable television in 2003. Between July and September 1949, shortly after finishing ''Ise-Shima'', Honda reunited with his friend [[Akira Kurosawa]] on ''[[Stray Dog (film)|Stray Dog]]'' and began working as a chief assistant director on the film.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=48}} Honda mainly directed second unit photography, all of the footage pleased Kurosawa and has stated to "owe a great deal" to Honda for capturing the film's post-war atmosphere.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=48}} In 1950, Honda worked on two films by Kajirō Yamamoto: ''Escape from Prison'' and ''Elegy'', the last film produced by Film Art Associations.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=49}} Honda had also worked as an assistant director on [[Senkichi Taniguchi]]'s ''[[Akatsuki no Dassō|Escape at Dawn]]''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=51}}{{efn|According to a copy of the screenplay found in Honda's archives, Honda served as assistant director, even though he is not listed in the credits for ''[[Akatsuki no Dassō|Escape at Dawn]]''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=307}}}} Between working on films as an assistant director, Honda began pre-production on ''Newspaper Kid'', which would have been his feature directorial debut. However, the project was canceled. Instead, he began working on another documentary titled ''Story of a Co-op'' (also known as ''Flowers Blooming in the Sand'' and ''Co-op Way of Life''){{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=49}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=307}} ''Story of a Co-op'' was a documentary about the rise of consumer cooperatives in post-war Japan. It was also written by Honda, with the production overseen by Jin Usami and with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Some records indicated that some animation was used to explain the functions of co-ops but these reports have been unconfirmed. The film was completed on 6 October 1950 and has since been lost. However, Honda recalled that the film was successful enough to convince Toho to assign Honda his first feature film.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=50}} ====Early feature films (1951–1954)==== Between filming the documentaries, Toho had offered Honda the chance to develop and direct a war film titled ''Kamikaze Special Attack Troop''. Toho then chose not to proceed with the project after finding Honda's script, which openly criticized leaders of World War II, to be too grim and realistic. Honda recalled that the studio felt it was "too soon after the war" to produce such a film. Had the project proceeded, it would have been Honda's first directorial feature. The script has since been lost.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=70}} At the age of 40, Honda completed his first feature film ''[[The Blue Pearl]]''.{{sfn|Takaki|Matsunomoto|Nakamura|Motoyama|1999|pp=260-261}}{{sfn|Tanaka|1983|pp=539-540}}{{sfn|Iwabatake|1994|pp=148-149}} Released on 3 August 1951, it was one of the first Japanese feature films to utilize underwater photography and the first studio film to be shot in the Ise-Shima region.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=53}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=59}} Honda initially chose not to direct war films, but changed his mind after Toho offered to have him direct ''[[Eagle of the Pacific]]'', a film about [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], a figure with whom Honda shared the same feelings regarding the war. It was the first film where Honda collaborated with [[Eiji Tsuburaya]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=72}} ''Eagle of the Pacific'' was a box-office hit and reportedly was Toho's first postwar film to earn over {{JPY|100 million}} (approximately {{USD|278,000|link=no|long=no}}).{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=72}} Subsequently, Honda would direct another war film, entitled ''[[Farewell Rabaul]]'', which was released on February 10, 1954.{{Sfn|Iwabatake|1994|p=51}} ==== International success (1954–1962) ==== [[File:Inoshiro Honda and Godzilla.jpg|thumb|Honda (left) working with special effects director [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] (center) on the set of ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954)]] A month after the release of ''Farewell Rabaul'', Honda met assistant director Kōji Kajita to commence production on a film titled ''Sanshiro the Priest''. Possibly connected to Kurosawa's 1943 film ''[[Sanshiro Sugata]]''; [[Hideo Oguni]], one of Kurosawa's frequent collaborators, wrote the script for the film. Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski stated that the project never came to fruition because Oguni and Honda "couldn't see eye to eye about the screenplay".{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=84}} According to Kajita, the film would have been about a priest and a [[judo]] expert.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=84}} Instead, Honda directed and co-wrote ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'', which became a box office success in Japan, and was nominated for two Japanese Movie Association awards: winning an award for best special effects{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=47}} but losing to Kurosawa's ''[[Seven Samurai]]'' for best picture.<ref>{{cite web |last=Higgins |first=Bill |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Hollywood Flashback: Godzilla First Set Off on a Path to Destruction in 1954 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/godzilla-first-set-a-path-destruction-1954-1213607/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412012729/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/godzilla-first-set-a-path-destruction-1954-1213607/ |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |access-date=April 12, 2022 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Because of the film's success in Japan, it spawned a [[Godzilla (franchise)|multimedia franchise]], being recognized by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the longest-running film franchise in history.<ref name="G2">{{cite web |date=September 3, 2014 |title=Jennifer Lawrence, Game of Thrones, Frozen among new entertainment record holders in Guinness World Records 2015 book |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/9/jennifer-lawrence-game-of-thrones-frozen-among-new-entertainment-record-holders-in-guinness-world-records-2015-book-60021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206035254/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/9/jennifer-lawrence-game-of-thrones-frozen-among-new-entertainment-record-holders-in-guinness-world-records-2015-book-60021/ |archive-date=December 6, 2016 |access-date=December 23, 2021 |work=Guinness World Records}}</ref> Honda next film was ''[[Lovetide]]'', based on [[Hidemi Kon]]'s story ''Blow, River Wind'' and adapted by screenwriter Dai Nishijima. Toho promoted the film by calling it a "gorgeous love melodrama with Toho's best cast, meant for all the woman fans".{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=108}} The film's stars [[Mariko Okada]] and [[Chieko Nakakita]] ([[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]'s wife) also played in [[Mikio Naruse]]'s film ''[[Floating Clouds]]'', featuring a similar plot and released around a week after ''Lovetide''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=109}} Tanaka had stated that if he had not made Honda predominantly direct science-fiction films, he would have become "a director like Mikio Naruse."{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=109}} During the start of production on [[Motoyoshi Oda]]'s ''[[Godzilla Raids Again]]'', Honda began filming ''[[Half Human]]'' in the [[Japanese Alps]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=114}} Upon his return to Tokyo, Tsuburaya was working on ''Godzilla Raids Again''. Thus, production on ''Half Human'' was halted and Honda moved onto shooting a drama film titled ''[[Oen-san|Mother and Son]].'' Principal photography for ''Half Human'' recommenced in June, and the film was released on August 14, 1955, around a month after filming concluded.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=114}} ''Half Human'' has been infrequently seen following its release. This is possibly due to Toho fearing the mountain tribe depicted in the film being described by [[Nobuo Nakamura]]'s character as "mysterious ''[[Burakumin|buraku]]''" could enrage ''burakumin''<nowiki/>'s rights groups such as the [[Buraku Liberation League]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=113}} Some sources suggest it was aired on television in either the 1960s or early 1970s and was screened at a film retrospective in Kyoto in 2001.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=117}} Toho has never released the complete film in any home video format.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=117}} ==== ''Matango'' to Japanese-American co-productions (1963–1969) ==== In 1962, Honda returned to directing ''Godzilla'' films, with ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'', which was followed by ''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' and ''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' in 1964. His other ''tokusatsu'' films during the 1960s include: ''[[Rodan]]'', ''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'', ''[[Matango]]'' and ''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'', ''[[All Monsters Attack]]''. ==== A difficult period (1969–1975) ==== Honda began directing episodes of TV shows in 1967, since it had become more popular than the film industry in Japan.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=237}} During the 1970s, he would direct episodes of ''[[Return of Ultraman]]'', ''[[Mirrorman (TV Series)|Mirrorman]]'', and ''[[Zone Fighter]]''. Honda would retire after directing ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' in 1975.{{sfn|Iwabatake|1994|pp=148-149}} === Final works and last years (1979–1993) === ==== Collaborating with Akira Kurosawa (1979–1992) ==== After retiring following the completion of ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', Honda was persuaded by Akira Kurosawa to return to filmmaking, and collaborate on ''[[Kagemusha]]''. Honda would subsequently work on Kurosawa's last five films. His positions in these films included: directorial advisor, production coordinator, and creative consultant; he also made uncredited writing contributions to ''[[Madadayo]]''.{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=382}}{{Efn|There is a common misconception that Honda directed three sequences of Kurosawa's 1990 film ''[[Dreams (1990 film)|Dreams]]'' entitled "The Tunnel,"{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=287}} "Mount Fuji in Red," and "The Weeping Demon."{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=356}}}} ==== Declining health and death (1992–1993) ==== {{Quote box|quote=Honda was truly a virtuous, sincere, and gentle soul. He worked for the world of film with might and main, lived a full life and very much like his nature, quietly exited this world.| source= — Inscription on Honda's headstone by [[Akira Kurosawa]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=294}}|align=right|width=30em}} In late 1992, [[Akira Kurosawa]] hosted a party for the cast and crew of ''Madadayo'' following the completion of [[principal photography]]. Honda appeared to be suffering from cold symptoms at the party and contacted his son Ryuji in [[New York City|New York]]. Ryuji believed Honda was drunk and thought it strange that he called him.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=291}} Then, in mid-February 1993, Kurosawa, Honda, and Masahiko Kumada, the unit manager, attended a screening of ''[[Agantuk|The Stranger]]'', Indian filmmaker [[Satyajit Ray]]'s last film, at an art-house cinema.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=291}} After watching the film, Kurosawa invited Honda to his house for dinner and drinks, but Honda felt sick and went home. Honda was declared healthy following a checkup in December 1992, and no major illnesses were suspected. Although his cough kept getting worse, his family doctor diagnosed him with a common cold.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=292}} Initially, Honda stayed in bed for a week, but after he lost his appetite, he underwent X-rays and blood tests. Honda was immediately told to seek hospital treatment following the results. Knowing something was wrong with his health, Honda had already packed his bags. Within ten minutes of leaving home, he was taken to Kono Medical Clinic, a 19-bed facility in Soshigaya. Because the major hospitals were full, he was placed in a tiny room.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=292}} A room in a bigger hospital was about to be assigned to Honda, so his friends could visit him. In the following days, Honda contracted pleurisy, a condition that causes difficulty breathing, and on February 27, just after returning home from visiting hours, Kimi and Takako received an urgent call: his vital signs had suddenly deteriorated.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=292}} Throughout the night, Kimi and Takado stayed by Honda's side to watch as he fought for his life; however, at 11:30 pm on February 28, 1993, he died from [[respiratory failure]] at Kono Medical Center.{{sfn|''Yomiuri Shimbun''|1993|p=19}}{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=44}} A memorial service was held at Joshoji Kaikan, an assembly hall in [[Setagaya]], for Honda's friends, family, and colleagues on March 6.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=293}} Honda's funeral reunited Akira Kurosawa and [[Toshiro Mifune]], an actor who had starred in both Honda's and Kurosawa's early films. ''[[The Nikkei]]'' reported that Mifune was among the mourners at the funeral: "[Kurosawa and Mifune] made eye contact and hugged in tears at the funeral for their mutual friend."{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2002|p=637}} Honda's cremated remains were buried at [[Tama Cemetery]], the largest municipal cemetery in Japan where notables like [[Isoroku Yamamoto]] and [[Yukio Mishima]] rest. His family later moved the grave to Fuji Cemetery, known for its abundant cherry blossoms.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=294}} ==Filmography== ===Film=== ====Director==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Notes ! Ref. |- |1949 |''Ise-Shima'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=46}} |- |1950 |''A Story of a Co-op'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Phillips|Stringer|2007|p=110}} |- |1951 |''[[The Blue Pearl]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=82}} |- | rowspan="2" |1952 |''[[The Skin of the South]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=84}} |- |''[[The Man Who Came to Port]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=89}} |- | rowspan="2" |1953 |''[[Adolescence Part II]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=94}} |- |''[[Eagle of the Pacific]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=96}} |- | rowspan="2" |1954 |''[[Farewell Rabaul]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=99}} |- |''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |Also has an uncredited cameo as a power station worker |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=106}}{{sfn|Nollen|2019|p=196}} |- | rowspan="3" |1955 |''[[Lovetide]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=108}} |- |''[[Oen-san|Mother and Son]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=111}} |- |''[[Half Human]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=113}} |- | rowspan="4" |1956 |''[[People of Tokyo, Goodbye]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=123}} |- |''[[Night School (1956 film)|Night School]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Phillips|Stringer|2007|p=110}} |- |''[[Young Tree (film)|Young Tree]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Phillips|Stringer|2007|p=110}} |- |''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=127–128}} |- | rowspan="5" |1957 |''[[Be Happy, These Two Lovers]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=130}} |- |''[[A Teapicker's Song of Goodbye]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=134}} |- |''[[A Rainbow Plays in My Heart]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=134}} |- |''[[A Farewell to the Woman Called My Sister]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=136}} |- |''[[The Mysterians]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=140}} |- | rowspan="3" |1958 |''[[Song for a Bride]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=142}} |- |''[[The H-Man]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=146}} |- |''[[Varan the Unbelievable]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=149}} |- | rowspan="4" |1959 |''An Echo Calls You'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=153}} |- |''Inao, Story of an Iron Arm'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=155}} |- |''Seniors, Juniors, Co-workers'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=159–160}} |- |''[[Battle in Outer Space]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=162}} |- |1960 |''[[The Human Vapor]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=176}} |- | rowspan="2" |1961 |''[[Mothra (film)|Mothra]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=183}} |- |''A Man in Red'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=185}} |- | rowspan="3" |1962 |''[[Gorath]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=190}} |- |''[[Sampo (film)|Sampo]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | 1962 Japanese dub |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=194}} |- |''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=194}} |- | rowspan="2" |1963 |''[[Matango]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=203}} |- |''[[Atragon]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=206}} |- | rowspan="3" |1964 |''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=210}} |- |''[[Dogora]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=212–213}} |- |''[[Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=215}} |- | rowspan="2" |1965 |''[[Frankenstein vs. Baragon]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=221}} |- |''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=225}} |- | rowspan="2" |1966 |''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=231}} |- |''Come Marry Me'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=233–234}} |- |1967 |''[[King Kong Escapes]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=240}} |- |1968 |''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=251}} |- | rowspan="2" |1969 |''[[Latitude Zero (film)|Latitude Zero]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=258}} |- |''[[All Monsters Attack]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |Also special effects director |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=261}} |- |1970 |''[[Space Amoeba]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=268–269}} |- |1972 |''[[Mirrorman#Film|Mirrorman]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |Short film, theatrical release of show's first episode |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=281}} |- |1975 |''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=300}} |} ====Miscellaneous==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Assistant director ! Actor ! Notes ! Ref. |- |1934 |''The Elderly Commoner's Life Study'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |3rd assistant director |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=13}} |- |1935 |''[[Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |2nd assistant director |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=15}} |- | rowspan="5" |1937 |''A Husband's Chastity'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With [[Akira Kurosawa]] |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=12–13}} |- |''Nadare'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With Akira Kurosawa |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=14}} |- |''Enoken's Chakiri Kinta Part 1'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |2nd assistant director |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=14}} |- |''Enoken's Chakiri Kinta Part 2'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With Akira Kurosawa |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=15}} |- |''[[Humanity and Paper Balloons]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=23}} |- | rowspan="4" |1938 |''Chinetsu'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With Akira Kurosawa |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=20}} |- |''Tojuro no koi'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With Akira Kurosawa |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=22}} |- |''Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |3rd assistant director |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=23}} |- |''[[Chocolate and Soldiers]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |Chief assistant director |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=24}} |- |1941 |''[[Horse (1941 film)|Uma]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |With Hiromichi Horikawa |<ref name="Toho">{{cite web |title=馬 |url=http://toho.co.jp/library/system/movies/?2488 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326111837/http://toho.co.jp/library/system/movies/?2488 |archive-date=March 26, 2016 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[Toho]] |language=Japanese}}</ref> |- |1944 |''[[Kato hayabusa sento-tai|Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Tanaka|1983|pp=60–61}} |- | rowspan="2" |1946 |''Eleven Girl Students'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=44}} |- |''Declaration of Love'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=44}} |- | rowspan="3" |1947 |''24 Hours in an Underground Market'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |<ref name="Biography" /> |- |''The New Age of Fools'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} |- |''Spring Banquet'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |<ref name="Biography" /> |- | rowspan="3" |1949 |''Child of the Wind'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} |- |''Flirtation in Spring'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=45}} |- |''[[Stray Dog (film)|Stray Dog]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |Chief assistant director |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|pp=73–74}} |- | rowspan="2" |1950 | ''[[Akatsuki no Dassō|Escape at Dawn]]'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=51}} |- | ''Escape from Prison'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=49}} |- |1951 | ''Elegy'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=49}} |- |1966 |''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Editor; Toho Champion Festival re-release |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=263}} |- |1967 |''[[Son of Godzilla]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Editor; Toho Champion Festival re-release |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=263}} |- |1980 |''[[Kagemusha]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Production coordinator<br />2nd unit director |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=322}} |- |1985 |''[[Ran (film)|Ran]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Director Counsellor |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=343}} |- |1986 |''Toho Unused Special Effects Complete<br>Collection'' | {{no}} | {{no}} | Interviewee |<ref name="Biography" /> |- | rowspan="2" |1987 |''The Drifting Classroom'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Grandfather |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=286}} |- |''Come Back Hero'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Priest at wedding ceremony |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=287}} |- |1988 |''[[The Discarnates]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Street vendor |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=286}} |- |1990 |''[[Dreams (1990 film)|Dreams]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Creative consultant |<ref>{{cite web |title=Akira Kurosawa's Dream (1990) |url=https://www.criterion.com/films/28700-akira-kurosawa-s-dreams |access-date=May 11, 2017 |publisher=[[The Criterion Collection]]}}</ref> |- |1991 |''[[Rhapsody in August]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Associate director |{{sfn|Richie|1998|p=260}} |- | rowspan="2" |1993 |''[[Madadayo]]'' | {{no}} | {{no}} |Directorial Adviser and co-writer |{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=382}} |- |''[[Samurai Kids]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Deceased grandfather [portrait; posthumous] |{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=286}} |- |1994 |''Turning Point'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Photograph; posthumous |<ref name="National Film Archive">{{cite web |title=女ざかり |url=http://nfad.nfaj.go.jp/det.php?mode=0&data_id=10729 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419070243/http://nfad.nfaj.go.jp/det.php?mode=0&data_id=10729 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[National Film Archive of Japan]] |language=Japanese}}</ref> |- |1996 |''[[Rebirth of Mothra]]'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} |Photograph; posthumous |<ref name="Biography" /> |} ===Television=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="1" style="vertical-align:bottom;" | Airdate ! colspan="1" style="vertical-align:bottom;" | Episode ! colspan="1" style="vertical-align:bottom;" | Ref. |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''The Newlyweds'' (''Shinkon san'') |- |{{dts|1967|January|7|format=dmy}} |"The Woman, at That Moment" ("Onna wa sono toki") |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} |- |{{dts|1967|February|7|format=dmy}} |"Forgive Me Please, Mom" ("Yurushitene okasan") |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''Husbands, Men, Be Strong'' (''Otto yo otoko yo tsuyokunare'') |- |{{dts|1969|October|9|format=dmy}} |"Honey, It's a Presidential Order" ("Anata shacho meirei yo") |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} |- |{{dts|1969|October|30|format=dmy}} |"We're Going South-Southwest" ("Nan nan sei ni ikuno yo") |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''[[Return of Ultraman]]'' |- |{{dts|1971|April|2|format=dmy}} |"All Monsters Attack" |rowspan=5 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Mill Creek Entertainment|2020|p=8-19}} |- |{{dts|1971|April|9|format=dmy}} |"Takkong's Great Counterattack" |- |{{dts|1971|May|14|format=dmy}} |"Operation Monster Rainbow" |- |{{dts|1971|May|28|format=dmy}} |"Monster Island S.O.S." |- |{{dts|1972|March|31|format=dmy}} |"The Five Oaths of Ultra" |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''[[Mirrorman]]'' |- |{{dts|1971|December|5|format=dmy}} |"Birth of Mirrorman" ("Miraman tanjo") |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} |- |{{dts|1971|December|12|format=dmy}} |"The Intruder is Here" ("Shinryakusha wa koko ni iru") |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''Emergency Command 10-4, 10-10'' (''Kinkyu shirei 10-4, 10-10'') |- |{{dts|1972|July|31|format=dmy}} |"Japanese Beetle Murder Incident" ("Kabutomushi satsujin jiken") |rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} |- |{{dts|1972|August|7|format=dmy}} |"Vampire of the Amazon" ("Amazon no kyuketsuki") |- |{{dts|1972|November|13|format=dmy}} |"Assassin from Outer Space" ("Uchu kara kita ansatsuha") |- |{{dts|1972|November|20|format=dmy}} |"Attack of Monster Bird Ragon" ("Kaicho Ragon no shugeki!") |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''[[Thunder Mask]]'' |- |{{dts|1972|October|3|format=dmy}} |"Look! The Double Transformation of the Akatsuki" ("Miyo! Akatsuki no nidan henshin") |rowspan=6|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=303}} |- |{{dts|1972|October|10|format=dmy}} |"The Boy Who Could Control Monsters" ("Maju wo ayatsuru shonen") |- |{{dts|1972|October|21|format=dmy}} |"Devil Freezing Strategy" ("Mao reito sakusen") |- |{{dts|1972|October|28|format=dmy}} |"Merman's Revenge" ("Kyuketsu hankyojin no fukushu") |- |{{dts|1973|January|2|format=dmy}} |"Monster Summoning Smoke" ("Maju wo yobu kemuri") |- |{{dts|1973|January|9|format=dmy}} |"Degon H: Death Siren" ("Shi no kiteki da degon H") |- !colspan=4 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|''[[Zone Fighter]]'' |- |{{dts|1973|April|16|format=dmy}} |"Defeat Garoga's Subterranean Base!" ("Tatake! Garoga no chitei kichi") |rowspan=8 style="text-align:center;"|{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} |- |{{dts|1973|April|23|format=dmy}} |"Onslaught! The Garoga Army: Enter Godzilla" ("Raishu! Garoga daiguntai-Gojira toujo") |- |{{dts|1973|June|18|format=dmy}} |"Terrobeat HQ: Invade the Earth!" ("Kyoju kichi chikyu e shinnyu!") |- |{{dts|1973|June|25|format=dmy}} |"Absolute Terror: Birthday of Horror!" ("Senritsu! Tanjobi no kyofu") |- |{{dts|1973|July|30|format=dmy}} |"Mission: Blast the Japan Islands" ("Shirei: Nihon retto bakuha seyo") |- |{{dts|1973|August|6|format=dmy}} |"Order: Destroy Earth with Comet K" ("Meirei: K susei de chikyu wo kowase") |- |{{dts|1973|September|3|format=dmy}} |"Secret of Bakugon, the Giant Terro-Beast" ("Daikyouju Bakugon no himitsu") |- |{{dts|1973|September|10|format=dmy}} |"Smash the Pin-Spitting Needlar" ("Hari fuki Nidora wo taose") |- |} <!--==Style and main themes== {{Empty section|date=November 2022}}--> ==Legacy== {{Expand section|date=August 2022}} ===Reputation in the film industry=== Many filmmakers have been influenced by Honda's work. According to Steve Ryfle, his influence inside the film industry is "undeniable", as he was "one of the creators of the modern disaster film, he helped set the template for countless blockbusters to follow, and a wide array of filmmakers".<ref name="Godzilla's Conscience" /> In 2007, [[Quentin Tarantino]] called Honda his "favorite science-fiction director".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fazio |first=Giovanni |date=August 16, 2007 |title=Quentin Tarantino: a B-movie badass |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2007/08/16/films/quentin-tarantino-a-b-movie-badass/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113235350/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2007/08/16/films/quentin-tarantino-a-b-movie-badass |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Tarantino is also one of several filmmakers and actors who have cited Honda's ''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' as an influence,{{Sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=235}} alongside [[Brad Pitt]],<ref name="Godzilla's Conscience" />{{Sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|pp=231, 313}} [[Guillermo del Toro]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Konrad |first=Jeremy |date=March 26, 2022 |title=''The War Of The Gargantuas'' On Preorder At Waxwork Records |url=https://bleedingcool.com/movies/waxwork-records-war-of-the-gargantuas-vinyl-preorder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114002221/https://bleedingcool.com/movies/waxwork-records-war-of-the-gargantuas-vinyl-preorder/ |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |language=en}}</ref> and [[Tim Burton]].<ref name=":0" /> [[John Carpenter]] cited ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' as an influence on his career and considered Honda "one of my personal cinematic gods".<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Ishiro Honda'' |url=https://www.weslpress.org/9780819500410/ishiro-honda/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |publisher=[[Wesleyan University Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Martin Scorsese]] has also cited Honda as an influence on his work.<ref name="Godzilla's Conscience" /> ===Criticism=== {{Empty section|date=November 2022}} ===In popular culture=== The episode, "Tagumo Attacks!!!" in the television series ''[[Legends of Tomorrow]]'' is based around Honda. The central plotline of the episode involves a kraken-esque creature named Tagumo, that Honda has written, which becomes a reality due to a magic book that belongs to [[Brigid]], the [[celts|Celtic]] goddess of art. It is described as a "land octopus" that will destroy [[Tokyo]], unless the protagonists can stop it. At the end of the episode, the character, [[Heat Wave (comics)|Mick Rory]] tells Ishirō to "Forget about the octopus. Lizards. Lizards are king." In this fictional universe, this will lead Ishirō to creating the character Godzilla, as he states in the episode "The King... of the Monsters. I like that".<ref>{{cite web |title=Tagumo Attacks!!! |url=https://www.cwtv.com/shows/dcs-legends-of-tomorrow/tagumo-attacks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801214804/https://www.cwtv.com/shows/dcs-legends-of-tomorrow/tagumo-attacks/ |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |publisher=[[The CW]]}}</ref> Honda, alongside [[Ray Harryhausen]], was given dedications in the 2013 film ''[[Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Faraci |first=Devin |date=July 1, 2013 |title=Guillermo Del Toro On Classic Kaiju And Why Pacific Rim Doesn't Feature Robots |url=http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2013/07/01/guillermo-del-toro-on-classic-kaiju-and-why-pacific-rim-doesnt-feature-robo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519181101/https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2013/07/01/guillermo-del-toro-on-classic-kaiju-and-why-pacific-rim-doesnt-feature-robo |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=October 7, 2017 |work=[[Alamo Drafthouse Cinema#Birth.Movies.Death.|Birth.Movies.Death]]}}</ref> ==Notes== {{Notelist}} ==References== {{reflist|20em}} ===Sources=== {{refbegin|2}} * {{cite book|last=Akiyama|first=Kuniharu|author-link=:ja:秋山邦晴|title=日本の映画音楽史|trans-title=History of Japan's film music|year=1974|publisher=Tabata Shoten|language=Japanese}} *{{cite book |editor1-first=Phillips |editor1-last=Alastair |editor2-last=Stringer |editor2-first=Julian |title=Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts |year=2007 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1134334223|ref={{harvid|Phillips|Stringer|2007}}}} * {{cite magazine|title=''Asahi Graph'': Volumes 3554-3563|magazine=[[Asahi Graph]]|publisher=[[The Asahi Shimbun|The Asahi Shimbun Company]]|year=1990|language=Japanese|ref={{harvid|The Asahi Shimbun Company|1990}}}} * {{cite magazine|last=Kikuchi|first=Hiroshi|title=''Bungei Shunjū'': Volume 32, Issues 10-11|magazine=[[Bungei Shunjū (magazine)|Bungei Shunjū]]|publisher=[[Bungeishunjū]]|language=Japanese|ref={{harvid|Bungeishunjū|1954}}}} * {{cite book|last=Galbraith IV|first=Stuart|author-link=Stuart Galbraith IV|title=The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune|year=2002|publisher=[[Faber and Faber, Inc.]]|isbn=978-0-571-19982-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/emperorwolf00galb}} * {{cite book|last=Galbraith IV|first=Stuart|author-link=Stuart Galbraith IV|title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |year=2008 |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=978-1461673743}} * {{cite book|title=被爆 50周年記念展, ヒロシマ以後 現代美術からのメッセージ|trans-title=50th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition, After Hiroshima: A Message from Contemporary Art|volume=1|publisher=[[Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art]]|year=1995|language=Japanese|ref={{harvid|Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art|1995}}}} * {{cite book|last1=Honda|first1=Ishirō|last2=Yamamoto|first2=Shingo|last3=Masuda|first3=Yoshikazu|title=「ゴジラ」とわが映画人生|trans-title=Godzilla and My Movie Life|edition=Second|date=December 8, 2010|publisher=Wanibooks|isbn=978-4847060274|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Iwabatake|first=Toshiaki|title=テレビマガジン特別編集 誕生40周年記念 ゴジラ大全集|trans-title=TV Magazine Special Edition 40th Anniversary of the Birth of Godzilla Complete Works|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|date=September 1994|isbn=4-06-178417-X|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Matsuda|first=Ryoichi|title=山田詠美愛の世界 マンガ・恋愛・吉本ばなな|trans-title=The World of Emi Yamada: Manga/Romance/Banana Yoshimoto|publisher=[[Tokyo Shoseki]]|date=November 9, 1999|language=Japanese|isbn=978-4-4877-9496-6}} *{{cite book |last=Mill Creek Entertainment|year=2020|title=Return of Ultraman - Information and Episode Guide|publisher=Mill Creek Entertainment|asin= B081KRBMZY }} * {{cite book|last=Nollen|first=Scott Allen|author-link=Scott Allen Nollen|title=Takashi Shimura: Chameleon of Japanese Cinema|date=March 14, 2019|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-1-4766-3569-9}} * {{cite book |last=Richie |first=Donald |title=The Films of Akira Kurosawa |year=1998 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=0520220374}} * {{cite book|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl|url-access=registration|title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=1998|isbn=1550223488}} * {{cite book |last1=Ryfle|first1=Steve|last2=Godziszewski|first2=Ed|url=https://archive.org/details/ishiro-honda-a-life-in-film-from-godzilla-to-kurosawa|title=Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|year=2017|isbn=9780819570871}} * {{cite book|last1=Takaki|first1=Junzo|last2=Matsunomoto|first2=Kazuhiro|last3=Nakamura|first3=Satoshi|last4=Motoyama|first4=Sho|last5=Tsuchiya|first5=Rieko|title=ゴジラ画報 東宝幻想映画半世紀の歩み|trans-title=The Godzilla Chronicles<!--Please do not change or remove this. While this isn't the translation of the Japanese title, it is the English title featured on the book cover.-->|edition=3rd|publisher=[[Takeshobo]]|year=1999|isbn=4-8124-0581-5|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Tanaka|first=Tomoyuki|author-link=Tomoyuki Tanaka|title=東宝特撮映画全史|trans-title=The Complete History of Toho Special Effects Movies|publisher=Toho Publishing Business Office|year=1983|isbn=4-924609-00-5|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|title=コレクション瀧口修造: Yohaku ni kaku I-II|trans-title=Shūzō Takiguchi's Collection: Yohaku ni kaku I-II|last1=Takiguchi|first1=Shūzō|last2=Ōoka|first2=Makoto|publisher=[[:ja:みすず書房|Misuzu Shobō]]|year=1991|language=Japanese|ref={{harvid|Takiguchi|Ōoka|1991}}}} * {{cite news|title=「ゴジラ」世に出した監督・本多猪四郎さん死去|trans-title=''Godzilla'' director Ishirō Honda has passed away|date=March 1, 1993|language=Japanese|edition=evening|work=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|page=19|ref={{harvid|''Yomiuri Shimbun''|1993}}}} {{refend}} ==Further reading== {{refbegin|2}} * {{cite book|trans-title=円谷英二特撮世界|title=Eiji Tsuburaya's World of Tokusatsu|year=2001|publisher=Keibunsha|isbn=4-7669-3848-8|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Higuchi|first=Naofumi|title=グッドモーニング、ゴジラ　監督本多猪四郎と撮影所の時代|trans-title=Good Morning Godzilla: The Golden Age of the Movie Studio and Director Ishiro Honda|edition=2nd|year=2011|publisher=Kokusho Kankokai|isbn=978-4336054043|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last1=Honda|first1=Kimi|last2=Nishida|first2=Miyuki|title=ゴジラのトランク 〜夫・本多猪四郎の愛情、黒澤明の友情|trans-title=Godzilla's Trunk: The Love of Husband Ishiro Honda, the Friendship of Akira Kurosawa|publisher=[[Takarajimasha]]|date=December 17, 2012|isbn=978-4800205643|language=Japanese}} *{{cite book|last=Mamiya|first=Naohiko|url=https://archive.org/details/00030-00031_202008|title=ゴジラ１９５４－１９９９超全集|trans-title=Godzilla 1954-1999 Super Complete Works|date=1 January 2000|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4091014702|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last1=Nakamura|first1=Tetsu|last2=Shiraishi|first2=Masahiko|last3=Aita|first3=Tetsuo|last4=Tomoi|first4=Taketo|last5=Shimazaki|first5=Jun|last6=Maruyama|first6=Takeshi|last7=Shimizu|first7=Toshifumi|last8=Hayakawa|first8=Masaru|title=ゴジラ東宝チャンピオンまつりパーフェクション|trans-title=Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection|date=November 29, 2014|publisher=ASCII MEDIA WORKS|isbn=978-4048669993|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Sahara|first=Kenji|author-link=Kenji Sahara|title=素晴らしき特撮人生|trans-title=A Wonderful Life in Tokusatsu|year=2005|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4093875974|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Takarada|first=Akira|author-link=Akira Takarada|title=ニッポン・ゴジラ黄金伝説|trans-title=Godzilla: The Golden Legend of Japan|date=August 1998|publisher=[[Fusosha Publishing]]|isbn=4594025358|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Takeuchi|first=Hiroshi|title=本多猪四郎全仕事|trans-title=The Complete Works of Ishiro Honda|date=April 2000|publisher=[[Asahi Sonorama]]|isbn=978-4257035923|language=Japanese}} * {{cite book|last=Tsuruta|first=Yoshihisa|title=黒沢映画の美術|trans-title=The Art of Kurosawa Films|date=1985|publisher=[[Gakken]]|isbn=4051016994|language=Japanese}} {{refend}} ==External links== {{commons category|Ishirō Honda}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{Official website|http://www.ishirohonda.com/}} {{in lang|ja}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190806144529/http://www.japanesegiants.com/honda/index.html Official English-language website (archived)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110521022450/http://www.hondaishiro100.com/ Official website created to commemorate Honda's 100th birthday] {{in lang|ja}} * {{IMDb name|id=0393094|name=Ishirô Honda}} * {{jmdb name|name=Ishirō Honda|0354050}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195605/http://toho.co.jp/library/system/people/?248 Ishirō Honda at the official Toho website] {{in lang|ja}} * [http://nfad.nfaj.go.jp/list.php?mode=1&notation_id=565 Ishirō Honda] at the [[National Film Archive of Japan]] {{in lang|ja}} *{{Rotten Tomatoes person|id=ishir_honda|name=Ishirô Honda}} {{Ishirō Honda}} {{Godzilla}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Honda, Ishiro}} [[Category:1911 births]] [[Category:1993 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from respiratory failure]] [[Category:Imperial Japanese Army personnel of World War II]] [[Category:Japanese military personnel of World War II]] [[Category:Japanese anti–nuclear weapons activists]] [[Category:Japanese film directors]] [[Category:Fantasy film directors]] [[Category:Japanese film editors]] [[Category:Japanese screenwriters]] [[Category:People from Yamagata Prefecture]] [[Category:Science fiction film directors]] [[Category:Godzilla (franchise)]] [[Category:Imperial Japanese Army soldiers]] [[Category:20th-century Japanese screenwriters]]'