TOKYO - Actors Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Yuki Yamada, along with director Takashi Yamazaki via video linkup, attended a special black-and-white stage greeting event in Tokyo on Friday to celebrate the roaring success of "Godzilla Minus One".
The film, which has grossed over 14 billion yen worldwide, has put Japan on the cusp of its first-ever nomination for the Best Visual Effects category at the Academy Awards.
Ryunosuke Kamiki, who came across a fan's wish for a sequel on the feedback board, said, "I want Director Yamazaki to make a sequel with this cast." Yuki Yamada, who played the role of Shiro Mizushima, an apprentice aboard the ship "Shinseimaru" tasked with special post-war missions, was excited, shouting, "Yes! Fantastic!" Director Yamazaki, who was in the United States, appeared remotely, with Kamiki calling out, "Takashi of the world~!" and Hamabe echoing, "Mr. Takashi~!" Yamazaki, who appeared with a Hollywood backdrop digitally inserted behind him, made Yamada laugh when he joked, "That's not very good visual effects."
When asked about his current activities, Director Yamazaki reported, "I'm being interviewed locally, and I'm meeting with some great masters. Directors... ones whose names I can't even mention." He also talked about his plans to attend the Critics' Choice Awards, considered a precursor to the Academy Awards, saying, "It's crazy. I can't even understand what's going on," with a smile.
Kamiki asked Yamazaki if he disliked being called "Takashi of the world," to which Yamazaki replied with a laugh, "I'm not a big fan of that." Kamiki then playfully promised to keep calling him that. When asked about his eagerness for a sequel, Yamazaki hesitated, but Kamiki, Hamabe, and Yamada all smiled and cheered, "Takashi~!" Yamazaki responded enthusiastically, "I do want to make a sequel. Let's all tell Toho," and joked about not talking about scheduling issues.
Koichi Sasaki asked about what went well and what didn't, to which Director Yamazaki replied, "It's like a dream, including the global response. It was a very domestic story, but I'm incredibly happy and surprised that people around the world have reacted to it. It's completely unexpected that so many people overseas are watching what we intended for a domestic audience." When Yamada inquired about what made the film so beloved, Yamazaki shared, "I met a director today who said, 'Everyone's acting is wonderful.' Your performances transcended language barriers, and that made a big difference."
The film "Godzilla Minus One," starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, is set in a Japan reduced to ashes by war and literally brought to 'zero,' where nameless survivors search for ways to live and resist against the sudden appearance of Godzilla. Miho Tanaka also attended the event. Additionally, 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Godzilla, making this event the first of the anniversary year.
Source: modelpress
