Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color is a Japanese sci-fi monster movie directed by Takashi Yamazaki and available to watch on Netflix.
Cast And Characters
- Ryuunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima- Shikishima is a Kamikaze deserter haunted by the memories of Godzilla.
- Minami Hamabe as Noriko Ōishi– Shikishima lets Noriko live with him when she is in trouble.
- Sakura Ando as Sumiko Ōta- Sumiko is Shikishima’s neighbour who helps them to take care of Akiko.
- Sae Nagatani as Akiko- Akiko is the girl Sumiko rescued during an air raid who thinks of her and Shikishima as mother and father.
- Munetaka Aoki as Sōsaku Tachibana- Tachibana is a fighter plane mechanic who helped Shikishima.
- Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda- Noda is a navy technical officer who came up with the plan to destroy Godzilla and also used to work with Shikishima.
- Kuranosuke Sasaki as Yoji Akitsu- Akitsu was the captain of the ship where Shikishima used to work after surviving the war.
- Yuki Yamada as Shirō Mizushima- Mizushima used to work with Shikishima.
Plot Summary
The film is set in post-war Japan where traumatized survivors of war have to face another battle with a mysterious monster named ‘Godzilla’ to protect their land. The film is also about kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima, who lands on Oda Island feigning technical issues to flee his duty. That night, he confronts Godzilla for the first time but is unable to gain the courage to attack it, leading to the deaths of all mechanics present on Oda Island except him and the lead mechanic, Sōsaku Tachibana.
What Did Shikishima And Godzilla’s First Confrontation Lead To? (00:01:00-00:11:00)
Kōichi Shikishima, a Kamikaze pilot and a deserter, ends up on Oda Island feigning technical issues. But the lead mechanic, Sōsaku Tachibana, was the first person to see through his lie but supported him. That day he saw deep sea fish floating nearby, which also was a sign that Godzilla was nearby. Godzilla attacks at night, creating a massacre on Oda Island, while Tachibana asks Kōichi to attack it with the 20mm gun in his aircraft. Kōichi, for starters, decides to attack Godzilla but doesn’t have the nerve to attack it. Godzilla kills every mechanic present and Shikishima is knocked out. The next day, when he woke up, he found out that he and Tachibana were the only ones alive.
How Did Noriko And Shikishima Meet?
Shikishima came back home after the Oda Incident the world unknown about, to see that his house was destroyed along with his neighborhood and his parents were dead too. He goes to eat out alone and, in a ruckus, he is handed a child by a woman. Shikishima thought about leaving the child on the street but couldn’t and again met the woman who left that baby with him. The woman with the child follows Shikishima to his home and introduces themselves as Noriko and Akiko. But Noriko is not related to Akiko. She is taking care of Akiko after her mother died during an air raid. Shikishima’s neighbour Sumiko helps them take care of the baby and they begin to live together.
What Job Did Shikishima Take Up After Surviving the War?
During the tough time when Noriko and Shikishima were in dire need of money to take care of Akiko, Shikishima took up a risky job where they had to clear the mines from the ocean which were once laid by the US and Imperial Navy during the war. Although Noriko did not want Shikishima to do the job, he convinced her. In his job, Shikishima met Noda, Akitsu and Mizushima. During this job, he confronted Godzilla for the second time. They were asked to distract Godzilla for a while until Singapore sent Takao ship to destroy Godzilla, and again they were asked to keep the news of Godzilla a secret from the world because it could create tension in the country. Godzilla attacks again. Shikishima attacks it with the mines they have retrieved from the ocean right in its mouth. At that moment, the Takao takes over, but Godzilla turns that ship upside down and destroys it in a rage, then disappears.
How Was Ginza Destroyed?
Just like Shikishima predicted, Godzilla attacked again and this time it successfully entered Tokyo Bay and is moving towards Ginza, which is also where Norika works. Shikishima heard of the news on the radio and ran towards Ginza with the hope of saving Noriko. The city is in chaos because of attacking of the monster, and it attacks the train Noriko was on, she barely saves herself. Army tanks come to attack the monster, but it is of no use because it can use heat rays from its mouth. She meets up with Shikishima. The entire city is turned to pieces and Noriko, while trying to help Shikishima, Noriko is caught in the blast and is presumed dead.
What Is Noda Up To?
Noda tells Shikishima that he is part of a force to design a strategy to defeat Godzilla led by civilian forces, and he wants Shikishima to be there to listen to his plan. Noda comes up with an unconventional plan to defeat Godzilla. Although the plan does not give a guarantee that it will kill Godzilla, it is the best thing they can do. He has also come up with a second plan to decompress if his plan of killing Godzilla with water pressure does not work. Many who were at the meeting left, and again many stayed for the sake of the future of the country.
How Did Shikishima Employ Tachibana Again?
Shikishima asked for a favour from Noda to arrange for a fighter for him so that if the monster comes ashore he can draw the monster to the bay. Noda arranged for a fighter, but it was not quite in flying condition. They need the help of an experienced mechanic who can work on a fighter. Shikishima’s search for Tachibana began. He found different addresses for Tachibana and wrote provocative letters to make him come. The letters reach Tachibana, and he comes and beats Sakishima to let his anger out. He tells him everything that Godzilla will attack Ginza again, and they need his help to fix the fighter. He told Tachibana he could kill it if its insides were attacked. Shikishima plans on becoming a Kamikaze because their war is not over. The next day, Tachibana comes to the warehouse to repair the ship.
Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color Ending Explained
It’s the day of Godzilla’s attack. Shikishima leaves a letter and some money for Sumiko and asks her to take care of Akiko. He leaves for the warehouse where Tachibana fills him with information about the fighter plane. The ships and the fighter plane leave as soon as they get their signal and see the Godzilla getting near the shore. Shikishima had the responsibility to lure Godzilla to the target area. In the meantime, Sumiko receives a telegram. Shikishima successfully lures Godzilla into the target area, and Godzilla is pulled inside the waterbody, but it starts to come up again. Mizushima comes with other small tug boats to help them out and pull up Godzilla. Godzilla is in a rage now and is about to shoot its heat wave, but Shikishima pulls his final action and, as decided, flies inside the mouth of Godzilla and attacks it from inside. While everyone thinks Shikishima is dead, he is seen flying in a parachute. Tachibana installed an ejection seat in the fighter. Godzilla is dead, and Shikishima’s plan worked. Everyone returns to the port. Sumiko comes with Akiko and gives him the telegram he received. Shikishima comes with Akiko to a hospital and sees Noriko, who only asks him if his war is finally over.
