Episode 24: The Metters vs. ‘Return of Daimjain’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

We have many happy (and not-so-happy) returns in this episode. Nathan’s friends Joe and Joy Metter are back to continue the “Daimajin Days” by discussing Return of Daimajin. They also brought their dogs, Teddy Kong and Bitzilla, although they’re a little quieter this time around. Regardless, this is the second of the Daimajin trilogy from 1966, and while it’s mostly a rehash of the first film that doesn’t quite rise to its heights (until maybe the last 10-15 minutes), it does bring a few new things to the table. These include a lake parting that rivals The Ten Commandments, a Daimajin with a less gray morality scale, and villains who believe in the supernatural and tremble.

Unfortunately, MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, continues doubt Joy’s swordfighting ability. To test her mettle, he sics certain winged gremlins from the future on her—with surprising results!

All this plus the Toku Topics is Shintoism, Shinto shrines, and torii gates since all those factor into this film.

Episode image created by Michael Hamilton.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio), and Bex from Redeemed Otaku! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can support us on Patreon and get perks like this starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-5:34
Entertaining Info Dump: 5:34-11:00
Toku Talk: 11:00-46:05
Advertisement: 46:05-46:57
Toku Topic: 46:57-1:30:48
Outro: 1:30:48-end

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© 2020 Nathan Marchand & Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

• The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 1: 1954-1982 by John LeMay
• Encyclopedia of Shinto
• “How to Properly Pass Through a Torii Gate” by Senpai Japan (YouTube)
• “Japan: Where Gods Aren’t Gods and Worshipers Aren’t Religious (Shinto Explained)” by Life Where I’m From (YouTube)
• Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV
• The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters by Jason Barr
• “Sannō Shrine” (Wikipedia)
• “Torii” (Japan Experience)
• “Torii – Japanese Encyclopedia” by Erica O’Hara (translated by Hilary Keyes) (Matcha)
• “What is Shinto?” (Jinja Honcho)
• Wiki Articles on Return of Daimajin:
  • IMDB
  • Gojipedia
  • Wikipedia
  • Wikizilla

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