# What would US-Japanese relations be like if Godzilla were real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999 "2009-08-01T20:41:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/21 "2009-08-02T23:37:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I would think they would be concentrating on not ending up as a lot of the folks in _Jurassic Park_ to have much time to worry about it. As someone pointed out upthread (I’d quote the specific poster but I’m too lazy to scroll up, though oddly not too lazy to type long pointless parenthetical digressions like this one), if the Japanese have survived at all they have surely been obliged to come up with some hellacious new weaponry. Once the last kaiju is dead, there might be a movement to take revenge on the bloody Yanks who woke up Gojira et al in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/22 "2009-08-02T23:46:24Z")
The key phrase being “survived at all.” If it looks like they’re going to get anything remotely effective going, we just drop another nuke and not only take out their top scientists and their weapons, but breed **even more monsters**. Win-win. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/23 "2009-08-02T23:56:23Z")
I watched [Tokyo Joe](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041967/) this weekend. If Bogie were on the side of post war Japan, it would be a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/24 "2009-08-03T01:46:42Z")
What if Gamera was real? I hear he’s really neat! ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/25 "2009-08-03T01:54:07Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Perhaps I was unclear in my OP. I was assuming that the King of Monsters and his lesser ilk were concentrating their attacks on Japan, not the US (as implied in the post I quoted) and thinking that there might be a wee bit of resentment on the part of the Japanese against us for our part in awakening the kaiju. Ah, but you are forgetting about the Ray Harryhausen monsters that keep attacking San Francisco. I think Japan and the USA would form an alliance against the mutual enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/26 "2009-08-03T03:31:26Z")
They might be upset with us at first, but once the other, non-nuke-induced kaiju start showing up, they’d be grateful that, thanks to the US, they have one in their corner to defend them. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/27 "2009-08-03T04:46:32Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > What if Gamera was real? I hear he’s really neat! Not to mention candid. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/28 "2009-08-03T05:12:00Z")
As Godzilla became a defender of Japan, it is logic to suppose that the Japanese found a way to control him and the other monsters (Probably with an interface controlled by kids or a box with little singers (don’t ask)). I would think that the US would notice the monster gap and attempt to develop some of their own. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/29 "2009-08-03T05:46:30Z")
I don’t know if its the slight beer-buzz I got going or what, but in the roughly 8 years I’ve been surfin’ the Dope, this is the funniest Thread Title I’ve ever seen! I’ve been lauging uncontrollably for nearly 5 minutes! My sides ache, I’m crying and I nearly wet my boxers! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/30 "2009-08-03T10:18:50Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I would think that the US would notice the monster gap and attempt to develop some of their own. Like King Kong and some kind of overgrown iguana? No, I think it’s clear that America’s ability to develop giant monster technologies is inferior to Japan. It might take fifty years before America could finally create something viable in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/31 "2009-08-03T10:31:32Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > Like King Kong and some kind of overgrown iguana? No, I think it’s clear that America’s ability to develop giant monster technologies is inferior to Japan. It might take fifty years before America could finally create something viable in that regard. On the other hand, we’ve got Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and–most devastatingly of all–Chuck Norris. The Kaiju had better stay on their side of the ocean–although, admittedly, Batman’s not especially trustworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/32 "2009-08-03T10:45:45Z")
I don’t believe in Godzilla. I believe in Gamera. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/33 "2009-08-03T11:10:02Z")
> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#): > > I don’t believe in Godzilla. I believe in Gamera. Apropos of nothing, but I wrote a story once in which a society of dragons , for various reasons I won’t go into, have access to cable TV. They’re very torn about kaiju movies, regarding them as either tragedies, anti-dragon propaganda, or holy texts. Some of them worship Ghidorah, and others Godzilla. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/34 "2009-08-03T12:19:16Z")
[nitpick]Godzilla was awakened by US hydrogen bomb tests, not the WW2 use of atomic bombs.[/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/35 "2009-08-03T12:34:25Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Apropos of nothing, but I wrote a story once in which a society of dragons , for various reasons I won’t go into, have access to cable TV. They’re very torn about kaiju movies, regarding them as either tragedies, anti-dragon propaganda, or holy texts. Some of them worship Ghidorah, and others Godzilla. I still believe in Gamera, you bastard! What the hell are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/36 "2009-08-03T14:16:40Z")
First, there was [Pride and Prejudice and Zombies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_prejudice_and_zombies), next there was [Pride and Prometheus](http://www4.ncsu.edu/~tenshi/index2.html), and then [Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters](http://www.amazon.com/Sense-Sensibility-Monsters-Jane-Austen/dp/1594744424) (with a trailer on [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jZVE5uF24Q) no less!). And next, **Great Expectations and Godzilla**! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/37 "2009-08-03T14:46:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Perhaps I was unclear in my OP. I was assuming that the King of Monsters and his lesser ilk were concentrating their attacks on Japan, not the US (as implied in the post I quoted) and thinking that there might be a wee bit of resentment on the part of the Japanese against us for our part in awakening the kaiju. The U.S. loves to put on our white hats, saddle up, and ride to the rescue. Especially if we woke up the critters in the first place. Clearly we’d make things right, even if we had to send Cowboy Bill Watts and Dusty Rhodes to team with Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki in a Wargames match against Godzilla, Mothra, Rhodan, and Gamera. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/38 "2009-08-03T14:50:18Z")
Besides, the US has [Them!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047573/) We just lob a few tons of sugar into Tokyo harbor and wait. After the carnage, King Kong can handle the mop up. Monster gap? What monster gap? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/39 "2009-08-03T15:57:55Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Which Godzilla? > > The 50 meter tall, 20,000 ton version, or the 100 meter tall, 60,000 ton version? > > Either way, what do you do with it after its dead? > > That’s a mighty big, mighty radioactive, piece of rotting lizard meat. “Oh, sure, _now_ you want Yucca Mountain operational and in a screaming hurry. Damn hippies.” 😃 On another note of semi-serious, can you imagine the political counter-arguments? I mean, if you blame the U.S. for Godzilla, how do you explain all those _other_, completely non-nuclear Kaiju that started appearing after him? It’s a classic _post hoc_ argument by “green” pundits and lobbyists of a certain political membership, misinterpreting a natural environmental process in order to further their own agendas. There’s no proof of causality from the nuclear tests—if anything, they simply infused Godzilla with enough radioactivity to make the creature _easier_ to track…or even kill it outright from radiation-induced illness, _justifying_ the creation of the weapons program, _and_ the inclusion of Japan under the western nuclear umbrella! …It _did_ give him atomic flame-breath, though. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999/40 "2009-08-03T16:30:47Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > And next, **Great Expectations and Godzilla**! With Mothra in a veil as Mrs. Haversham, and[Minya](http://www.onlyinternet.net/awinterrowd/kaiju/gallery/minya.jpg) as Pip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-us-japanese-relations-be-like-if-godzilla-were-real/504999.md?page=3)