Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One ゴジラ-1.0 Gojira Mainasu Wan Movie poster Country Japan Directed by Takashi Yamazaki Release Date 2023 Language Japanese Studio Toho Distributor Toho Main Cast Character Actor Kōichi Shikishima Ryunosuke Kamiki Noriko Ōishi Minami Hamabe Shirō Mizushima Yuki Yamada Sōsaku Tachibana Munetaka Aoki Kenji Noda Hidetaka Yoshioka Yōji Akitsu Kuranosuke Sasaki

Godzilla Minus One (Japanese: ゴジラ-1.0; Gojira Mainasu Wan) is the 2023 installment of Toho's long-running Godzilla franchise, written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki. It is the 37th film in the franchise and the the 33rd film by Toho.

The film takes place in 1947, two years after the end of the Second World War and the defeat of Japan. As former Imperial Navy aviator Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) tries to rebuild his life and move on from his experiences during the war, Japan is beset by a new crisis: a massive, mutated creature known as Godzilla that is wreaking havoc at sea and has set its sights on mainland Japan, threatening to bring the down-to-zero nation into the negatives (hence the title of the film).

The movie was a box office success in Japan and overseas. It was awarded the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, making it the first Godzilla movie to be nominated for and to win an Oscar. The film also received a limited black-and-white release entitled Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color.

The following weapons were used in the film Godzilla Minus One:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Rifles

M1 Garand

Period footage of General Douglas MacArthur features US servicemen holding M1 Garand rifles in the background.

M1 Garand - .30-06 Springfield

A US soldier with an M1 Garand presenting arms to passing General MacArthur.

The guard on the opposite side with his M1.

Type 99 rifle

In the prologue, the maintenance personnel on Odo Island attempt to defend themselves against Godzilla with Arisaka Type 99s, which prove completely ineffective. It's worth noting that while the rifles are shown to have zero effect on the creature, this isn't accomplished by giving the rifles weak muzzle flash or sound effects. To the contrary, their muzzle flashes are blindingly bright and gunshots are very loud and punchy, thematically making Godzilla seem unstoppably powerful without making the humans and their tech feel unimpressive (as tends to be common in monster films).

Type 99 rifle - 7.7x58mm Arisaka

The mechanics watch in horror as Godzilla, in its original pre-mutated form, obliterates the airfield's watchtower, along with their fellow mechanic named Taki.

The glasses-wearing mechanic holds his rifle as he explains that the Odo Island locals call this creature "Godzilla".

Three mechanics with their rifles hiding in a trench, before one of them loses their nerve and opens fire.

One of them works his rifle's bolt after they all open fire, giving a detailed silhouette of its shape here.

A later frame in the same shot, the rifles now well illuminated by muzzle flash and the furthest in focus.

The mechanics continue firing their rifles, the one towards the right cycling his.

Another fantastic illuminated shot, as the two at centre rechamber their rifles.

Sōsaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki) angrily points at his dead comrades the next morning, one of them having a wrecked rifle atop his body. Curiously this one features a scope, indicating the damaged rifle is almost certainly a different prop.

One of the mechanics fires his rifle in Kōichi's nightmare, a trauma he continues to struggle with.

Pistols

M1911A1 (holster)

Although not seen outside of their holsters, American soldiers in period footage are wearing holsters containing what are certainly M1911A1 pistols. Japanese police officers in Ginza are also seen with holsters, which given their size/shape and the post-war setting are also most likely M1911A1s.

Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

The officer accompanying General MacArthur as well as the soldier to the left are both carrying sidearms, most likely M1911s.

A blurry shot of an officer's holster during the Ginza attack. The sign to the left lists the distances to Yokohama, Atsugi, and Yokosuka (19/34/35 miles), which are correct for this being Ginza.

A line of police officers hold people back after the devastation of Ginza and surrounding areas, providing a much better look at their large holsters.

Machine Guns

Type 97 aircraft machine gun

The A6M5a Reisen fighter flown by Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) in the prologue is armed with a pair of Type 97 aircraft machine guns above the engine.

Type 97 aircraft machine gun - 7.7x56mmR (.303 British)

Kōichi's Zero comes to a stop on the Odo Island airfield. The right side Type 97's muzzle is visible just behind the black engine cowling. Also note the 601-49 tail number, indicating he's part of 601 Kaigun Koukuutai (601st Naval Air Group).

The mechanics inspect the A6M, its bomb now removed. The cutout in the forward part of the engine cowling is simply a "tube" for the Type 97's bullets to fly though, as its muzzle ends just behind the cowling.

The rear ends and charging handles of the Type 97s in the Reisen's cockpit, as Godzilla walks past.

Type 97 tank machine gun

Several Chi-To tanks are seen attempting to drive Godzilla out of Ginza. In addition to their Type 5 75mm main cannon, each tank is also equipped with a hull-mounted Type 97 tank machine gun. The Chi-To was developed very late in the war and intended for the defense of the home islands, but extremely few were produced.

Type 97 tank machine gun - 7.7x58mm Arisaka

A quartet of Chi-Tos make a stand against the behemoth, their Type 97s clearly visible in the hull.

Type 93 heavy machine gun

The minesweeper Shinsei Maru is equipped with a single Type 93 heavy machine gun, used to detonate mines once they're brought to the surface. Their fellow minesweeping boat Kaishin Maru is also armed with a single Type 93, as is a boat of similar size (Kuroshio 12) seen later in the film. The weapon is correctly referred to as being 13mm in dialogue.

Type 93 heavy machine gun - 13.2x99mm Hotchkiss

Kōichi stands in disbelief that these are the boats he was told are "specially made" to evade mines.

Yōji Akitsu (Kuranosuke Sasaki), the boat's captain, attempts to hit a mine with the Type 93.

A spray of water erupts as Kōichi takes out their first mine. The Type 93 appears to be non-functional, though the effects team (unsurprisingly) did a stellar job with its muzzle flash and what it illuminates, gas from the muzzle and ejection port, and shell casings.

Shirō Mizushima (Yuki Yamada), nicknamed "Kid" (Kozou) by Akitsu due to his lack of wartime experience, gives the Type 93 a try but is also unable to hit anything.

Kōichi and Shirō pose as Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka) takes a photo. Akitsu similarly has a nickname for Noda: "Doc" (Gakusha), as he developed naval weapons before/during the war.

Akitsu looks over at Kaishin Maru, armed with her own Type 93.

Shikishima readies the Type 93 as Godzilla arrives.

They're gonna need a bigger boat...

The Type 93 proves entirely ineffective against Godzilla, a round seen ricocheting and leaving sparks here.

Kuroshio 12 armed with a Type 93. She appears to be the same type of boat as the two minesweepers, with the gun and other things rearranged.

Autocannons

Type 99 Mark 2 Model 4 cannon

Kōichi's A6M appears to specifically be an A6M5a variant, and as such has a pair of Type 99 Mark 2 Model 4 cannons in the wings; this was the first Type 99 variant to be belt-fed. Tachibana urges Shikishima to get in his parked fighter and blast the monster with the cannons as it walks in front, however Shikishima, paralyzed with fear, is unable to open fire. The cannons are referred to by calibre in dialogue, with Tachibana saying that 20mm cannons "can kill anything".

Type 99 Mark 2 Model 4 - 20x101mmRB

The Reisen approaches Odo Island, the two Type 99s just barely visible. This angle also shows the lack of additional bulges for Type 99 magazines, making them the belt-fed Model 4 variant, thus the Zero is an A6M5a (as opposed to an A6M5, which features the drum-fed Model 3).

One of the mechanics informs Tachibana that there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the aircraft, with a Type 99's barrel visible to the left. That the barrels visibly extend from the wings makes these the Type 99 Mark 2 (the smaller Mark 1 fits wholly inside the wing), appropriate for an A6M5 variant.

A look through the Zero's gunsight as Godzilla walks into the line of fire. The firing mechanism for the guns is a lever on the throttle; period Japanese aircraft indeed had the fire button/lever placed there, as opposed being located on the stick in most Western aircraft.

20mm/70 Mark 4

A damaged and adrift Liberty-class cargo ship is armed with eight 20mm/70 Mark 4 cannons, the American development of the Oerlikon SS. The Liberty ship also features a pair of deck guns, one each at the bow and stern; specific IDs of such guns are difficult as a variety of surplus was used for these emergency wartime ships.

20mm/70 Mark 4 - 20x110mmRB

Kaishin Maru and Shinsei Maru inspect a severely damaged Liberty ship, her bow and stern cannons visible here. A pair of Oerlikons sit just forward of the stern deck gun.

A closer look at the cargo ship. A 20mm/70 Mark 4 with a gun shield can be seen on the less damaged port side of the forward deck, with another two at the fore and aft port corners of the bridge. Their three starboard equivalents have ceased to exist.

Type 96 cannon

Takao-class cruiser Takao is equipped with two twin Type 96 cannons; her other triple, twin, and single Type 96 mounts, as well as her Type 89 heavy AA guns have all been removed. Takao is noted as returning from Singapore, given back to Japan as a means of defending against Godzilla rather than being scuttled (as historically happened).

Type 96 twin mount - 25x163mm

Takao arrives just in time and prepares to fire another broadside. Her two remaining twin Type 96s sit either side of the bridge.

Encountering something that can actually fight back, an enraged Godzilla swims up close and attacks Takao. The port Type 96 pair is easily seen here, including its top-mounted magazines.

Godzilla demolishes Takao's bridge superstructure, the doomed Type 96s' twin barrels highlighted in front of the water spray.

Type 5 cannon

The J7W1 Shinden interceptor is armed with four Type 5 cannons in the nose; the upper two cannons are removed from the aircraft in preparation for the battle. The weapons are again referred to by calibre (30mm) in dialogue, as well as correctly noting their capacity of 60 rounds per gun. The J7W was an experimental defense fighter which first flew only days before the atomic bombs were dropped. Only two were built in reality (with one preserved today) though in this universe it's implied that a small handful were produced before war's end, retained for defense of the home islands. A full-scale replica Shinden was built for the film, its high detail extending to the cockpit as well as internal components such as the engine and cannons. This replica now lives at the Tachiarai Peace Memorial Museum.

Type 5 Model 1 - 30x122mm

The J7W Shinden is revealed, covered in dust and with part of its engine cowling removed. Also note all four cannons still in place at this point.

The receivers of the removed Type 5 cannons.

Close up of the barrels and muzzle brakes of the two cannons.

The Shinden soars over rural Japan, protecting its civilians.

Kōichi opens fire with the plane's two remaining Type 5s. Interestingly, the scorch marks around the now-unused gun positions indicate that while this particular Shinden didn't see combat during the war, it did see use of some kind (presumably training/testing).

A first-person view through the J7W's gunsight, complete with muzzle flash.

Leading Godzilla out to sea, the Shinden overflies destroyers Yuukaze and Keyaki. Note the asymmetrically-mounted cannons, all shuffled slightly to make room for each other.

The Magnificent Lightning continues to bait Godzilla, keeping it distracted from the encirclement by destroyers Yukikaze (background) and Hibiki.

Kōichi circles around for another pass. A photo of Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) is tucked behind the plane's artificial horizon.

The J7W's Type 5s strafe the creature again, as the plan comes together.

Cannons

Type 5 tank cannon

The primary armament of the Chi-To tanks defending Tokyo is the 75mm Type 5 cannon. As with many nations' military designations this simply reflects the year in which it was adopted, and it is of course unrelated to the 30mm Type 5 autocannons mounted in the Shinden.

Chi-To tanks defend the National Diet Building, engaging Godzilla from a distance of about two kilometres. Note that their tri-colour camo patterns are actually unique to each tank.

One of the tanks fires its Type 5, casting some fantastic light and shadow. The barrels can be seen recoiling while firing.

12cm/45 Type 10

Ukuru-class frigate Ikuno has a close encounter with Godzilla when the monster swims under her on its way to Tokyo. Although functionally disarmed like all Japanese ships after the war, she retains her forward single and rear twin 12cm/45 Type 10 cannons, albeit with the barrels cut off. Her Type 96 AA guns have been removed.

Minekaze-class destroyer Yuukaze and Sokuten-class minelayer Katashima were armed with single 12cm/45 3rd Year Type cannons (four and one, respectively), from which the Type 10 was developed, however both have had all armament removed.

12cm/45 Type 10 - 120x708mmR

Though her name isn't specified in the film, its novelization (written by director Takashi Yamazaki himself) reveals this Ukuru-class to be Ikuno.

A closer look at her bow and bridge, including what's left of the single Type 10.

The sawed off twin Type 10 seems to be in place right were it should be, aft of the funnel among clutter on the deck. The circular mounting plates either side of the funnel used to hold a triple Type 96 each.

Some of the crew watch as Godzilla swims under their ship, with the forward gun mount to the left.

12.7cm/40 Type 89

Matsu-class destroyer Keyaki retains her forward single 12.7cm/40 Type 89 cannon and rear twin version of the same, again with the barrels cut off. Her Type 96 AA guns have been removed, however. Cruiser Takao formerly mounted four twin Type 89s as heavy anti-air guns, however as mentioned above they've been removed entirely.

12.7cm/40 Type 89 twin mount - 127x580mmR

Yuukaze, Yukikaze, Hibiki, and Keyaki in port, as well as four No.13-class subchasers in the background. The No.13s were armed with one 8cm/40 3rd Year Type cannon and assorted Type 93s and/or Type 96s, however all have been removed. The No.101-class landing ship seen earlier in the film was similarly armed with one 8cm/40 3rd Year Type and some Type 96s/93s, again removed.

A good look at Keyaki and notably her rear twin Type 89, as featured in a behind the scenes video. The final form of this shot is Godzilla making landfall with the wrecked front half of a No.13 in the foreground, leaving Keyaki almost entirely obscured by smoke.

The Operation Wada Tsumi quartet in Sagami Bay, with Mount Fuji in the distance. Keyaki's rather bulky forward mount is easily seen, and the mounting plates for the guns of Yuukaze (mentioned above) are also visible. Unlike the other three, Yuukaze has also lost her torpedo launchers.

Keyaki and Yuukaze pull away, beginning the operation. This is one of of the only times Keyaki's rear twin Type 89 is properly visible.

12.7cm/50 3rd Year Type

Kagerou-class destroyer Yukikaze retains her forward turret, its two 12.7cm/50 3rd Year Type cannons left in place with the barrels cut off at the forward edge of the turret. Akatsuki-class destroyer Hibiki also retains her two remaining turrets, originally armed with the same guns, though the guns themselves have been removed entirely. As before, their lighter AA guns are also gone. Both ships originally carried three turrets (one fore, two aft), however as with many Japanese destroyers the rear superfiring turret was removed during the war and replaced with more AA guns. Additionally, within the film's story Yukikaze has also had her rear turret removed to make room for the large crane and depth-charge-rail-like equipment needed for Operation Wada Tsumi.

Of note, the named Japanese ships which appear in the film (Takao, Yukikaze, Hibiki, Yuukaze, Keyaki, Ikuno, Katashima) were all among the few IJN ships to survive the war in reality.

A great shot of Yukikaze's front end, including her last remaining turret.

Yukikaze and Hibiki tossed around by the shockwave from Godzilla's atomic breath.

The pair split up as they approach Godzilla, Hibiki's rear turret visible here. The AA gun tub between it and the rear mast was previously occupied by her third main turret.

Shikishima continues to distract Godzilla in the Shinden, flying over Yukikaze towards Hibiki as the two ships start to close the circle.

An excellent shot of Yukikaze as she extends her newly-mounted crane to port.

Captain Tatsuo Hotta (Miou Tanaka), Noda, and Akitsu watch as Hibiki attempts to thread the needle.

20cm/50 3rd Year Type No.2

Takao's main armament is ten 20cm/50 3rd Year Type No.2 cannons in five twin turrets. The unusual "3rd Year Type" designation refers to a particular design of breech block used in a number of naval guns of the period rather than being a name for the gun itself, per se. This results in many weapons sharing this "name", such as the 127mm guns listed above, despite effectively not being related. The No.2 variant is actually 203mm (8") rather than the exactly-200mm original version, but the calibre in the designation was not changed.

A beautiful shot of Takao firing a broadside, knocking Godzilla over.

Takao in profile, as Noda and Akitsu watch events unfold.

As Godzilla obliterates the superstructure, the forward gun crews refuse to go down without doing everything they can.

Takao's guns fire one last defiant salvo.

A top-down view as Godzilla stumbles from the impact. The cruiser's two catapults and aviation facilities in between can be seen to the left, and just forward of this are gun tubs which used to contain some of the Type 89s and Type 96s.

Takao's guns succeed in knocking the creature underwater for a second time.

Missing her entire superstructure and forward funnel, Takao sits immobilized. Though the film focuses on the forward turrets in the preceding sequence, given the rear turrets have rotated they may also have fired a final salvo.

Miscellaneous

40cm/45 Type 94 (shells)

Although both Yamato-class battleships were lost during the war, shells for their enormous 40cm/45 Type 94 cannons (actually 46cm, misnamed to preserve secrecy) play an important role in Operation Wada Tsumi. Fourteen large apparatuses combining a tank of freon gas, a 460mm shell, and a large inflatable flotation device are dropped from the rear of Yukikaze and all connected to Hibiki with a spool of wire; this forms the primary tool of the operation. Noda's plan is to saturate Godzilla with freon gas, preventing contact with the water and thus robbing the creature of buoyancy. To aid in this, the 460mm shells are first lowered on cables and detonated, creating a large air pocket and accelerating Godzilla's descent. Should the absurd pressure change from a quick drop to 1500 metres not kill the creature, the flotation devices are to act as a Plan B, killing it through rapid decompression.

Noda's devices being deployed. For a sense of a scale, these AP shells are two metres long.

The shells and the cables supporting them (sort of like reverse mines) can be seen here, though only barely.

Over 1000 pounds of explosives detonate around Godzilla, creating an air pocket and beginning its descent.

Other ships

A brief shot of Operation Crossroads, specifically Test Baker, is shown as the event that causes Godzilla to mutate. This shot contains all of the ships (and other things, such as aircraft on carriers) present for the test.

In addition to the M1 and M1911 listed in their own sections, the same War Office briefing contains historical photos of many ships, used in the film to represent damage done by Godzilla as it made its way towards Japan. Of note, the damage report for Balao-class submarine USS Redfish, which shadowed and photographed Godzilla before being sunk, is actually the real world damage report for her sister sub USS Tang.

The Test Baker mushroom cloud. Among the dozens of ships used in the operation was the Nagato-class battleship Nagato and Agano-class cruiser Sakawa.

Cleveland-class cruiser USS Columbia.

Balao-class submarine USS Tang (as USS Redfish).

Tang (as Redfish).

Essex-class carrier USS Essex.

St. Louis-class cruiser USS St. Louis.

Nevada-class battleship USS Nevada (with two OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes).

USS Tang damage report; she was armed with a 4"/50 Mark 9 cannon and two 20mm/70 Mark 4 cannons. Tang was the most successful USN sub of the war, but ultimately sunk by one of her own torpedoes.