Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, who return in the sequel to Godzilla Minus One, appeared at the festival on Sunday
Pop Culture & ArtNovember 01, 20262 min readPhoto: Toho Studios
The stars of Godzilla Minus Zero have reflected on the enthusiastic reception they received at the film’s Hollywood premiere as they reunited for a special appearance at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, who return as Koichi Shikishima and Noriko in the sequel to Godzilla Minus One, appeared at the festival on Sunday, November 1, just days after attending the film’s premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kamiki described the response from the Hollywood audience as an unforgettable experience, with the screening receiving a standing ovation that continued throughout the 900-seat theatre.
“The energy was simply extraordinary,” Kamiki said. “Feeling that raw enthusiasm firsthand made me realize all over again just how deeply Godzilla is loved around the world. It was an invaluable experience.”
Hamabe recalled meeting audience members at the premiere’s after-party, where fans approached the cast to share their reactions. Some attendees had dressed in Godzilla-themed outfits or worn badges inspired by the iconic monster.
The actors also remembered the excitement surrounding director Takashi Yamazaki, who was met with loud chants from fans as he signed autographs.
Kamiki said the crowd’s enthusiasm went beyond simply calling out the director’s name.
“It wasn’t just a polite ‘Takashi,’” he recalled. “It was like: ‘TAKASHI! HEY, TAKASHI!’ It was roaring.”
The Tokyo event also marked the first stage appearance of child actor Sae Nagatani, who returns as Akiko Shikishima, the daughter of Koichi and Noriko.
Kamiki praised Nagatani’s performance, recalling that her character had very little dialogue in Godzilla Minus One, but was given a more substantial role in the sequel.
“We were like, ‘Really? Can she do this?’” he said. “But when we got on set, she had all her lines memorized perfectly and delivered them flawlessly.”
Hamabe said she was impressed by how much Nagatani had grown since the first film, describing her as a dependable young performer.
The sequel takes place approximately two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One, with the Shikishima family having settled into everyday life before Godzilla returns to threaten them once again.
Kamiki said he hoped audiences would imagine what the family experienced during the intervening years and see how they face the new threat together.
Godzilla Minus Zero is directed by Yamazaki and follows the success of Godzilla Minus One, which earned more than ¥7.65 billion at the Japanese box office and became the first Asian production to win the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
The sequel is also the first Japanese film to be certified as Filmed for IMAX.
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