Gojira: The Sound of the King of the Monsters
Godzilla’s roar and its thundering march are as famous as the monster itself. Behind them was Akira Ifukube, the composer widely considered one of the “founding fathers” of kaiju cinema.
The Japan America Society of San Diego invites you to a live online talk with Erik Homenick, PhD, author of Scoring Godzilla: An Analysis of Akira Ifukube’s Musical Narratives. It’s the first full-length book about Ifukube in English, written with direct reference to the composer’s original, rarely seen manuscripts.
What we’ll discuss:
The music behind the monster: how Ifukube’s scores for films like Godzilla (1954) and King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) shape the way we see, and hear, Godzilla. For Ifukube, Godzilla was less a symbol of nuclear weapons than an ancient, protective (if chaotic) spirit of Japan.
Why Godzilla endures: the monster’s cultural relevance now, as the new film Godzilla Minus Zero arrives.
A monster of many meanings: how Godzilla has stood for nuclear war, environmental destruction, Japanese nationalism and more.
About the speaker:
Erik Homenick received his PhD in literature (cultural studies) from UC San Diego, where he has taught and lectured on Godzilla and kaiju cinema. He is the founder of AKIRAIFUKUBE.ORG, the official English-language website about the composer, approved by Ifukube’s estate. He co-founded the Kaiju Masterclass online Godzilla convention and has contributed film-music essays to Blu-ray releases from Arrow Video. He has spoken about Ifukube on radio programs and podcasts and at venues including the Music Institute of Chicago. He currently teaches science fiction literature and film at the California Institute of Applied Technology.
Date & Time:
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5:00-6:00 PM PT
Friday, November 20, 2026, 10:00-11:00 AM JST
Schedule:
5:00-5:05 PM: Opening remarks, Andrew Silberman, President, Japan America Society of San Diego
5:05-5:35 PM: Presentation, Erik Homenick, Author
5:35-5:45 PM: Moderated discussion, D'Juan Mercado, Vice President, Japan America Society of San Diego
5:45-5:55 PM: Audience Q&A
5:55-6:00 PM: Closing remarks, Andrew Silberman