The long-awaited sequel to the 2014 film "Godzilla," "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" will finally be unleashed in US and Japanese theaters on May 31st.

Boss Godzilla Sukajan Jacket

To commemorate the occasion, Toho has joined forces with Suntory's Boss Coffee brand to create a one-minute short film honoring Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima, as well as a one-of-a-kind sukajan jacket with dorsal spikes protruding from its back.

Produced by the actual team at Toho responsible for creating the Godzilla suit, the jacket will surely be a prized collector's item for the lucky individual (yes, only one individual) who will be chosen by lottery to receive it.

Jacket Details

The jacket is double layered, with a conventional sukajan jacket design inside and an addition layer outside with the attached dorsal fins

  • Outer jacket dimensions: length 70 cm, width 61 cm, shoulder width 46 cm, sleeves 71 cm
  • Materials: Polyester, polyethelene foam (dorsal fins)
  • Inner Jacket dimensions: length 66 cm, width 58 cm, shoulder width 44 cm, sleeves 69 cm
  • Materials: Nylon, polyester

How to apply

To participate in the lottery, all you need to do is follow Suntory's Twitter account (@suntory) and tweet a message with the hashtag #ゴジラスカジャン (Godzilla sukajan). Alternatively, you can participate by email. Moreover, participants must satisfy the following conditions:

  • Those participating via Twitter must be at least 20 years old.
  • Participants must not be Suntory employees.
  • All participants must be residents of Japan and have a Japanese address.

For complete campaign details, please see the official homepage here.


Video: "The faceless star"

Keeping with the image promoted by Boss coffee commercials of supporting people who fight to overcome challenges in their everyday lives, the one-minute video "The Faceless Star" (Kao no utsuranai shuyaku 顔の映らない主役, literally "The leading actor whose face isn't shown") is a moving tribute to Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima. According to the campaign's website, which also has an English translation:

"The Godzilla series began with 'Godzilla,' the special effects monster film released in 1954. In the first shooting, difficulties emerged one after an other. The person inside the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima, had overcome numerous obstacles and supported the Godzilla movies. This is the story of the man who had, while inside the Godzilla suit which kept his face hidden, kept to fight on."

In addition to the commercial, you can also view two teaser videos featuring interviews with production staff, behind the scenes views of the set and production, and more.

The website also has a photo album where you'll see images from the set, including the Godzilla suit which was made to look like the one used in the original film.

Haruo Nakajima

Widely considered to be the best Godzilla suit actor, Haruo Nakajima (January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017) played the famous monster in twelve consecutive films, starting from the original "Godzilla" (1954) until "Godzilla vs. Gigan" (1972). As the tribute video reveals, he was able to overcome both grueling physical obstacles such as moving inside a 220 pound suit and facing the continual danger of heat exhaustion with temperatures reaching 60 degrees Celsius, but also the psychological challenge of being a "faceless star."

Fortunately for Godzilla fans, many years after retiring, he eventually did show himself, making a series of personal appearances at various Japanese monster-themed conventions. He even appeared at the Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank, California in 2011.


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By - Ben K.