Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Kyoto Station Spotlight

Above, Kyoto Station as seen from a window of a shinkansen train car. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kyoto Station Spotlight

Category: Japan Travel

by Armand Vaquer

The spectacular battle between Gamera and Irys in Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys (released by ADV as Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris) took place in the cavernous Kyoto Station in Kyoto, Japan.

It is Japan's second largest train station (after Nagoya Station). The station was built to celebrate the 1,200th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. Kyoto Station opened in 1997. The station's construction cost was $1.25 billion.

Kyoto Station was conceived by architect Hara Hiroshi. The futuristic design was criticized when it was first announced as Kyoto is mainly known for its traditional Japanese architecture. The station is 70 meters high and 470 meters from east to west, with a total floor space of 238,000 square meters.

The enormous size of Kyoto Station's interior was big enough to fit both Gamera and Irys in the movie.

Returning from touring Miyajima Island and Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, 2004's G-TOUR members were in awe over the massive interior of the station upon entering it.

Kyoto Station is covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

For more information and photographs of Kyoto Station, go here.

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"LEGENDARY PICTURES TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE BASED ON TOHO COMPANY’S ICONIC MONSTER, GODZILLA

Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.

Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan."

"Godzilla" is coming back -- this time, with Legendary Pictures taking the lead, co-producing and co-financing with Warner Bros. for release in 2012.

Legendary announced Monday it had obtained rights to the iconic monster character from Japan's Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 "Godzilla" films. Toho will release the pic in Japan.

Legendary said it's planning to announce a director shortly.

In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will exec produce.

"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise," said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

Legendary noted the film will fall under its co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary's productions with Warners have included "The Dark Knight," "300" and "The Hangover."

Speculation about a new "Godzilla" has been active since last summer. The Bloody Disgusting web site reported in August that the project was in development.