A 100-kilogram rubber suit defined the career of Haruo Nakajima, who spent nearly two decades as the physical manifestation of Japan's most famous cinematic monster. Born on January 1, 1929, in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, he transitioned from a stunt performer in samurai films to a pioneer of suit acting within the Toho studio system.
Early Career and Samurai Origins
Nakajima began his professional life as a stunt actor. His first credited motion picture role appeared in the 1952 film Sword for Hire. Shortly thereafter, he secured a minor role as a bandit in Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 masterpiece, Seven Samurai, where he performed a death scene at the hands of the character Kyūzo. His early training in samurai action sequences provided the physical discipline required for his subsequent transformation into a kaiju performer.
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Before the 1954 production of the original Godzilla, Nakajima spent one week observing elephants and bears at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo. He specifically analyzed the heavy, deliberate gait of elephants and the specific motor patterns bears used to catch food. The initial suit presented significant technical challenges, weighing 100 kilograms and requiring two assistants for dressing. Nakajima successfully refined his performance technique within these constraints, eventually teaching the mechanics of suit acting to subsequent performers.
Career at Toho Studios
Appointed by special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, Nakajima portrayed the title character in twelve consecutive Godzilla films, concluding with Godzilla vs. Gigan in 1972. Beyond this specific role, he performed as various kaiju monsters in Toho’s tokusatsu output, including Rodan in 1956, Mothra in 1961, and the creatures featured in the 1966 film The War of the Gargantuas. Following the restructuring of Toho's contract system, he concluded his suit-acting career and eventually transitioned to work at a company bowling alley located on the studio lot.
Legacy and Later Years
In his later life, Nakajima engaged with the global fan base of the franchise, attending monster-themed conventions including a 2011 appearance at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, California. He published his autobiography, Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, the Original Godzilla Actor, in 2010. Nakajima died of pneumonia in Tokyo on August 7, 2017. Posthumously, asteroid 110408 Nakajima was named in his honour, and the 2019 film Godzilla: King of the Monsters was dedicated to his memory.
Fast facts
- Born: 1 January 1929, Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture
- Died: 7 August 2017, Tokyo
- First credited film: Sword for Hire (1952)
- Godzilla film tenure: 1954-1972
- Autobiography published: 2010
- Asteroid named in his honour: 110408 Nakajima
Questions readers ask
How many Godzilla films did Haruo Nakajima perform in?
He played Godzilla in 12 consecutive films, starting from the original 1954 release until 1972.
What was his first film role?
His first credited role was in the 1952 motion picture Sword for Hire.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, stunt performer and film actor
