Gojira: The Sound of the King of the Monsters
We know the Kaiju, but what about the music behind the Kaiju? With Godzilla Minus Zero arriving in theaters, the King of the Monsters is back in the cultural spotlight. More than seventy years after his debut, Godzilla still draws audiences worldwide.
Join author Erik Homenick for a talk on his book Scoring Godzilla: An Analysis of Akira Ifukube’s Musical Narratives. Homenick explores how Ifukube’s music shaped the franchise and helped make Godzilla one of cinema’s most recognizable figures.
The discussion also looks at Godzilla’s remarkable flexibility as a cinematic symbol. Across the decades, the monster has stood in for anxieties about nuclear war, environmental destruction, and Japanese nationalism, among other issues. Erik will explain how film and music together give these ideas emotional force, and why Godzilla keeps adapting to each new era.
Whether you’re a lifelong kaiju fan, a film music enthusiast, or simply curious about Japanese pop culture and history, this program offers a fresh way to hear Godzilla.
Speaker: Erik Homenick, Author, Scoring Godzilla: An Analysis of Akira Ifukube’s Musical Narratives
Erik Homenick received his PhD in literature (cultural studies) at UC San Diego. He is also the author of Scoring Godzilla: An Analysis of Akira Ifukube’s Musical Narratives, releasing January 21, 2027, from McFarland & Company. Scoring Godzilla is the first-ever English language book about the composer Ifukube, who is widely considered one of the “founding fathers” of the kaiju film phenomenon. Erik has taught and lectured on Godzilla and kaiju cinema at UC San Diego and has widely spoken on Akira Ifukube’s life and career on radio programs, podcasts, and at venues such as the Music Institute of Chicago. He is a co-founder of the Kaiju Masterclass online Godzilla convention and has contributed film-music related essays to Blu-ray releases produced by Arrow Films. He currently teaches courses on 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
Location:
Zoom
Cost:
Free