Godzilla Minus One

by Takashi Yamazaki

From the director of the hit film Godzilla Minus One comes the novelization packed with even more action and story to celebrate Godzilla's 70th anniversary! In postwar Japan, the kaiju of legend has become more powerful and fearsome. Can a country in shambles withstand the might of Godzilla?After failing to carry out his suicide mission, disgraced kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima returns to ravaged postwar Japan to find his parents dead and country destroyed. Having lost both his honor and his family, he must try to slowly rebuild alongside the thousands orphaned by the Tokyo air raids--including a woman named Noriko and her adopted child, whom he invites into the ramshackle remains of his home.
But as these struggling survivors begin to reclaim a semblance of stability, a new and unprecedented threat appears on the horizon--a rampaging, colossal creature from the deep that their defeated nation cannot defend against. With no hope of aid from the occupying forces, can a ragtag militia of misfits band together to thwart this titanic terror?
Whether you've already seen the movie, or just heard all the acclaim, delve deeper into the world of Godzilla Minus One in this gripping novelization penned by the film's Academy Award®-winning director Takashi Yamazaki!

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2023

About the author

山崎貴

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never saw the film version of this, but the book doesn't require it - it's just a very good Godzilla story, and that's because it understands that Godzilla himself isn't a nebulous monster: he is the physical embodiment of war. He's the senselessness of the war machine, the unnecessary deaths, and the unintended consequences.

One of the characters in the book comments that his war hasn't ended yet because of his run-in with Godzilla. He ends the book feeling like maybe it has, but the final paragraphs tell a different story. If you've survived war, it never ends somewhere inside of you. Godzilla is always out there, under the waves.

[Matthew Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive novelisation of one of the best films ever made. Turns out that "Is your war... finally over now?" will make me cry in print as well as in film.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One film is nothing short of phenomenal—a five-star masterpiece. I’ve watched it multiple times, in both subtitled and dubbed formats, and even experienced it in both color and the black-and-white “Minus Color” version. Every time, it strikes me as powerful and intense. The film’s blend of spectacle, emotional depth, and post-war themes makes it one of the strongest entries in the entire Godzilla franchise. The booming score, harrowing destruction, and raw humanity give it an immediacy that leaves me shaken no matter how often I return to it.

The novelization, however, does not reach the same heights. Written by Yamazaki himself, it faithfully retells the story with some additional scenes and expanded character insights. It is an interesting companion piece, but compared to the film it feels more subdued. Where the movie overwhelmed me with sound, image, and performance, the novel often relies on straightforward prose that lacks the same punch. Knowing the story so well from repeated viewings also meant that little in the book surprised me, which lessened its impact.

That difference highlights one of the challenges of novelizations in general: they often expand rather than heighten. In prose, Godzilla’s destructive power can only be described, not experienced. The sight of Tokyo in ruins, the force of Godzilla’s heat ray, or the haunted look in Koichi’s eyes simply carry more weight on screen than they do on the page. The book fills in some background and offers inner monologues that add context, but they slow the pace rather than intensify the story’s momentum.

It’s also worth noting that Yamazaki is a filmmaker first and foremost. His storytelling brilliance is visual, and while the novel is competently written, it never feels like it was crafted to stand as a work of literature in its own right. Instead, it reads as a supplemental tie-in that enriches the film for those curious about deleted or alternate material, but it doesn’t transform the narrative into something equally gripping on the page.

For these reasons, I rate the novelization three stars. It is worthwhile if you want more time in this story’s world and some extra details that flesh out the characters, but it doesn’t replicate the breathtaking intensity of the film. The movie earns a perfect five out of five for its emotional force and cinematic spectacle; the novel, while solid, can’t compete with that level of power.

[Rakib Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Godzilla Minus One is a masterwork of how to tell a simplistic yet impactful story in a profound way. It follows quite a predictable formula but due to the strength of the inherent message and brilliant execution, it turns into something to rejoice for ages to come.

I had an interest in revisiting the experience, so I immediately picked up the novelization of the film as soon as I found out about it. And thankfully the book does deliver with some delightful new scenes and a glimpse into the psyche of some of the characters.

Uniquely, Godzilla Minus One is not just a monster movie, but features the struggles of a post-war country who are on the losing side facing yet another disaster and trying to overcome it this time on their own terms. The characters are quite vividly imagined, making the readers sympathetic to them and feeling anguish or joy alongside them in this all too human tale.

Almost everyone who is a genre fan has surely seen the movie or heard about it. This novelization just gives them another chance to re-enter this world.

4 out of 5 stars from me.

For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/

[Justin Doughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Godzilla Minus One, the novel adaptation of the Oscar-winning film, serves as a compelling companion piece that enriches the story rather than simply retelling it. The added material allows for deeper insight into the characters’ inner lives, motivations, and emotional scars—elements that the film, by necessity, can only hint at through performance and visuals. These moments of reflection help flesh out the human cost of the devastation and strengthen the emotional core of the narrative.

That said, where the novel excels in character depth, it struggles to fully replicate the overwhelming scale and sheer terror of Godzilla himself. On the page, his presence is ominous and destructive, but the raw, visceral impact of seeing him on the big screen—the sound design, the visual enormity, the sense of helplessness—is something the “theater of the mind” can’t quite match. Godzilla feels most terrifying when experienced in motion and sound, towering over everything with unstoppable force.

Ultimately, the novel works best as a supplement to the film rather than a replacement. It offers fans a richer understanding of the characters and themes, while the movie remains the definitive way to experience Godzilla’s full, menacing grandeur.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Godzilla minus one is easily one of my favorite movies ever, and I love movie novelizations, so needless to say I have been waiting for the english translation of this for a long time. It was basically the same, but it was interesting to see some minor differences and changes. Also I really liked getting to read Koichi's inner dialogue. Only reason it's not a 5 like the movie is because I think the actors performances in the latter are the best part. They brought so much humanity, love, and depth to their characters, and it's not that I couldn't fully feel it here, but for them it's undeniable. This story is just so beautiful and a truly layered and nuanced take of post war Japan. It's handled with grace and gives the characters all the space to represent more than just themselves. I hope the sequel can compare with the masterpiece that this one is.

[Brett Marcus Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really curious about how this was put together. At first it felt too dry and basic, and I couldn't tell if that was Yamasaki or the translation. I was also surprised that there aren't any additional scenes or anything, if you've seen the movie this follows it beat by beat without any new material. You get a little deeper into Koichi's emotions and there are more details to scenes, including a full translation the letter he wrote and distributed to Tachibana and an explanation as to why tanks were at the National Diet building in the first place during the Ginza attack.

It's still full of heart and emotion like the movie, but it's definitely not even better.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
——
let it be known that godzilla minus one is not only my favorite godzilla film, but my favorite film of all time!!!!! being able to experience this novelization was such a treat. it delivered the same incredible godzilla story you see in the film, while expanding on various characters, plot points, and motivations that are left unsaid on screen.
my only complaint is that, as a novel, it’s not particularly the most well written, and i think the translation from japanese to english loses a few details. but still! so so good, and now i want to rewatch the movie for the 800th time.

[Branden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Takashi Yamazaki, what a home run this was. Not only was he the director of the film, but hit it out of the park with this novelization. So easy to read, so engaging, and the writing just pulls you in. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t hand out five stars very often…years even. But this one is well deserved. Possibly a new favorite. I’ll have to think about it. Hopefully I make up my mind before the regeneration process finishes. Then it’s over.

[Jacob Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

anybody who knows me, knows I love this movie. It’s my top movie of all time.

The book (which is very accurate to the movie) falls a little flat. The visual spectacle of Godzilla is necessary for the heavier moments to hit, even written on a page, i feel spoonfed.

Overall, it was a decent book, but the movie is the preferred experience.

[Max South · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good novelization of a movie I enjoyed a lot, really just adding depth to scenes and characters here and there.

Something will always be lacking though if I can’t actually see Godzilla destroying the city !

[Alanis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*
Aunque parecía ya todo contado sobre este famoso personaje. Esta historia es bastante entretenida y “novedosa”. Muy japonesa también, sobre todo en la actitud de los personajes sobre hechos como el honor, la guerra, la vergüenza, la familia, la generosidad…

[Robyn Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the movie and wanted to read the book. I have always loved Godzilla and this book was fantastic and made me want to watch the movie. I’ll probably watch it again soon. Highly recommend the book and movie. I can’t wait for Godzilla Minus Zero.

[Clover One · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the movie when it came out in the theatres, and the book is just as good in my opinion. Aside from how DESCRIPTIVE some of the sections are, it's really, really good.

[Kyru Reads Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect companion piece to the movie. The only real difference is some of the diologue and some added or changed scenes. It's well translated and I fully recommend!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

every good book the movie is better tho

[Eric]

Gojira -1.0 the novelization

Review at MonsterBookClub

[Eric Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good version of the story. Have no idea whatsoever what the penultimate scene means with the mention of the black sore moving up Noriko’s back.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doesn't add anything new to the story, but it's a brisk 190 page read written by the film's director. Like the film, it spends the majority of it's time on the characters as opposed to the titular monster. A good companion piece, but really this is for Godzilla fans only.