Ken Watanabe Reveals His Only Request While Filming ‘Godzilla’

Ken Watanabe is reflecting on a small but meaningful creative choice he made while filming Godzilla that resonated deeply with audiences.

During production on the 2014 film, Watanabe revealed that the filmmakers initially wanted him to pronounce the iconic monster’s name as “Godzilla.” However, the actor pushed back, explaining that in Japan, the creature is universally known as “Gojira,” a name that carries cultural weight and history.

“To Japanese people, ‘Gojira’ is an icon,” Watanabe said in an interview with Awards Radar for his Japanese film Kokuho. He felt it was important to preserve that authenticity. He ultimately insisted on using the original pronunciation in the film.

The decision paid off. At a screening in New York, Watanabe recalls that when he said “Gojira” on screen, the audience applauded. “It was a small thing,” he said, “but a good decision.”

Watanabe’s story highlights how even subtle choices in blockbuster filmmaking can honor cultural origins—and how audiences often recognize and appreciate that respect, no matter where they’re from.