A theme park in Japan has unveiled what might be the world's first "life-size" statue of the country's most-popular fictional monster, Godzilla. The statue, on Japan's Awaji Island, is 75 feet (23 meters) tall.
After appearing in films of the same name since 1954, Godzilla has become part of popular culture around the world. The statue in Japan, which replicates the actual size of the monster in the original films, is currently the largest. It is much larger than the Godzilla head on the Toho Building in Tokyo which is 12 meters tall.
In the original movies, Godzilla was 50 meters tall. However, the monster was resized in later versions. In last year's "Godzilla: King of Monsters," it was resized to 120 meters.
Apart from simply visiting and taking pictures of Godzilla, die-hard fans can ride a zip line that goes right into its mouth.
"As far as we know, this is the only life-size Godzilla statue ever built. We would like Godzilla fans, including those abroad, to come and appreciate the massiveness of the monster they only know of through movie screens," Pasona Group, the company operating the Nijigen No Mori Park just outside Kobe, said in a statement.
The attraction was officially opened to the public Saturday. Builders made sure Godzilla looked as menacing as he was on the big screen by portraying it with an open mouth and large, spiked teeth. The statue itself isn't a full representation of Godzilla - as it was made to look like half its body was buried.
Since Godzilla was introduced it has appeared in more than 30 full-length movies and spin-offs. The franchise has grown to encompass video games, toys and other merchandise.
Godzilla represents a much deeper metaphor for Japan's postwar society. According to cultural experts, Godzilla has become representative of Japan's experience of destruction following World War Two and a reflection of how it had brought it onto itself, they said.
