A Godzilla-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo

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Professional photographer David Friedman is a man with many ideas, some innovative, some astounding, some…well you decide…

One of Friedman’s greatest dreams (or worst nightmares, depending on your perspective) is convincing the officials that run Tokyo to build a life-sized skyscraper in the image of the silver screen’s greatest monster—the undisputed champion of Toho Co., Ltd.: Godzilla.

Toho might like idea

Friedman writes in his blog that “The people of Tokyo should construct a giant building shaped like Godzilla. Imagine what it would do to the city’s skyline, and to the tourism industry.”

And he’s right, tourists would flock to see a life-sized Godzilla in the heart of Tokyo, especially if it were a building housing stores, offices, perhaps even upscale penthouse apartments.

Cost of land may make Godzilla cringe

Japan’s largest city has land rated as the sixth most expensive in the world. Sure it’s come down from the dizzying peak during 1989 when land was going for the super-bubble price of almost $93,000 per square foot. But even with Japan’s three-decade old financial woes, the cost of Tokyo land is still a heady $2,000 per square foot pushing any Godzilla skyscraper project into a multi-billion dollar venture.

But as Friedman sees it, the investment may be worth it. The imposing figure of Godzilla glowering down on the Tokyo skyline would be quite a draw.

One of Godzilla’s arms could house a bar and the other arm a restaurant

“People would come from all over to take pictures,” Friedman argues. Godzilla’s “eyes could flash red so airplanes don’t hit him. There could be an observatory in his mouth so people could look out over Tokyo. One of his arms could house a bar and the other arm a restaurant. They could serve drinks called Mothra Martinis and dishes like Grilled Gamera steaks with a side of mashed potatoes.”

Yummy. It is clever to sneak in other Toho icons and competing movie monsters from other studios like the giant, radioactive jet-propelled prehistoric turtle, Gamera.

Photo courtesy Toho Company, Ltd.

One could almost envision a separate building several blocks away constructed to appear as an enraged Gamera. Then the two mega-reptiles would be locked forever in a frozen battle on the busy streets of Tokyo.

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Godzilla skyline photos courtesy David Friedman.

© Copyright AYM Communications, 2011.