GODZILLA THE RIDE: GREAT CLASH Unveiling Ceremony Details and Photo Gallery!

Authors: Daisuke Ishizuka and Keith Aiken
Photographer: Daisuke Ishizuka
Additional Material: Toho Co., Ltd., Seibuen Amusement Park, Yokohama Hakkeijima Co., Ltd.

At 9:50 a.m., Thursday, July 31 (JST), Seibuen Amusement Park (Location: Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture; General Manager: Tomohiro Nishida) held an unveiling ceremony for their new attraction, "Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash" ( ゴジラ・ザ・ライドグレートクラッシュ, Gojira za Raido Gurēto Kurasshu), opening today.

Seibuen Amusement Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Showa era. To commemorate these special occasions, Seibuen is hosting the “Showa 100th Anniversary Grand Festival” with a series of events that allow people of all ages to experience the Showa Japan.

In recent years, the park's ride attraction theater Yuhi-kan has been screening two films, “Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle” (ゴジラ・ザ・ライド大怪獣頂上決戦, Gojira za Raido Daikaijū Chōjō Kessen, 2021) and "Ultraman the Ride: The Great Duel of the Century" (ウルトラマン・ザ・ライド　世紀の大決闘, Urutoraman za Raido Seiki no Daikettō, 2023) featuring popular daikaiju characters who debuted in the Showa era. Now, they are joined by "Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash." All three attraction films were directed, written, and VFX produced by Takashi Yamazaki, winner of the 96th Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for the hit GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0/ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan, 2023).

Select members of the press - including SciFi Japan correspondent Diasuke Ishizuka - were invited to the unveiling event at Yuhi-kan Pavilion for a talk session between Takashi Yamazaki and actress Riko Fukumoto, who was a model featured on the billboard illustration for the first “Godzilla The Ride”.

Mr. Yamazaki said, "The ocean scenes were challenging, but our attention to detail resulted in powerful visuals. We've created the scariest ride ever, and we can't wait for everyone to experience it and be truly terrified. I hope everyone will have the best experience of the summer and grow even more fond of Godzilla.“

Riko Fukumoto spoke about Seibuen Amusement Park's unique pre-ride showroom expereince, saying, ”The entertainer's explanations left me feeling a sense of the mission and excitement that wouldn't stop."

Yamazaki added that, “The new film peaks right from its opening scene. I’m sure this will be the best memory of this summer for you.”

After the unveiling ceremony, 50 Godzilla fans who had been eagerly awaiting the opening were given a sneak preview experience, drawing loud cheers from the audience as they watched the fierce battle and thrills unfold before their eyes.

■ About "Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash"

In "Godzilla: The Ride: Great Clash," visitors take on the role of Godzilla spotters for EDGE - the Emergency Defense against Gargantuan Encounter (巨大生物緊急防衛部隊, Kyodai Seibutsu Kinkyū Bōei Butai) aboard the state-of-the-art drone ship "Goose" (グース, Gūsu), which can travel underwater, on land, and in the air.

While “Godzilla The Ride” focused on the battle of Godzilla against King Ghidorah, "Great Clash" presents the latest war between Godzilla and Mechagodzilla. In this ride, the robot monster, considered the ultimate weapon against Godzilla, appears as a completely new incarnation, the "KIJU type 0‐G BREAKER‐" (ゼロ式機獣 G ブレイカー, Zero-shiki Kijū G Bureikā)!*

Visitors will be caught up in a fierce battle between Godzilla and the new Mechagodzilla as it unfolds on the ocean, experiencing overwhelming thrills with their entire bodies. This soul-stirring ride attraction concludes Godzilla's 70th anniversary with meticulous attention to detail, from beautiful visuals and sound to ride movements and wind and water effects!

In collaboration with Brogent Technologies, "Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash" will be distributed to over 40 international facilities that use the company's i-Ride system, reaching Godzilla and theme park fans not only in Japan, but all over the world!

Takashi Yamazaki. Photo courtesy of Toho.

■ Takashi Yamazaki Profile

Takashi Yamazaki (born 1964) joined Shirogumi Inc. in 1986. He made his directorial debut in 2000 with JUVENILE (ジュブナイル, Jubunairu) and is a leading figure in the field of visual effects and VFX, making full use of advanced visuals in computer graphics.

His ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET (ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日, Ōruweizu: San-chōme no Yūhi, 2005), a VFX film about a Showa-era town with heartwarming humanity, vitality, and atmosphere, won12 awards (including Best Picture and Best Director) at the 29th Japan Academy Prize. His films THE ETERNAL ZERO (永遠の0, Eien no Zero, 2013) and STAND BY ME DORAEMON (STAND BY ME ドラえもん, Sutando Bai Mī Doraemon, 2014) won Best Picture and 8 other awards including Best Animated Film at the 38th Japan Academy Awards, respectively. GODZILLA MINUS ONE was an international smash hit and major award-winner.

Yamazaki's additional credits include SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (SPACE BATTLESHIP ヤマト, Supēsu Batorushippu Yamato, 2010), DESTINY: THE TALE OF KAMAKURA (DESTINY 鎌倉ものがたり, DESTINY Kamakura Monogatari, 2017) , “Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle” and "Ultraman the Ride: The Great Duel of the Century".

Riko Fukumoto. Photo courtesy of Toho.

■ Riko Fukumoto Profile

Riko Fukumoto was born November 25, 2000, in Osaka Prefecture. She debuted in the entertainment industry after winning the Shueisha Award (Seventeen Award) at the 8th Toho Cinderella Audition Grand Prix in 2016.

She won the Newcomer of the Year award at the 46th Japan Academy Awards for her role in the 2022 film EVEN IF THIS LOVE DISAPPEARS FROM THE WORLD TONIGHT (今夜、世界からこの恋が消えても, Konya, Sekai kara kono Koi ga Kietemo). Fukumoto has starred in the movies A GIRL & HER GUARD DOG (お嬢と番犬くん, Ojō to Banken-kun, 2025), TRILLION GAME THE MOVIE (劇場版『トリリオンゲーム』, Gekijō-ban “Toririon Gēmu”) and the upcoming STELLA NEXT TO ME (隣のステラ, Tonari no Stella) - look for SciFi Japan's article on that film soon! - and has expanded her horizons to include stage productions.

■ "Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash" Synopsis

Yuhi-kan, a historic movie theater with seats that move in sync with the images projected onscreen, stands on the Sunset Hill of Seibuen Amusement Park. However, inside this theater, there is a secret passageway that leads to the Goose Nest mothership operated by the Emergency Defense against Gargantuan Encounter (EDGE), a military/scientific team baseed in the bay area. The Goose Nest also houses a Godzilla suppression weapon, the KIJU type 0‐G BREAKER‐, in its hangar.

Supported by tense background music, guards (aka actors) dressed in EDGE uniforms direct the new recruits (aka guests) on their mission to locate and defeat Godzilla at sea. Large monitors in the room show footage of Godzilla's recent coastal attacks and provide detailed schematics of the Goose Nest, plus a mockup of the KIJU type 0‐G BREAKER‐ . With the instructions given, the recruits are now armed and ready to face the King of the Monsters.

Premiere Date: Friday, August 1, 2025

Premiere Venue: Seibuen Yuhi-kan Theater, Seibuen Amusement Park (2964 Yamaguchi, Tokorozawa City, Saitama)

Run Time: Approximately 15 Minutes (Including Pre-Show)

Target Audience: Children Over 100cm (Approximately 3.3 Feet) Tall. Children Under 130cm (Approximately 4.3 Feet) Must Be Accompanied By a Guardian Over 18.

Amusement Park Business Hours: Weekdays 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, and August 12 to 15 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

*Subject to change depending on the season. Please check the website for details.

* KIJU translates to "Mechanical Beast."

About TOHO

TOHO Co., Ltd. is a leading Japanese entertainment company founded in 1932. Its four main business pillars are the cinema business, which includes production, distribution and exhibition; the theatrical business, which includes production and exhibition; the anime business, which has been expanding globally in recent years; and the real estate business, which focuses on development in urban areas. TOHO’s worldwide acclaimed works include theatrical films such as the “Godzilla” series and SEVEN SAMURAI directed by Akira Kurosawa, and TV anime series such as MY HERO ACADEMIA and JUJUTSU KAISEN. These anime series are produced and distributed through the TOHO animation label, and are delivered to a wide range of audiences around the world.

About Seibuen Amusement Park

Seibuen Amusement Park is located in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. in 2021 it reopened as a retro-themed attraction inspired by 1960s Tokyo.