Godzilla’s Home Goes Green: Toho Studios Pioneers Hydrogen Power in Japan’s Film Industry

• Toho Co, the producer of the “Godzilla” series, has begun using hydrogen-fired electricity at its main studio in Tokyo, a first in Japan.
• The green power supplier, Jera Co, aims to achieve complete decarbonization in the facility by 2030.
• Toho Studios’ annual electricity consumption is equivalent to around 1,500 average households.
• Toho President Hiroyasu Matsuoka stated the goal is to produce films using clean, 24/7 zero-emissions energy.

In a landmark move, Toho Co, the film producer behind the globally recognized Godzilla series, has initiated the use of hydrogen-fired electricity at its main studio in Tokyo. This marks the first instance of such power being used commercially in Japan. The green power supplier to Toho Studios, one of the country’s largest film studios, is Jera Co. This company is a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc and Chubu Electric Power Co.

The studio, situated in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, has already been provided with solar-powered energy by Jera as part of its zero-emission efforts. The ultimate goal is to achieve complete decarbonization in the facility by 2030. To this end, Jera has constructed a hydrogen power generation facility at its Sodegaura Thermal Power Station in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, specifically for Toho.

Historical Shift Towards Renewable Energy

Toho Studios’ annual electricity consumption is equivalent to that of around 1,500 average households, according to the companies. The studio, founded in 1932, has produced classics by renowned Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, including Seven Samurai, and a string of movies under the Godzilla franchise including Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One.

Toho President Hiroyasu Matsuoka stated, We will continue to drive the decarbonization of our industry with the ultimate goal of producing our films and creative content using clean, 24/7 zero-emissions energy, as we work to inspire our customers around the world. This move by Toho Studios is a significant step towards sustainable energy use in the film industry. It is reminiscent of the historical shift towards renewable energy sources in various industries worldwide, as part of global efforts to combat climate change.

Japan’s Ongoing Efforts in Various Sectors

In other news, Japan’s competition watchdog plans to order U.S. IT giant Google to halt violations of the country’s antitrust law. The watchdog suspects that Google has unfairly pressured smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its search app. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a Christian, attended a Christmas service at a church in Tokyo. Akie Abe, widow of slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, expressed hope that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will contribute to peace in the world during his second term in the White House.

In the automotive sector, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are considering launching a manufacturing partnership in which they will build vehicles at each other’s plants. This would create the world’s third-biggest automaker group by volume. Meanwhile, a Japanese university and construction company have partnered on research to develop a lunar habitat capable of generating artificial gravity, enabling people to live on the Moon under conditions similar to those on Earth.