Internet
kaiju
What does kaiju mean?
A giant monster that rampages through cities, a genre and creature type central to tokusatsu and much anime. Literally 'strange beast'.
"The finale is basically two kaiju leveling the city."
Origin
Japanese 怪獣 (kaijū), 'strange/mysterious beast'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kaiju?
A giant monster that typically rampages through cities — Godzilla is the archetype. The word literally means 'strange beast'.
Where do kaiju appear?
In tokusatsu (special-effects films like Godzilla and Ultraman) and in plenty of anime, where giant monsters battle or level cities.
What's the plural of kaiju?
Japanese doesn't mark plurals, so 'kaiju' stays the same for one or many. English speakers use it both ways.
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