History TearJerker / GodzillaMinusOne

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is in radioactive ruins for the time being, and the fallout will be felt for a while if not years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko may or may not lose Noriko to the G-Cells and could lose Shikishima to the radiation, which would [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leave her once again orphaned and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with military or recovery aid. So while there's some levity, it's still a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]] with [[BittersweetEnding rather bleak undertones to its ending]].

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is in radioactive ruins for the time being, and the fallout will be felt for a while if not years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko may or may not lose Noriko to the G-Cells and could lose Shikishima to the radiation, which would [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leave her once again orphaned and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with militairy aid. So while there's some levity, it's still a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]] with [[BittersweetEnding rather bleak undertones to its ending]].

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is in radioactive ruins for the time being, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for a while if not years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko may or may not lose Noriko to the G-Cells and could lose Shikishima to the radiation, which would [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leave her once again orphaned and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with militairy aid. So while there's some levity, it's still a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]] with [[BittersweetEnding rather bleak undertones to its ending]].

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is a ''ruined nuclear desert'' like Hiroshima, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko has lost Noriko to the G-Cells and is about to lose Shikishima to the radiation, [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leaving her once again orphanized and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with recovery supplies. So while there's some levity, it's still a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]] with rather bleak undertones to its ending.
** That said, much of this is very much speculative. Noriko is being mutated, but there's no sign that her life is currently in danger. The black rain and apparent nuclear blast of Godzilla's breath weapon is concerning, but the long term effects aren't yet known. Even if the radiation is comparable to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs (as the blast seems to be), Tokyo will recover eventually (Hiroshima and Nagasaki are ''not'' nuclear deserts, and both cities were at mostly safe radiation levels within a few days of the blasts.) Finally, the Americans were prevented from providing ''military aid,'' not recovery aid, so they'll almost certainly be there to help with rebuilding, especially if the international community realizes that Godzilla's rampage is their fault and they have to save face. In short, while the situation is very grim, it's also optimistic, Akiko still has her parents, and Japan is far from total collapse. So there is some hope to consider here, but it's still very sad while it lasts.

* The aftermath of Godzilla's attack on Odo Island where Shikishima wakes up and sees Tachibana lining up the corpses of the dead mechanics killed by Godzilla. Tachibana then blames Shikishima for his hesitation of shooting Godzilla, and forcibly gives him pictures of all the dead mechanics' families to remind the latter of his failure.

* Shikishima has had trouble finding honest employment in order to support Noriko and Akiko. Noriko mentions one previous example of unfruitful work, when Shikishima had had a delivery of rice stolen from him, resulting in him not getting paid. The job he gets later, the minesweeping job, is likely one of the only available options he could find. Noriko is upset that he's taking such a dangerous job after having just survived the war, but Shikishima insists that if he's picky about his work and pay, Akiko will likely die of starvation. He has to assure Noriko that the danger of the job doesn't necessarily guarantee his death, like it would for the kamikaze pilots.

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is a ''ruined Nuclear desert'' like Hiroshima, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko has lost Noriko to the G-Cells and is about to lose Shikishima to the radiation, [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leaving her once again orphanized and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with recovery supplies. So while there's some levity, it's still a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]] with rather bleak undertones to its ending.

* The ending might seem happy, but it leaves a great deal unresolved. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is a ''ruined Nuclear desert'' like Hiroshima, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko has lost Noriko to the G-Cells and is about to lose Shikishima to the radiation, [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leaving her once again orphanized and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with recovery supplies. This isn't just a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]], this is the [[Main/DownerEnding bleakest ending of any Godzilla film to date.]]

* After coming home from encountering Godzilla a second time, Shikishima has a nightmare about the Odo Massacre and Godzilla attacking Tokyo. Noriko finally gets through to him by begging to let her share his burden, leading to Shikishima admitting that the war never truly ended for him.

* The Ginza attack becomes one for Shikishima when Godzilla unleashes his Atomic Breath, and Noriko--whom Shikishima had just run out to save--[[HeroicSacrifice pushes him into a nearby alley just before the shockwave carries her away]]. Once the dust settles, Shikishima stumbles out, calling for Noriko...only to stop mid-call as he sees the devastation around him. [[HopeSpot His hopes dashed]], Shikishima can only scream in agony and fury at the massive monstrosity who has just destroyed so much, all while black, radioactive rain falls.

* The ending is anything but happy. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is a ''ruined Nuclear desert'' like Hiroshima, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko has lost Noriko to the G-Cells and is about to lose Shikishima to the radiation, [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leaving her once again orphanized and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too cooped up in tensions with the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with recovery supplies. This isn't just a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]], this is the [[Main/DownerEnding bleakest ending of any Godzilla film to date.]]

** That said, much of this is very much speculative. Noriko is being mutated, but there's no sign that her life is currently in danger. The black rain and apparent nuclear blast of Godzilla's breath weapon is concerning, but the long term effects aren't yet known. Even if the radiation is comparable to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs (as the blast seems to be), Tokyo will recover eventually (Hiroshima and Nagasaki are ''not'' nuclear deserts, and both cities were at mostly safe radiation levels within a few days of the blasts.) Finally, the Americans were prevented from providing ''military aid,'' not recovery aid, so they'll almost certainly be there to help with rebuilding, especially if the international community realizes that Godzilla's rampage is their fault and they have to save face. In short, while the situation is very grim, it's also optimistic, Akiko still has her parents, and it's far from total collapse.

** That said, much of this is very much speculative. Noriko is being mutated, but there's no sign that her life is currently in danger. The black rain and apparent nuclear blast of Godzilla's breath weapon is concerning, but the long term effects aren't yet known. Even if the radiation is comparable to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs (as the blast seems to be), Tokyo will recover eventually (Hiroshima and Nagasaki are ''not'' nuclear deserts, and both cities were at mostly safe radiation levels within a few days of the blasts.) Finally, the Americans were prevented from providing ''military aid,'' not recovery aid, so they'll almost certainly be there to help with rebuilding (particularly if the international community realizes that Godzilla is their fault). In short, while the situation is very grim, Akiko still has her parents, and it's far from total collapse.

* The ending is anything but happy. Sure, Japan stopped Godzilla, but now Tokyo is a ''ruined Nuclear desert'' like Hiroshima, and the radioactive fallout will be felt for years, both in Japan and everywhere else. Tachibana lost [[Main/LastOfHisKind his entire crew to Godzilla]], and Akiko has lost Noriko to the G-Cells and is about to lose Shikishima to the radiation, [[Main/HereWeGoAgain leaving her once again orphanized and alone.]] The casualties, both direct and long-term, are in the tens of thousands, and will eventually be in the hundreds. Whoever ''isn't'' contaminated with G-Cells or radiation is either too young and uneducated, or too crippled without the time or resources, to rebuild Japan, and the Americans are [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar too busy fighting the Soviets]] to even consider supporting Japan with recovery supplies. This isn't just a [[Main/MeaningfulName Minus One situation]], this is the [[Main/DownerEnding bleakest ending of any Godzilla film to date.]]