Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.
Even with all the horrors of a post-war Japan and adding Godzilla on top of that sundae, there's still some moments that can make a heart melt just a bit.
- Shikishima lands on Odo Island under the pretense that his plane has mechanical issues, but Tachibana and the mechanics quickly realize that he abandoned his duty as kamikaze pilot. However, while Shikishima was looking out at sea in shame, one of the mechanics comforts him and assures him that there should be people like him who want to live rather then "die honorably" when the outcome of the war is already clear.
- When Godzilla attacks the garrison in the ditch, Tachibana orders everyone to escape the ditch while being the last person to leave but it ends up causing him to be injured on his left leg.
- One of the mechanics even tried to help Tachibana only for Godzilla to clamp his jaws down on him.
- Sumiko is understandably bitter and angry over her children dying along with her neighborhood destroyed. She initially takes her anger out on Shikishima for being a kamikaze pilot who returned home alive. When Noriko starts staying at Shikishima's residence with Akiko, a bitter Sumiko eventually asks if Noriko can actually take care of the baby and checks on the infant herself. When she concludes Akiko will perish from malnutrition, she hands over her scant supplies of white rice so the baby can survive. As time goes by, Sumiko ends up becoming Akiko's auntie, and after Shikishima survives the suicide run on Godzilla she once again takes her anger out on him because she was terrified for the life of the man she's come to see as family.
- After a tortured Shikishima finally explains what had happened on Odo Island and at sea, Noriko doesn't dismiss his words or tell him to snap out of his funk. Instead, she listens to him, then gently tells him that everyone who survived the war was meant to, and that no matter what happens, they must endeavor to live on. Even as Shikishima has another breakdown, Noriko embraces him tightly. Considering how little mental health was understood at this time, Noriko's steadfastness with and empathy for Shikishima is remarkable.
- The Good-Times Montage showing Shikishima and Noriko raising Akiko together, culminating with them celebrating having rebuilt Shikishima's house after it was destroyed during the war.
- When news breaks over Godzilla's attack in Ginza, Shikishima immediately realizes that Noriko, who's going to her workplace in Ginza, is in danger and rushes out to find her without hesitation.
- The night before the big plan Mizushima is excited to be there with Noda and Akitsu sternly try to Shoo the Dog away and refuse to let him help. Mizushima thinks it is because he did not see combat when Akitsu tells him 'not having seen war...it is something to be proud of.' They wanted their youngest teammate to not risk his life and felt he was untainted by war...which leads to...
- Just as the plan to decompress Godzilla from rapid changes in oceanic pressure depth seems to be failing, Mizushima calls Akitsu and Noda and reveals that he's rallied several civilians to drive their tugboats to help. In a reveal shot that wouldn't be out of place in Dunkirk, Akitsu and Noda look outside of their ship to see the fleet of steamboats arriving, their captains all reporting in over radio to help.
- The bond that forms between Shikishima and his mine disposal teammates initially comes off as just a solid work relationship before eventually becoming something akin to a Family of Choice. This is especially apparent with Akitsu and Noda's horror that Shikishima is seemingly going through with a suicide run on Godzilla to save them, Mizushima's heartbreak when it seems Shikishima has died saving them all and all three's overwhelming joy when they realize that the Shinden was equipped with an ejector seat that Shikishima used to survive.
- The mine disposal team even seem to be regular guests for dinner at Shikishima's house. They also gently admonish him for devaluing Noriko and Akiko, especially after he says to Akiko's face that he's not her father.
- Because of his shame for his actions (or more accurately, lack thereof) during the war, Shikishima keeps Norkio and Akiko at arm's length, denying that they're his family even though, in pretty much every way that matters, Noriko is his wife and Akiko is his daughter. Akitsu tells him that fate brought them together as a family, and he should embrace it. Finally, at the end of the film, Shikishima seems to take this words to heart, prepared to truly accept Noriko into his life as his wife, and Akiko as his daughter.
- After the battle has been won, all the humans on the ships give the defeated Godzilla an honorable salute to him. They are truly genuine about valuing life, even one belonging to an enemy that had caused them so much harm and destruction.
- Tachibana's face breaks into a genuine smile of relief as he hears over the radio that Shikishima both succeeded in stopping Godzilla and ejected from the plane to safety. With this, Tachibana's war finally ends as well.
- The ending where it is revealed that Noriko survived her apparent death. While it might be dampened whether you think the marks on her neck symbolize radiation poisoning or a hint that she mutated to have a healing factor that allowed her to survive in the first place, it is happy that at least she, Shikishima, and Akiko are together for now.
