Megumi Odaka

Megumi Odaka

Born: May 9, 1972
in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Megumi Odaka started her career in 1984 as a voice-actress (seiyū) for the animation-TV-Series Fushigi na koala Blinky aka Noozles (USA) aka The Wondrous Koala Blinky (USA), where she played the character Sandy Brown. In 1987 she started her film career at Toho with the movie "Taketori Monogatari" aka "Princess from the Moon", where she played the role of the blind girl Akeno along with Yasuko Sawaguchi, who played Kaguya, the princess. Then she starred as Asuka along with Natsuki Ozawa and Hikari Ishida in the TV series Hana no Asuka-gumi aka "Radiant Asuka Class" (1988), based on a manga series about a 14 year old delinquent girl. Her next role was in the NHK TV-Series "Seishun kazoku" ("Youth Family") (1989).

After she won the "TOHO Cinderella Contest" in 1987, where she took place with Yasuko Sawaguchi, she landed the role of Miki Saegusa in Godzilla vs. Biollante in 1989. At this time she was a second year high school student and was first afraid of the Godzilla costume. But she quickly befriended suit-actor Kenpachiro Satsuma. However, TOHO was impressed with her acting skills and she also played Miki Saegusa in the following Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and the rest of the Heisei Series: Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. She won a Japanese Academy Award for "Rookie of the year" for her performance in "Princess from the Moon" in 1988, among others.

She was one of the few actors to play the same role in more than one original Japanese release of a Godzilla film (Takashi Shimura played Dr. Kyouhei Yamane in the first two films, and Raymond Burr reprised his role as Steve Martin in the edited American releases Godzilla, King of the Monsters! and Godzilla 1985).

At the end of the Heisei Series she said: "He (actor Akira Takarada) was in the first Godzilla nearly 40 years ago, before I was even born. I want to be like him at that age--if Toho is still making Godzilla movies then, I`d like to come back and appear in them as Miki Saegusa."

Megumi was also a singer and released several singles, two videos, two photobooks and the two albums Milky Cotton (1988) and Powder Snow (1989). She also acted in several Live Stage Productions such as "Anne no aijou" (or "Anne no ai") aka "Anne's Love" or "Anne's Affection" in 1991, "Kiki's Delivery Service" in 1995, "Peter Pan" in 1996 and "Yana no ue no Violinjiki" ("Violin Player on top of the Roof" or "Fiddler on the Roof") in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

Movies for Megumi Odaka...

Hoshi 35
Title: Hoshi 35
Released: October 1, 2023
Type: Movie
Hoshi 35 (HOSHI 35 Hoshi Sanjūgo) is an upcoming crowdfunded tokusatsu kaiju film which will be written and directed by Hiroto Yokokawa and co-directed by Kazuma Yoneyama and Daisuke Sato, with effects by Sato. Presented by MRTS Co., Ltd. and produced by 3Y Co., Ltd., it will star Megumi Odaka, Daijiro Harada, Jun Hashizume, Hiroshi Miyasaka, and Yumiko Tanaka. The project, whose name is derived from the Japanese word for "star" (hoshi), will celebrate Odaka's 35th anniversary as an actress and will be her first film role in close to 30 years. It is to be tentatively released to Japanese theaters in October 2023. (Wikizilla:https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Hoshi_35)
bee
Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex
Title: Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex
Character: Narrator
Released: November 3, 2022
Type: Movie
When army of Gigans tries to invade and destroy the Earth, the only one who can stop them is Godzilla.
bee
Godzilla's Leading Ladies
Title: Godzilla's Leading Ladies
Character: Herself
Released: December 19, 2020
Type: Movie
An NHK documentary about the talented actresses who have portrayed the beautiful, intelligent and resourceful heroines of the long running series. Features interviews with Kumi Mizuno, Keiko Mari, Yumiko Shaku, and Megumi Odaka. Also featured are never before seen 8mm home movies shot by producer Tomoyuki Tanaka on the sets of classic Toho films.
bee
Making of Godzilla vs. Biollante
Title: Making of Godzilla vs. Biollante
Character: Herself
Released: December 4, 2012
Type: Movie
A lengthy discussion on the film's story, the villain, themes, getting the picture off the ground, the script, the shoot, visual effects, and much more. The piece includes making-of footage from the shoot as well as filmmaker interviews.
bee
Making of Godzilla vs. Mothra
Title: Making of Godzilla vs. Mothra
Character: Herself
Released: January 22, 2010
Type: Movie
A look into the production of the nineteenth Godzilla film. Includes filmmaker and actor interviews with behind the scenes footage of the film's visual effects. Includes an interview with Akira Ifukube and a brief discussion of the late Ishiro Honda.
bee
Title: 西村京太郎サスペンス 四国情死行
Character: 松下有子
Released: February 23, 1996
Type: TV
bee
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Title: Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 9, 1995
Type: Movie
A burning Godzilla, on the verge of meltdown, emerges to lay siege to Hong Kong. At the same time horrifying new organisms are discovered in Japan. These crustacean-like beings are seemingly born of the Oxygen Destroyer, the weapon that killed the original Godzilla.
bee
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Title: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 10, 1994
Type: Movie
A mysterious extraterrestrial being resembling Godzilla rapidly approaches Earth. The monster, dubbed SpaceGodzilla, lands to challenge the King of the Monsters.
bee
Shoot!
Title: Shoot!
Character: Minako Kitahara
Released: March 12, 1994
Type: Movie
The Golden Trio of junior high school soccer players, Toshi, Kenji and Kazu, enroll at the new Kakegawa High School merely because they want to play with Kubo, the legendary player who learned his superb soccer techniques in Germany and who helped the Kakegawa team, which then consisted of freshmen only, win eight place in the all-Japan....
bee
Monster Planet of Godzilla
Title: Monster Planet of Godzilla
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: March 1, 1994
Type: Movie
A former 3D theme park attraction at Sanrio Puroland. A spaceship called Earth is dispatched to investigate the disappearance of its counterpart on a monster-filled planet beyond our Solar System. Once there, it quickly spots the downed craft, and is promptly attacked by Mothra and Rodan. It spots Godzilla and opens fire on him, giving the Planet enough time to escape.
bee
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Title: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 11, 1993
Type: Movie
The U.N.G.C.C. (United Nations Godzilla Countermeasure Center) recovers the remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah and construct Mechagodzilla as a countermeasure against Godzilla. Meanwhile, a giant egg is discovered along with a new monster called Rodan. The egg is soon found to be none other than an infant Godzillasaurus.
bee
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Title: Godzilla vs. Mothra
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 12, 1992
Type: Movie
Mothra's dark counterpart, Battra, emerges to eliminate humanity on behalf of the Earth. Two tiny fairies called the Cosmos offer their help by calling Mothra to battle the creature. Unfortunately a meteorite has awoken a hibernating Godzilla as a three way battle for the Earth begins.
bee
Title: The Only One I Can't See
Character: 雨野五十鈴
Released: January 13, 1992
Type: TV
A private lawyer (Hiroshi Mikami) who is infatuated with the widow of the Mamiya conglomerate (Emi Shindo) and aims for her inheritance. But he had multiple personalities. One day, university student Kawashima Megumi is mistaken for her older sister, Maiko. She is given a key to a coin locker, and finds inside the diary of Maiko's real father, a zaibatsu leader. Using her sister's name, Megumi gets close to the widow of the zaibatsu leader.
bee
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Title: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 14, 1991
Type: Movie
The Futurians, time-travelers from the 23rd century, arrive in Japan to warn them of the nation's destruction under Godzilla. They offer to help erase Godzilla from history by preventing his creation. With Godzilla seemingly gone, a new monster emerges as the Futurians' true intentions are revealed.
bee
Title: Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
Released: October 4, 1990
Type: TV
bee
Diary
Title: Diary
Character: herself
Released: December 21, 1989
Type: Movie
Idol and actress Megumi Odaka Diary, 1988 VHS.
bee
Godzilla vs. Biollante
Title: Godzilla vs. Biollante
Character: Miki Saegusa
Released: December 16, 1989
Type: Movie
After the previous Godzilla attack, a miniature arms race ensues to collect his cells. Concerned over Godzilla's possible return, the Japanese government uses the cells to create a new bio-weapon, ANEB (Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria). They seeks the aid of geneticist Genshiro Shiragami, who's experiments result in a new mutation.
bee
MEGUMI The Campaign
Title: MEGUMI The Campaign
Character: herself
Released: October 21, 1989
Type: Movie
Megumi Odaka (小高恵美) idol VHS tape, Megumi the Campaign - Idol Roke Zenkoku Jyuudan, 1989. She is best known for the role of Miki Saegusa in six Godzilla films from 1989 to 1995.
bee
Hana no Asuka-gumi!
Title: Hana no Asuka-gumi!
Released: April 11, 1988
Type: Movie
Television drama adaptation of the manga by Satosumi Takaguchi.
bee
Title: Hana no Asuka gumi!
Character: Asuka Kuraku
Released: April 11, 1988
Type: TV
While the adults were devouring the country in peace the young girls are now plunging into the Sengoku Period. A domination of fear and terror by the Zenchura, a federation of banchos nationwide, began. With 80% of the nation's middle schools already under its control. Yet, there was one girl who was determined to crush those wicked ambitions. Her name is Asuka Kuraku.
bee
Princess from the Moon
Title: Princess from the Moon
Character: Akeno
Released: September 26, 1987
Type: Movie
Two poor, married farmers have recently lost their only child; after a freak visitation, they pry open an alien cocoon to greet their new daughter.