was a Japanese

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

with a career largely focused around

Toho is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...

's ''

Godzilla is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films p ...

'' series. On August 26, 2021, Mimura died from multiple system atrophy.

Biography

Born in

Mie Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 () and has a geographic area of . Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture an ...

and graduating from the College of Art of

Nihon University , abbreviated as , is a private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice, in 1889. The university's name is derived from the Ja ...

, Mimura won Sanrio Screenwriter Award in 1982, which led to writing such theatrical films as Shochiku's ''Green Boy'' and

V-Cinema Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strate ...

work for

Toei Company , simply known as Toei Company or Toei, is a Japanese entertainment company. Headquartered in Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo, it is involved in film and television production, distribution, video game development, publishing, and ownership of 34 movi ...

. Mimura was chosen to pen the script for '' Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II'' (1993), as well as Toho's ''

Yamato Takeru , originally , was a Japanese folk hero and semi-legendary prince of the imperial dynasty, son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan. The kanji spelling of his name varies: it appears in the ''Nihon Shoki'' ...

'' (1994) soon after. In 1999, Toho again turned to Mimura when they revived the ''Godzilla'' franchise. The resulting film, ''

Godzilla 2000 is a 1999 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Takao Okawara, with special effects by Kenji Suzuki. Distributed by Toho and produced under their subsidiary Toho Pictures, it is the 24th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, Toho's 23rd ''Godz ...

'' (1999), was not a great box office success, but Mimura continued to write for the remainder of the Millennium series, as he scripted four out of the six films, including '' Godzilla: Final Wars'' (2004). After several years of illness, Mimura died in Mie Prefecture August 26, 2021.

Filmography

Writer

* '' Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II'' (1993) * ''

'' (1994) * ''

'' (1999) * '' Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' (2000) * ''

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is a 2002 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Masaaki Tezuka, with special effects by Yūichi Kikuchi. Distributed by Toho and produced under their subsidiary Toho Pictures, it is the 27th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise and the fourth film ...

'' (2002) * '' Godzilla: Final Wars'' (2004)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mimura, Wataru Japanese screenwriters 1954 births 2021 deaths Writers from Mie Prefecture Nihon University alumni