The Visual Effects Society is recognizing two titans of Japanese cinema by inducting Ishirō Honda and Tomoyuki Tanaka into its Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on September 4 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Honda directed the original 1954 Godzilla and went on to helm eight films in the Godzilla series, including Mothra, King Kong vs. Godzilla, and King Kong Escapes. Beyond giant monsters, his filmography spans over 40 titles across multiple genres—from Frankenstein vs. Baragon and The War of the Gargantuas to character-driven dramas like Lovetide and Mother and Son. He also directed television work, including episodes of Return of Ultraman.

After retiring in 1975, Honda returned to filmmaking to collaborate with legendary director Akira Kurosawa on Kagemusha (1980). He passed away in 1993 at age 81.

Tanaka's career was equally prolific, with producer credits on more than 200 films. His résumé includes the 1954 Godzilla and numerous sequels, plus many of Kurosawa's masterpieces: Yojimbo, Sanjuro, High and Low, Red Beard, and Kagemusha. He spent most of his career at TOHO Studios, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO of TOHO Pictures in 1989 before his death in 1997.

This honor continues the Visual Effects Society's recognition of Japanese filmmaking pioneers. The organization previously inducted special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya—Honda's frequent collaborator on the Godzilla series—into the Hall of Fame in 2025.

The inductions acknowledge how Honda and Tanaka transformed practical effects and filmmaking techniques that influenced generations of creators worldwide. Their work on Godzilla established templates for giant monster cinema that remain relevant today, while their collaborations with Kurosawa elevated Japanese cinema on the international stage.