Gamera vs. Barugon

Gamera vs. Barugon

Year: 1966

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Shigeo Tanaka

ActionFantasy

After a giant opal from New Guinea is shipped to Japan, scientists discover it is actually an egg that hatches the monster Barugon. Barugon attacks Osaka, freezing the castle with a chilling gust and firing a destructive rainbow ray. Gamera, having escaped from his rocket enclosure, returns to Earth to battle the new threat, fighting both on land and in the waters of Lake Biwa.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Gamera vs. Barugon (1966). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Takes place six months after the preceding film, Gamera. The action shifts between remote jungles and modern Japanese cities, reflecting a contemporary era in the Gamera series.

Location

New Guinea, Kobe Harbor (Japan), Osaka (Japan), Lake Biwa (Japan), Kurobe Dam (Japan)

New Guinea's jungle hosts the opal quest, highlighting remote, untamed landscapes. Kobe Harbor and Osaka anchor the urban Japanese setting where Barugon's assault unfolds. Lake Biwa serves as the natural backdrop for the final confrontation, while the Kurobe Dam sequence underscores Japan's engineering landscape amid monster encounters.

🇯🇵 Japan 🗺️ Diverse locales

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Main Characters – Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)

Meet the key characters of Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Keisuke Hirata (Kōjirō Hongō)

A young man driven by a desire for treasure, whose greed triggers the central crisis surrounding the opal. He bears the weight of loss as Kawajiri and other companions die, and is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. He seeks redemption by cooperating with Karen to avert further tragedy.

💎 Greed ⚖️ Responsibility 🤝 Redemption

Karen (Kyōko Enami)

A local woman who guides Keisuke toward the opal and, ultimately, helps avert further harm. She demonstrates pragmatism, empathy, and moral clarity in a crisis. Her involvement becomes the turning point that hints at future hope.

🧭 Mystery 💖 Compassion 🧠 Resourcefulness

Onodera (Kōji Fujiyama)

A duplicitous figure who betrays Keisuke and reveals the murders of Ichiro and his wife. His actions catalyze the confrontation with Barugon and escalate the human cost of the quest.

🧪 Betrayal 🧠 Calculating 🔥 Danger

Gamera (Teruo Aragaki)

The ancient giant turtle-hero who battles Barugon to protect humanity. Though a monster by form, Gamera embodies mercy, resilience, and the drive to safeguard lives against overwhelming odds. His intervention anchors the film's message of protection over predation.

🛡 Protector 🌌 Cosmic 🛰️ Persistent

Kawajiri (Yūzō Hayakawa)

A World War II veteran whose death in the jungle marks the human cost of the opal quest. His memory underscores the dangers of reckless expeditions and the consequences of betrayal. He embodies the duty and sacrifice of the older generation that faces the consequences of past conflicts.

🪖 Veteran 🕊️ Duty 💔 Loss

Ichiro Hirata (Shō Natsuki)

A World War II veteran and husband, whose presence and fate emphasize the personal tragedy tied to the opal journey. His role highlights the human costs of greed and deception. His death serves as a catalyst for the survivors to reassess their actions.

🪖 Veteran 🧭 Mentor 💔 Loss

Barugon

The lizard-like antagonist born from the opal's power, capable of a deadly rainbow ray. Its assault forces Gamera to respond and frames the conflict as a struggle between two titanic forces. Barugon embodies the destructive potential of unchecked power and serves as the catalyst for the heroes' actions.

🌈 Rainbow ray 🐉 Monster ⚔️ Threat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Major Themes – Gamera vs. Barugon (1966)

Explore the central themes of Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💎 Greed

Keisuke's pursuit of the opal reveals the danger of greed, setting off a chain of betrayals and deaths. The story shows how desire for wealth can override loyalty and ethics. The consequences ripple through the group, forcing characters to confront the harm their ambitions cause.

⚖️ Responsibility

The characters face the consequences of their choices, especially the cost of Onodera's treachery and Keisuke's initial greed. The story pushes them toward accountability and a path to redemption. The theme underscores that owning up to mistakes can lead to repair and a chance at a better outcome.

🤝 Redemption

Karen's intervention and Kawajiri's memory highlight the possibility of forgiveness and solidarity. The ending suggests that support and shared purpose can restore hope after tragedy. Redemption here is earned through actions that protect others and acknowledge past wrongs.

🛡 Heroism

Gamera embodies protection against devastation, contrasting human flaws with monster-scale courage. The battles test courage, resourcefulness, and the resolve to save lives rather than seek gain. The film frames heroism as a collective effort that emerges from resilience in the face of danger.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a monster threat arising, often triggered by human folly like greed or ambition. While the central monster is eventually defeated, the journey is marked by significant human casualties, moral failings, or collateral damage. The resolution acknowledges the victory but lingers on the tragedy and consequences, creating a more complex emotional payoff than pure triumph.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared emotional arc: a high-intensity monster conflict resolved with a bittersweet or melancholic ending. They balance spectacular action with a thematic weight centered on consequence, sacrifice, and the sobering aftermath of catastrophe.

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Gamera vs. Barugon Summary

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Gamera vs. Barugon Summary

Gamera vs. Barugon Timeline

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Gamera vs. Barugon Timeline

Gamera vs. Barugon Spoiler-Free Summary

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Gamera vs. Barugon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Gamera vs. Barugon

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