Godzilla Minus One

In 1945, kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima makes an emergency landing on Odo Island with his Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The mechanics thoroughly check the aircraft but find no faults, leading lead mechanic Sosaku Tachibana to suspect Shikishima is avoiding his military duties.

That same night, Godzilla, a gigantic creature, attacks the garrison, causing chaos among the troops. Shikishima is urged to defend the base but succumbs to fear, rendering him unconscious while Godzilla demolishes the base.

When Shikishima awakens the next day, he learns that Tachibana is the only other survivor of the attack. The weight of Tachibana's fury towards Shikishima’s inaction adds to his feelings of survivor's guilt.

In December 1945, Shikishima returns to a devastated Tokyo to discover his parents have perished in the bombings. Overcome with grief, he seeks solace in aiding Noriko Oishi, who has lost her own family.

Their neighbor, Sumiko Ota, tells Shikishima that there is no point in heroics anymore. However, upon learning of an orphaned girl, she chooses to help Noriko by providing supplies to care for Akiko, Noriko’s promise to protect the child.

In March 1946, Shikishima secures a dangerous job aboard a minesweeper clearing World War II naval mines. He works alongside Kenji Noda and faces the peril of American magnetic mines while trying to restore his home.

By July 1946, Godzilla re-emerges, mutated by U.S. nuclear testing, while Japan grapples with tensions from the Soviet Union. The government opts to keep the populace uninformed about the monster’s resurgence, leading to growing dread.

In May 1947, the minesweeper crew is sent to the Ogasawara Islands to confront Godzilla. Despite their efforts with mines and gunfire, they quickly realize their attempts are futile against the creature’s relentless force.

Godzilla invades Japan and targets Ginza, where Noriko is working. Although she manages a narrow escape, she is caught in the chaos of the creature's retaliation, leading Shikishima to mourn her presumed death amidst tremendous destruction.

Frustrated with the government's indifference toward Godzilla, Noda devises a risky plan to lure the creature into Sagami Bay. A team of veterans, including Tachibana, work tirelessly to prepare a prototype aircraft for the confrontation.

As Godzilla approaches, Shikishima bravely leads it into a trap set by destroyers. In a heroic act, he sacrifices himself by crashing his plane into Godzilla's mouth, which creates a massive explosion that severely injures the creature.

After the explosion, the surviving crew celebrates Shikishima's brave sacrifice. Shortly thereafter, Shikishima learns from Sumiko that Noriko survived, though she carries the emotional scars from their harrowing experiences.

Just as hope seems to rekindle, a piece of Godzilla’s flesh begins to regrow as it sinks beneath the waves. This signifies that the threat of Godzilla and the cycle of destruction may not be entirely over, leaving the future uncertain.