Special Sub-Topic: 'Mothra': The Biggest Bug of 1961 Click Here To Play: 'Mothra': The Biggest Bug of 1961

In the original 1961 movie, what was the name of the island that Clark Nelson led an expedition to explore?

Biru Island. Clark Nelson (played so despicably by the great Jerry Ito) led the expedition, which was sponsored by his home goverment of Rolissica. They hoped to discover the reason behind the natives' good health, given the radioactivity in the region. Nelson also hoped to find something with which to make yet another fortune. And he did, in the form of the Twin Fairies. This was the only time that Mothra's island is called Biru (also spelled Beiru by some sources. In almost all of Mothra's other appearances, it is referenced as Infant Island.

What was the name of the Matsubishi Steamship Company ship that had been damaged during the typhoon, forcing its crew to seek the safety of that particular island?

The Genji Maru. Typhoon #8 from the Carolines had winds of up to 80 meters per second, and the Genji Maru had been stuck in the middle of it. Biru Island was nearby, but in the middle of an atomic testing area. The crew remained in good health, because of the juices the islanders fed them (which somehow protected them from the radioactivity of the area).

What was the nickname of Mita Press reporter, Sen-chan Fukuda?

Bulldog. Senichiro "Sen-chan" Fukuda (played by the inimitable Frankie Sakai) was known for his dogged determination at getting his story. In "Mothra", he stowed away on the expedition's boat and ended working up as a steward in order to get the big scoop.

Clark Nelson set up a musical revue to highlight the Twin Fairies he had captured on the island. When it was time for them to appear on stage, they floated down a wire from high over the audience in a miniature version of what kind of vehicle?

A flying coach. Nelson called the revue the "Secret Fairies Show", which was highlighted by the Twin Fairies singing and dancing. No one understood that each time they performed, it was actually a telepathic cry for help back to their island, which soon summoned the infant Mothra to their aid.

What was the name of the prominient Japanese landmark that Mothra cocooned itself around?

The Tokyo Tower. The infant Mothra, though just a caterpillar, left a swath of damage that would've made Godzilla proud. Mothra started with the Shepuyu district, and destroyed quite a bit of property as it headed inland toward the Twin Fairies in Tokyo (including an inordinate number of gas stations for some reason).

What was the name of the special weapon that the Rolissican government lent to Japan, in hopes of destroying Mothra?

The atomic heat gun. The atomic heat gun wasn't much of a help...in fact, it may have done more bad than good. Soon after the attack with the special gun had begun, the adult Mothra freed itself from the cocoon, and it seemed that the heat ray may have sped up the metamorphosis process for the giant insect.

Mothra did a great deal of damage to a city that was obviously a fictional parallel for New York City. What was that city's name?

Newkirk City. The great winds generated by Mothra's wings did a massive amount of damage to Newkirk City. Cars, people and buildings blew all over the place, as the monster flew over the metropolis in its search for the twin Fairies.

What airline did Clark Nelson get an emergency flight to Rolissica on, taking the Twin Fairies with him?

Pan-American Airlines. In those days, before there was big money in product placement, the airplanes used were often there because of whatever stock footage the producers managed to get their hands on. This is probably what happened here, as we see slighty-grainy (usually meaning stock)footage of a Pan-Am jet taking off.

Who designed the unnamed substance that could stop radio and brain waves?

Dr. Harada. Dr. Harada's special material was offered to Nelson, in the form of a cage to hold the Twin Fairies, in an attempt to stop Mothra's rampage further into Japan. Since brainwaves wouldn't pass through the material, it prevented the Twin Fairies' telepathic calls from reaching the giant insect. Dr. Harada, played by kaiju-eiga stalwart Ken Uehara, had been one of the scientists that Nelson gathered together for the Biru Island expedition.

What was the only thing in which Michi said that she believed?

What she saw through the camera lens. Michi Hanamura (Kyoko Kagawa) was the photographer with the Mita Press that who went along with Sen-Chan to meet Dr. Chuju (Hiroshi Koizumi) before the expedition left for Biru Island.