What is "kaiju"

n. A giant monster, particularly such as those common to Japanese science fiction films, like Godzilla or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamera. Short for 大怪獣 (''giant kaiju'').

(from Japanese "strange beast") is a film genre that features monsters, usually attacking a major Japanese city or engaging other monsters in battle. It is a subgenre of tokusatsu (special effects-based) entertainment.

Related terms include , a film featuring giant monsters or a single monster; ; and , specifically meaning the larger variety of monsters.

Godzilla is an example of a daikaiju; others include Gamera, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla and Daimajin. The term ultra-kaiju is longhand for kaiju in the Ultra Series.

Toho has produced a variety of Kaiju films over the years (many that featured Godzilla and Mothra) but other Japanese studios contributed to expanding the genre in Japan by producing Kaiju films and shows of their own, studios including Daiei Film Co., Ltd., Kadokawa Pictures, Tsuburaya Productions, Shochiku, and Nikkatsu studios.