Akiko
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Akiko (明子 Akiko) is a supporting character in the 2023 Toho Godzilla film Godzilla Minus One. An infant orphaned during the American air raids on Tokyo towards the end of World War II, Akiko was taken by Noriko Oishi while her dying mother begged the young woman to raise her daughter. Akiko later gained two more caretakers in the form of Oishi's boyfriend Koichi Shikishima and their neighbor Sumiko Ota.
Name
Akiko's name is written in kanji, as 明子, in Koichi Shikishima's letter to Sumiko Ota and in Godzilla Minus One's end credits. However, the embroidery on her baby blanket simplifies it to katakana: アキコ.
History
- Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Reiwa era
Godzilla Minus One
Akiko's parents were among the victims of the bombing of Tokyo towards the end of World War II. As her mother lay dying, she begged Noriko Oishi to take care of her daughter.
Shortly after the war, in 1945, Oishi stole blankets from a black market in the city and, with Akiko in her arms, was chased by concerned citizens. Upon running into former ensign Koichi Shikishima, she handed off the infant to him before continuing to flee. Unsure what to do with Akiko, Shikishima sat with her on a bench for a time, then prepared to leave her there. However, he got only a few steps away before deciding to turn around and retrieve her. As he made his way out of the market, he was approached by Oishi and returned Akiko to her. Oishi took an interest in Shikishima's kindness and followed him home, where she prepared Akiko a meal in a pot outside. Oishi then invited herself in, and after trading introductions with Shikishima, fell asleep alongside Akiko.
The next morning, Shikishima's neighbor, Sumiko Ota, breastfed Akiko and educated him and Oishi about baby nutrition. For months to come, Akiko happily resided in Shikishima's home under his and Oishi's care. One night, while Shikishima's coworkers Seiji Akitsu, Kenji Noda, and Shiro Mizushima were having dinner at his house, Akitsu held Akiko in his lap. When the topic of Shikishima's relation to Oishi and Akiko came up, the group was shocked to hear that he was not married to Oishi and was not Akiko's father. By March 1947, Oishi found a job in Ginza, entrusting Ota to look after Akiko in the daytime.
Days after Shikishima was involved in Godzilla's attack on the Shinseimaru, he woke up one morning to see Oishi feeding Akiko soup. Later, while Oishi was on her way to work, Shikishima played with Akiko and her stuffed animal. They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a siren and an emergency radio broadcast announcing that Godzilla was headed for Ginza. Following this attack, which resulted in Oishi's believed death, a ceremony was held for her at Shikishima's home, with a puzzled Akiko in attendance. When Akiko asked where Oishi was, Ota lied that Oishi would be away for work, causing the girl to cry.
Ota continued to babysit Akiko as Shikishima became increasingly involved in the planning of a civilian counterattack against Godzilla. On the eve of the operation, Shikishima picked up Akiko from Ota's house, along with a folded piece of paper. At home, Akiko presented the paper—a drawing she'd made of herself, Shikishima, and Oishi—to Shikishima, before beginning to sob. Shikishima comforted her and assured her that he wouldn't leave her. Nevertheless, the next morning he left an envelope on Akiko's bedside containing money and a note instructing Ota to take care of her. As Shikishima piloted his modified Shinden into battle, Akiko stacked glass pebbles with Ota. Following the successful defeat of Godzilla, Shikishima stepped off of the Yukikaze and was frantically delivered a telegram by Ota. He and Akiko raced to a hospital, where Oishi was still alive and recovering. The unlikely family tearfully reunited.
Books
Gallery
Production and promotional stills
Screenshots
Comments
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