Is Gojira a Japanese band? Name Origin and meaning explored as metal band is set to perform at the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony 

Gojira is not a Japanese band. The band is a French heavy metal band, with members from the French Pyrennes region near the French-Spanish border. The band chose the name Godzilla after the titular creature from the 1954 cult classic film of the same name by Ishiro Honda.

The group changed the name to Gojira in 2001. This transition was elaborated upon by the band in an exclusive interview with VS1 in 2001,

"(Translated to English From French): The myth of the big atomic lizard wound up to the max pleased us from the beginning. It was in our heads a symbol of devastating power. When the movie "Godzilla" (the great American production) came out, this name started to bother us-"

The band continued,

"-the image of the monster had changed compared to the black and white Japanese version of the 40s, and the sounds of the word Godzilla didn't suit us anymore. so we decided to adopt the original Japanese name: "Gojira". this change of name symbolizes an important step in the life of the group; a certain open-mindedness and the recording of our first album."

The name was also changed because of copyright reasons. Gojira is a portmanue of the words gorira, meaning gorilla and kujira meaning whale. The anglicized version of Gojira is Godzilla.

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More on Gojira's origins amidst their upcoming performance at the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony

Gojira is to perform at the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony on July 26, 2024, which starts at 7:30 pm CEST. The band will be the first-ever metal band to perform at the Olympics. The band will represent the French nation among the other performers, which reportedly also include Lady Gaga, as well as Céline Dion, and Aya Nakamura.

Gojira was formed in 1986 by brothers Joe Duplantier and Mario Duplantier, alongside Christian Andreu and Alexandre Cornillon. Cornilon left the band in 2001 and was replaced by Jean-Michel Labadie.

Gojira made their breakthrough with the album From Mars to Sirius, which was released on September 27, 2005. The album charted at number 44 on the French album chart. The band spoke about their breakthrough album in an exclusive interview with Spirit of Metal in October 2005, with band member Joe Duplantier elaborating on the title of the album,

"From Mars to Sirius" is a journey from Mars to Sirius. It's an imaginary journey, turned in a poetic way. I wanted to focus the lyrics on something spatial, an intergalactic atmosphere. In some cultures, Mars symbolizes war and Sirius peace. I'm simplifying! It's a journey from a state of war, even if in France we are protected,-"

Joe continued,

-but it can be a war within us, in our flesh, in our mind, a war with ourselves, towards a more serene state, where we could talk to each other calmly... so that there is no more war or children crushed on mines! That's a bit what humanity has to do now. Enough of the bull***t, we have to try to evolve. The word evolve often comes up in the lyrics!"

The band is considered one of the pre-eminent metal bands from France, with their music-inspiring bands such as Alien Weaponry, Jinjer, the Contortionist and Thy Art Is Murder, among others. The band released its latest album, Fortitude in 2021.