She was first known only to Godzilla fans as "that psychic girl Miki." Debuting as that
character in 1989's GODZILLA vs BIOLLANTE, Megumi Odaka, once a child voice actor for
Japanese cartoons in the early 80s, was a refreshing new face to the Godzilla
series, and when I first saw the movie in 1993, I was stunned by her looks. The crappy
Hong Kong dubbing did not get in the way of my enjoyment of this Godziller (sic) film, and
nor did it get in the way of my love of Miss Odaka. Little did I know that she was to
become a recurring character in the next 5 Godzilla films (the first time a recurring
character appeared in 5 straight G films and the first character to appear more than 2 times
in the G series. It was quite an honor bestowed on such a lovely actress, which meant Toho
saw alot of potential in her storyling arc with Godzilla as the psychic link between
Godzilla's apocalyptic vision and our ravaged world. Unfortunately, inept Toho screenwriters
killed such potential by limiting the scope of her character's personal involvement
with Godzilla and often having her do things without either an explanation or commitment
to consistency in regards to what was established with Miki Segusa.
Toho really dropped the ball with her. I hate to stay on this, but in dedicating the
December Babe of the month title to Megumi Odaka, one has to touch on what made her
popular and how frustrating her storyline arc with Godzilla has been limited by the hate
Kazuki Omori has shown Godzilla. For the most part, there was an attempt to give her a much
deserved leading lady role in GODZILLA vs SPACE GODZILLA, but this is where the screenwriter
missed alot of what could have made Miki a definitive icon. Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla
could have been and SHOULD have been Miki Segusa's movie. Prior to this point, she was
the sidekick, the reliable psychic assistant to the heroes. Here she was at full force, and
was given a romantic subplot that went nowhere, not to mention her beautfiful and graceful
look was ruined by a haircut. Her mental relationship with Godzilla
should have been explored to new heights and complexity that would have cemented the
heisei series in terms of maturity. We would have forgiven the clunky Spacegodzilla with its silly looking crystal shoulders and lack of real threatening presences in the film if Miki was given her zenith as far as being the most fleshed out character in a Godzilla movie ever. It has been the human subplots that have elevated
Godzilla films to superior class. If you look at GOJIRA, Godzilla vs The Thing, Ghidrah the
Three Headed Monster, Godzilla vs the Sea Monster, and even Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, it has
been the human elements that have allowed the films to rise above their intended B grade
status and have become A grade epics. Miki Segusa should have evolved over the course of
her 6 film appearance, but the failure of SPACE GODZILLA put her back into the supporting
actress role for GODZILLA vs DESTROYAH (unfortunately, she even took a passenger seat to
a new female psychic character in the film.)
Today she does an occasional appearance for the convention circuit, including an
appearance in 2000 at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater for a Godzilla convention.
Trivia: According to the IMDB, Odaka was second to Yasuko Sawaguchi in Toho's Cinderella
pageant in 1984. Sawaguchi went on to play Naoko in GODZILLA 1985. Of course Odaka
was a little too young to play the part.