Ishirō Honda a.k.a. Inoshiro Honda (May 7, 1911 in Yamagata Prefecture – February 28, 1993) was a Japanese film director.

He is probably best known for his tokusatsu films including several entries in the Godzilla series. He directed the original Gojira along with King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Godzilla's Revenge (1969) and many others until 1971. He also directed such tokusatsu films such as Rodan and Mothra. The superhero shows Return of Ultraman, Mirrorman and Meteor Man Zone were also his. In addition, he directed the cult film Matango.

He also worked with famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (a close friend) as an assistant director on a number of projects, including Stray Dog, Kagemusha, Ran, and Dreams.

His most memorable quote: "Monsters are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, that is their tragedy," when he spoke of his film, Rodan. This statement alone would give fans the impression that his intent was to give all daikaiju a distinct personality instead of just being a monster-on-the-loose.

Filmography

   * A Story of a Co-Op
   * Ise Island
   * Aoi shinju (aka The Blue Pearl)
   * Nangoku no hada (aka The Skin of the South)
   * Minato e kita otoko (aka The Man Who Came to Port)
   * Zoku shishunki (aka Adolescence Part II)
   * Taiheiyo no washi (aka Eagle of the Pacific)
   * Saraba Rabauru (aka Farewell Rabaul)
   * Gojira (aka Godzilla) (1954)
   * Koi-gesho (aka Love Makeup)
   * Oen-San (aka Cry-Baby)
   * Jū jin yuki otoko (1955) (aka Beast Man Snow Man or Half Human: The Story of the           Abominable Snowman)
   * Wakai Ki (aka Young Tree)
   * Night School (1956 film) (aka Yakan chugaku)
   * Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) (US edition of Gojira)
   * Tokyo no hito sayonara (aka People of Tokyo, Goodbye)
   * Sora no daikaijū Radon (aka Rodan) (1956)
   * Chikyu Boeigun (aka The Mysterians or Defence Force of the Earth) (1957)
   * Bijo to Ekitainingen (or The H-Man) (1958)
   * Daikaijū Baran (or Varan the Unbelievable)(1958)
   * Uchu daisenso (or Battle in Outer Space) (1959)
   * The Human Vapor (1960)
   * Mosura (or Mothra) (1961)
   * Yosei Gorasu (or Gorath) (1962)
   * King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
   * Matango (aka Attack of the Mushroom People) (1963)
   * Kaitei Gunkan (or Atragon) (1963)
   * Mothra vs. Godzilla (aka Godzilla vs. Mothra or Godzilla vs. the Thing) (1964)
   * Uchu Daikaijū Dogora (aka Dogora the Space Monster) (1964)
   * San Daikaijū - Chikyū Saidai no Kessen (aka Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster) (1964)
   * Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijû "Baragon" (or Frankenstein Conquers the World) (1965)
   * Kaiju Daisenso (aka Invasion of Astro-Monster or Monster Zero or Godzilla vs. Monster Zero) (1965)
   * Furankenshutain no Kaijū: Sanda tai Gaira (aka War of the Gargantuas) (1966)
   * Kingu Kongu no Gyakushū (aka King Kong Escapes) (1967)
   * Kaijū Sōshingeki (aka Destroy All Monsters) (1968)
   * Gojira Minira Gabara Ōru Kaijū dai Shingeki (aka All Monsters Attack or Godzilla's Revenge) (1969)
   * Ido zero daisakusen (aka Latitude Zero) (1969)
   * Space Amoeba (aka Yog monster from space) (1970)
   * Mekagojira no Gyakushû (or Terror of Mechagodzilla) (1975)