A lifelong Godzilla fan, JR Lipartito first came to Japan in 2001 and has called it home ever since. What began as a childhood obsession with giant monsters eventually led him into film, media, and education—paths that now converge in his work at Temple University, Japan Campus, where he serves as Instructor, Faculty Advisor for the Communication Studies major, and Communication Studies Operations Manager. At TUJ, he teaches media production and new-media courses while supporting the day-to-day academic and creative life of the department.

Before moving into full-time academic leadership, JR worked in a wide range of media production roles for television, corporate clients, and independent projects. His creative work includes numerous short films and digital productions, most notably collaborations with YouTube Space Tokyo and studio partners such as Legendary Pictures and Toei Company. He continues to develop original content through his YouTube Channels, CHO Japan and TokyoFilmmaker.

Bringing together his production background, teaching practice, and lifelong love of kaiju cinema, JR approaches Godzilla not just as a pop-culture icon, but as a lens through which to explore film history, cultural memory, and Japan’s evolving relationship with its most famous monster.