First in a two-part series.
When Toho Studios released its new sci-fi action film シン・ゴジラ (Shin Gojira, "Shin Godzilla") in July, several writers were moved to comment on use of katakana in its title. "Shin" has dozens of possible kanji readings, and while readers' natural tendency would be to assume this particular "shin" signified 新 (new), use of katakana had the effect of leaving the intended meaning open to other interpretations.
Might not the "shin," some wondered, instead mean 真 (real)? Or 進 (evolved)? Or 信 (belief)? Or even 神 (god)?