I understand westerners make light of the Godzilla series due to a lack of understanding. Legendary's movie hasn't changed nor will ever change that. To assume one film can change the minds of people that have already formed a multi-decade opinion is shortsighted. Regardless, that's never stopped Godzilla bouncing back for sixty years now. Claiming Godzilla would "die at the box office" has little to nothing to do with Toho wanting to greenlight their own productions.
And far, far more Godzilla movies have been released theatrically in North America (and other countries) than in the years you've listed. Toho can not release movies outside Japan on their own without making a deal with a distributor. Distributors have to want to put the money into releasing them theatrically. Toho's current North American rights holder of the franchise is Legendary-- So if Godzilla 2016 were to be released theatrically Legendary would have to agree to do it. Do you really think they're going to? On DVD and Bluray, sure; but theatrically? It has no chance outside of some minor showings in maybe six theaters across the country. Legendary won't want it to conflict with their own film and will likely just release it on home video like Sony did with the Millennium series after Godzilla 2000.
Toho would also need to find distributors wanting to release the movie theatrically in every other country if they wish it to be a worldwide, theatrical endeavor. They may succeed if it's a solid movie, but even then it's far from assured. But you need to understand, "They've done it before I'm sure they can get help again" is ignoring a great deal of logistics with a lot of hand waving.
"'Nostalgic' does not equal 'good,' and 'standards' does not equal 'elitism.'" "Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is your choice."
