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YOKOHAMA, Japan – An 18-meter kinetic statue of Gundam, a famous anime robot, was revealed to the public at the Gundam Factory Yokohama complex in southwest Tokyo on Saturday.
Hundreds of people lined up outside the complex to view the giant robot before it opened at 10 a.m. Some fans had face masks adorned with photos of Gundam, others dressed as their favorite characters from the animated series , such as Char Aznable.
“I’ve been a fan for a long time and I’m so excited to see the Gundam movement,” said a 53-year-old man in line. The man, who works in construction, added: “It’s amazing how they build a statue of this size.”
An American living in Tokyo came with his wife and son. “Gundam is little known in the United States, but my son loves them.”
Japanese toy maker Bandai Namco Holdings is behind the construction of the giant moving statue and is putting on shows at the newly opened attraction. Visitors can view the robot from observation decks 15 meters to 18 meters above the ground for a close-up view of the head and body of the fictional automaton.
In addition to the exhibit, the complex is home to Gundam-Lab, where visitors can learn how the Kinetic Statue works. There is also an attraction that allows people to enjoy a “live” view of Gundam using 5G technology. The souvenir shop sells exclusive goods and there is a Gundam-themed cafe.
Admission is 1,650 yen ($ 16) for those 13 and older. Tickets for the observation deck cost an additional 3,300 yen.
“[The full-scale] Gundam taught me that the shape of the human body is more wonderful than ever, “said Yoshiyuki Tomino, director of the animated series” Mobile Suit Gundam “, considered to be” Gundam’s father “, at a ceremony. opening Friday night. “That’s because that humanoid size and the color of the toys show big things.”
The animated television series “Mobile Suit Gundam”, also known as “First Gundam”, was originally broadcast in Japan in 1979. It tells the story of Amuro Ray, who pilots the robot whose the series takes its name, as it struggles and grows through battles of life and death.
“Mobile Suit Gundam” takes place in the distant future where people fight in huge robots called “mobile suits”.
Bandai had hoped to attract new fans from around the world to its anime robot, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed its plans. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Besides Japan, the show is a hit in China and Southeast Asia, where many people are drawn to Japanese popular culture. The program was broadcast in several foreign languages, including English and Chinese. Recently, a Gundam event was held in Shanghai in collaboration with Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba. A similar event took place in Thailand in September.
For the series’ 30th anniversary in 2009, Bandai Namco installed a statue at Gundam Base Tokyo, a tourist attraction in the waterfront district of the Japanese capital. This statue was as large as the one in Yokohama, but the Yokohama version is the first life-size moving Gundam.
The new statue is part of the ‘Global Gundam Challenge’, Bandai Namco’s campaign to build the brand overseas in honor of the series’ 40th anniversary.
“Originally, we hoped to attract not only domestic fans, but also people from all over the world,” a company representative told Nikkei Asia. But the coronavirus pandemic has delayed the company’s plans and delayed the opening of the exhibition, which was scheduled for October.
The exhibit was supposed to coincide with the Tokyo Olympic Paralympics, which were postponed to 2021. In an interview with Nikkei last year, Masaru Kawaguchi, president of Bandai Namco, was delighted that the Tokyo 2020 Games were having an impact. positive, stating that the company would be able to promote Gundam characters to overseas visitors by enjoying the world’s largest sporting event.
The statue will be until March 2022. The 9,000 square meter site is located at Yokohama Pier, which is a candidate to host an integrated casino complex. The city urged foreign casino operators to build a resort in the region after Japan legalized casino gambling in 2018.
Bandai Namco hopes to sell more plastic Gundam models, especially overseas, as its fan base in Japan ages. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
With people spending more time at home due to COVID-19, Bandai Namco is coming out with more plastic Gundam models, called “Gunpla” by enthusiasts, especially overseas. Expansion overseas is part of the company’s growth strategy as its fan base in Japan ages.
In the United States, Bandai Namco decided to sell Gundam toys at large retailers such as Walmart and Target. Next year, the toy maker will install a full-size Gundam in Shanghai, which the company sees as a priority market.
Bandai Namco’s plastic models are increasingly popular in overseas markets, with around half of the company’s sales coming from overseas. Its total shipments have more than quadrupled since fiscal 2006, reaching 31.26 million units in fiscal 2019.
In response to growing demand, especially in Asia, the company earlier this month opened a new factory in Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, with the aim of increasing its production capacity by 40%.
The new Gundam statue in Yokohama is part of the “Global Gundam Challenge,” Bandai Namco’s campaign to build the brand overseas in honor of the series’ 40th anniversary. (Photo by Taro Fujii)
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