I wasn't sure whether to file this under "Tech" or "Travel": the life-size Gundam robot at Yamashita Pier had a test run last week, stretching his arms and legs for the first time. Pretty impressive. Tickets for December are already sold out under the strict reservation system: 1,650 JPY (adults and children over 13 years of age), and access to the special observation deck is steep at 3,300 JPY.
The 18-meter-tall, 25-ton movable model finally got to stretch its arms and legs in public when it showed off its moves at a media preview on Nov. 30 at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama Port. The Gundam exhibition will be open to the public from Dec. 19 through the end of March 2022, giving fans a chance to experience the lifelike, moving Gundam model up close. The movable robot is the centerpiece of the Gundam Factory Yokohama project, a collaboration of Bandai Namco Group, the city of Yokohama and other organizations. It's part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the popular animated TV series "Mobile Suit Gundam."
Looks pretty awesome! Have never watched Gundam myself but I enjoyed watching the one in Odaiba years ago. Wasn't moving but the size of it was just amazing.
Fans are flocking to Yamashita Pier to witness the life-size Gundam robot in action one last time before the captivating exhibition concludes on 31 March.
During its final weeks, the exhibition features thrilling sequences from Gundam's most beloved past programs, showcasing the iconic robot alongside its timeless theme music. Standing at an impressive 18 meters tall, this colossal creation was unveiled in December 2020 as part of the Mobile Suit Gundam series' 40th anniversary celebration. The Gundam Factory Yokohama project has drawn over 1.5 million visitors. Originally slated to end in March 2022, the exhibition was extended due to fervent requests from fans who missed out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. announced that it will display the life-size model of Gundam, formerly displayed in Yokohama, at its pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
It will mark the first display of such a giant Gundam in the Kansai region in western Japan. The Gundam will be kneeling on its left knee while raising its right arm high, supposedly pointing at outer space or the future. The pavilion will be called Gundam Next Future Pavilion and the contents of its displays will be announced at a later date. "We aim to make our pavilion a place to connect with people in the world through Gundam and think about the future together," Bandai Namco said. The Gundam model will be shown outside the pavilion building. It will scale 16.72 meters in height (up to the tip of its finger) and weigh 49.1 tons.
The life-sized Gundam robot statue has been completed for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka:
Photo credit: Kyodo and Yomiuri Shimbun
Kneeling on one knee with its right hand extended skyward, the 49-ton Gundam statue measures 17 metres to its fingertips. "The statue's posture, with one arm extended towards the sky, symbolizes reaching out to the future and paving the way to a new era of the universe together with mankind," Bandai Namco Group Chief Gundam Officer Hiroshi Sakakibara said. "As people gather from around the world at this expo, we hope our pavilion will be a place of inspiration to think about the universe and the future," he added. This will be the first life-sized Gundam statue to be exhibited in the Kansai area of western Japan. The 2025 World Expo will be held on Yumeshima, a manmade island in Osaka Bay, from 13 April through 13 October next year.
There are only six months left until the opening. Is everything going smoothly? What are the highlights? Why is there so little information about the current location of the Expo?
It will be just six months until the opening of the Osaka Kansai Expo. Although there are reports of delays in constructing the pavilions, paper admission tickets will go on sale from the 13th. Ticket sales have reached approximately 7.14 million, more than half the target. However, sales to the general public have been sluggish as the appeal of the Expo has not been fully communicated. In particular, information about the pavilions is unclear, and visitors' expectations are fading. As the opening approaches, there is a need to disseminate more information about the Expo's "highlights." What is the current state of the Expo? An on-site journalist provides a detailed explanation.
17m life-size "Gundam" completed for the Expo 2020 pavilion created by Bandai Namco to represent life in space.
On the 23rd, a life-sized Gundam, about 17 meters tall, appeared in front of the press. The one that appeared at the event held in Yokohama was reassembled, and this time, it came to Kansai for the first time.
With its hands raised high towards space, this Gundam represents the opening of a new era together with humanity. The life-sized Gundam will be exhibited at the Gundam Next Future Pavilion, created by Bandai Namco. This pavilion represents a world where life in space has become commonplace.
Hiroshi Sakakibara, Chief Gundam Officer, Bandai Namco Group
"The future where people live in space is slowly but surely approaching. I believe that Gundam will be there with us when that happens. I hope that people from all over the world will experience this pavilion at the Expo and that it will be an opportunity for them to think about space and the future."
The content of the pavilion will be announced in due course.
Also, the "Kansai Pavilion," featuring exhibits from nine prefectures belonging to the Kansai Regional Association, was unveiled for the first time. In the exhibition area, Hyogo Prefecture will allow visitors to experience famous places and the future on a large screen, while Fukui Prefecture will enable visitors to discover dinosaur fossils. In Tottori Prefecture, an exhibition will use the region's characteristics, such as exploring a virtual reproduction of the "Tottori Sand Dunes."
In addition, an event was held on this day to commemorate the completion of the building at the "Osaka Healthcare Pavilion," which is being managed by Osaka Prefecture and City. The building features an exterior resembling a bird's nest, and a spiral monument that resembles a genetic structure was unveiled for the first time. The building will also feature a "moving heart" made from iPS cells and booths where visitors can experience the "urban life of the future" weekly, run by small and medium-sized businesses from all over Japan.
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