A three meter tall bronze statute of a mobile suit from the perennially popular Mobile Suit Gundam series was erected in production studio Sunrise hometown of Kami-igusa earlier this year.
It has since shown signs of becoming a symbol of the city, with fans flocking to photograph it and even instigating plans to build more mecha statutes in order to construct a “Gundam Road”.
The statute, located in front of the JR Kami-Igusa train station, was originally built in result to a petition by the local shopping district committee which gathered 2,400 signatures. Grants from the municipal government, the local Seibu railroad company and Sunrise itself resulted in the statute’s unveiling in August 3, 2008.
Fans soon flocked to honor the giant Gundam model (which by my calculations is 1 / 5.8 scale). So great was the quantity of coins strewn around the statue due to the Japanese tradition of making monetary offerings to deities that an offering box had to be built to control the littering.
The statute has proven so popular with the city’s citizens that a local middle school and the shopping district committee have both pledged to provide for the mobile suit’s long term upkeep.
There are even plans being considered of constructing two more companion statutes to turn the shopping district’s main street into a “Gundam Road”, so the small city of Kami-Igusa might well become another rallying point for otaku pilgrims, as has happened to the real-life Lucky Star Washinomiya temple.
Kami-Igusa’s statute would be far from the first giant mobile suit built in Japan however – the Gundam Crisis attraction in Fujikyu Highland Park houses a massive 18 meter tall model of the original Gundam, the Gundam RX78.
The video below shows the RX78 in all its 1/1 scale glory:
Via Mainichi.
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this is no zaku! Boy, NO ZAKU!
Yes yes, I noticed that too.
The Japanese word "zakuzaku" was used in the headlines to describe the glittering effect of the Gundam surrounded by coins, so I had Zakus while writing this...my mistake!
...so I had Zakus on my mind while writing this...
reminds me of Raoh pose when he died using his power to clear the dark sky after the battle with Kenshiro.
fuwaaa~
makes me want to get my ass off and visit there now...
what..what zaku?
Yeah, that not a zaku at all!
RX78-2
Thou shall have no other Gundams before me
Lol I demand mecha musume next.
the city needs a zaku
So Gundam is now a Japanese Deity. This really reinforces the idea that Japan WILL build a Gundam. Considering the Defense ministry's long term plan of building a mobile suit...What are the requirements to join the JSDF?
Flunking out of school
I'm gonna wave the *WTF?!?* Flag for all I'm worth at this time, 'cuz I have nothing to add constructively to this.
One question comes to mind: Why?? ><
Anymore statues will cheapen the original. They should leave it as is.
All gundam fans must now make a pilgrimage to the statue! CHAR DEMANDS IT!!!
they should build a real Gundam!Japanese scientists should leave M.I.T. and start building one.
That is awesome!!
Now the only thing that's missing is a bronze statue of Amuro Ray to go with it. Then the statue set will be complete!