New life size Gundam statue in Osaka completed, blessed by Shinto priest

Promotional Artwork for the Gundam Next Future Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025

A new life-size Gundam statue has been constructed outside the Gundam Next Future Pavilion which will form part of the Osaka Expo 2025 world’s fair.

At world’s fairs, countries and businesses set up pavilions where they showcase their achievements.

At Expo 2025, Bandai Namco will have a pavilion dedicated to Gundam and this includes a new life-sized statue they have named the RX-78F00/E Gundam.

Front view of the Osaka Expo2025 Gundam Statue

Before the final piece of the statue was put in place, a purification and blessing ceremony led by a Shinto priest took place.

Shinto priest blessing the head of the Gundam statue

In Japan it is traditional for construction projects such as new buildings or bridges to be blessed by a Shinto priest, who prays for the safe completion of the project.

Following the ceremony, the Gundam’s head was raised and attached to the previously completed body.

Head being lifted onto the Osaka Expo2025 Gundam Statue

Life-sized Gundam statues are currently in place in Tokyo and Fukuoka, but this marks the first such statue in central Japan.

This is not a completely new Gundam statue, as the moving Gundam statue previously on display in Yokohama, which itself used parts from the RX-78-2 statue previously located in Odaiba, has been been repurposed to make this statue with new additions such as new light panels on its armor.

The public will be able to visit the new Gundam statue at Expo 2025 on Yumeshima Island, Osaka, between April 13th and October 13th 2025.

Source: GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION on X