Exclusive New Ukiyo-e Gunpla Kit Gives the Nu Gundam a Japanese-Inspired Redesign

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Nu Gundam has received an eye-catching new Entry Grade release, with Bandai combining Amuro Ray’s final mobile suit with traditional ukiyo-e artwork for a special-edition Gunpla kit.

The “ENTRY GRADE 1/144 ν Gundam [Ukiyo-e Package Ver.]” gives the existing model completely new packaging alongside Japanese-inspired markings that carry the artwork directly onto the completed Gundam.

ν Gundam first appeared in the 1988 movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack as the mobile suit personally designed for Amuro Ray ahead of his final confrontation with longtime rival Char Aznable.

Its asymmetric Fin Funnel arrangement, predominantly white armor, and black chest have helped make it one of the most recognizable Universal Century mobile suits, with Bandai adapting the design into its beginner-friendly Entry Grade line in 2022.

The new “Ukiyo-e Package Ver.” retains that existing 1/144 model at its core, keeping the simplified construction and strong color separation that allow the Entry Grade kit to be assembled without requiring glue or paint.

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The biggest changes come from its presentation, with the packaging using imagery inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s famous “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” series.

A dark winter scene surrounds Mount Fuji behind the ν Gundam, giving the artwork a noticeably colder appearance than the colorful ukiyo-e designs created for several of Bandai’s other recent Gundam releases.

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That artwork is not limited to the box, as the same Mount Fuji-inspired winter scene can be added across the ν Gundam’s shield through newly designed decals.

The result keeps the familiar colors and overall appearance of Amuro’s mobile suit intact while giving one of its largest flat armor surfaces a completely different finish from the standard Entry Grade release.

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Bandai has expanded the same concept across several other mobile suits, with new Ukiyo-e Package Ver. kits also created for the RX-78-2 Gundam, Strike Gundam and Wing Gundam.

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The “ENTRY GRADE 1/144 Wing Gundam [Ukiyo-e Package Ver.]” features package artwork showing the mobile suit beneath Mount Fuji alongside an eagle perched on a pine branch.

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Eagle-themed decorations can also be applied to the inner sections of Wing Gundam’s wings, while the underlying kit retains its Buster Rifle, Shield and ability to transform into Bird Mode.

The “ENTRY GRADE 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam [Ukiyo-e Package Ver.]” takes inspiration from Hokusai’s “Rainstorm Beneath the Summit,” placing the original Gundam beneath a dark Mount Fuji surrounded by cherry blossoms.

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Its additional decorations carry Mount Fuji and blossom imagery onto areas including the shoulder armor and shield.

The “ENTRY GRADE 1/144 Strike Gundam [Ukiyo-e Package Ver.]” instead references Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” surrounding Kira Yamato’s mobile suit with huge waves and autumn maple leaves.

Matching wave patterns and stylized Japanese lettering can be added to its shoulder armor and shield, creating one of the more dramatic transformations among the four releases.

The “ENTRY GRADE 1/144 ν Gundam [Ukiyo-e Package Ver.]” is priced at ¥1,760 (approx. $11 USD / £8 GBP), with the Wing Gundam version also priced the same, while the RX-78-2 Gundam and Strike Gundam releases are each priced at ¥1,430 (approx. $9 USD / £7 GBP).

All four Ukiyo-e Package Ver. kits were released in Japan on August 29, although the ν Gundam differs from the rest of the collection by being exclusive to Gundam Base stores and Gundam Side-F in Fukuoka.

The RX-78-2 Gundam, Strike Gundam and Wing Gundam versions are general retail releases available in most hobby goods stores, and may also be found through online retailers such as HobbyLink Japan that offer international shipping.

No international release has currently been announced for the exclusive ν Gundam, or the other three kits, through services such as Premium Bandai US.