Japan's fourth life-size Gundam statue coming to Shizuoka City

An image of a Gundam statue superimposed on the skyline of Shizuoka City

A fourth life-size Gundam statue will soon be coming to Japan – this time in Shizuoka City.

Revealed during the February regular session of the Shizuoka City Council, the new statue is being proposed by Bandai, as they will be opening a new “Gunpla” model kit factory in the Shizuoka City’s Aoi Ward later this year.

The factory will also host tours, allowing fans of Gunpla to see and learn exactly how their favorite model kits are made.

The skyline of Shizuoka City — Shizuoka City could soon be home to a life-size Gundam statue

Recognizing the global appeal of “Mobile Suit Gundam” and its associated plastic model kits, Shizuoka City is also actively pursuing another collaboration with Bandai Spirits, encouraging them to establish a “Gundam Base” store within the city.

Numerous Gundam Base stores have been set up in Japan and other countries such as China and South Korea.

A Gundam Base store in Fukuoka — The Gundam Base store in Fukuoka

“Gundam Base” stores are envisioned as a hub for Gundam enthusiasts, with some stores having areas to interact with other fans and build kits or play trading card games, taking them beyond being just a retail space that offers a wide range of “Gunpla” models.

The Economic Affairs Bureau, responding to questions at the city council meeting, emphasized the project’s potential to enhance Shizuoka City’s image and boost tourism.

A life-sized Gundam statue in Yokohama — A moving life-size Gundam was previously an attraction in Yokohama

“The Gundam statue matches the image of Shizuoka City, which touts itself as the world capital of model kits” stated the bureau head. “We expect it to have a major effect in terms of attracting tourists and revitalizing the region.”

Shizuoka City has a history with life-size Gundam statues – in 2010-2011, an 18-meter-tall Gundam graced the north side of Higashi-Shizuoka Station during the “World Capital of Model Buildings Shizuoka Hobby Fair”.

A life-sized Gundam statue in Shizuoka — Shizuoka temporarily hosted a life-size Gundam statue in 2010-11

This event, which ran from July 2010 to March 2011, drew an impressive 1,607,485 visitors, far exceeding the city’s initial target of 900,000.

This past success serves as a strong indicator of the potential for a permanent life-size Gundam statue to become a major tourist attraction.

The prospect of a permanent Gundam statue has generated considerable enthusiasm among local residents.

A life-sized Gundam statue in Tokyo — The Unicorn Gundam in Odaiba, Tokyo is a major tourist attraction

Many believe that a Gundam state and Gundam Base store would be a natural fit for Shizuoka City, as the city has historic strong ties to model kit manufacturing.

Three other life-sized Gundam statues currently exist in Japan, with the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam statue in Tokyo, the Nu Gundam statue in Fukuoka, and the RX-78F00/E Gundam statue located at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025.

Front view of the Osaka Expo2025 Gundam Statue — The newest Gundam statue has recently been completed in Osaka as part of preparations for Expo 2025

The statue in Osaka is currently expected to be temporary, as Expo 2025 will close in October.

It is unclear if this will form the basis of the new statue in Shizuoka, similar to how a previous statue located in Yokohama was repurposed for the Osaka statue, or if a new statue will be constructed for the city.

Whilst the project to install the new life size Gundam statue in Shizuoka City still requires full council approval, it’s highly unlikely that it would be denied due to the positive reaction by residents of the city.

This coupled with the potential economic benefits of having a new major tourist attraction in the city means that we can expect Shizuoka’s new Gundam statue to be officially announced in the very near future.

Source: Shizuoka Life, Shizuoka Shimbun