Photo Specials
Giant Gundam statue draws crowds to Odaiba ahead of unveiling
Click photo for more.
An 18-meter-high "life-size" Gundam statue being built to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the animated television series "Mobile Suit Gundam" has been drawing crowds to Tokyo's Odaiba, ahead of its official unveiling to the public.
Reports on the statue began to emerge on June 9 as it neared completion. Officials said there had been 200 to 300 visitors a day, but from June 10 the number started increasing, and on June 13, the start of the first weekend following the reports, several thousand turned up.
The statue of the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam, which stands in Odaiba's Shiokaze Park, weighs 35 tons. Its head can move and it can emit lights or mist from 50 points on its body. It will be officially unveiled on July 11, and displayed through Aug. 31, free of charge.
June 15, 2009
