Statue of Unicorn Gundam
Sculpture in Tokyo, Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Life-Sized Unicorn Gundam Statue (Japanese: 実物大ユニコーンガンダム, Hepburn: Jitsubutsu Dai Yunikōn Gandamu) is a full-scale statue of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam from the series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn installed in 2017 outside Odaiba's Gundam-themed mall DiverCity Tokyo Plaza,[1] in Tokyo, Japan.[2][3][4][5] It replaced a previous statue of the RX-78-2 Gundam.[2][6]
| Gundam statue at Odaiba, Tokyo | |
|---|---|
 The statue in "Destroyer Mode" in 2019 | |
 | |
| Subject | Gundam |
| Dimensions | 19.7 m (65 ft) |
| Location | Tokyo, Japan |
| 35.62446°N 139.77548°E | |
Description
The statue transitions between its default "Unicorn Mode" and an illuminated "Destroyer Mode",[7][8] reflecting the original anime robot's transformation to activate enhanced combat features. According to Lonely Planet, "Destroyer Mode" is activated nine times per day.[9]
The "life-sized"[10] (1:1 scale),[11] 19.7-meter (64.6-foot)[12] statue was installed in 2017[2][13][3] and has evening "performances",[14][15] during which its head moves, eyes light up, music is played, and mist is sprayed.[16][17] The statue weighs 49 tons.[18]
According to Masaki Kawahara, who oversaw the production of the statue, it is composed of 230 parts. Parts of the exterior are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. The lower part of the statue was manufactured in Bangkok, Thailand, while the upper part is molded in Tokyo.[19]
History
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An unveiling ceremony was held on September 25, 2017.[20] A temporary service offered professional photography featuring the statue.[6] The statue replaced a previous statue of the RX-78-2 Gundam that was removed in March of that year.[6][2]
In late 2024 and early 2025, the statue was illuminated in blue, red, and yellow to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.[21]
Reception
The statue is considered an attraction for DiverCity Tokyo Plaza[22] and is among the city's most popular public sculptures.[23] In the 2020 book Creativity in Tokyo: Revitalizing a Mature City, the statue is described as an example of "mixing popular culture and consumption".[24] The author of Super Cheap Japan (2023) called the statue "immensely awesome!"[25] CNN has said visiting the statue "grants an instant reward" to any fan of the Gundam series.[26]
See also
References
External links
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