A bronze statue has been placed at the south exit of Kamiigusa station in Tokyo and cost 20,000,000 yen to erect.
According to the article at Yomiuri, Kamiigusa was where Sunrise first set up.
While the young folks may like the statue, the old folks dont seem to care for it.
Would be interesting to know whether that 20 million yen was tax payers money. If it was tax payers money, would you as mayor give approval for the bronze RX78?
Via Gunota and Alafista.
Posted on 2008/03/22 08:32
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
Poor College Student
Registered on 2008/03/14 09:02
if it was something else(wing zero custom) then i maybe would approve of it
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
You know, appreciating the classics is important in the gundam universe. It will make you like the gundam wing even more... trust me.
Poor College Student
Registered on 2008/03/14 09:02
i do appreciate the old gundam series.its just that i like wing more.or they could make it a statue of hi-nu instead
オタク by moonlight, Graphic Designer by daylight
Registered on 2007/11/08 03:37
I agree with you. The classic Gundam is the best.
Registered on 2007/11/20 06:59
A 1/10 or 1/11 bust would be more fitting.
The pose is more suited for a human model.
Student
Registered on 2008/03/08 16:19
"gundam" itself is now a part of cultural/history of japan haha
the classic rx-78!! wewt!
Student
Registered on 2007/08/09 05:36
Gundam has been living on in Japan for many years, and I would approve of the statue being placed.
Anyways, THIS IS COOOOOL!
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
when you think japan, gundam is one of the things that come to mind. but damn, why did they have to make it that color, now its gonna attract aerial bombings
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
Thats the natural color of bronze once it is acid finished and waxed. This is done to prevent erosion. I think its epic. I would personally fund this public art piece if I had the extra cash laying around. At least this way my taxes would go towards something useful to me, instead of things I will never be able to use (like social security in a couple of years).
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Don't worry, it will turn green with time (the patina)
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
actually, broze doesnt patina the way that copper does. With a wax application every couple of years, it should be shiny and.... well, bronze.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
I see!
I was thinking of those oooooooold (but still awesome) statues of the Antiquity in the cities of Rome, etc.
That's nice to see that there are products to somehow protect them from the effect of time.
student
Registered on 2007/11/16 21:18
Why not put into a museum?
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
Why not build a museum that looks like the gundam white base? Huh? Yeah?
Student, Spiral Warrior
Registered on 2008/02/04 10:01
Chef, Full fledged Otaku, Full time Observer.....
Registered on 2008/02/02 00:26
In Insanity Hell
Registered on 2008/03/13 03:33
student
Registered on 2007/11/16 21:18
hope they have that budget then... when they get to it.
Student and Miku Guardian
Registered on 2008/03/11 20:11
How about making a museum that looks like an Archangel? At least the front part where the Lohengrin cannon is located is the entrance to the museum..
Chef, Full fledged Otaku, Full time Observer.....
Registered on 2008/02/02 00:26
Manufacturing
Registered on 2007/08/22 12:29
lol if it is pay by tax payer than it definitely NO for me! I paid tax so i know wasting money on such thing is darn stupid and beside tat they should be some under desk money happening when they built stuff like this in our country! Although quote tat price the exact stuff is usually more cheaper!
another risk is! It may get stolen by those drug addicts if u place it outside! Even our steel pipe and road sign get steal here!
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
I think a waste of money is paying people to stay home and not work, so they can have kids and collect my hard earned money. Id rather see these statues everywhere.
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
I prefer to see tax money being spent for statues like this instead of tanks, jets, arms etc.
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
That would really be at odds if they actually build a gundam with the tax money. I would be so excited and horrified at the same time.
In Insanity Hell
Registered on 2008/03/13 03:33
You mean welfare???Some people need that help but I really hate the people use welfare to take advantages and not do anything...tax should help the needed.....
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
Of course it would be extremely odd, but I just think that it would still be better than spending the money for arms humanity doesn't need :/
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Registered on 2006/12/24 12:02
I agree! It's much better to spend monies on bridges that go nowhere err, or is that a country going nowhere anyway, grants for studies on what ketchup runs faster... ^^;
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Your bridge is the bridge that will link people throughout the world!
Human
Registered on 2007/07/27 10:28
I hope the next one would be a girl or girls from some extremely famous eroge.
The older men would enjoy it too, and maybe some "types" of women.
kintaro in Pineville North Carolina
Student
Registered on 2007/04/24 20:19
Cool statue, but the pose is kinda weird and disco-y. Unless... it's from the cartoon then it's cool.
Manufacturing
Registered on 2007/08/22 12:29
Gurren Langaan Kamina Statue pose!
student
Registered on 2008/01/09 00:24
I'd prefer it to be spent for a statue in 1:1 scale. :D
Then again, there are more useful ways of spending taxpayer's money, e. g. the educational system, the police or the welfare net...
Student, Spiral Warrior
Registered on 2008/02/04 10:01
Definitely approve myself. While the price tag on that is definitely quite a lot (did I read right? 20 million yen?), on the other hand the kind of money the U.S. has been spending on "defense" recently boggles the mind. I'd rather see a good chunk of money go to something like this, which may be regarded as cultural enrichment, than thrown away on over-militarization.
Say, Danny, any chance you could take some better pictures of the statue for us next time you're in the neighborhood?
Student
Registered on 2007/01/03 02:12
Well I'm not totally against it, since Gundam has become mostly a symbol of Japan culture as japan entire anime industries. Don't other countries raise statues to football players and coaches? They're a symbol of their country and culture history so I respect their bold idea of building this.
student and i sell cellphones at Alltel wireless
Registered on 2007/08/17 09:45
that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. if i was rich i would have that in my house
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
That is a great day in the history of the otaku community. Danny, remember about your statue post? Here is your answer! ^^
Twenty million yen though, not very cheap. Maybe Sunrise funds?
I hope that this statue will become a worldwide attraction and be revered over time like it should be.
Singapore Customs
Registered on 2006/12/25 11:34
Of course, money should always be put to such good cause! I'd recommend more of such statues.
Interactive Media Design and Graphic Design
Registered on 2006/12/26 00:12
wow a statue to an anime "character" I think this is a great idea. They should have made it bigger and more dramatic.
Techie
Registered on 2007/09/27 05:11
They should make a Zaku too
Student
Registered on 2007/08/24 08:01
If anything my comment is: why kamina pose? 0_o; the famous final Zeong shooting pose would be more fitting.
Photography
Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55
That'd be the best thing ever to have a Gundam statue here, but we have to use our tax dollars for stupid things like lowering the crime rate, streetwork, education, and other wasteful things. :P
Student Otaku
Registered on 2008/01/04 16:17
Now that is something I would want to see when I go to Japan. I'm a big Gundam fan, I would love to see it in person.
Filmmaker
Registered on 2008/03/17 15:18
Its about time something like this happen!!! Grew up watching the series...
Student
Registered on 2008/03/14 23:39
Thats the first Gundam right ? If its a Strike or a Deathscythe then the large sum of cash shall be OK.
Student
Registered on 2008/03/14 23:39
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
Astray!! If they did the red frame, I would donate my left kidney (its the bad one.. as in bad uh-oh) to raise the funds.
chun in home feeling sleepy LOL
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
Registered on 2007/01/09 14:33
would prefer a different pose LOL
Aimless Traveler
Registered on 2007/04/21 21:19
Hey, does anyone noticed that RX-78 Gundam is pointing its hands to the skies above as if it wanted to pierce the heavens?
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
You're right, it seems to be doing that. ^^
Architect
Registered on 2007/12/01 20:24
Doesn't it remind you of a dance pose from a certain anime?
Web Surfer
Registered on 2008/01/16 05:24
a different pose maybe. Who authorize its construction anyways?? Did Sunrise approve it?
Art/Media Student (Wannabe Illustrator)
Registered on 2006/12/28 05:39
If the pose was made more appealing and fitting for a Gundam, I'd approve. But, Tax?... give it to me instead and I'll spend it properly. haha.
Well, why not a 1:1 working scale? or at least fund a development team to actaully build a cool walking warmachine?
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10
LOL, weird pose... Saturday Night Fever?
Architect
Registered on 2007/12/01 20:24
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Yup, I was about to say it. ^^;
Architect
Registered on 2007/12/01 20:24
The raised leg kind of did the job. XD
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Well, at first I thought about Michaelangelo's painting (the very one on the Sistine Chapel with Man and God), then I saw the hand and face and went "Suki Deshou?"... But you already beat me to it. Well done! ^^
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
Registered on 2007/12/07 06:54
The pose seems like it's piloted by Amuro Gay :-p
In Insanity Hell
Registered on 2008/03/13 03:33
A pose from Kamina!!!!Gurren Laggen
Hikikomori
Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30
As long as there were no other priorities, I would give it a go.
Simply because it's a japanese icon.
And this is coming from a guy who doesn't even like gundam and general mecha animes this much.
Also: congrats for the proper homage. Bronze statues are better choices over colored ones... imho
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
I'm going to be silly and interpret your words literally Danny.
So this statue has been erected? But I can't see its dolphin standing >_<
オタク by moonlight, Graphic Designer by daylight
Registered on 2007/11/08 03:37
I'll be so mad if the taxpayer need to pay for it even I'm a Gundam fan. =(
Dai Gurren Dan member
Registered on 2006/12/31 18:24
This is truly awesome! I shall go and pay homage to it next time I got to Japan (April 2009!!!)
But you know, they could have saved money and just shown it a porn magazine, I am sure it would have been erect in no time xP
chandraA in Between Jakarta and Jatinangor, Indonesia
Culture seeker
Registered on 2008/03/22 11:09
Another way to waste tax payers money. I mean, 20 million yen? How many gunpla can you buy with that??
I don't really like the statue anyway because it was...bronze...and I prefer modern Gundams.
Why not save up the money and build the real armed and moving 1:1 Gundam instead?
Unoccupied
Registered on 2008/02/16 22:57
1:1 scale Gundam losing an arm and the head, lifting the other hand up, holding beam rifle, shooting up. Statue should include the beam and the Zeong head. ain't that gonna be damn cool? Can even be considered as Japan's National Monument!
Evil King in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands, Earth
Student and full-time otaku
Registered on 2007/12/19 00:24
That is cool. I'd pay to have statues like that set up, seeing as to what kind of 'art' sometimes finds its way here. Also, a statue of this size would hopefully make it difficult for certain bronze thieves that sometimes steal small statues here to take it ^^
Student, Part Time Programmer
Registered on 2007/10/12 23:56
Tendou Souji pose.. The Man who will Walk the Path to Heaven and Who will rule everything.. Gundam... o.o
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
I don't mind if I were one of the taxpayers, but you'd think they could have just done the "beam saber to the sky" pose instead of... this. In this case they should have had a second statue of Amuro stretching out his hand to the RX-78-2 as well. XD
Student
Registered on 2007/11/02 08:25
Student
Registered on 2007/10/31 21:28
Lazyass human
Registered on 2007/08/15 20:25
This is really awesome... Another must-visit place for those Gundam fans visiting Japan ^^
Registered on 2007/09/02 17:53
hm. i wonder if it moves by itself at night? lucky community especially the house closest to it as he can boast of his "new collection" to his peers.
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
Registered on 2007/06/11 14:57
the pose is very un-gundam-ish. >.<
Proud VGI member and IT student...
Registered on 2007/11/20 13:08
true...
would've preferred the "Last Shooting" pose... well, maybe with complete head and left arm for once...
Meimi132 in Back end of nowhere, aka Norfolk, England
Student and Mcdonalds Grease monkey.
Registered on 2007/12/04 04:17
I would have prefered a Gelgoog myself... but what the hey! It's still a supercool Gundam statue lol. WAAAAAAAY cooler than some old dead guy.
