Search for the Life-Sized Gundam (in pictures)
Rainbow Bridge connecting the Odaiba to Tokyo
Sometimes it pays to be aware of where traveling takes you. A recent trip put me in Odaiba, an artificial island in Japan’s Tokyo Bay. As I looked at a replica of the Statue of Liberty, a nagging feeling crept-up….
I’ve heard of this place before… I should be looking for something…
Replica of the Statue of Liberty in Odaiba
No, it’s not a THAT statue. But something similar…
Rainbow Bridge as night falls in Odaiba... Odaiba...
Evening came, but an ephemeral voice kept whispering in my ear… “Odaiba… odaiba… [odaiba]…”.
My eyes widened. As GFBR previously noted, in 2009 at Shinozake Park, Odaiba, they erected a 1:1 scale model (or “statue”, if you will) of Amuro Ray’s RX-78-2 from Gundam. It was then moved to Shizuoka in 2010, and then moved back to Odaiba in 2011.
That life-sized mobile-suit could still be there!
Tablet in hand in the pouring rain, I made my way to the DiverCity Tokyo. It’s already been a year… could it still be there? A quick check of the shop list revealed the existence of a Gundam Cafe on the second floor. Searching for that cafe in the indicated floor yielded nothing. Dismayed, I proceeded out the nearest exit when lo and behold…
sadasdasd
… the RX-78-2 Ver.GFT! On this rainy night, it stood guard with its back to the mall as it silently observed the nearby city for possible Zeon attacks.
This was about as close to it as I could get.
This 1:1 scale replica is 18 meters tall. Not quite bigger than the mall it protects, but it does span a few floors.
Long shot of this 18 meter tall replica
I was already contemplating about how to cut the pieces from the runners (gardening cutters?) and file-off the flash lines (B1 sized sandpaper?), but it appears this Real-G grade model is not for sale. A little tent beside it did offer gunpla for purchase. Unfortunately, they’re all smaller (much MUCH smaller).
tent that sells model kits
The Gundam Cafe was nearby. Soaking wet from the rain, I proceeded to the cafe hoping for something warm to drink. That and, perhaps, to meet Amuro Ray. The mobile-suit didn’t seem to have a pilot inside, perhaps he was taking a break.
the small "V" on the low middle is the Gundam Cafe sign
I have no idea what that 70cm Beam Saber Kuchen is, but I think you can eat it
It was a good thing they had pictures, ‘coz I had no idea which is which.
The Zaku design was quite cute, almost didn’t have the heart to drink the thing. The coffee was actually quite good.
As I enjoyed my cup, I was greeted by the military staff who seemed to be trying to recruit me. I really couldn’t care less about the war, but she gave me this cute smile, so I enlisted.
I dunno what she said, but I replied with "YES, MA'AM!"
Being untrained in combat, my first mission was to support the war-effort by increasing the available war-funds. The cafe, fortunately, had quite a few products available to help with that.
These mugs might have made the awesome coffee even awesomer!
regulation RX-78-2 and MS-06-S mugs
check your model number
This is a pastry mold, but perhaps it can be used to make ice as well?
Gundam shaped cakes, anyone?
Maybe I can use that to make cakes/sweets like these?
looks like a Zaku, but is sweet on the inside
Mini-Gunpla. It has gum inside too.
there's gum in there too
And something to put some fun on your office desk… a box of mini-Zakus!
Ain’t they the cutest thing?
Unfortunately, due to time, rain, and goods to be carried around, I was unable to see the rest of Gundam Front Tokyo. Hopefully, on my next visit, I’ll be able to see the headquarters.
[All pictures by the author.]
