Gundam statue Fukuoka
Photo: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

Fukuoka is getting the biggest Gundam statue in Japan

The 24.8m-tall life-sized Nu Gundam mecha is coming to the new Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport Fukuoka in April 2022

Kaila Imada
Written by
Kaila Imada
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Following last year’s opening of the Yokohama Gundam Factory featuring a giant moving mecha, and the recently installed Gundam manhole covers in Odawara, Gundam fans now have a new attraction to look forward to. Set to be completed by spring 2022, a brand new Gundam robot will be installed at the new Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport in Fukuoka.

The massive shopping and entertainment complex is scheduled to open in Fukuoka's Hakata ward. It will be home to numerous shops and restaurants plus an outdoor plaza featuring a life-sized Gundam robot statue. The installation will be an exact 1:1 scale replica of the RX-93 v Gundam, or Nu Gundam, known as the hero mecha from the franchise’s first movie, ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack’, in 1988.

Unicorn Gundam
Photo: Keisuke TanigawaUnicorn Gundam in Odaiba, Tokyo

The impressive anime robot will also be the tallest Gundam statue to date, standing a staggering 24.8 metres tall, surpassing Tokyo's Unicorn Gundam (19.7m; pictured), Yokohama's moving RX-78-2 Gundam (18m), as well as the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam in Shanghai (18.03m). 

Not only that, it’s the first Gundam statue in Western Japan. The large prong standing behind the mecha is a Fin Funnel – a special beam weapon unique to Nu Gundam (yes, we’ve been researching Gundam).

Along with the new statue, the Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport Fukuoka, which is also expected to open in April 2022, will have a Gundam Park speciality shop and mini museum.

For more details on the new shopping centre, visit the website.

This article was first published on September 17 and updated on December 23.

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