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Gundam Factory Yokohama

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Gundam Factory Yokohama
Gundam Factory Yokohama ticket office in 2023
LocationYamashitacho, Yokohama, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Opened:19 December 2020

Gundam Factory Yokohama was an entertainment complex located at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama, Japan.[1] Its main feature is a moving Gundam, an 18-metre tall[2] pilot-operated "mech" (a large mechanical automaton with a human operator inside) from the Japanese animated franchise Gundam. It is the first moving mech of its type.

Originally planned to open by October 2020 to both celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Gundam franchise and for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the construction of the exhibit was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.[3] The site opened 19 December 2020 and will remain open until March 31, 2022.[4] The closing date was however delayed to March 31, 2023 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic,[5] and then delayed again to March 31, 2024, due to the lasting success.[6] On 18 December, rock band Luna Sea performed the 40th anniversary's theme song, "The Beyond", on live TV at the opening ceremony.[7]

Events for the closing ceremonies on March 31, 2024 are scheduled to include a speech by series director Yoshiyuki Tomino, a "performance of the last activation experiment in a scenario that continues the story from the opening event", and a drone art show consisting of about 1000 drones and fireworks.[8]

There are two features to the exhibit: Gundam Dock and Gundam Lab.

Gundam Dock

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The primary exhibition of the complex is the moving Gundam mech. Named the RX-78F00 Gundam,[9] it is the 3rd statue constructed to a 1:1 scale with its anime counterpart in Japan, following the 2009 RX-78-2[10] and 2017 RX-0[11] each constructed at Tokyo Gundam Base.

Gundam Lab

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The Gundam lab exhibition features information about the construction of the RX-78F00, a virtual reality dome that simulates the interior of the Gundam's cockpit, a cafe with Gundam themed products[12] and a GUNPLA merchandise store.[13]

Cultural significance

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The site celebrates the 40th anniversary of the premiere of the first Gundam series. Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of Gundam, personally worked on the project.[14] Gundam has become the 16th highest grossing media franchise, and has been highly regarded for its influence in other media.

References

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  1. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Full-size moving Gundam robot to loom over Yokohama from October". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  2. ^ "Life-size moving Gundam statue unveiled to media in Yokohama". The Japan Times. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  3. ^ "Big in Japan: giant Gundam robot makes its first moves in Yokohama". the Guardian. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ^ "Life-size moving Gundam statue unveiled to media in Yokohama". The Japan Times. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  5. ^ "The giant Gundam in Yokohama will be staying for another year – until 2023". Timeout. 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  6. ^ "国内外のファンの熱い要望に応え「GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA」2024年3月31日まで会期延長が決定！". Gundam.info (in Japanese). 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  7. ^ "LUNA SEA、＜真冬の野外＞を彷彿とさせる『GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA』で10ヵ月ぶりパフォーマンス". Barks (in Japanese). 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  8. ^ "Countdown to the GFY Grand Finale – To the New Stage Set for the final day, March 31!". Gundam-Factory.net. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  9. ^ Juan, Ratziel San. "Life-size 'moving Gundam' takes off in Japan". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  10. ^ "Bandai Takes Down Life-size Gundam Statue in Tokyo on March 5". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  11. ^ "Life-Size Unicorn Gundam Statue Grand Opening Details and News". Gundam Kits Collection News and Reviews. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  12. ^ Hornyak, Tim (2021-01-09). "Entertainment robots the latest craze worldwide as the pandemic rages on". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  13. ^ "実物大の「動くガンダム」、横浜山下埠頭で始動". ヨコハマ経済新聞. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  14. ^ Nagata, Kazuaki (2020-01-20). "From anime to reality: Mobile 25-ton Gundam robot to be built in Yokohama". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
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