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Gundam Factory Yokohama

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Gundam Factory Yokohama
Gundam Factory Yokohama ticket office in 2023
Yokohama, Japan
Opening date19 December 2020
Closing date31 March 2024

Gundam Factory Yokohama was an entertainment complex located at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama, Japan.[1] Its main feature was a moving Gundam, an 18-metre tall[2] "mech" (a large mechanical automaton which in its fictional universe has a human operator inside) from the Japanese animated franchise Gundam. It was the first moving mech of its type, although it more closely resembled a puppet since it was supported and moved by an armature connected to its back.[3]

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 COVID-19 pandemic.[4] On December 18, 2020, rock band Luna Sea performed Gundam's 40th anniversary theme song "The Beyond" on live TV at the opening ceremony.[5] The site opened on December 19, 2020 and was scheduled to remain open until March 31, 2022.[6] However, the closing date was delayed to March 31, 2023, again due to the pandemic,[7] and then delayed again to March 31, 2024 because of its lasting success.[8]

Events for the closing ceremonies on March 31, 2024 included 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.[9]

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

Gundam Dock

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The primary exhibition of the complex was the moving Gundam mech. Named the RX-78F00 Gundam,[10] it was the third statue constructed to a 1:1 scale with its anime counterpart in Japan, following the 2009 RX-78-2[11] and 2017 RX-0[12] each constructed at Tokyo Gundam Base. Following the closure of Gundam Factory Yokohama, the RX-78F00 was removed and rebuilt as a stationary statue in Osaka for the Gundam Next Future Pavilion at Expo 2025.[13]

Gundam Lab

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The Gundam lab exhibition featured 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[14] and a GUNPLA merchandise store.[15]

Cultural significance

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The site celebrated the 40th anniversary of the premiere of the first Gundam series. Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of Gundam, personally worked on the project.[16] 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. ^ "Gundam Factory Yokohama - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  4. ^ "Big in Japan: giant Gundam robot makes its first moves in Yokohama". the Guardian. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Life-size moving Gundam statue unveiled to media in Yokohama". The Japan Times. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  7. ^ "The giant Gundam in Yokohama will be staying for another year – until 2023". Timeout. 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ San Juan, Ratziel. "Life-size 'moving Gundam' takes off in Japan". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  11. ^ "Bandai Takes Down Life-size Gundam Statue in Tokyo on March 5". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  12. ^ "Life-Size Unicorn Gundam Statue Grand Opening Details and News". Gundam Kits Collection News and Reviews. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  13. ^ "The Not-so-Moving Gundam: Gundam Next Future Pavilion & the RX-78F00/E". cvphased / MECHA CATALOGUE. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  14. ^ Hornyak, Tim (2021-01-09). "Entertainment robots the latest craze worldwide as the pandemic rages on". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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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