The head of a life-size Gundam statue is incorporated into its body on Oct. 23 at the site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 as part of the assembly work. (Video by Emiko Arimoto and Koji Nishimura)

Photo/Illutration A life-size Gundam statue is unveiled on Oct. 23 at the site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 in Osaka's Konohana Ward. (Emiko Arimoto)

OSAKA--Like a guardian looming over Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, a life-size Gundam statue has appeared on the site. 

The full-scale reproduction, completed on Oct. 23, comes from the iconic robot anime franchise “Mobile Suit Gundam.”

The replica stands 12.31 meters tall to the top of its head, with one knee resting on the ground. As the statue raises its right hand high into the air, the tip of a finger reportedly reaches 16.72 meters above the ground.

The towering monument is part of the outdoor exhibition of the Gundam Next Future Pavilion, for which Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. will be responsible during the expo, which will open in April.

The statue’s unique posture reportedly represents the stance of carving out a new space era while looking to the future.

That day, the Gundam’s head was lifted with a crane and set up on the top of the body that had already been assembled on the site.

The Gundam pavilion is expected to display visual materials and other showpieces under the theme of “a future where it is taken for granted to live in outer space.”

“A day where people can live in space in the future is gradually approaching,” said Hiroshi Sakakibara, the chief Gundam officer at Bandai Namco Group. “We would be delighted if hordes of visitors from all over the world experience our (Gundam) pavilion, getting an opportunity to think about the future and space.”

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