Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it will feature a giant Gundam statue in its pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, marking the return of the robot character that until recently stood in Yokohama.
The 17-meter-tall statue, weighing 49 tons, will be made from materials repurposed from the one that was removed from the city near Tokyo in March.
The new Gundam statue will be constructed in a "salute from a knee" pose with one arm extended upwards to symbolize reaching out toward space and the future. Unlike its predecessor, however, it will not have moving parts.
"Construction is proceeding as planned. We want people from all over the world to see it at the expo," an official in charge of the project said during the online announcement.
Bandai Namco's pavilion, which will resemble a futuristic spaceport, is scheduled for completion around next month.
The Gundam anime series became a huge hit after its first title was aired in 1979, spawning a successful franchise including sequels, spinoffs, movies, comics, video games and plastic toys.
The story revolves around Gundam giant robots known as "mobile suits" fighting wars in space and on Earth.
