Think of a dozen stories centered on giant robots, but if there's one that stands above the rest in Japan, it's the Gundam franchise. The passion of the Japanese for this particular universe is so intense that they decided to create a full-scale replica of the original Gundam RX-78-2. If you have the chance to travel to Japan, you should definitely look for it, but what is its origin? How did it get there? And most importantly, what about that fraud that the media has reported in recent days?
A Full-Scale Tribute for the 30th Anniversary
Mobile Suit Gundam debuted on Japanese screens on April 7, 1979. The original series had only 43 episodes, and its popularity wasn't great at first, but everything changed with the release of the toy line and anime reruns. From then on, dozens of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and alternate timelines were created, all carrying the name Gundam in one way or another, intimidating even the bravest enthusiast. However, the complexity of this multiverse doesn't prevent celebrating its creation, and in 2009, marking the thirtieth anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam, the Japanese decided to build a 1:1 scale replica of the historic RX-78-2 Gundam. The robot was part of the Green Tokyo Gundam Project, whose goal was to raise funds for a greener future in Tokyo, and at the same time promote the city as a 2016 Olympic host (in the end, it got the 2020 organization).
The Trials and Travels of RX-78-2
With 18 meters high, 55 tons, and a structure of steel and plastic reinforced with fiberglass, the RX-78-2 was impressive. The robot was exhibited for two months at Shiokaze Park in Odaiba, and it's estimated that more than four million people visited it there. The arrival of Typhoon 11 left the Gundam without a closing ceremony, and many fans thought they would never see it again. Fortunately, the robot reappeared a year later (24-07-2010) in Shizuoka, where almost all plastic models are made, and with an extra detail impossible to ignore: a 1:1 scale beam saber that lit up at night. Unfortunately, nature decided to interfere once again, and due to the effects of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the robot suffered several damages and had to be removed. That year it could only return to Odaiba disassembled, and for a brief period (August 13 to 21), allowing fans a closer contact.
The Rise of the Unicorn
It wasn't until April 19, 2012, that the RX-78-2 regained its form, this time as the centerpiece of the theme park "Gundam Front Tokyo" at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. The giant was home, and many thought it would never be moved from there, but in March 2017, it disappeared. What happened? Another new Gundam in the scene! Six months later, fans met the RX-0 Unicorn, which also transforms into its "Destroyer" mode. 19.7 meters high, 49 tons, and a bright future ahead, unless...
A Cloud of Fraud
... the latest fraud investigation demands drastic decisions. The Tokyo police announced last Friday the arrest of two former Bandai employees, Takashi Udatsu (44) and Takao Kurokawa (66), accused of manipulating construction and maintenance costs. Between July and August 2013, both men managed to convince one of the contractors to inject an overprice into their charges of 10 million yen (just over 90,000 dollars). In total, Bandai paid 20 million yen for the services (general construction, LED lighting), and both Udatsu and Kurokawa would have kept half. The worst part is that the giant Gundam would be just one of multiple cases, and the detainees could have stolen about 200 million yen (1.8 million dollars) between 2013 and 2017, using similar methods. I just hope the Gundam doesn't take the fall.
Source #1: Japan Sauce
Source #2: Asahi
