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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Travel devider Life-sized 'Gundam' statue in Tokyo to be retired

Life-sized 'Gundam' statue in Tokyo to be retired

Bandai Namco bids farewell to the Unicorn Gundam

Published May 16, 2026 12:44 am

At A Glance

  • Bandai Namco recently announced its plans to retire the statue that has been up since 2017.
A SAD FAREWELL Bandai Namco has announced the lifesized Unicorn Gundam display is set to be retired this August (Photo: Bandai Namco)
A SAD FAREWELL Bandai Namco has announced the lifesized Unicorn Gundam display is set to be retired this August (Photo: Bandai Namco)
Fans of the mecha franchise “Gundam” have until August to enjoy the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue that has graced Odaiba, Tokyo, for nearly nine years.
Bandai Namco recently announced its plans to retire the statue that has been up since 2017. “The life-size Unicorn Gundam statue, beloved in Odaiba for approximately nine years, will conclude its exhibition at the end of August 2026,” shared the official Gundam account on Twitter. In line with its retirement, the account also shares how it will be adding new decal decorations to the statue, as well as planning events before its removal.
This isn’t the first time a life-sized "Gundam" was officially retired. Back in 2024, a life–sized RX-78F00 Gundam was also put down after four years on display. It was made in 2020 in time for the Tokyo Olympics and had a height of over 18 meters. An armature placed on its back allowed the mecha structure to “move,” showing the mecha’s capability of waving and kneeling down in a battle pose. Visitors of the 2025 Universal Expo were also able to see a repurposed version of the statue on display at the event, though it was no longer mobile by then.
Before the RX-78400, there was also the RX-78-2 statue on display at Odaiba’s DiverCity Tokyo Mall. It was first unveiled in 2009 and stayed in view until its removal in 2017. In Fukuoka, fans can also find the largest "Gundam" statue ever built, the RX-93 v Gundam (also referred to as Nu Gundam). It stands at around 24 meters and can be found on the second floor of Divercity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
What is Gundam?
“Gundam” is a Japanese mecha sci-fi franchise created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and the creative collective known as Hajime Yatate. The series was first created for Sunshine Studios, under Bandai Namco Filmworks. It is largely popular worldwide for its plastic model kits, referred to as Gunpla, and has numerous iterations run on film, television, and print. As of 2026, it is considered to have a massive estimated annual revenue of P99.8 billion ($1.62B). “Gundam” also has a big reach in the local community, with groups like the Gundam Philippines page on Facebook having over 124,000 followers.

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