Yoshiyuki Tomino "Gundam was kind" - Gundam stands in Yokohama! GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA" is finally open!

On December 19, 2020, "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA," a facility where visitors can experience a full-scale 18-meter "moving Gundam," finally opened.

On December 19, 2020, "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA" finally opened on the Yamashita Pier in Yokohama. This facility will exhibit a "moving" Gundam that was produced in actual size, 18 meters in length, just as in the setting of the work. In addition, the "ACADEMY" exhibits the development process and mechanism of the "moving Gundam," the "GUNDAM Cafe YOKOHAMA Satellite" offers visitors a chance to enjoy local Yokohama cuisine while viewing the Gundam, and "THE GUNDAM BASE YOKOHAMA Satellite," which sells original goods that can only be purchased locally.

⇒[ Report on "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA" just before its opening ── Part 1] We will deliver the charm of "Moving Gundam" to you in abundance! The overwhelming presence of the 18 meter high Gundam is a must-see!
⇒[ Report right before the opening of "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA" - Part 2] Take a break while looking at the "Moving Gundam"! Introducing food and drinks that can only be enjoyed here!
⇒[ GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA] Pre-opening Report ── Part 3] Gundam models and superalloys that can only be purchased at the site! Introducing a store full of attractions and an exhibition corner where you can learn all about "Gundam in Motion"!

Prior to the opening on Saturday, December 19, 2020, an opening ceremony was held on December 18, the day before the opening, where Mr. Yasuo Miyagawa, President of Namco Bandai Entertainment Inc. and Representative Director of the "GUNDAM GLOBAL CHALLENGE," and Ms. Fumiko Hayashi, Mayor of Yokohama City, spoke about the opening, Mobile Suit Gundam" General Director Yoshiyuki Tomino, and popular rock band LUNA SEA took the stage.

Mr. Miyagawa, who took the podium first, began by mentioning that he had been working on this moving Gundam project since 2014, starting with the standing Gundam statue erected in Shiokaze Park in Odaiba in 2009, and now he wanted to try to make the Gundam move. He then spoke about his passion for the project, which started with the aim of creating a moving Gundam with the expression that is now possible, and led to the opening of the facility this month, two months after it was scheduled to open in October.

Next, Mayor Hayashi of Yokohama City, where the facility opened, expressed his joy that Yokohama was chosen as the stage for the world's first grand dream to come true, and commented that "a new history of Gundam will begin in Yokohama.

Director Tomino, without whom there would be no discussion of Gundam, took the stage and suddenly apologized to the children, saying, "I would like to say 'I am sorry' to the children for not being able to create a life-size Gundam that can walk on its own two legs. However, he immediately continued, "The 1/1 Gundam that we created and exhibited this time taught me more than ever that the human form is wonderful," and he commented that he felt a sense of tenderness at the fact that the Gundam, once a toy, was made in full scale at 18 meters and could move. He concluded his remarks by saying, "The Gundam was kind.

After the three members gave their greetings, a 14-minute-long "moving Gundam" performance was presented, followed by the appearance on stage of the five members of LUNA SEA, who sang the opening theme song for the TV animation "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Night Before the ORIGIN, The Red Comet. They performed "THE BEYOND," the commemorative theme song for the "Mobile Suit Gundam 40th Anniversary Project," from the Gundam 40th Anniversary Album "Mobile Suit Gundam 40th Anniversary Album ~BEYOND~," at the feet of a full-scale Gundam standing in the brilliant Yokohama sky.

This was followed by a special talk by General Director Tomino, RYUICHI and SUGIZO of LUNA SEA.
RYUICHI and SUGIZO are in the middle of the Gundam generation. "When I was a child, I really got into the world of Gundam anime," said RYUICHI. SUGIZO, who says he is "usually a Zaku fan" and "a public citizen of Zeon," said that he had been thinking of "preferably a Zaku rather than a Gundam," but when he saw the Gundam, he burst into tears and said that seeing the full-size Gundam brought him back to his childhood. SUGIZO was so moved that he thought about switching from Zeon to the Federation, but General Director Tomino tsked at him, saying, "I don't think you need to switch. When SUGIZO continued to say that he wanted to make a moving Zaku next, RYUICHI, SUGIZO, and the audience on stage were all excited with anticipation.
All members of LUNA SEA are from Kanagawa Prefecture (RYUICHI is also a "Kanagawa Tourism Goodwill Ambassador"), and General Director Tomino is also from Kanagawa Prefecture. The talk corner was a "RX-78 F00 Gundam Gundam".

The "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA," where visitors can experience the "RX-78 F00 Gundam," has been open since December 19 and is currently enjoying great popularity.

To enter "GUNDAM DOCK," you need to purchase tickets on the official dedicated "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA Official App" and "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA Ticket Purchase The "GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA Ticket Purchase Only Web Page" is required to enter the "GUNDAM DOCK"!

Outline of the event

Overview】 【GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA

Period: Saturday, December 19, 2020 - Thursday, March 31, 2022
Opening hours: 10:00 - 21:00 (last admission at 20:00)
Ticket prices:
　Adults (13 years old and up) 1,650 yen (tax included)
　Child (7 years old and over, 12 years old and under) 1,100 yen (tax included)
　GUNDAM-DOCK TOWER admission fee: 3,300 yen (tax included)
　Up to 3 children under 6 years old per adult are admitted free of charge.
　Re-entry is not permitted.
　GUNDAM-DOCK TOWER ticket cannot be used by itself. Please purchase it together with the admission ticket.

Organizers: BANDAI NAMCO Group
Supported by: City of Yokohama, Yokohama Harbor Transportation Association, Yokohama Harbor Resort Association
Operated by：Evolving G
5g Partner：Softbank
Drink Partner: Coca-Cola Japan
Partners: Forum Engineering / Source Next / Meiji / au kabu.com Securities / Kawada Group
Medea Partner：The Yomiuri Shimbun
Technical Partners: Nomura Corporation / Asratech / Kawada Corporation / Sumitomo Heavy Industries Transportation Systems / Cocolo / Nabtesco / Mikasa Seisakusho / Yaskawa Electric Corporation / Maeda Corporation

(C) Sotsu, Sunrise