Danica Davidson
October 28, 2024 
Expo 2025 Osaka world’s fair, to be located on Yumeshima Island, begins on April 13, 2025, and it will include the full-size RX-78F00/E Gundam. But you don’t have to wait until April to get a peek at the latest full-size Gundam in Japan, and the statue has already received blessings from a Shinto priest.
There’s a tradition in Japan of Shinto priests bestowing blessings on construction projects. The priest will do a purification ritual, a blessing, and then offer up a prayer that whatever is being constructed will come to completion safely. This video was filmed to show some of what the priest did for the Gundam.
And if you’re curious, no, this is not the first time a Shinto priest has been called in to bless one of Japan’s huge Gundam statues. The Gundam statues in Yokohama and Kyushu received the same treatment, and it was likewise done to coincide with when the heads are placed on the giant mecha.
Bandai Namco is one of the presenters at Expo 2025, which is why it wants to show off its Gundam-ness. And the Gundam Next Future Pavilion has been sharing ways that this Gundam is different from previous large Gundams. For instance, this Gundam has some blue paneling on it “which was not present on the moving Gundam Factory Yokohama Gundam.” In addition to that, this Gundam will allow people to get good looks at its back and feet, and that couldn’t be said about the Gundam in Yokohama.
The RX-78F00/E Gundam will also be pointing its finger toward the skies, symbolizing that it will “carve out a new space age with humanity.” When the Gundam points its finger up, its fingertip will be 54.9 feet above the ground.
The 2025 Expo will close its doors on October 13 rather than being open the whole of the year. And this Gundam is sure to get many people interested in going.
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
