Giant robot moving in Japan harbour entrances millions on Twitter

Bandai Namco Holdings

30/09/2020 01:20

(Repeats story previously slugged JAPAN-GUNDAM/ROBOT to align
with visuals content, no changes to text)
    TOKYO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Videos showing an 18-metre
(59-foot) robot in the Japanese harbour city of Yokohama have
entranced the Twitterverse, pulling in more than 6 million views
in the past week.
    The robot is the centerpiece of the Gundam Factory Yokohama,
a tourist attraction that was due to open in October, but was
delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The park operator said
on Tuesday it will open on Dec. 19.
    The videos, shot by a telephoto lens from Twitter user
@yoshi115t, show what appear to be motion tests of the white
robot that dwarfs boats speeding by in the background. The
25-tonne Gundam makes a walking motion as it exits a storage
area, before kneeling and then raising its right arm to point
toward the sky.
    The park's Gundam-Lab will feature an exhibition area and
cafe, while the Gundam-Dock Tower will allow visitors to view
the robot's face and body.
    "Mobile Suit Gundam" debuted in Japan in the late 1970s as a
cartoon about enormous battle robots piloted by humans. The
series spawned multiple spinoffs and toys while gaining a
worldwide following.
    The Gundam franchise is operated by Bandai Namco Holdings
Inc  7832.T . Engineering company Yaskawa Electric Corp  6506.T 
and industrial robot maker Nabtesco Corp  6268.T  are among
companies making parts of the giant Gundam in Yokohama,
according to the attraction's website.

 (Reporting by Akiko Okamoto and Rocky Swift in Tokyo; editing
by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((rocky.swift@thomsonreuters.com;))