Life-size Tetsujin 28 at Kobe

We have seen lots of footage of Japan's “life-size Gundam” in Odaiba now. But how much have you seen of the 18-meter-tall “life-size” Gigantor (or Tetsujin-28) statue in Kobe?

The Kobe statue-- in commemoration of the city's revival after the 1995 earthquake –is a permanent fixture unlike Gundam which is going to be short-lived but moves and lights up.The Tetsujin-28 statue isn't up yet (its official installation opening is October 4th, after the Gundam gets taken down)

AnimeNewsNetwork-reports: "The parts of the 59-foot-tall statue will be transported to the final site at Kobe's Wakamatsu Park for assembly at the end of July. It was scheduled to be constructed in August, but its completion is now planned for the end of September with a ceremony on October 4. (The initial plans called for a spring 2008 opening.) ... Unlike the Gundam statue, the Tetsujin 28-gō statue will be a permanent installation with no moving parts."

"The Kobe Tetsujin Project's statue is intended as a symbol of the city's revival after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. It is being build in Nagata Ward, the city's hardest hit neighborhood which has since been rebuilt and revitalized. The statue also celebrates the life of one of Kobe's most well-known native sons, as Yokoyama not only created the Tetsujin 28 manga and anime, but also Giant Robo and Sally the Witch."

Kobe Project official website
1:1 Gundam