Latest news with #MobileSuitGundam
Yomiuri Shimbun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Exhibition Featuring Legendary Japanese Gundam Anime Creator Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Underway at Aomori Museum; Rare, Personal Memorabilia on Display
The Yomiuri Shimbun Legendary creator Yoshikazu Yasuhiko stands in front of original drawings of posters for Mobile Suit Gundam movies. AOMORI — An exhibition featuring Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, a manga artist and animation director of the anime series 'Kido Senshi Gundam'('Mobile Suit Gundam'), is being held at the Aomori Museum of Art in Aomori. An opening ceremony was held on April 18 ahead of the official start of the exhibition, which is called 'Yasuhiko Yoshikazu: Divine Animator and Draftsman,' with a preview of the exhibition available to visitors. 'I experienced a great turning point in Aomori and Hirosaki,' the 77-year-old legendary creator said at the event. 'I am grateful to be here again.' Yasuhiko was born in the town of Engaru, Hokkaido. After graduating from high school, he studied at Hirosaki University's faculty of humanities and social sciences. He was expelled from the school after getting arrested during a student movement held there. Following his expulsion, an acquaintance in Hirosaki gave him a job drawing pictures for a magazine in the town. 'The experience [drawing for the magazine] gave me the ambition to work in Tokyo,' he recalled. The exhibition has about 1,000 items, including original drawings from various anime and manga, sketches of manga drawn in a notebook by Yasuhiko when he studied at the university and materials related to his creative activities, such as Gundam movie posters. Also being exhibited is a clipping from a newspaper article about Yasuhiko's arrest, which includes his mug shot, and a written announcement informing him of his expulsion from school. 'I have never seen some of these items,' he said. The exhibition will be held through June 29. Admission is ¥1,700 for adults, ¥1,000 for university students and free for those 18 years old and younger.
5 days ago
- Automotive
Shizuoka: A Global Center for Plastic Modeling
The city of Shizuoka is a modeling mecca. Home to 10 hobby manufacturers—Tamiya, Bandai, Aoshima, and Hasegawa, to name a few—it is where more than 80% of Japan's plastic model kits are produced. The town is so passionate about its status that authorities at city hall created a special department to promote plastic models, playfully proclaiming the municipality 'A Model City.' To highlight its modeling culture, Shizuoka has established 15 life-size monuments shaped like plastic model kits around town. These include information signs as well as working public phones and a mailbox designed to look like kits with pieces still attached to their runners. Clockwise from upper left: a monument in the shopping arcade near Shizuoka Station features parts of a seat and a digital display of a Shinkansen; the monument at the smoking area near the station's north exit consists of parts from a large outdoor ashtray; a monument designed like an old-style model box and a newly opened kit advertises Shizuoka's connection to modeling. (© ) The monument outside Shizuoka City Hall is an actual post box. (© ) The monuments have garnered attention as the modeling market as a whole continues to enjoy broad popularity. According to a Tamiya spokesperson, the pandemic brought a brisk uptick in sales for plastic models as people stayed at home, with the hobby taking on a family flair as parents and children shared in the fun of building replicas together. Makers have also capitalized on the growing popularity of radio-controlled cars as more people take to the outdoors for activities like camping. These trends have fueled the sales of higher-end items as former hobbyists rediscover modeling in middle age and snap up expensive kits that were once beyond their budgets. Tamiya's Hotshot. The four-wheel-drive radio-controlled buggy debuted in 1985 and remains a popular item with hobbyists of all ages. (© ) Hobby Square is another site celebrating Shizuoka's modeling industry. The facility, near the south exit of JR Shizuoka Station, has displays highlighting the history of plastic modeling and exhibits from different makers, including rare and historic items. The onsite shop carries new releases and specialty items. Characters from the Mobile Suit Gundam series, a mainstay among modeling enthusiasts, greet visitors to Hobby Square. (© ) New and historic items are on exhibit at Hobby Square. (© ) An exhibit detailing the manufacturing process for Gundam models. (© ) Manufacturer Bandai offers specially designed model kits as part of its Gunpla Academia, a school-based initiative to introduce students to the world of craftsmanship. (© ) Deep-Rooted Craftsmanship Shizuoka's tradition of craftsmanship was greatly influenced by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan for more than 200 years. As a young boy, Ieyasu was a political hostage in Sunpu, which later became the modern city of Shizuoka. At age 40, he took control of the area, relocating from Hamamatsu to the southwest, and built Sunpu Castle in 1589. Ieyasu gathered master carpenters, sculptors, metalworkers, and other skilled craftsmen from around Japan for the project. He also rebuilt the important Sengen Shrine and later expanded the confines of the castle, where he settled after passing the title of shōgun to his son Hidetada, although he continued to wield power behind the scenes. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, the craftsmen constructed Kunōzan Shrine as his resting place. Later shōguns supported these artisans, and many settled in the area, taking advantage of the surrounding forests to create exquisite crafts. Such traditions as Suruga bamboo craftwork are still produced today. A plastic model monument featuring the golden Kindamigusoku armor worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu. (© ) The Model Industry Lifts Off Shizuoka's modern model-making industry dates to 1924 when aviation enthusiast Aoshima Jirō founded an airplane research center in the city. Using his knowledge and experience, Aoshima started manufacturing wooden model airplane kits, which he began to sell in 1932. The models were used to teach aviation, becoming popular items nationwide. Restrictions in the postwar years forced the area's burgeoning number of manufacturers to shift to selling wooden ships. From the late 1950s, as imported plastic models grew in popularity, they adopted plastic for their kits. Aoshima established Aoshima Bunka Kyōzai in 1961 to develop and manufacture model kits, and the company grew to be an industry leader with its easy-to-build offerings. Early wooden models made by Aoshima's company on display at Hobby Square. (© ) A Global Model Giant Emerges Tamiya is another Shizuoka success story. Founded as a lumber company in 1946, it began selling wooden model kits in 1948, making these its primary offering after closing the lumber mill in 1953. It released its first all-plastic kit, a 1/800 scale of the Japanese battleship Yamato , in 1960, but it was the Panther, a 1/35 scale motorized tank issued in 1962, that gave the firm its first major hit and led to the establishment of a separate plastic molding division. Tamiya continued to find modeling success, including the 1976 release of the 1/12 scale radio-controlled Porsche 934 Turbo and its mini 4WD models of the 1980s. It began expanding overseas, and in 1994, it set up its only factory abroad, in Cebu, Philippines, making the firm one of the largest model manufacturers in the world. Clockwise from upper left: Wooden boat models; the 1/800 scale model of the Yamato ; Tamiya's Panther tank. (© ) Tamiya's radio-controlled Porsche 934 Turbo (right), which triggered an R/C car boom in Japan, and other offerings in the series. (© ) Tamiya Craftsmanship Tamiya offers fans several exhibits of interest at its head office. The Archive Room displays products from early wooden models to modern creations, and the lobby of its headquarters features actual sports cars and other vehicles, many of which have been turned into R/C models. The exhibits are open to the public by reservation. Racing cars on display at Tamiya's headquarters. (© ) Tamiya's Archive Room. (© ) Tamiya has also helped in establishing Takumishuku, a center highlighting the traditional crafts of the region. Visitors to the facility can try their hand at techniques like Suruga bamboo lattice ware, hand-dying, pottery, and lacquerware, providing a sense of the centuries-old culture of craftsmanship that remains the backbone of Shizuoka's plastic model industry. The interior of Takumishuku. (© ) A display of Suruga bamboo lattice ware and indigo dying. (© ) An artisan shows how Suruga bamboo lattice ware is made. (© ) (Originally published in Japanese. Reporting, text, and photos by . Banner photo: Different plastic model monuments around Shizuoka. © .)
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dragon Ball breaks global record, outsells One Piece and Gundam
Dragon Ball breaks global record, outsells One Piece and Gundam Credit- Fandom The iconic anime trilogy surpasses all competition to become Bandai Namco 's most lucrative property. Dragon Ball Breaks Own Record to Become the Most Successful Anime Franchise in History Dragon Ball has now officially supplanted Pokémon as the most lucrative franchise for Bandai Namco. That must be particularly apt for Dragon Ball, that iconic anime in which Goku and his epic adventures have just recently generated the greatest revenue in the U.S. The latest Bandai Namco financial report has Dragon Ball at more than one hundred ninety billion yen in cumulative revenue. That leaves it leaps and bounds ahead of second, third, and fourth place fan-favorite titles, including Mobile Suit Gundam and One Piece . Dragon Ball kills Gundam and One Piece in november sales Here's how the top franchises stack up in terms of revenue: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Mobile Suit Gundam earned about one hundred fifty billion yen One Piece was a distant second at one hundred thirty nine billion yen Dragon Ball didn't just take first — it took first by a long, long way, defeating both competitors by billions. This is the first year all three franchises have done as well as they did, but it wasn't really close. Dragon Ball owned 2018. What contributed to boosted Dragon Ball's sales this go around Dragon Ball's tremendous success can largely be attributed to some key initiatives across video games, anime, and mobile: That's because a hugely popular new version of the classic children's franchise video game drew millions of long-time fans back to video game consoles. The final episodes aired amid the global rise of another new anime series that had just launched and quickly washed over the streaming audience with a tide unlike anything seen before, cratering Demon Slayer's own record viewership. The mobile hit Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle saw its fifth anniversary with a big blowout of special events and content. These regular releases brought in new audiences while bringing back vintage fans, allowing Dragon Ball to dominate across the world. Future predictions indicate that Dragon Ball will remain robust While total revenue growth may begin to moderate slightly, Bandai Namco still expects Dragon Ball to continue being one of its largest franchises. The property keeps expanding with help from the worldwide community of fans, aka Team Perfect Order. Gundam is expected to continue seeing consistent growth, and One Piece continues to be strong with the new episodes airing and the new character designs that came for its 25th anniversary. Fans still waiting on Dragon Ball Super comeback Massively positive responses still leave fans waiting and wondering when they'll receive any concrete news about the future return of Dragon Ball Super. The anime adaptation has been on a multi-year hiatus and there is currently no official announcement for a new season. Some say that internal struggles at the company after the passing of long-time creator Akira Toriyama have set back development. Even with that, fans have kept the franchise alive through gaming, merchandise and streaming. Dragon Ball proves it's still the king of anime Dragon Ball's record-breaking revenue shows just how powerful the franchise still is. While newer series like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen continue to rise, Goku and friends remain at the top of the anime world. With more projects likely in development and fans all over the world—from the US to the UK—still tuning in, Dragon Ball's legacy as a global anime giant is stronger than ever. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What's Happening With Crunchyroll's ‘Gundam' Related Blu-Ray Restocks?
A few weeks ago, a Redditor posted a worrying response regarding restocking certain Blu-rays on Crunchyroll, so I reached out to them to find out more. To give a bit of context, when it comes to Gundam-related Blu-rays, those used to be handled by RightStuf. They did great work on multiple classic shows, all of which I dutifully reviewed. Back in October 2023, Crunchyroll announced that they had absorbed RightStuf and their massive Blu-ray catalogue, and they too followed up with multiple current Blu-ray releases for newer Gundam shows, such as Witch from Mercury. However, it seems that regarding the restocking of older Blu-ray releases, the initial customer service response was a tad bleak. The good news is that Crunchyroll is actually trying to figure out a way to restock older Blu-ray releases, as the following Crunchyroll spokesperson explained when I reached out to them for more details. A lovely piece of artwork by Mamoru Ito for 'Gundam: Char's Counterattack', which is currently out ... More of stock on Blu-ray at Crunchyroll. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Crunchyroll is proud to produce and distribute a wide and diverse range of home entertainment and collectibles, including Blu-ray, for anime fans at the Crunchyroll Store and through third-party retailers. We are currently out of stock on a limited number of select titles and are always evaluating how and when to replenish those titles. Other Mobile Suit Gundam merchandise can also be found here at the Crunchyroll Store. On background, I can also share: Overall, we just don't have news to share or a timeline. Compared to the initial customer service response, it's definitely more hopeful, and they are stocking all manner of Gundam merchandise, from toys to model kits and yes, Blu-rays. My only concern is that Crunchyroll is part of Sony, and Sony recently announced their intent to cease Blu-ray production. While the mantra of 'you'll own nothing and be happy' may excite some soulless corporate executives, in my case, they will have to take my treasured Gundam Blu-rays from my cold, dead hands. Here's hoping Crunchyroll can fix its supply chain issues and keep up with the increasing fan demand for Blu-rays of popular anime. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
The Mainichi
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Fukushima Pref. family's spirits lifted by giant stone robot after 3.11 disasters
FUKUSHIMA -- Along the way to the famed Takayu Onsen hot springs in this northeast Japan city, this reporter spotted a giant stone robot statue that seemed out of place in an unassuming residential area -- as if it had come straight out of an anime. The robot, posing with its fists raised along a prefectural highway, was constructed over 20 years ago by a stone supplier. It stands about 3.2 meters tall and is said to weigh at least 2 metric tons. A group which once included the stone company's shop was part of a housing franchise that provided design and construction expertise to local builders, and the statue was originally erected in the parking lot of a show home. However, this was all over two decades ago. An official with the group said, "No one knows what happened back then, and we don't know who built it or why." The official conjectured that it may have been built as a piece to show off the shop's expertise. Why is there a robot here? The house by the statue is now home to Shinichi Takamatsu, 49, and his family, who evacuated from Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, after the town was severely hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. As the entire town was evacuated, all five members of his family relocated to temporary housing in the city of Fukushima. Takamatsu continued to commute over two hours each way to the kitchen equipment manufacturer he ran in the prefectural city of Minamisoma. He and his employees worked for two months to resume accepting orders for products like commercial gas ranges. Takamatsu's stay in the temporary housing expired in 2016, after which he moved to an apartment in the city of Fukushima, near the stone statue. As a fan of sci-fi anime like "Mobile Suit Gundam" since he was a kid, it caught his attention as he was passing by. "Why is there such an incredible robot here?" he wondered. At the time, Takamatsu, his wife and three kids were forced to sleep side by side in a cramped apartment. He longed for his hometown of Namie, but he recalled, "I grew attached to this area too, and started looking for a place where my family could settle down together." However, the search for a new house was not easy. In 2021, just when the family was about to give up and consider moving elsewhere, his wife Michiyo, 48, saw online that the show home was due to go up for sale. A happy surprise The statue's deep foundation had been buried underground to prevent it from toppling over, making removal a major challenge. At the time, the home had been passed to another construction firm from the housing franchise, and the company offered to remove the statue at no cost. Takamatsu politely declined the offer. "Honestly, I did not want it removed at all. In fact, I was worried they might take it away, so it was a happy surprise," he said. Meanwhile, Takamatsu's renewed company continued to struggle with chronic staff shortages, as not all employees returned after the nuclear disaster. He split his time between the city of Fukushima and public housing in Minamisoma which had only the bare basics. "I just used the room in Minamisoma to sleep," he said. One day, an exhausted Takamatsu returned to Fukushima to find his wife had lit up the robot statue outside their house. "Since he didn't come home every day, I wanted to make him feel a little better when he did," she explained. "It lifted my spirits and made me feel like I could keep going," said Takamatsu. Saved by the stone robot The road in front of the house has heavy traffic and a narrow sidewalk, making it unsuitable for sightseeing. Yet, elderly neighbors can sometimes be seen sitting beside the statue and gazing at it during their walks. Fourteen years have passed since the disasters, but Takamatsu's family home in the mountains of Namie is in an area where people are restricted from returning. The rice fields his father used to cultivate have completely collapsed, and there is no clear prospect of going back. Takamatsu continues to live between Minamisoma and Fukushima, only returning to his home to the prefectural capital about once a week -- but seeing the robot's face along the route always brings him comfort. Takamatsu said while gazing at the statue, "I was saved by this robot. Rather than a symbolic tree, I've got a symbolic stone statue. I'd like to set up a bench or something so that lots of people can enjoy it."
