News: Kobe Tetsujin Project

By now, you probably know that there is another 1/1 project happening in Japan. I was too caught up with the Gundam that I couldn't get into the mood to write about this until now.


Since January 2006, the city of Kobe had been planning to commemorate one of the city's most famous citizens, manga writer Mr. Yokoyama Mitsuteru, with a life size statue of his most recognizable work, Tetsujin 28. The memorial will serve as a monument to encourage literary expression and creativity, as Mr. Yokoyama's works no doubt had paved the way for the popularity of modern anime.

The statue will stand 18m high (same size too) and will be permanently erected at the Wakamatsu Park. Construction is set to begin in August and will be finished by late September.


Left: 2009.5.1
Fabrication of the inner structure in progress, certain parts such as the fists and the rocket boosters are already taking shape.

Right: 2009.5.19
The main body is being welded in two sections in photos 2-4, while 5-6 shows progress of Tetsujin's arm pieces.


Left: 2009.6.11
The head (picture 2-5) and the shoulders (picture 6) are taking shape, while the legs (picture 9) are being worked on.

Right: 2009.6.26
Follow the arrow to see how the head is docked with the main body.

Left: 2009.7.7

The feet of Tetsujin 28 arrived on site first.

Middle: 2009.7.22

Christening of Tetsujin 28 when the eye pieces are put in.

Right: 2009.7.28

Unveiling ceremony of the finished Tetsujin head at the monument build site, a prelude to the construction.

In two months, there will be at least two things to do in Kobe...visit this guy and eat Kobe steak. Awesome!

Source: www.kobe-tetsujin.com