DiverCity Tokyo Plaza and Its Gundam Statues Through the Years
DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is a mixed-use shopping complex in Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo.
The name “DiverCity” comes from Odaiba. Although its address is in Aomi, Koto Ward, rather than Daiba, Minato Ward, the area north of the former Oedo Onsen Monogatari is commonly called “Odaiba,” even though it is in Aomi.
Alongside clothing and grocery stores and a food court, the complex also houses entertainment venues such as Round One and Zepp DiverCity, as well as distinctive attractions like the Unko Museum and The Gundam Base Tokyo.
Gundam Base Tokyo is Bandai’s official all-in-one Gunpla facility and could be called a holy site for Gunpla. In addition to one of Japan’s largest selections, it also offers original Gunpla models available only here.
From 2012 to 2026, a life-size (1/1 scale) Gundam statue was displayed outside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. The photos below introduce the successive Gundam statues.
The First Gundam Statue (2012–2017)
The history of the Gundam statue dates back to 2012, when DiverCity Tokyo Plaza opened.
The model for the statue of the first Gundam is RX-78-2, the so-called “First Gundam.” It is the mobile suit piloted by Amuro Ray.
The Gundam moves its head from side to side.
What sets the Gundam statue apart from other conventional statues is that it “moves,” albeit only partially. After all, neither the Statue of Liberty nor the Ushiku Daibutsu moves.
It also releases a smoke screen and gazes up at the sky.
The right heel is raised.
It has an ominous presence, as if it could take its first step at any moment.
The overall impression is solid, but elegant curves can be seen only on the thighs. It’s sexy.
Unicorn Gundam Statue (2017–2026)
The original Gundam was retired in 2017 and succeeded by the Unicorn Gundam.
The Unicorn Gundam is a Gundam featured in Harutoshi Fukui’s novel “Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn),” which was adapted into an OVA series from 2010 to 2014 and a television anime in 2016.
A distinctive feature of the Unicorn Gundam is its transformation from the single-horned “Unicorn Mode” into the two-horned “Destroy Mode,” which the statue faithfully recreates.
The transformation into Destroy Mode has just finished. Can you see how not only the horn but also the face has changed?
Another distinctive feature of the Unicorn Gundam statue is its ability to display a wider range of colors than the original Gundam statue.
Even the smallest details, such as the maintenance warning labels, are carefully crafted.
Psychedelic Gundam.
Ice skating in Universal Century 0096.