Massive Gigantor statue coming to Japan

Erecting an 18-meter high robot statue in Japan may not shock and awe as it would in the US of A, but a brightly colored, 70-ton Gigantor is still apt to catch quite a few eyes. Kobe, Japan is set to be the home of the mammoth tribute statue, which will simultaneously commemorate the life of the late Mitsuteru Yokoyama and the revitalization of the surrounding areas since the 1995 Kobe earthquake. The project will cost an estimated ¥135 million ($1.09 million) and should be completed next Spring, but how it will affect property values (or tourism from fanboys and girls) remains to be seen.

[Via SciFiTech]

[supermeerkat @ Jul 3rd 2007 3:55AM]

Wow! A big-ass, blue robot! Aren't the Japanese cool?

[L. Cyphre @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:03AM]

Now they just need to build a statue of Godzilla next to it... And have them fight a deathmatch! Yeah!

[Austin @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:26AM]

Building a giant robot in a fault zone is a recipe for disaster. next time it shakes that statue could get buried for hundreds of years, only to resurrect and wreak havoc while Japanese extras scream and run. these architects should catch upon their Japanese B-action-movies.

[dream_scape @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:19AM]

Is it also a USB hub?

[601210 @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:25AM]

Yes
Everything is a USB hub

[Bachus @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:55AM]

GIGANTOR!

Gigantor the space-aged robot
he's at you command
gigantor the space-aged robot
his power is in you hand.
GIGANTOR!

[R. C. @ Jul 3rd 2007 2:18PM]

GIGANTOR!
GIGANTOR!
GIGAAAAAAAAAAANTOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

[Tracy in Cary @ Jul 3rd 2007 10:55AM]

Am I the only one that has no idea who "gigantor" is? And I consider myself to have a fairly high geek factor.

But what I'm wondering is why this STATUE is costing over a million bucks. Hell I'll make you one for 500 thousand!

[John @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:31PM]

It probably costs so much because of the Shizuma drive engine. :P

[GameMasterNick @ Jul 4th 2007 12:36PM]

I remember the bad dubbing of the English translation...

"Quicker than quick, stronger than strong, ready to fight for right... against wrong! Gigantor, Gigaaaantor!"