Do You Know Mobile Suit Gundam!? An Intro to Gundam & Gunpla
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CONTENTS
What do you know about Gundam and its popular plastic models? Here are the basics!
Do You Know Gundam? How About Gunpla?
Hello everyone! This might seem like it’s coming from nowhere, but do you know Gunpla? That’s right, Gunpla is an abbreviation of “Gundam plastic models,” referring to the sets sold by Bandai.
Gundam is a Japanese robot anime that began broadcasting back in 1979, and to this day the show has a wildly enthusiastic fanbase. Including me – I am one of those wildly enthusiastic fans! Just about every day, I spend a little of my time searching out new Gundam news, sharing Gundam information, and just generally enjoying it all. Anyone reading this is probably a Gundam fan too, I bet!
Wait, what’s that? You don’t know Gundam? “What is Gunpla?”??
Don’t worry! Today I’ll be sharing a quick intro Gundam and Gunpla that you can enjoy even if you know nothing about the fandom.
What Is Mobile Suit Gundam?
The very first edition of Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム/Kido Senshi Gundam in Japanese) first aired in 1979, and this historic production is generally referred to as “First Gundam” or “First Generation Gundam” (ファーストガンダム/初代ガンダム). That’s right, you might have already noticed, but “Gundam” didn’t just stop at the end of this one work of animation. It’s a long continuous multi-media series that has been going on ever since!
To quickly sum up the main gist of the show, Gundam is set in the future, half a century after people have started immigrating to space, in the “Universal Century 0079.” It’s been half a year since the space colony Side 3 (called the “Principality of Zeon”) began fighting a war of independence with the Earth Federation. It seems like the destructive war has come to an impasse, when the Zeon Lieutenant Char Aznable, AKA the Red Comet, tails the Earth Federation’s new battleship called the White Base, following it to the neutral Side 7 colony. The story truly starts here, where Char finds weaponry that the Earth Federation has been building on the sly.
That’s right, that secret weapon is none other than a “Gundam”! And when the Principality of Zeon attacks, a young man named Amuro Ray, who has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, tries to fend them off by manually piloting the Gundam with one hand and taking down Zeon’s mobile suit Zaku. Amuro is eventually appointed to be the official Gundam pilot and gets wrapped up in war, evading persistent attacks from Char, and moving from one battle to another. The story follows Amuro as he meets and parts ways with all kinds of people, fights with his arch-enemy Char, and of course learns and grows from his struggles alongside the rest of the White Base crew.
But What About Gunpla?
Despite writing a little bit too much about the Gundam plot, that’s really just an outline of what happens before the story starts – but today we’ll have to leave it there. Because next, I want to talk about Gunpla!
Gunpla, Gundam plastic models, were first sold after the original TV anime finished airing, in 1980. The very first one was the “1/144 Gundam.” The 1/144 in the name refers to the model’s size, meaning it will be “1/144th the size of the height of the Gundam that appears in the anime,” and the following model was called a “1/100 Gundam.” Since the anime had been successful from the start, sales for the plastic models also looked promising, and the so-called “Gunpla Boom” began in early 1981. The new models spread among elementary and middle school students like wildfire, driven on by special features in model-building magazines. With this huge surge in popularity, stores were having trouble keeping the model kits in stock, and when news spread of a shipment at one department store or another, waves of children would advance. Sometimes, there would be such a rush that kids would be pushed to the ground and trampled, resulting in injuries both minor and major.
To this day, 40 years on, Gunpla kits still fly off the shelf, and, in total, more than 700 million of the models have been sold! Of course, compared to the original models from the 80s, today’s Gunpla technology is on another level. In the past, model-making tools like wire cutters, sharp knives, and special adhesives were necessary before even getting started, but these days there are Gunpla series that can be put together without any model-making tools at all. I’m a huge fan of putting together Gunpla, and I usually make five to seven models a month!
Check Out My Twitter, Too!
I have a deep and abiding love for Gundam and Gunpla, so I could keep talking about it all forever, but this time we’ll just have to leave it at that lol. But before you go, I’d like to show off a Gunpla I made myself!
By the way, I talk kind of a lot about Gundam and Gunpla on my Twitter account, so make sure to follow me if you’re interested!
Original Author: Mame Kakao
English Edition: Sophia Appelbaum
Details
NAME:Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム)
Thirty years old and a huge fan of Gunpla! I recently bought a new photo box, so I started posting on Twitter too. I'll be sharing the hottest news on Gunpla and the like!
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Sapporo, in the south-western part of Hokkaido, is the prefecture's political and economic capital. The local New Chitose Airport see arrivals from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, alongside international flights. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park―one of the biggest events in Hokkaido. It's also a hotspot for great food, known as a culinary treasure chest, and Sapporo is a destination for ramen, grilled mutton, soup curry, and of course Hokkaido's beloved seafood.
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Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.
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The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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