News

HOME > News > 

World's Only Gundam Plastic Model Factory Opened to the Public

posted 09/05/25

 

In conjunction with the 48th Shizuoka Hobby Show, the Bandai Hobby Center Public Viewing was held on May 16 and 17.

The Bandai Hobby Center in Shizuoka Prefecture is the world’s only Gundam plastic model (or “Gunpla”) factory. All of the factory’s production equipment was overhauled for “technological advancement and development,” “harmonious co-existence with the environment” and “impressive creations” when it began operation in March 2006, with factory automation and new manufacturing systems introduced.

090525_1.jpg

The facility is 18 meters tall, the same height as Gundam robots, and was designed with a space colony concept. The side of the building is curved and embedded with solar panels, appearing just like a colony. Even though a rectangular structure would be best for factory equipment, the curved design was adopted to reflect the company’s daring concept.

The facility’s entrance and a tour route of the second-floor factory were opened for the public viewing, which were packed with crowds of visitors. Limited-time goods were on sale, and the excitement was intense.


* The factory is normally not open to the public.


・ 1st Floor Entrance The wall has a display of plastic models over the years.

090525_2.jpg

090525_3.jpg

090525_4.jpg

090525_5.jpg

090525_6.jpg

・ 2nd Floor Factory Tour Route Visitors can watch Gundam plastic models being manufactured from behind a glass barrier.

090525_7.jpg

090525_8.jpg

・ Hobby Center staff uniforms and rank insignia. Staff have a character meaning “artisan” printed on their backs to express their dedication to “monozukuri," a Japanese word that basically means “making things.”

090525_9.jpg

090525_10.jpg

090525_11.jpg

・ A limited-time model made from scrap produced during the Gundam plastic model manufacturing process.

090525_12.jpg

090525_13.jpg

・ Limited-time Gundam 30th anniversary T-shirts, Bandai Hobby Center T-shirts, reusable shopping bags with logos and more were on sale.
 

 090525_14.jpg

 090525_15.jpg

 090525_16.jpg

 090525_17.jpg

 090525_18.jpg

 

 

 This article has been created in collaboration with
Akiba Keizai Shimbun

48th Shizuoka Hobby Show - Photo Report 1 (Akiba Today)

48th Shizuoka Hobby Show - Photo Report 2 (Akiba Today)

48th Shizuoka Hobby Show - Photo Report 3 (Akiba Today)

BANDAI HOBBY CENTER (Japanese)




TrackBack

Track back to this article:

http://www.akibatoday.com/cgi-bin/mt/trackback/600

Latest article 20

UFO Driver's License, Macrocosmo Administration Bureau I.D. ... "Delusional Licenses" Go on Sale
  Kameleon Inc. began offering Moso Licenses (meaning &...
posted 09/11/30
Auditions Lead Up to Idol Station's Remodeling of Akiba Tenkyu
  This winter, “idol cafe” Akiba Tenkyu is ...
posted 09/11/27
Thanko Releases World's First USB Shortwave/AM/FM Radio
  In late October, Thanko Co., Ltd. began selling its U...
posted 09/11/26
"Hogen CD" in the Moso Voice Series - 600 Recordings of Sweet and Harsh Expressions in Regional Dialects
  NR Pro will release Hogen CD (meaning “Dialect ...
posted 09/11/25
Flash Anime "Kaden Kung Fu" Released - HiVi-chan on a Journey to Akiba
  On October 30, Eiken and Super Vision’s joint p...
posted 09/11/24
"Bakumatsu Event" at Sengoku Maid Café in Akiba - From Warrior Maids to Bakumatsu Maids
  Sengoku Maid Café and Bar Mononopu, run by Par...
posted 09/11/18
Kaiyodo Holds Revoltech Expo in Akiba - All Sorts of Products Announced
  On October 31, Kaiyodo Co., Ltd. put on Revoltech 200...
posted 09/11/16
Decorated Kitty Music Players w/ 300 Swarovski Crystals Go on Sale
  On October 30, Mouse Computer began selling its Hello...
posted 09/11/13
Chidejika Appears at Akihabara Entamatsuri Site - Spreads the Love and Promotes Terrestrial Digitalization
  Chidejika is a character created to promote the compl...
posted 09/11/11
Your Girlfriend Greets and Guides You on the Yurikamome - "Navikano!" CD Released
  On October 21, Pony Canyon Inc. released a CD in musi...
posted 09/11/09
Maids Harvest Rice - Akiba Rice Harvesting Ceremony at Akihabara Vegetable Garden
  Licolita City Residents Group for Social Contribution...
posted 09/11/06
Collaborative Project by Pasela for Broadcast Debut of "Nyan Koi!" - Cat Menu Offered
  Karaoke studio operator Pasela is developing a collab...
posted 09/11/04
Workshop on Segway in Akiba with Test Drives
  On October 14, the Institute of Creative Industries a...
posted 09/11/02
New Business by @Home's Link-Up - Photo Studio in Akiba Opened
  Link-Up Co., Ltd., which manages the @Home Cafe, on O...
posted 09/10/30
Akihabara Audio Guide for Non-Japanese with "Gaigokujin" Patrick-san as your Tour Conductor
  The audio guide series Tokyo Realtime began distribut...
posted 09/10/28
Range Murata Art Exhibit in Akiba - 10th Anniversary of 4D Style
  The Range Murata Art Exhibition has been open at the ...
posted 09/10/26
Helmets as Worn by Skull Squadron Members Focker and Ichijo from Macross Coming Out
  In February, character toy designer and retailer Yama...
posted 09/10/23
Limited Supplies of New "Sheryl" Curry Celebrates Sheryl Nome's Debut
  A new curry, “Sheryl,” has gone on sale a...
posted 09/10/21
Cospa Releases New Versions of Mobile Suit Gundam "Earth Federation Forces Uniform T-Shirts"
  Cospa will begin selling Earth Federation Forces Unif...
posted 09/10/19
"Illustrated Encyclopedia of Handsome Scientists" from PHP: "Visual Scientists"
  In mid-September, PHP Kenkyusho began selling a book ...
posted 09/10/16


Return to Top