Gundam themed entertainment centre to open in Fukuoka

Located on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, Gundam Park Fukuoka - an indoor complex for mecha fans - is scheduled to open at Mitsui Shopping Park LalaPort Fukuoka this April. Along with the Gundam statue, the facility will comprise three main areas: VS Park With G, Gundam Side-F and the Namco arcade.

Gundam is a Japanese military fiction media franchise/media mix. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise, the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, with the name ‘Gundam’. The franchise began on 7th April, 1979 with the TV Series Mobile Suit Gundam.

The VS (variety sports) Park features a series of video game stations that require quite a bit of movement and agility to pass each round (think Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Sports). You might have played some of these games if you’ve visited other VS Parks around Japan, but at VS Park with G, they’ve been given a revamp to feature characters from the Gundam universe and Gundam-themed backdrops.

The Namco arcade offers immersive video games like Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield II, where you sit in a cockpit and pilot a mecha.

The Gundam Side-F area is an outer space-themed spot where visitors can learn more about the Gundam universe through special exhibitions and regularly scheduled events. In addition to a shop where you can buy Gundam merch and figurines, Side-F also sells Gundam merchandise and figurines and offers a designated building space where plastic Gundam kit purchases can be unpacked and the models constructed on site.

Gundam Merchandise. COSPA Inc. is one of the top manufacturers of character apparel, goods and costumes from anime, manga and games in Japan.

As of March 2020, the Gundam franchise is fully owned by Bandai Namco Holdings through subsidiaries Sotsu and Sunrise.

Images credit Sotsu/Sunrise