Kobe finally gets its Tetsujin-28!

by Chris MaGee

We've been following the story of the construction of the 18-metre-high Tetsujin 28 (a.k.a Gigantor) in Kobe since it was announced last summer (read all our reports here), so it would be remiss of us if we didn't let you know that the massive statue is now completed. Standing triumphantly in Wakamatsu Park in Nagata Ward, Kobe, the statue represents the city's rebirth after the tragic earthquake that claimed the lives of 6,434 people. Why Tetsujin-28 though? He's one of Kobe's biggest (excuse the pun) hometown successes, or his creator, manga artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama who created the very first giant robot in Japanese pop culture/ manga/ anime in Kobe in 1956.

So, there it stands, and unlike the the RX-78-2 Gundam that was erected on Tokyo's Odaiba Island this past summer Tetsujin-28 will be a permanent fixture. Congratulations, all you Kobe-ites! Thanks to Anime News Network for letting us know about the completion of this huge project.