Gundam Factory Yokohama
Gundam Factory Yokohama is an entertainment complex located at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama, Japan. Its main feature is a moving Gundam, an 18-metre tall pilot-operated "mech" (a large mechanical automaton with a human operator inside) from the Japanese animated franchise "Gundam", the 16th biggest media franchise in the world. It is the first moving mech of its type. Originally planned to open by October 2020 to both celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Gundam franchise and for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the construction of the exhibit was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The site  opened 19 December 2020 and will remain open until March 31, 2022. On 18 December, rock band Luna Sea performed the 40th anniversary's theme song, "The Beyond", on live TV at the opening ceremony. There are two features to the exhibit: Gundam Dock. The primary exhibition of the complex is the moving Gundam mech. Named the RX-78F00 Gundam, it is the 3rd statue constructed to a 1:1 scale with its anime counterpart in Japan, following the 2009 RX-78-2 and 2017 RX-0 each constructed at Tokyo Gundam Base. Gundam Lab. The Gundam lab exhibition features information about the construction  of the RX-78F00, a virtual reality dome that simulates the interior of the Gundam's cockpit, a cafe with Gundam themed products and a GUNPLA merchandise store. Cultural significance. The site celebrates the 40th anniversary of the premiere of the first Gundam series. Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of Gundam, personally worked on the project. Gundam has become the 16th highest grossing media franchise, and has been highly regarded for its influence in other media.