The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo in Osaka is shaping up to be one of Japan's biggest events this year. And guess what's stealing the show? Bandai Namco's "Gundam Pavilion," featuring a life-sized "RX-78F00/E Gundam" that's got everyone talking and drawing crowds from all corners of the globe.
But why exactly is this iconic mobile suit striking a kneeling pose? Sou Fujimoto, the architect behind the Osaka-Kansai Expo's massive "Grand Ring," finally spilled the beans on a recent TV special, "Odoru! Sanma Goten!! Year-End Hilarious 4-Hour SP" (aired on the 23rd). He confessed to being "the man who made Gundam kneel" – and the reason is pretty wild.
The episode's theme was "The Most Embarrassing Thing That Happened This Year," and Fujimoto, as the mastermind behind the Expo's iconic "Grand Ring," revealed, "I designed this circular roof, which stands about 20 meters tall. I also set the height restrictions for all the surrounding exhibition halls. My thinking was, if buildings got too tall, they'd obstruct the overall view, so I decided to put a cap on their height."
Then came the kicker: "Later, when Gundam was confirmed, I realized I hadn't actually checked how tall a life-sized Gundam is! With that 20-meter height restriction, Gundam couldn't stand upright, so we had no choice but to make it kneel." And there you have it – the hilarious, true story behind the life-sized Gundam's iconic kneeling stance.
▼ That's architect Sou Fujimoto, wearing glasses in the top right.
When the show flashed actual photos of the kneeling Gundam, the studio guests couldn't help but gasp, "Whoa!" "So the Grand Ring is to blame?!" "No way, it's true!" A wave of astonished reactions swept through the room.
Fujimoto chuckled wryly, "Resulting in me becoming 'the man who made Gundam kneel,' which is honestly a bit embarrassing (laughs). With so many Gundam fans out there, having to put it in a kneeling pose because of my blunder, I genuinely thought, 'Oh crap...' I was terrified of getting roasted online before the Expo even opened, super stressed. But thankfully, it seems like most people don't really mind, so I guess I secretly dodged a bullet (laughs)."
▼ The "Grand Ring" design meant all buildings and facilities within the exhibition area had strict height restrictions.
Surprisingly, for many, the kneeling Gundam with its right arm raised hasn't drawn much criticism. In fact, a lot of people seem to think the pose "works pretty well." It's safe to say that if this oversight had sparked a wave of outrage back then, it could've been a whole different story! XD
via： Narinari