Last year's six-month-long Osaka-Kansai World Expo was a resounding success, drawing visitors from around the globe to experience its unique atmosphere in Osaka.
With the Expo now over, attention has turned to how its former site will be utilized. Recently, Japanese media reported that an octogenarian couple donated a whopping ¥400 million, hoping to see a statue of the mascot, Myaku-Myaku, erected at the old venue. This news has sparked a lively debate across Japanese social media.
According to reports, the elderly couple made the ¥400 million donation with the specific wish that a commemorative statue of Myaku-Myaku be built at the former Expo site after the event concluded.
Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura reposted the news, expressing his gratitude for the couple's generosity. He also called on Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama to consider building a "Gundam-sized giant Myaku-Myaku statue" at Yumeshima Memorial Park, transforming the Osaka Expo mascot into a brand-new city landmark.
▼ Osaka Governor's post
As the news spread, many netizens were surprised by the donation's intended use. However, others felt that since it was the couple's own money, investing it in something they truly loved during their lifetime was a deeply meaningful act.
One netizen commented, "Donating ¥400 million is already astonishing, but for the specified purpose to be 'hoping to build a giant Myaku-Myaku statue'—that's incredibly ambitious! If a 'Gundam-sized' Myaku-Myaku is actually built, it could become not just a new attraction in Yumeshima but also a new symbol for Osaka, just like the Tower of the Sun was in its day."
This concept of a giant Myaku-Myaku also reminded Japanese netizens of historical Buddha statue constructions. One person joked, "Isn't this basically the Reiwa era's Great Buddha project?! Osaka is finally getting its own Great Buddha—the 'Myaku-Myaku Buddha'!"
Currently, the most attention is on Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura's proposal. He has publicly urged Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama to "go all out and build a Gundam-sized giant Myaku-Myaku statue" in Yumeshima Memorial Park.
These remarks immediately sparked excitement among netizens, with some exclaiming, "A Gundam-sized giant Myaku-Myaku? Just thinking about it gets me hyped!" Others quipped that if it actually gets built, it might become another iconic landmark for Osaka, alongside the "Tower of the Sun."
One netizen even joked, "If a Gundam-sized Myaku-Myaku appears, the battle with the Tower of the Sun will officially begin..."
Whether this Myaku-Myaku statue will actually be built, its final scale, and its exact location all remain to be confirmed. Nevertheless, the story of an 80-something couple donating ¥400 million simply to ensure their beloved Myaku-Myaku remains at the former Osaka Expo site has already become a trending topic across the Japanese internet.
If a "Gundam-sized" giant Myaku-Myaku is ultimately constructed, it will be exciting to see if it truly becomes Osaka's next iconic landmark.
via： livedoor news