Mobile Suit Gundam, Odaiba, Tokyo

    I finally caught up with the surprisingly mobile life-size RX-78-2 Mobile Suit Gundam, now stationed at Odaiba in front of Daiba City.  It's 18 meters tall (59 feet), weighs 35 tons and is 1-1 scale, built to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the anime series, started in 1979.  It was originally constructed for the theme park attraction Gundam Crisis, and punters could originally complete a series of missions to access the cockpit (if successful) where they were shown a special Gundam-related video.  I would much prefer to operate the mecha myself, rather than watching some video, but one suspects that, unfortunately, it's not a fully operational Gundam.  Sadly. 
    The Gundam went walkabouts (for real?) to Shizuoka City for a year, then ended up in its present location in Odaiba.  I don't believe that the cockpit is accessible, but I'd be pleased to be corrected on that one.  At its feet is another Gundam Cafe (the original is located in Akihabara), and a Gundam gift shop.  There is also apparently the Gundam Front Tokyo attraction on the 6th floor of the Daiba City Mall, which I missed.  
    Now, it seems that the life-size Gundam was scheduled to finish at the end of March 2013.  Any confirmation on this?  I'm glad I went now!  Where will it end up next?  In orbit?  Do that!

    (Personally, I'm more of a Neon Genesis Evangelion fan, and am waiting on a life-size version of one of those beasties to pop up.)

 Sakura Gundam

 50 points of light light up, and steam-looking mist erupts from 14 parts while stirring theme music plays, and the head looks around and up.

 The Gundam Cafe, Odaiba

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