SoraNews24 —Japan News—

The city of Yokohama adds an awesome, eight-meter (26.3-foot) tall attraction to convince people to come down from Tokyo for the afternoon.

Japan
(awesome • cool • Dragon Quest • dragon quest builders • Minato Mirai • Square Enix • statue • video games • Yokohama)

Goodbye, Gundam. Life-size mecha statue is leaving Tokyo next spring

Casey Baseel
Dec 2, 2016

But could the sudden farewell have a silver lining?

Japan
(anime • awesome • cool • Gundam • life-size Gundam • odaiba • robots • statue • Tokyo • travel)

Real-world Pokémon gym location at Nagoya University gets made up like an in-game location

KK Miller
Jul 30, 2016

Augmented reality gets a taste of realism thanks to Pokémon fans in Nagoya.

Internet, Japan
(gym • Nagoya University • Pokémon GO • statue)

Can you solve the case of the missing bronze statue of Sharp Corporation’s founder?

KK Miller
Jun 26, 2016

Is this the Curse of Sharp in the making?

Japan
(electronics • missing • Sharp • statue • Tokuji Hayakawa)

Statue of “Kirby” Orita-sensei welcomes university entrance exam takers at Kyoto University

Krista Rogers
Feb 28, 2016

This exam season, a statue of an important historical figure at Kyoto University has gotten a Kirby makeover as part of a now yearly tradition.

Japan
(entrance exam • Kirby • Kyoto University • Orita-sensei • prank • statue • tradition)

120-foot golden Chairman Mao golem attacked by trolls, taken down

Master Blaster
Jan 10, 2016

With all the information technology around these days, it’s getting harder and harder to build a gigantic gold statue in peace.

China
(art • funny • Mao Zedong • statue)

Giant golden statue of Chairman Mao Zedong erected in the middle of nowhere in China

Scott Wilson
Jan 6, 2016

China, did you really think this one through?

China
(funny • Henan • huge • Mao Zedong • statue • wtf)

Awesome new Hatsune Miku figure makes the vocaloid look like a Final Fantasy boss

Preston Phro
Nov 13, 2015

Do you love fantasy RPGs and Hatsune Miku? If so, then you’re definitely going to love this new figure of the vocaloid designed by the popular artist mebae!

Japan
(figure • Hatsune Miku • statue)

“Gangnam Style” to be immortalized with enormous “horsey hands” statue

KK Miller
Nov 7, 2015

“Gangnam Style”, the absolute mega-hit of 2012, came pretty much out of nowhere. The song was popular not only in its home country of South Korea, but all over the world, going on to become the most watched video on YouTube ever. Psy, the artist of this masterpiece, traveled all over the world to show the gathering masses his weird, but very iconic “horsey” dance.

And now, to immortalize this historic achievement, South Korea’s Gangnam district is proposing a grand addition: a gigantic monument positioned in the horsey hands pose.

Korea
(GANGNAM STYLE • horsey dance • K-pop • monument • Psy • statue)

When in Nara be sure to stop by the cockroach memorial statue

Master Blaster
Nov 2, 2015

Sono & Sons is a building maintenance company that also specializes in pest control. Their SEARCH (We Safeguard our Environment with Alpha Roach Control Helper) system promises to leave any roach intruding on the sanctity of your home dead as Dillinger.

Despite their cold efficiency as slaughtering cockroaches, Sono & Sons also owe them a debt of gratitude. After all, roaches played a large role in building the company. So out of respect, they commissioned a memorial statue for all the cockroaches who have succumbed to their poisons and filled the company’s bank account as a result. They spared no expense either because everyone online is agreeing that it’s one cool statue.

Japan
(art • bugs • cockroachs • grave • Nara • statue)

We visit “world’s largest” Buddha in Fukuoka, puts Sagat’s to shame

Master Blaster
Oct 23, 2015

Fukuoka Prefecture is a major tourist destination in Japan, drawing people form all over the country all year round. But what’s unusual about the prefecture is that, despite its great many visitors, it doesn’t have any particularly famous sightseeing spots. Most people come for the food alone—a fact which should give you an indication of how good it is.

That’s why our reporter, Takashi Harada went in search of something worth gawking at in the otherwise wonderful land of Fukuoka and came across something that every visitor ought to see: the “World’s Largest Buddha statue” nestled deep in its mountains.

Japan
(Buddha • copper • Fukuoka • statue • Street Fighter II • temple • travel)

Coming face-to-boot with the giant Patlabor statue【Photos】

ロケットニュース24
Oct 19, 2014

If I’m being perfectly honest, I’m not a huge giant mech/giant robot fan. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full episode of Patlabor or Gundam–though it’s not out of spite or anything! There are only so many hours in the day, and I rarely seem to have time to watch giant mechs beating the crap out of each other. Though that sentence is making me question some life choices now…

As such, I’ve always been perplexed by the idea that someone has actually gone out of their way to build enormous statues of the suits. The “why” has always left an itch in the back of my mind–it just doesn’t seem worth, does it? Well, that’s what I thought until I actually came face-to-face (face-to-boot?) with an enormous Patlabor statue. Here are some photos of the giant mech emblazoned with a Japanese police badge and why I actually hope they make more!