Defining images of Japan, Giant Robots

More than 135 years ago, Jules Verne imagined in its book "La Maison à Vapeur" (The Steam House) the first mechanism piloted by a man, a mechanical elephant. In Japan, the first story featuring a giant humanoid robot, "Tetsujin 28-Go", appeared in 1956, and the first cockpit piloted robot, commonly known as a mecha, appeared in 1972, in the manga "Mazinger Z".

The humanoid mecha idea was a huge success in Japan. "Gundam", the most famous giant robot, appeared in 1979 and the Mobile Suit Gundam series is still developed today.

The original Gundam robot, labeled "RX-78-2", stands today in a life-size reproduction in front of the Diver City mall, in Odaiba, Tokyo, and it is without doubt an image easily associated with Japan...