The statue is based on the 1956 manga series 'Tetsujin 28-go' by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who was a native of Kobe.
The project was initiated by the local shopping district to help revitalize Nagata Ward after the 1995 earthquake destroyed much of the area.
Despite its massive size, the statue is designed to be structurally sound enough to withstand potential earthquakes.
The statue represents the robot's height as depicted in the original source material, maintaining a 1:1 scale ratio relative to its fictional specifications.
The monument is maintained by the local NPO 'Kobe Tetsujin Project' rather than exclusively by the city government.
The Tetsujin 28-go Monument is an 18-meter-tall, 50-ton steel statue representing the iconic manga and anime robot character Gigantor. Erected in 2009 in Wakamatsu Park, it serves as a symbol of regional recovery following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. The monument depicts the robot in a standing pose, designed to scale to reflect its size in the original manga series. It is located in the Nagata Ward of Kobe, an area severely affected by the 1995 disaster. The statue is constructed from high-durability steel to withstand the local climate and seismic activity. The surrounding park serves as a community plaza dedicated to local revitalization efforts. Visitors can view the statue from multiple angles as it stands in the center of the public square. It functions as a permanent open-air installation accessible to the public year-round.
From the park's entrance path, which allows for a perspective that captures both the full scale of the robot and the surrounding park context.
Bring a wide-angle lens, as the monument's height makes it difficult to capture in full from close range.
Visit the nearby shopping arcades in Nagata Ward to support local businesses that spearheaded the project.
Check the base of the statue for commemorative plaques detailing its construction and the history of the neighborhood.
Do not attempt to climb or touch the statue, as it is a strictly protected public art installation.
