Shizuoka is known for its plastic models and other hobby items. Home to manufacturers like Tamiya and Bandai, it boasts a legacy of skilled craftsmanship dating back to feudal times. We visit ...

This photo shows a monument modeled after life-sized parts from a Gundam plastic model kit at Bandai Spirits Co.'s museum in Shizuoka on Aug. 20, 2025. (Kyodo) SHIZUOKA (Kyodo) -- Bandai Spirits Co.

SHIZUOKA, Japan -- More than a month after he died, Shunsaku Tamiya is still being eulogized by plastic model enthusiasts from around the world.

Gunpla, or Gundam plastic models, have captivated fans worldwide, with more than 800 million kits sold to date. On September 2, a new hands-on museum opened inside Bandai Hobby Center’s newest factory ...

Plastic models of characters from the popular TV animation series "Mobile Suit Gundam," known in Japan as "GUNPLA," (Gundam Plastic Models) were a social phenomenon among young people back in the 1980 ...

As this is one of the simpler model kits, there are no extravagant extra parts. The picture of the model kit sprues shows two sheets with 21 pieces. These are already in the colors you need, so no ...

A major toy maker is ramping up its recycling efforts so that the bleak future portrayed in the “Mobile Suit Gundam” science fiction anime franchise will never become a reality. Bandai Namco Group, ...