For fans of the various Gundam series, there's been quite a bit of news recently. Most of the sites reporting these developments tend to be Japanese, which is a bit problematic for those who don't read the language, but we'll summarize the important details here.

First, the new bronze Gundam monument was unveiled at Tokyo's Kamiigusa train station this past Sunday (March 23). The station is located in the city's Suginami ward, which many residents think of as "Gundam's town," since the Sunrise studios are situated nearby. In fact, so strongly do the residents identify with the several Gundam series that 2,400 of them signed a petition to have the statue erected. Two years and 20 million yen ($200,000 US) later, they finally have their wish.

The unveiling of the three-meter tall (approximately nine feet) statue was attended by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise president Takayuki Yoshoii, among other dignitaries. The Japanese Gundam.Info site shows photos of the street, the crowds, and the statue itself towering over everyone. Even if you don't read Japanese, the photos clearly express the excitement surrounding the event, while the statue itself is very impressive.