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News coming in from TV Asahi’s All-Nippon News Network (ANN) and Fukushima Minpo, the beloved Hetare Gundam Statue located in Fukushima Japan has experienced another tragedy, this time it was due to the theft of a donation box.
A security guard was arrested on suspicion of stealing a lockbox containing 4,000 yen (28.39 USD). The money was to be used for repairs to the statue, which was stored at the foot of the statue. The suspicion began on May 6, 2024, around 7:50 a.m. JST. The guard later admitted to stealing the donation box. The Mayor of the Hiraishi prefecture issued a statement saying, “This is an act that tramples on the goodwill of the people who donated money, and I can not forgive it. I hope they don’t do it again.” The mayor was the one who managed the statue, including installing the donation lockbox two years ago. The money was for maintenance costs such as painting.
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The Hetare (Weakling) Gundam stands at 2 meters tall and was modeled after one of the Giant Mecha Warriors from the popular Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise. It was donated to the community by an amateur iron craftsman 14 years ago. Since its debut, it has won the hearts of its community and its leader. It received a brand-new hyperbazooka after it was vandalized in June 2020.
You can catch the Mobile Suit Gundam anime on Crunchyroll, and purchase merchandise from businesses such as Entertainment Earth and Play-Asia.
Source: All-Nippon News Network, Fukushima Minpo
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