It started with a trip at the Bandai Museum in Tochigi followed by a short visit at Odaiba. Now, it is Akihabara’s turn. And what do these places have in common? Gundam.

Gundam is a mecha anime franchise created by Nippon Sunrise Studio, first released in April 1979 via the TV series “Mobile Suit Gundam). It features giant robots called “mobile suits,” with the titular robot RX-78-2 Gundam piloted by a teenage mechanic, Amuro Ray. The plot focused on the war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation. This conflict occurred in the year “Universal Century” 0079. Being a revolutionary anime at that time, it became a big cultural icon in Japan. The series has then spawned multiple TV series, OVAs, movies, mangas, novels, and video games. It has also led to the birth of Bandai, one of the biggest toy companies in Japan.

I am not a fan of Gundam. Actually, I haven’t seen any of their tv series. However, I have realized how big Gundam is here in Japan. This is clearly illustrated by the life-size bust of Gundam RX-78-2, which is 6 meters high, in Bandai Museum. Additionally, the 18-meter-tall ginormous Gundam RX-78-2 statue stands in front of the Diver City mall in Odaiba, Tokyo.

I visited the Bandai Museum during my internship at Dokkyo Medical University in 2011. Besides the Gundam bust, there was also a 1/144-scale model of the historic spaceship White Base.

On the other hand, I just saw the Odaiba statue last year. I have visited that place many times. Yet, I never saw it until my stopover in Tokyo last year. This was between my San Francisco and Thailand trips. The colorful lights displayed at night added to the awesomeness of the giant statue.

Today, I had a chance to eat at the Gundam Cafe in Akihabara. This is not the first of its kind, though. The first Gundam-themed restaurant was opened in Bandai Museum. Besides the Akihabara branch in Tokyo, there is also one in Odaiba. Years back, it was reported that they were planning to open branches in other main cities of Japan.

The Gundam Cafe in Akihabara is located just a few steps from the Electric Town exit of JR Akihabara Station. Outside, two Gundam robot models welcome you for a unique dining experience. The interiors of the cafe have a relaxing futuristic ambiance with Gundam-inspired decorations. The menu is also Gundam-inspired. I ordered a cup of coffee with the face of a Gundam robot on the froth. The menu also features cheesy macaroni.

Akihabara is a haven for “Otaku.” This is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly in anime and manga. This obsession often leads to their lack of social life. It’s no wonder that there are some otaku inside the cafe aside from the foreign tourists. I even felt like I was one of them because I was alone. There is an otaku sitting at the table near me. I guess he ordered 2 plates of heart-shaped rice and 3 drinks. At first, I thought he had a date because it’ll be White Day on Monday, March 14. I was so surprised that he ate everything. So I concluded that he was dating himself, lol.