'Evangelion' statue takes center stage at west Japan airport ahead of anime event
UBE, Yamaguchi -- A statue of the Evangelion Unit-01 robot from the popular anime series "Neon Genesis Evangelion" has been installed in the domestic
A 3-meter tall Evangelion Unit-01 statue, a symbol from the renowned anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, has been installed at Yamaguchi Ube Airport in western Japan. This marks the statue's return to the airport after a brief display from July 2022 to January 2024. The introduction of the statue is in preparation for the 2026 Ube Machijuu Evangelion event, a citywide celebration of the anime series' influence, which commences on October 29.
The city of Ube, Hideaki Anno's hometown and the series' director, has been hosting this event since 2021 to lure tourists and encourage them to explore the city through food fairs, stamp rallies, and other activities.
The statue, weighing around 500 kilograms, stands prominently in the airport's domestic terminal building. Its return coincides with the statue's previous display in the main hall during a Yokohama event celebrating the anime's 30th anniversary in February. Upon its arrival at the airport on September 18, the statue attracted significant attention from visitors, especially younger fans, who took photos of it.
The statue is expected to remain on display until March 14, 2027, when the event concludes, and is anticipated to become a new must-see attraction for Evangelion enthusiasts.
In addition to the statue, a specially designed illustration has been created for the 2026 Ube Machijuu Evangelion event. This illustration, featuring the five main characters of the series standing together on the palm of Evangelion Unit-01, will be featured on flyers, official merchandise, and other promotional materials to generate excitement for the event.
The illustration is set against the backdrop of the Yamaguchi Prefecture railway network, showcasing a yellow 105 series train and the Kumoha 42 series train, both of which once operated on the line.
To further celebrate the event, Yoko Takahashi, the singer behind the anime's opening theme song "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," will perform on a special stage at the 2026 Ube Matsuri, the city's largest festival, scheduled for November 1.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
