YAHOO! JAPAN
Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ruled Japan for nearly 54 years until the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) rose to power. The LDP has long been the gray flipside to the neon instincts that fuel the Japanese popular culture that brings such gems as karaoke bars and anime alternative universes.
But now well-known LDP party members like Tadamori Oshima and Bunmei Ibuki are said to be considering the development of a functioning version of a giant robot Gundam, Yahoo Japan reports.
Gundam, a white and biped robot piloted by young characters, is one of the most popular animation series in Japanese pop culture. “That’s stupid!”, “Don’t you have anything better to do? There are more important things to discuss!”, people commented on the Internet. “Are you going to charge taxes from Gundam pilots”, added another user, talking about the recent increase of consumption taxes in Japan allowed by LDP.
The plan was discussed during a 12-hour transmission held in Nico Nico Douga website—a Japanese version of YouTube very popular among cartoon and comics fans. Who knows where politics -- or pop culture -- is headed next.
A giant-sized statue of a Gundam robot in Tokyo's Odaiba district (Photo - switchstyle)
