


Amin Abbas
DUBAI: Japanese UAE-based bookstore Kinokuniya collaborated with Bandai for exclusive Gundam Dubai Expo 2020’s Japan Pavilion items such as T-shirts, tote bags, mini towels and key holders.
A representative of Kinokuniya told Arab News Japan that the Gundam items are exclusively sold at the store.
“Kinokuniya UAE is the only exclusive retailer for those items made by Bandai Japan. These wonderful items are not available anywhere else even in Japan,” they said.
The human-sized Gundam Dubai Expo 2020 statue, which was featured on the first day of the exhibition at the Japan pavilion, is on display at the bookstore in Dubai.
The original Gundam series mechanical designer, Kunio Okawara, illustrated a new rendition of the classic RX-78-2 Gundam for the Expo.
Kinokuniya also received the special Gundam Dubai Expo 2020 ver. HG 1/144 Gunpla model kit. The Japan-based retailer is the only place to sell the special kit in the UAE.
The kit is based on the HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam released in 2015 and includes Japan-inspired marking stickers designed by Okawara.
Kanji characters are used for the sticker design to create more of a Japanese feel. The gunpla will also include Beam Rifle, Beam Saber, and Shield as accessories. The packaging includes a special leaflet including an interview with Okawara about Gundam and its specifications.
Announced in 2019, the Mobile Suit Gundam series had the honor of being appointed as one of the Japan Pavilion ambassadors for the Dubai Expo 2020.