Thousands of anime fans are streaming to Expo 2025 Osaka to watch a short film on a much-loved epic and pose in front of a gigantic statue of Gundam, an immensely popular Japanese sci-fi robot.
The Japanese anime series about giant robots piloted by humans has gripped fans worldwide. High school pupils, university students and fathers with young children said they made reservations months in advance to watch the film screened in the Gundam Next Future Pavilion, at the Osaka Expo that opened a few days ago.
Thousands across age groups mirrored the pose of the towering 17-metre statue, positioned in front of the pavilion, with one knee bent and an arm raised to the sky.
Ian Lee, originally from Hong Kong but now resident in Australia, visited the Expo for the Gundam experience with his wife and two children. He told The National he had booked his slots to enter the pavilion from January.
“We are in Japan for five days and this is our first day at the Expo,” he said. “I’ve always been a Gundam fan. The show was very immersive, you really get the feeling as if you were up there in space. Even if you don’t understand everything, it’s fine because Gundam saves the world.”
One of the biggest anime series, The Mobile Suit Gundam first aired in 1979 in Japan and has created an entire universe around human-controlled robots set against a backdrop of war in space colonies. The animated stories depict battles between human beings who venture into space and those who remain on Earth fighting alongside the Gundam robots called mobile suits.
Space colonies in 2150
The National obtained access to the 50-minute pavilion tour and movie, Gundam: Next Universal Century, set in the year 2150 when life in space is commonplace. Visitors are taken into a series of expansive rooms with exceptional visual effects to create orbital elevators and space portals that connect Earth to the stars.
Immersive experiences with high-definition images and sounds are projected onto enormous ceiling screens and displays that wrap around large rooms. Visitors are told they are being transported to a space station located on a star as they watch Gundam collect space debris to keep travel safe.
They pass through different chambers to watch space colonies grow disease-resistant crops, become self-sufficient in food, build fish farms and yes, even whip up sushi. But when the space portal is attacked with fireballs of explosions, the Gundam robot powered with solar-panelled wings swoops in to save the day and avert a crisis, winning rounds of applause from an appreciative audience.
Build a future in space
Many fans wore T-shirts with their favourite anime characters and said they enjoyed the series as it took a stand against war and advocated peace. Japanese citizens from across the country lined up for entry to the pavilion, saying they wanted to share the experience with their kids.
Kei Watanabe, an Osaka resident, said he still enjoyed the series. “I think it’s very cool. I watched it when I was a child and it is still very good.”
Masafi Okuhira, a Tokyo resident, said his nine-year-old son was also a fan. “Gundam is the best ever because it’s so real.”
The pavilion also attracted non-anime fans drawn to space exploration to address food security challenges.
“It makes us think of 50 years from now when our resources run out, we need to think of space as a possibility,” said Li Yaosen, a Chinese student from a university in Kyoto, who travelled with a friend to Osaka for the show. “It reminds us that we need to focus on the future, think about space debris, the environment, so that the next generations can have a better future. Also the effects were amazing. It really made you feel you were being attacked.”
To tap into the considerable anime fan base, an Anime Manga Tourism Festival is scheduled at the Expo Osaka from April 30 to May 2 as part of the government's Cool Japan tourism initiative and targets both local and overseas visitors.
Inside Gundam pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka - in pictures
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Honeymoonish
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Gulf rugby
Who’s won what so far in 2018/19
Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain
What’s left
UAE Conference
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers
March 29, final
UAE Premiership
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes
March 29, final
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
