Bandai Namco responds after Japanese politican’s Gundam cosplay sparks controversy

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A Japanese politician’s cosplay stunt has triggered backlash and now Bandai Namco is stepping in.

On July 18th, the head of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party, Taro Yamamoto, released a campaign video prior to Japan’s 2025 Upper House elections. In this video, he dressed up in cosplay as Char Aznable, known by his alias Quattro Bajeena, from Mobile Suit Gundam.

Recorded near the massive Unicorn Gundam statue in Tokyo, the video showcased Yamamoto dressed in red, sporting a blonde wig and his signature shades, alongside Maya Okamoto who is campaigning as a Reiwa candidate. In this amusing skit, they engaged in light-hearted banter that left viewers puzzled, not only due to the lack of discussion about their anime costumes but also because of its seemingly unrelated content.

The video spread rapidly online, accumulating more than 10 million views on X, yet not every response from the public was favorable.

Japanese politician’s Gundam cosplay baffles fans

Detractors claimed that Yamamoto capitalized on Gundam’s heritage for personal political advantage and distorted the character’s narrative. According to Automation, the character’s plotline entails causing an asteroid impact on Earth to initiate a nuclear winter and compel humanity to relocate to space.

In the midst of all the online commotion, Bandai Namco, the Gundam publisher, made clear their stance through an official declaration.

During the 2025 elections for the House of Councillors, some candidates have been observed participating in campaigns while dressed in costumes reminiscent of characters from the Gundam anime series.

“It is not approved by Bandai Namco, and we do not support specific candidates.”

The company did not name Yamamoto directly, but the timing and context left little doubt.

Regarding the victory in the cosplay event, Reiwa Shinsengumi managed to secure six seats, a single seat more than they did in the previous contest.

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2025-07-23 21:48