Check out this incredible mushi (bug) mecha that was profiled on the Japanese TV show "Nanikore Chin Hakkei" last night. Stills from the segment here (the control box in particular is great) or click here for a link to a blog featuring photos of it being assembled for the shoot (which took several trucks, a crane, and seven hours.)
Designed and built by an Ibaraki man in his garage over the course of eleven years, the "Kabutom RX-03" looks like a prop from a Power Rangers spin-off but is an actual working vehicle. Why build it? Because owning an eleven meter long, fifteen ton robot beetle makes you a mack daddy -- in Japan or anywhere else.
Shaped like a kabuto-mushi (rhinocerous beetle, a favorite design of Japanese toymakers and, uh, candymakers), it can be remote controlled or piloted from the cockpit (visible on the left side), and is capable of carrying passengers inside its shell. Alas it more "shuffles" than walks -- the legs pull it along the ground, while the weight is supported by wheels. But hey -- not bad for something created for the love of it in a garage. Passion like this represents the best part of Japanese otaku culture.
Update! Link to the original video segment here.
I have been in a very robot mood today! This post just makes me more robot-ish! Thanks for posting this! It's awesome!!
Posted by: John Ashline | April 16, 2009 at 01:08 PM
sorry, but this is ridiculous.
it moves slowly, below 5 mph or so.
its claw doesn't crab anything because it can't..
this is junk. scrap metal.
MY GOD, what did you build it for!!!!!
USELESS SCRAP!
please, another time, use your skill (you got some) for something useful!
men, think of god...
Posted by: fronten | April 17, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Well besides I see more complaints than appreciations... For me, it is an eye-opener.
That guy have the resources (skills and money).
Besides, Japanese usually create something innovative. We, westerners focuses more on practical uses. Well, I'm not saying who is better here, but, a great inventor such as Edison always starts with crazy ideas like this~
Posted by: jonaht | April 17, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I just see the InsectLabStudio.
This is really amazing!
Posted by: michael | April 17, 2009 at 02:56 PM
I for one welcome our new robot overlords.
Seriously cool, well done!
Posted by: Castegere | April 17, 2009 at 06:28 PM
And American comic book fanboys wonder why Otaku get all the chicks: While fanboys are arguing about superhero continuity, otaku are building giant robots in their garage!
Posted by: SurfPenguin | April 17, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I love how everyone is saying this is representative of "otaku" culture, but really, it's representative of the tokusatsu culture.
Posted by: John | April 17, 2009 at 11:30 PM
I dunno, there are plenty of giant mecha bugs in anime, too -- the Time Bokan series in particular:
http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?4,186469,186469#msg-186469
http://www.timbrisko.com/images/tentoki/tentoki.html
(And besides, who says otaku culture and tokusatsu culture aren't interrelated? :)
Posted by: MattAlt | April 18, 2009 at 09:19 AM
I see it as version 1.0. clearly with Government funding (or a good research lab with a secret headquarters near Mt. Fuji) it could become the unstoppable death machine we all yearn for.
And where is the robot that Pepsi was renting some time back? DEATH DUEL!
(seriously, if WAVE doesn't bust out a plastic kit of this I will probably cry)
Posted by: Steve Harrison | April 18, 2009 at 12:23 PM
This is what walk around Yokohama today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBsdBbiVDHo
Posted by: Aceface | April 18, 2009 at 11:19 PM
I'm sorry I missed that!
Posted by: MattAlt | April 20, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Courtesy of Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o7Gqr0WC_U&feature=related
Posted by: Aceface | April 21, 2009 at 05:19 PM
that's good, I saw it.
Posted by: Bucket Trucks | May 13, 2009 at 03:12 PM
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Posted by: zhaohui | June 15, 2010 at 04:14 AM
What an awesome looking insect lol
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