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

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

On July 18, Reiwa Shinsengumi party leader Taro Yamamoto posted a campaign video ahead of Japan’s 2025 Upper House elections, appearing in full cosplay as Char Aznable (under the alias Quattro Bajeena) from Mobile Suit Gundam.

Shot in front of the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue in Tokyo, the video featured Yamamoto in a red suit, blonde wig, and signature sunglasses alongside anime voice actress Maya Okamoto, who is running as a Reiwa candidate. The two exchanged playful banter in a skit that left viewers baffled, and not just because it avoided addressing the obvious anime costume.

The video quickly went viral, racking up over 10 million views on X, but public reaction wasn’t all positive.

Japanese politician’s Gundam cosplay baffles fans

Critics accused Yamamoto of exploiting Gundam’s legacy for political gain and misrepresenting the character. As Automation notes, the character’s story arc involves dropping an asteroid on Earth to trigger a nuclear winter and force migration into space.

Amid the online furor, Gundam publisher Bandai Namco issued an official statement clarifying its position.

“In the 2025 House of Councillors election, there were candidates who are doing election activities using cosplay-style costumes that image or strongly recall the characters of the Gundam series,” they said

“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.

As for the success of the cosplay, Reiwa Shinsengumi ended up winning 6 seats, just one up from their results in the prior election.