'Giant' robotic statue on display at Osaka city hall

'Giant' robotic statue on display at Osaka city hall

OSAKA, Japan - A visitor admires a 7.2-meter robotic statue put on display at the entrance lobby of the Osaka city hall as part of a 52-day ''Aqua Metropolis Osaka 2009'' event starting Aug. 22 in the western Japan city. Produced by 43-year-old artist Kenji Yanobe and named ''Giant Tora-yan,'' the baby-faced statue, whose body shape resembles a person wearing a radiation protection suit, is equipped with a gadget that enables it to spew fire as its ''ultimate weapon,'' though using it in the sprinkler-installed city hall is forbidden.

'Giant Torayan' robot blows fire at Roppongi Hills

'Giant Torayan' robot blows fire at Roppongi Hills

TOKYO, Japan - The 7.2-meter-tall robot ''Giant Torayan'' blows fire during a rehearsal on March 27 for the Roppongi Art Night event at Roppongi Hills Arina in Tokyo. The Japanese artist, Kenji Yanobe, created the aluminum-covered robot on the theme of survival following a nuclear war.

Okinawa starts 100-day countdown to G-8 summit

Okinawa starts 100-day countdown to G-8 summit

NAHA, Japan - An Okinawa prefectural government official, assisted by local nursery school children, unveiles a 7.2-meter-tall wooden countdown board reading ''100 days to go before the summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) nations'' in Okinawa scheduled for July 21-23.

Okinawa starts 100-day countdown to G-8 summit

Okinawa starts 100-day countdown to G-8 summit

NAHA, Japan - An Okinawa prefectural government official, assisted by local nursery school children, unveiles a 7.2-meter-tall wooden countdown board reading ''100 days to go before the summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) nations'' in Okinawa scheduled for July 21-23.

'Giant' robotic statue on display at Osaka city hall

'Giant' robotic statue on display at Osaka city hall

OSAKA, Japan - A visitor admires a 7.2-meter robotic statue put on display at the entrance lobby of the Osaka city hall as part of a 52-day ''Aqua Metropolis Osaka 2009'' event starting Aug. 22 in the western Japan city. Produced by 43-year-old artist Kenji Yanobe and named ''Giant Tora-yan,'' the baby-faced statue, whose body shape resembles a person wearing a radiation protection suit, is equipped with a gadget that enables it to spew fire as its ''ultimate weapon,'' though using it in the sprinkler-installed city hall is forbidden. (Kyodo)

'Giant Torayan' robot blows fire at Roppongi Hills

'Giant Torayan' robot blows fire at Roppongi Hills

TOKYO, Japan - The 7.2-meter-tall robot ''Giant Torayan'' blows fire during a rehearsal on March 27 for the Roppongi Art Night event at Roppongi Hills Arina in Tokyo. The Japanese artist, Kenji Yanobe, created the aluminum-covered robot on the theme of survival following a nuclear war. (Kyodo)