Gundam Hathaway's Flash Sequel Event Draws 4,000 Fans in Shinjuku
The event's scale and the band's surprise performance signal a major promotional push for a sequel arriving nearly five years after the first film, aiming to re-engage a fanbase that has waited since 2021.
Reporting from 1 sources: Ota-Jo.
A pre-release rally for the film "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash - The Witch of Kirke" drew an estimated 4,000 fans to Shinjuku's Kabukicho district on January 18. The event featured voice actors Kensho Ono (Hathaway Noah) and Reina Ueda (Gigi Andalusia), who performed a live dub of the poolside scene from the first film. Comedian Kemuri Matsui of Reiwa Roman appeared in a pumpkin-head mask, claiming to represent the anti-government movement Mafty. The rock band Alexandros made a surprise appearance, performing songs including the first film's theme "Senko" and newer tracks. The film opens in Japanese theaters on January 30. A special collaboration program with Nippon TV's "ZIP!" will air on January 24, featuring first-time broadcast footage and interviews with Ono and Ueda.
The January 18 rally in Shinjuku was the first major public event for the sequel since its announcement. Voice actors Kensho Ono and Reina Ueda performed a live dub of the poolside scene from the 2021 film, a sequence frequently cited by fans as a standout moment. Comedian Kemuri Matsui, one half of the M-1 Grand Prix-winning duo Reiwa Roman, appeared in a pumpkin-head mask that had been teased on social media in the days prior. He joked that the mask was uncomfortably tight. The band Alexandros, which performed the first film's theme, played three songs: "Girl A," "Koeru," and "Senko." The Nippon TV special on January 24 will include the film's first publicly broadcast footage and interviews with Ono and Ueda, alongside commentary from Gundam fans actor Hitoshi Katagiri and manga artist Reiji Yamada.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.