As pointed out by Japanese literary scholar Kajipon Marco Zangetsu on X yesterday, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise’s original mind behind the series, Yoshiyuki Tomino, recently shared his thoughts on contemporary politics and how Gundam is being engaged with today.
Being a creator who carries vivid memories of incendiary bombs falling near his hometown during WWII, it’s widely known that Tomino developed the Gundam franchise with a powerful anti-war message. The initial anime series’ One Year War was specifically based on the American Civil War. While Tomino has on multiple occasions suggested his dissatisfaction with how unquestioningly Gundam has been embraced (and produced) in recent times, he is particularly candid about this issue in the May 2026 edition of Animage.
“Even among Gundam enthusiasts, many make remarks that are far removed from anti-war ideals. They appear to be fixated on the mindset of mere military enthusiasts, and ultimately, perhaps nothing meaningful is being conveyed,” he stated. Kajipon connects this to a 2025 remark from Tomino where he said, “The words that come out of [Gundam fans’] mouths are, Mobile Suit battles are so cool. Nowadays, younger creators are producing Gundam, but there’s no trace of war experience in their work; they’re just visual narratives. That is my responsibility for not having taught them.” Along similar lines, Tomino informed Kyodo News the previous year that he also holds the media accountable for the general public’s lack of understanding about the true nature of war, for failing to communicate “the voices of real soldiers and the politicians who order suicide attacks.”
Tomino’s latest comments seem to stem from his disillusionment with today’s political climate, especially in Japan, as he remarks, “You don’t even need to look at the example of Nazi Germany to see that dictatorships are typically established through elections. This is precisely the case in Japan today, and I believe that the ignorant masses are truly appalling.”
Mido