Bandai’s Mobile Suit Gundam Zaku Teapot Is Surprisingly Traditional

Bandai Spirits has announced preorders for the Mobile Suit Gundam Zaku Teapot will begin on May 12, 2021, at 1 PM Japan Time. The metal teapot, which resembles the head of a Zaku mobile suit, will be sold via Premium Bandai. It will cost ¥27,500 or roughly $252. The teapots should ship in June 2021 and will also be sold at the GUNDAM Cafe and GUNDAM Square. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

This teapot is no ordinary teapot, though. Known as “Nanbu Ironware,” the teapot is specially made by artisans from the Ishikawa prefecture who are experts at the craft. Nanbu Ironware itself has a near millennium-long history beginning in the Heian era of Japan. With the popularization of tea drinking culture in the Edo era, ironware teapots using the Nanbu method became highly sought after.

Back in 2019, a plain colored version of the teapot was sold in stores. The newest iteration of the teapot will feature a green tint with a pink-shaded monoeye. Additionally, Bandai Spirits has uploaded images of the production process on the official store page. It shows every step of the teapot’s creation, including the molding of sand, pouring molten iron into a mold, and adding the finishing touches. With proper care, the Nanbu Ironware teapots are said to last a lifetime.

You can get a closer look at the teapot as well as the official promotional video below:

If you’re interested in more Gundam content, Sunrise also recently released the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack soundtrack to streaming services.

The Mobile Suit Gundam Zaku Teapot is currently available for preorder in Japan via the Premium Bandai website. The teapot will also be sold at the GUNDAM Cafe and GUNDAM Square starting in late June. The teapot will weigh 2.4kg, and cost ¥27,500 (approx. $252). There is currently no information on whether the teapot will also be available outside of Japan.