IN APRIL 1972, while sitting in a traffic jam, a young Japanese man named Goh Nagai came up with an idea that would make him famous -and very rich. He thought: 'If a car had arms and legs, then there would be no problems like this!' The same year, the animator was inspired by the phenomenally successful Ultraman to create a robot called Iron Z, which later became Mazinger Z, a cult cartoon character.
MAZINGER Z's source of power comes from the fictional material 'Japanium', which can only be found near Mount Fuji. After a certain treatment, Japanium becomes a new alloy called Super Metal Z. When Japanium is radiated it emits an abundant energy, which powers Mazinger Z.
TOY company Bandai released the first metal (or 'die cast') figure of Mazinger Z in the early 1970s. Later, the company introduced the Soul of Chogokin series. The latest model is called DX Mazinger Z.
MAZINGER Z destroys enemies using laser beams, rocket punches, iron cutters, freeze beams, drill missiles, breaths of hurricane, breaths of fire, jet scrander (Mazinger's most important upgrade because originally he could not fly) and scrander stars (cutting blades from its wings).
IN THE CARTOON series Mazinger Z, Japanium was discovered by Professor Kabuto, after fleeing his former associate-turned-arch rival Dr Hell who wants to take over the world. Professor Kabuto and Dr Hell are famous scientists who once led an archeological expedition to an island in the Aegean Sea. The expedition yielded the ruins of an ancient society that had a technology so advanced they could build giant robots (called 'mechas').
IN OCTOBER 1973, Mazinger Z won the Grand Prix prize at the Fourth International Trade Fair Toy Concours in Japan.