The speculation around the "origin of the name" also gained momentum. One theory suggests "Shirouzu = '4 (shi)' + 'Rose'," paying homage to Quattro Bajeena, which further expanded scenarios of a "what if" return during the Zeta Gundam era.

Though his screen time was only a few minutes, Shirouzu maximally stimulated the fans' imaginations. Even if the official stance were to declare "he is a different person," with that hairstyle, those blue eyes, and the voice, not many would be convinced.

"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" is the latest installment in the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, which began in 1979. The story follows Amate Yuzuriha, a high school girl living peacefully in a space colony, who gets embroiled in illegal mobile suit duel competitions called "Clan Battle," after meeting a girl named Nyaan.

The joint production by Studio Khara, known for works like the "Rebuild of Evangelion" series, and Sunrise has garnered attention. The theatrical prequel released in January of this year was a massive hit, grossing approximately 3.4 billion yen. It will be re-released in 368 theaters nationwide starting June 20, and a special event is set to be held at North America’s largest anime event, "Anime Expo 2025," highlighting its popularity both domestically and internationally.

(C)SOTSU·SUNRISE

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