Via BoingBoing.net:

"A high-tech armament system for infantry soldiers sparked interest among anime fans at a recent Ministry of Defense research presentation when officials announced that it was designed with the Gundam anime series in mind.

The Advanced Personal Armament System -- Japan's version of the Future Soldier project, designed to modernize combat infantry units -- offers a network-linked helmet providing night and thermal vision, amongst other capabilities. It was introduced at a presentation held by the ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute titled, "Towards the realization of Gundam.""

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20071...0na021000c.html

"Doesn’t look like a Gundam to you? Well, it may not be the same as the giant mobile suits in the anime, but Japan’s Defense ministry has given the nickname “Gundam” to the high tech infantry gear pictured above. Apparently its combination of cameras and computer equipment will be pretty handy on the battlefields of the future."

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3106

Someone who posted a response to the BoingBoing story (http://www.boingboing.net/2007/11/14/japanese-military-to.html) was disappointed that nobody asked if this project was within the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Ministry. :D

"'The Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam,' ministry official Tsutomu Shimomura told the Associated Press news agency."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7029685.stm