TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan Airlines Co. on Monday unveiled a special jet wrapped with images of Gundam, the main mechanical figure of the popular Japanese sci-fi anime, that will fly on domestic routes ahead of and during the World Exposition starting in Osaka next month.

The Gundam images on the Boeing 737-800 jet have been taken from video footage that will be shown at Japanese toymaker Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.'s pavilion during the expo. The plane also features images of the expo's official character Myaku-Myaku.

The aircraft was unveiled to media at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Monday prior to its inaugural flight to Tokushima in western Japan. The plane will continue to operate domestically until around November, according to JAL.

The project is aimed at boosting momentum ahead of the expo, which will run from April 13 to Oct. 13 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, JAL and Bandai Namco said.