Well, during recessions entertainment industries often boom as people seek escape from their problems. One of the reasons why people have argued that various industries are "recession proof" (with various degrees of truth).Furburt said:
If the goverment funded this at least in part, it wouldn't surprise me. The whole "bread and circuses" schtick exists because of the truth behind it. While 150 million yen sounds like a lot consider that's actually only 1.7 million US Dollars in equivilency and everything there costs a lot in currency units. Today that isn't a lot of money, and viewed sociologically the impact might be worth it. Building monuments and such can show a culture 'hey we're in trouble, but we just did this anyway!'. Not wise in a rational sense, but that can be a powerful sentiment towards keeping spirits up and recovery. These giant robots and such are things that have enchanted most of the Japanese around now since they were children, and represent a development that is cultural, while being fairly "neutral" in the sense that it isn't involving anything religious or something that might irritate the rest of the world.
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As far as the EVA series goes, I have a hard time actually considering Eva01 a "Giant Robot" (despite using the term). What it is actually is a giant clone, with a cybernetic implant in it's head that people ride inside of to control it. Despite being covered in metal to look like a robot (well most of the time) I think it's more properly classified as a "Giant Monster" and probably has more in common with Godzilla and his rogues gallery than with say Gundam or other "Mecha" despite what it's generally lumped in with.
The fact that it's a living creature, as opposed to a construct of pure technology and circuits, is a key plot point, and also why it goes berserk and winds up chowing down every once in a while.
