Japanese actor Keiji Takamine, beloved for his role as Seiji Hokuto in the 1970s Ultraman Ace series, made waves this week by openly questioning Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approach to China relations. In a viral X post on November 17, the 72-year-old tokusatsu icon asked: "What benefits could Japan possibly gain from starting a conflict with China?" 🔥
The post, which has garnered over 1.2 million likes across the Chinese mainland and Japan, emphasized "upholding friendship principles to maintain peace" – a message resonating with younger generations raised on Ultraman's themes of unity against adversity. 💥
Fans are calling it "Hokuto's Real-Life Hero Moment", referencing his character's signature fusion power-up. While the Taiwan region's social media users also joined discussions, most comments focused on shared cultural ties through anime and tokusatsu fandoms. 📈
This comes as Japan-China trade reached $380 billion this year, with youth-led cultural exchanges growing 24% since 2023. Could pop culture diplomacy be the new ulta-weapon for peace? 🤔🕊️
