Last week, a Japanese morning show interviewed a man on the street about the country’s national pension. His brief response has turned him into an internet superstar.
The guy’s name was not given, and the show only listed him as a “35-year-old man.” He’s now known as “Jiko Bouei Ojisan” (自己防衛おじさん) or “Self-Defense Geezer.”
In the interview (below), the guy talked about how you shouldn’t count on the national pension if you want lots of money. Instead, to protect yourself, look to stocks or leave the country. “It’s no good to rely on the government,” he said. “Doing so is why people complain.”
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972359157285142529
His facial gestures were highly expressive, and people online started comparing him to an actor you’d see in a Japanese superhero show like Kamen Rider
すいません暇なのでもう一個作りました、#自己防衛 #自己防衛おじさん #仮面ライダー #仮面ライダー轟 pic.twitter.com/3zwV73WlFG
— なんがとNinomiya天/AM/ (@Nangt77amt) March 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972784605441835008
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972795520665059328
Others said he looked like Final Fantasy XV’s Ardyn Izunia
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972629814988349440
Explaining why Square Enix released these images today, with Ardyn saying not to rely on the Kingdom of Lucis.
「#自己防衛おじさん とアーデンが似ている」といった多数のコメントを拝見しました。
いつも #FF15 を話題にしていただけることに感謝いたします。※本投稿は、特定の主張について肯定や否定をするものではありません pic.twitter.com/CTRQb5HaP4
— FINAL FANTASY XV (@FFXVJP) March 19, 2018
Self-Defense Geezer fan art has also been circulating on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/974616488765136896
https://twitter.com/embed/status/974348270704054272
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972080068833959938
https://twitter.com/embed/status/971655432052736001
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972512206213365760
https://twitter.com/embed/status/974217514052829184
#pixel #gameart RT @ginoyahutaushi: #自己防衛おじさん #pixelart #ドット絵 pic.twitter.com/zYUtDpmSZ7
— Mr. Pixelor (@Mr_Pixelor) March 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/embed/status/974592995784716288
思いついたら描かずにいられなかった。
自己防衛おじさんごめんね。ハライチ澤部さんもついでにごめんね。 pic.twitter.com/fMRmPPXone— 阿東 里枝 (@tanimikitakane) March 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/embed/status/972251901088563200
https://twitter.com/embed/status/971447739035787264
You might not want to rely on the Japanese government for a safety net, but you can always look to the internet for memes.
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