Japanese actor Ryutaro Okada, known for his role as Fūwa Isamu, the transformation of Kamen Rider Vulcan, in "Kamen Rider Zero-One," first broke into entertainment after snagging second place in the "JUNON Superboy Contest" hosted by a fashion magazine, leveraging his academic prowess from Waseda University's Faculty of Law.
But at the peak of his popularity, Okada suddenly went radio silent. His personal X (formerly Twitter) account hadn't been updated since 2021, leaving fans scratching their heads and wondering if he'd retired from acting or where he'd vanished to.
Then, on June 8th, came the bombshell: Okada suddenly updated his X account, declaring, "I passed the judicial exam!" This first post in nearly four years instantly blew up online, stunning everyone with his unexpected reappearance.
His last post was way back in September 2021.
After almost four years off the grid, Okada's post sent the Japanese internet into a frenzy. Fans flooded the comments, exclaiming, "A Kamen Rider who understands the law is truly the strongest!" "So relieved to see you're safe and sound! And huge congrats!" and "Finally, you're back! So touched!"
For those unfamiliar, Japan's judicial exam is the gateway to becoming a lawyer, prosecutor, or judge. It's notoriously difficult, widely considered one of the toughest legal qualification exams in the world. With an annual pass rate of only about 2-3%, strict eligibility requirements, and fierce competition, it's an absolute beast to conquer.
Japanese netizens also quickly pointed out just how incredibly difficult it is to pass the "judicial exam".
Considering Okada managed to pass after roughly three years of preparation, it's an extraordinary feat, especially given his background as a Waseda University law graduate. Truly impressive! While he hasn't revealed whether he'll return to acting or pursue a legal career, one thing's for sure: huge congratulations are in order!