When it comes to "Mobile Suit Gundam," while Amuro Ray is the protagonist, Char Aznable is undeniably a fan-favorite character. His complex character development and iconic "Red Comet" look make him a popular choice for cosplayers.
Recently on X in Japan, a cosplayer known as "Jitensha Char" (Bicycle Char), who dresses as Char Aznable, was cycling around Tokyo Station when he unexpectedly encountered His Majesty the Emperor's motorcade. This bizarre incident quickly became a hot topic!
Here's how it went down, according to Jitensha Char's post:
"The area in front of Tokyo Station was restricted, and right before my eyes, His Majesty the Emperor's motorcade passed by. Naturally, I immediately dismounted my bike and removed my hat as a sign of respect. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by men in suits wearing badges, but they actually complimented me, saying, 'Your Char costume is perfect!' Before I could fully process it, I was completely encircled—the security personnel's reflexes are seriously impressive (lol)." He humorously added, "I apologize for being a suspicious Char."
He later clarified that the Emperor's car was actually passing on a lane several tens of meters away, and he only caught a glimpse of Her Majesty the Empress from afar. "Thinking back, it's probably a good thing they didn't see me up close in this getup (lol)," he quipped.
As his post went viral, Jitensha Char nervously pleaded, "This post blew up so much!? Please, everyone, let's calm down a bit, I really don't want the Imperial Household Agency to see this and let His Majesty know!"
The post quickly exploded across social media, with netizens cracking up and calling the scene "a real-life 'Char's Counterattack'" and "the Red Comet appearing in front of the Imperial Palace."
Netizens' comments were equally hilarious: "Your response was absolutely perfect! You showed respect to the Emperor while also letting the security know you were just a 'suspicious Char' and not a 'suspicious person' (lol)," and "From 'Bicycle Char' to 'Suspicious Char,' the progression is too smooth and clever!"
One netizen jokingly lamented, "It's a shame you didn't say the line, 'Look, I'm a soldier!' It's such a famous scene from the anime, and what an unmissable opportunity in front of the Emperor's motorcade, LOL."
In response, Jitensha Char humbly replied, "Perfect? Not at all! I feel bad for making them waste security resources. I did explain to them that I often ride my bike near the Imperial Palace, haha."
He then added a self-deprecating remark: "Actually, it's not just here; I'm probably considered a 'suspicious Char' in all sorts of places."
In this completely unexpected "chance encounter," Char's salute indeed led to him being surrounded, just as netizens predicted: "Once Char salutes, he's destined to be surrounded."
It's clear that Jitensha Char has truly integrated his Char Aznable cosplay into his daily life. His dedication and sense of humor are truly admirable! If you ever visit Tokyo, you might just run into him!
via： togetter