"Beast Senpai" is an unnamed actor from the 2001 Japanese gay adult film series "Midsummer Night's Lewd Dream." His over-the-top performance and instantly recognizable look led Japanese netizens to extensively screenshot, remix, and parody his image, making him a legendary meme.
▼You might not have seen the film, but you've probably seen this "Beast Senpai" image
Recently, a Japanese X (formerly Twitter) user living in Taipei, "nt (@nt_twjp)," snapped a photo of a bus on the street. Peeking through the window, they unexpectedly spotted a "Beast Senpai" image plastered right near the driver's seat.
The user's post read: "Looks like there's something in the bus driver's seat... Taiwan, huh... And the driver is a woman..." After the photo went viral, what was once just an ordinary bus instantly became the "Mysterious Meme Bus" that Japanese netizens couldn't stop talking about.
Another netizen shared a similar photo previously taken on a Taipei bus, saying they'd encountered it too. The image shows Beast Senpai inside the bus, along with other meme images like OIIA CAT. While it's unclear if it's the same bus, it makes you wonder if there's some kind of "meme bus lineage" out there?
Many Japanese netizens were left scratching their heads, calling it "an absolute mystery." Some joked, "Is that really pasted in the driver's seat?... Taiwan's got some serious guts, huh? If it's really a female driver, that's even more surprising." Others took a more positive spin, suggesting it might be like, "Even when work is tough, seeing Beast Senpai cheers you up and makes you feel like you can push through."
Many also started speculating about its purpose next to the driver's seat. One comment asked, "Is it for traffic safety? Or warding off evil?" Another quipped, "Is it some kind of good luck charm?" Like a meme-powered protective barrier for safe travels.
Ultimately, whether it's the driver's personal preference or some kind of meme good luck charm, only the person involved would know. Have you ever ridden this bus, or seen similar meme buses on the streets of Taiwan? What's your take?