In the movie, a regular teenager is determined to become a superhero. For 27 year-old Tadahiro Kanemasu, he just wanted to be a Good Samaritan.
For the last several months, Kanemasu has set up shop outside Tokyo Metro’s Honancho Station. The station doesn’t have an elevator or escalator, which can make it incredibly difficult for mothers (or fathers!) with strollers as well as elderly people with shopping bags to descend the long staircase to the underground station.
“Japanese people find it hard to accept help, they feel obligated to the other person, so the mask really helps me out,” Kanemasu told Reuters.
Kanemasu decided to don a Power Rangers outfit he picked up at a discount store. A greengrocer by trade, Kanemasu decided to go with green to reflect his day job. It was there that he got the inspiration after seeing small kids at the grocery store where he works.
At the station’s street level, Kanemasu waits for commuters who need a helping hand. A chalkboard reads, “Baby Carriage Carrying Ranger.” When he sees people who need a hand, he rushes over, saying, “I’ll help you carry that!” Kanemasu does this free of charge, of course.
“When I first began, people basically said ‘Get away from me, you weirdo’,” he said. “Now they still think I’m weird but in a good way.” His kind heart has been profiled in the Japanese press and on television.
Since Kanemasu only has time to offer help a few hours a day, he might want to expand to a full roster of Baby Carriage Rangers. He’s already gotten inquiries about possible openings for a Red and a Pink Ranger. Now that would be kick-arse.
Masked hero hauls bags, babies up and down Tokyo subway stairs [Reuters]
Photos: 紫陽花ころコロ, もうふパパの部屋３, 心は、青春！, tihiroxx, Nanorenai, nsw2072
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Comments
5 responses to “Japan’s Real Life Kick-Arse Is Very Helpful”
he really doesnt need to dress up as a poweranger just to do the things he’s doing….nobody is going to try to get to him through his loved ones just from helping carry stuff.
Ummm….. this is answered in the very first section of the article…..
It’s a serious issue. If you try to help someone who is Japanese, they will often refuse. Even if they need it. They feel like they are putting a burden on you and that they are obligated to do something for you in return.
By being masked, people have no idea who he is, so they have less reason to feel like they owe him.
Kick-Arse?
Automated localisation of spelling?