Chibatman, more impressive than BatLyft
August 30, 2014 11:04 PM Subscribe
Batman has been spotted on Japanese highways, or rather, someone dressed in a Dark Knight Rises style Batman suit and on a custom batcycle-like trike in the Chiba Prefecture, earning him the nickname Chibatman. He has been found and interviewed (Japanese without subtitles), and he even invited the interviewer back to his bat lair humble home. The 41 year-old Chibatman works as a welder, and he wears his Batman costume when he commutes to work, "because I want to see everyone smile."
Ha! I heard about this guy a few days ago and wondered if I should post about him! Thanks, filthy light thief, you're as thorough as always.
posted by misozaki at 11:07 PM on August 30, 2014
posted by misozaki at 11:07 PM on August 30, 2014
After watching that video, all I could think was "no capes!"
posted by markkraft at 11:42 PM on August 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by markkraft at 11:42 PM on August 30, 2014 [8 favorites]
"because I want to see everyone smile."
Then you need to start fighting crime, Batman.
posted by iamck at 11:46 PM on August 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Then you need to start fighting crime, Batman.
posted by iamck at 11:46 PM on August 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
ChiBatman rides a trike because a 2-wheeled vehicle would require the rider to wear a helmet, which of course Batman does not wear...
posted by gen at 12:31 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by gen at 12:31 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
On the 'He has been found and interviewed' link, you can actually turn on subtitles in japanese, then choose (from the subtitle menu 'translate') what language you want it translated to.
It's google translate quality translation, but it's a thing.
(and holy cow, I've never done/seen that before, I'm pretty amazed).
posted by el io at 1:12 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's google translate quality translation, but it's a thing.
(and holy cow, I've never done/seen that before, I'm pretty amazed).
posted by el io at 1:12 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
Okay, no I've actually listened/watched the interview. Scratch that being amazed, I'm just giggling at the seemingly random words that are the english subtitles.
posted by el io at 1:14 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by el io at 1:14 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's all fun and games until that cape gets caught in the rear wheel and garrottes him like Isadora Duncan.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 1:27 AM on August 31, 2014
posted by Kirth Gerson at 1:27 AM on August 31, 2014
Some of this is in the post but a quick summary of the major stuff from the silly news piece video, dunno if the Google translate is crap or not:
- he does it to put a smile on people's faces
- he started about 3 years ago
- he works repairing containers at the port (which port, Chiba maybe? I missed that)
- other than the engine he built the bike using random parts he ordered and iron which he shaped himself. It cost him around 600000 yen, which is about 6K USD. Pretty cheap, which they go on about a bit.
- his plan from now on is to continue as is, working to put a smile on people's faces.
- he's 41 and single (hey ladies!), and the male presenter asked the female newscaster what she thought of the guy and she was like yeah hahaha right
- apparently he's soaked in sweat when he wears the suit, and he loses 3kg every time he wears it, but that sounds insane to me so maybe I'm confused about what the dude was saying
posted by dubitable at 2:20 AM on August 31, 2014 [5 favorites]
- he does it to put a smile on people's faces
- he started about 3 years ago
- he works repairing containers at the port (which port, Chiba maybe? I missed that)
- other than the engine he built the bike using random parts he ordered and iron which he shaped himself. It cost him around 600000 yen, which is about 6K USD. Pretty cheap, which they go on about a bit.
- his plan from now on is to continue as is, working to put a smile on people's faces.
- he's 41 and single (hey ladies!), and the male presenter asked the female newscaster what she thought of the guy and she was like yeah hahaha right
- apparently he's soaked in sweat when he wears the suit, and he loses 3kg every time he wears it, but that sounds insane to me so maybe I'm confused about what the dude was saying
posted by dubitable at 2:20 AM on August 31, 2014 [5 favorites]
Oh yeah, and at the beginning when the presenter caught up with him, he asked him if he could interview chibatman and chibatman was like, "yeah, but let's go to my secret lair," and his secret lair just happened to be a normal house where the presenter was served a glass of tap water by the chibatman.
posted by dubitable at 2:26 AM on August 31, 2014 [10 favorites]
posted by dubitable at 2:26 AM on August 31, 2014 [10 favorites]
Presenters are a curious, thirsty lot. I must offer creature comforts.
posted by No-sword at 2:42 AM on August 31, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by No-sword at 2:42 AM on August 31, 2014 [6 favorites]
apparently he's soaked in sweat when he wears the suit, and he loses 3kg every time he wears it
Yeah that sounds too much, F1 drivers lose that much after 1,5 hours with constant 2-5 g in a rather hot cockpit.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 2:52 AM on August 31, 2014
Yeah that sounds too much, F1 drivers lose that much after 1,5 hours with constant 2-5 g in a rather hot cockpit.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 2:52 AM on August 31, 2014
It's all fun and games until that cape gets caught in the rear wheel and garrottes him like Isadora Duncan.
Or if he can't stop in time while following your motorhome and you get an RV dent.
posted by hal9k at 3:34 AM on August 31, 2014 [11 favorites]
Or if he can't stop in time while following your motorhome and you get an RV dent.
posted by hal9k at 3:34 AM on August 31, 2014 [11 favorites]
NO. NO. BAD HAL9K! WE DON'T DO THAT IN THE HOUSE. BAD HAL9K. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
posted by Naberius at 5:40 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Naberius at 5:40 AM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
"because I want to see everyone smile."
I think my heart grew two sizes today.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:40 AM on August 31, 2014
I think my heart grew two sizes today.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:40 AM on August 31, 2014
"because I want to see everyone smile."
Are we sure he's not actually the Joker?
posted by figurant at 8:42 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
Are we sure he's not actually the Joker?
posted by figurant at 8:42 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
The giddiness of the interviewer is completely infectious. I would probably act much the same if I got to meet Chibatman. Also, guys, you have to check out the part in the video where Chibatman gives the interviewer water. Chibatman takes his batboots off inside the house. *Eeee*
posted by Rora at 8:49 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Rora at 8:49 AM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
I would totally fly to Japan just to see him drive by on the highway.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:16 AM on August 31, 2014
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:16 AM on August 31, 2014
Chibatman takes his batboots off inside the house.
This is my favorite sentence of the day. I can move on from checking Metafilter happy, now.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:39 AM on August 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
This is my favorite sentence of the day. I can move on from checking Metafilter happy, now.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:39 AM on August 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh, that's delightful! I'm going to be chuckling all day now.
posted by Lexica at 11:51 AM on August 31, 2014
posted by Lexica at 11:51 AM on August 31, 2014
On the 'He has been found and interviewed' link, you can actually turn on subtitles in japanese, then choose (from the subtitle menu 'translate') what language you want it translated to.
Oh, wow, I hadn't even thought to check for that. Awesome!
Some of this is in the post but a quick summary of the major stuff from the silly news piece video, dunno if the Google translate is crap or not
Thanks for providing more information! I'm interested to see if someone else can provide more accurate translations, or even elaborate on what coverage there is in Japan.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 31, 2014
Oh, wow, I hadn't even thought to check for that. Awesome!
Some of this is in the post but a quick summary of the major stuff from the silly news piece video, dunno if the Google translate is crap or not
Thanks for providing more information! I'm interested to see if someone else can provide more accurate translations, or even elaborate on what coverage there is in Japan.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 31, 2014
Oh my god I love how Chibatman never drops the gravelly Bat-Voice while talking to the newsman. This man is winning life.
posted by egypturnash at 5:10 PM on August 31, 2014
posted by egypturnash at 5:10 PM on August 31, 2014
Kirth Gerson: "It's all fun and games until that cape gets caught in the rear wheel and garrottes him"
It would be pretty trivial to design a cape that breaks away like these safety lanyards.
posted by Mitheral at 10:44 PM on August 31, 2014
It would be pretty trivial to design a cape that breaks away like these safety lanyards.
posted by Mitheral at 10:44 PM on August 31, 2014
Thanks for providing more information! I'm interested to see if someone else can provide more accurate translations, or even elaborate on what coverage there is in Japan.
Honestly, I don't think you are going to wring much more information out of that fluffy news piece, I included pretty much everything that wasn't just the formalities. But if there is a specific part you are curious about, let me know.
As far as news in Japan, I haven't been paying attention but I'll see what's around. Found this on Rocket News 24, but I figure it's all going to be more of the same--stuff like what's linked to in the Kotaku piece, or news stories like what you already found (not a ton of variation here unfortunately).
But if I find anything else I'll post it!
posted by dubitable at 5:52 AM on September 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I don't think you are going to wring much more information out of that fluffy news piece, I included pretty much everything that wasn't just the formalities. But if there is a specific part you are curious about, let me know.
As far as news in Japan, I haven't been paying attention but I'll see what's around. Found this on Rocket News 24, but I figure it's all going to be more of the same--stuff like what's linked to in the Kotaku piece, or news stories like what you already found (not a ton of variation here unfortunately).
But if I find anything else I'll post it!
posted by dubitable at 5:52 AM on September 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by filthy light thief at 11:06 PM on August 30, 2014