Japanese police officer goes viral for striking anime poses in recruitment ad

Companies often tap into aspects of popular culture to draw in new employees and customers, and a Japanese police department is paying tribute to three legendary shonen series in a new viral post on social media. While older people mention trendy comics are often seen as “creepy” in the West, anime and manga are deeply embedded in Japanese culture, with older generations still taking the time to pick up their favorites. In particular, this post highlights several series that have been popular for decades, guaranteeing that the department will get at least a few interested applicants.

Japanese pop culture has become a worldwide phenomenon in recent decades, with a recent report indicating that the anime market is expected to double by 2034, reaching an estimated $4.1 billion globally. In its homeland, there is no shortage of themed cafes, dedicated shops and events aimed at fans of both new and classic series. Anime is often used in marketing too, with familiar characters appearing in ads for everything from toothpaste to fast food.

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Most Iconic Anime Poses Ever, Ranked

Anime always finds a way to make the mundane seem extraordinary. These poses are as iconic as the anime itself.

On April 27, the Nagasaki Police Department posted on social media that showed three officers in some familiar character poses from popular anime and manga. Eagle-eyed fans immediately recognized the officer in the middle representing Yuujirou Hanma from Bakethe man on the right knocking off Josuke Higashikata's pose JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is unbreakableand the smiling gentleman on the left who embodies Burter from Ginyu Force in Dragon Ball. The body of the post announces the trio as “Pose Police”, and states that the Nagasaki Prefectural Police is currently recruiting, with those interested asked to check the department's official website.

The comments are just as funny. “It's amazing to me that the cop who came up with this idea and the cop who gave it the stamp of approval are both in this world,” reads the top response. Another user drew attention to the fact that both chairs in the photo are on non-slip mats and applauded the group's approach to safety. “The boss in the middle has too much HP, there's no way I can beat him,” reads another post. “The other two taking me down from the back look pretty tough too.” Overall, the response has been hugely positive online, and many are wondering if the group will come up with another nice shoot in the future.

All three series depicted in the footage have long histories and have enjoyed immense popularity for decades. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure began its run-in Weekly Shonen Jump In 1987, while Baki began serializing in Weekly Shonen Champion in 1991. Dragon Ball probably needs little introduction, with Akira Toriyama's globally beloved series running into it Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has seen a rise in popularity overseas in recent years, as the latest anime adaptations have been made available to stream globally.

Rearrange the casings in the correct Japanese release order.

Light (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

When it comes to Dragon Ball franchise, 2026 has already been a busy year. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3originally announced as Dragon Ball: Age 1000has been confirmed for release in 2027, while Dragon Ball: Kicking! Zero will get new characters, stages and game modes this summer i Super Limit Breaking NEO update.