Comments on: Chibatman, more impressive than BatLyft

Chibatman, more impressive than BatLyft

filthy light thief — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:04:10 -0800

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."

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:06:33 -0800

Regarding BatLyft, that's Jimmy Lucia, an aspiring actor who roamed the streets of Los Angeles as BatLyft in his blue 2013 Kia Rio hatchback and a batman cowl.

By: misozaki

misozaki — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:07:36 -0800

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.

By: markkraft

markkraft — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:42:00 -0800

After watching that video, all I could think was "no capes!"

By: iamck

iamck — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 23:46:23 -0800

"because I want to see everyone smile." Then you need to start fighting crime, Batman.

By: gen

gen — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:31:45 -0800

ChiBatman rides a trike because a 2-wheeled vehicle would require the rider to wear a helmet, which of course Batman does not wear...

By: lometogo

lometogo — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:51:31 -0800

God. How I love the Japanese.

By: el io

el io — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:12:13 -0800

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).

By: el io

el io — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:14:48 -0800

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.

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:27:27 -0800

It's all fun and games until that cape gets caught in the rear wheel and garrottes him like Isadora Duncan.

By: dubitable

dubitable — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:20:07 -0800

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

By: dubitable

dubitable — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:26:33 -0800

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.

By: No-sword

No-sword — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:42:57 -0800

Presenters are a curious, thirsty lot. I must offer creature comforts.

By: Pyrogenesis

Pyrogenesis — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:52:31 -0800

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.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 03:34:28 -0800

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.

By: Naberius

Naberius — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 05:40:32 -0800

NO. NO. BAD HAL9K! WE DON'T DO THAT IN THE HOUSE. BAD HAL9K. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.

By: feckless fecal fear mongering

feckless fecal fear mongering — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 06:40:32 -0800

"because I want to see everyone smile." I think my heart grew two sizes today.

By: figurant

figurant — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 08:42:52 -0800

"because I want to see everyone smile." Are we sure he's not actually the Joker?

By: Rora

Rora — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 08:49:42 -0800

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*

By: TWinbrook8

TWinbrook8 — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:16:23 -0800

I would totally fly to Japan just to see him drive by on the highway.

By: deludingmyself

deludingmyself — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:39:13 -0800

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.

By: Lexica

Lexica — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:51:34 -0800

Oh, that's delightful! I'm going to be chuckling all day now.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:01:25 -0800

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.

By: egypturnash

egypturnash — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 17:10:42 -0800

Oh my god I love how Chibatman never drops the gravelly Bat-Voice while talking to the newsman. This man is winning life.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 22:44:50 -0800

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.

By: dubitable

dubitable — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 05:52:16 -0800

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!