A new series of live-action TV ads which feature several classic Japanese anime characters has finally been launched by the Japanese telecommunications company, Softbank. The first ad, which feature live-action versions of Sailor Moon, Obocchama-kun, Astro Boy, Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star), Golgo 13, Joe Yabuki (Ashita no Joe), and Maruko-chan (Chibi Maruko-chan), as well as Softban mascot, Oto-san, has finally been streamed.

Wait, so the assassin known as Golgo 13 (played by Fumiyo Kohinata) is now Japan’s prime minister, Joe Yabuki (played by Comedian Naoki Matayosh) went from being a boxer to a novelist, and Maruko-chan (played by Suzu Hirose from the live-action Chihayafuru) is now a shop assistant cleaning tables? Well, at least Kenshiro (played by famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizou XI) is still doing them rapid fire punches.

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The ads will revolve around the Moon Ribar (a play on the classic song, Moon River), which will be run by Sailor Moon herself, Usagi Tsukino, played by Tokyo Sonata’s Kyoko Koizumi. She is a bit disappointed that there will be no “henshin” or transformation scene. The bar will then feature a variety of “somewhat strange patrons”.

Source: ANN