American pop icon Bruno Mars is clearly enjoying the start of his concert tour in the vibrant city of Tokyo if his recent Instagram post is any indication.
The photo shows Mars embracing Japanese culture during his downtime, sporting playful tourist apparel like a Pikachu hat and an “I love Japan” t-shirt.
In one hand he holds an endearing Hello Kitty plush toy, while in the other is a copy of the latest tankōbon volume of the popular manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, titled “Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown.”
Mars seems to be immersing himself in local pop culture offerings during this leg of his world tour. His caption simply reads “Tokyo! 🇯🇵,” expressing his excitement.
He is scheduled for multiple performances at the prestigious Tokyo Dome from now until January 21st. The manga volume he is reading was just released on January 4th in Japan, though an English-translated version is not yet available.
It appears Mars is able to enjoy Jujutsu Kaisen in its original Japanese during his temporary stay there.
Overall the Instagram post offers a glimpse into Mars broadening his horizons and intermingling pleasure with his demanding concert tour schedule.
From donning lighthearted tourist garb to delving into contemporary Japanese manga, Mars is making the most of his Tokyo trip by engaging with the local culture.
Bruno Mars Embraces Japanese Pop Culture: Instagram Post Sparks Playful Fandom Reactions
While Mars’ Instagram post depicts him reading the latest volume of the popular manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, it is unlikely he has learned to read the complex Japanese kanji required to actually follow the story.
More plausibly, Mars purchased the acclaimed manga to embrace Japanese pop culture and incorporate into his Tokyo-themed tourist photo.
However, just because Mars cannot literally read Jujutsu Kaisen does not preclude him from being a genuine fan of the manga/anime franchise.
The playful Instagram post sparked amusing reactions, including fellow musician Big Sean outing himself as a bonafide Jujutsu Kaisen aficionado by referencing plot elements.
This revelation of Sean’s fandom is supported by his following anime streaming service Crunchyroll on social media. Additionally, the official Hello Kitty account commented “Supercute bestie” on Mars’ post, leaning into the lighthearted spirit of the photo.
So while Mars may not be catching up on the latest manga chapter in his spare time, he has successfully paid homage to iconic aspects of Japanese culture.
This has resulted in delighted responses from both celebrities and brands, indicating Mars forged an endearing connection through his embrace of tourism and pop culture.
The Instagram post offers a glimpse into the musical icon broadening his horizons in the midst of a demanding world tour.
A Supernatural Adventure Unleashing Cursed Spirits and Mystical Powers
Jujutsu Kaisen first debuted as a manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami in 2018. It has since exploded into an immensely popular anime adaptation by studio MAPPA as well.
The supernatural action-adventure is centered around high school student Yuji Itadori, an athletically gifted young man who suddenly becomes entangled in the realm of curses and spellcasting.
The story begins when Yuji’s classmates inadvertently unleash powerful and malevolent Cursed Spirits that threaten human lives. To combat this threat, Yuji swallows a cursed object that grants him dark, mystical energy to fight back against the curses.
However, Yuji struggles to control these volatile new powers initially. To master these abilities safely, Yuji enrolls at Jujutsu High, an academy dedicated to training Jujutsu sorcerers how to combat Cursed Spirits.
There, Yuji falls under the guidance of his eccentric mentor Satoru Gojo – the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer alive in their world.
Yuji embarks on a perilous mission to locate and eliminate dangerous cursed objects that are catalysts for sinister supernatural events.
Over the course of this quest, he encounters terrifyingly powerful Cursed Spirits that test the limits of his own strength.
With the help of allies at Jujutsu High, Yuji wages war against these threats while walking a razor’s edge trying to retain his own humanity.
Beyond its gripping action and imaginative battle sequences, Jujutsu Kaisen has garnered acclaim for its gorgeous animation style under MAPPA and the depth of its world-building.
With intricate character backstories and development, the series has resonated strongly with manga and anime fans alike.
The anime adaptation in particular has been praised as a standout hit for its visual spectacle and emotional storytelling.
