Japanese Hurdler Wins Hearts with Anime Poses at World Championships
Tokyo, Japan – While he didn’t reach the podium, Japanese athlete Takera Mura Takerashid, 23, achieved a historic fifth-place finish in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the 2025 World Track and Field Championships, held at the national Arena of Japan on September 17th. His time of 13.18 seconds marks Japan’s best-ever result in the event at the World Championships, and he was the sole Asian competitor to qualify for the final.
However, Takerashid’s performance wasn’t the only thing turning heads. Before the race, the athlete delighted fans – particularly those within the anime, comics, and gaming (ACG) community – by striking a series of iconic poses for the media.
Takerashid playfully recreated scenes including the signature love gesture of President Nitro from the popular anime Hunter x Hunter, the distinctive standing pose of puchi from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and even the cover art from the cult classic manga Nose Hair True Fist.
The display quickly went viral, with fans flooding social media with calls for Shueisha, a leading Japanese publisher of manga, to acknowledge Takerashid’s eager fandom. The images have resonated widely, showcasing a unique blend of athletic achievement and passionate pop culture recognition.
takerashid’s performance and playful antics have undoubtedly broadened his fanbase, proving that sporting success and a love for anime can go hand-in-hand.
Keywords: Takera Mura Takerashid, World Track and Field Championships, Japan, Hurdles, anime, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Nose Hair True Fist, Shueisha, Sports, Viral, ACG, Manga.