Highlights
- A man inspired by anime character Himmel saved lives and stopped a knife-wielding attacker in Taiwan, citing the hero as his reason for bravery.
- Xu, the anime fan, was awarded by the mayor for his heroism and broke the otaku stigma, inspiring others to embrace their passions.
- Xu's actions were recognized by the official Frieren: Beyond Journey's End account, further highlighting the impact of anime on real-life heroism.
Many fans of anime, games, movies, and TV shows dream about meeting their favorite characters in real life - or even becoming them! Letting fictional characters inspire your decisions may not always be advisable, but in this case, a man's devotion to his favorite anime ended up saving someone's life. Drawing inspiration from one of his favorite anime characters, a normal man ascended to the rank of "hero" in an unlikely place at the end of May.
On May 21st, 2024, a man was wielding a knife against civilians on a metro in Taichung, Taiwan. After injuring three people, the man was subdued by 17 other civilians who rushed forward to stop him from hurting anyone else. This act of bravery is not something that everyone would be able to do, putting themselves in harm's way to help total strangers. One of these brave civilians was Ruixian Xu, who cited a unique and unexpected reason for his burst of heroism.
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The 17 civilians who were able to stop the attacker were recognized on June 4th by the mayor of Taichung, Lu Shiow-yen. She personally thanked each of the heroes, awarding them NT$20,000.00 (S$835) each, along with free rides on the metro for the rest of their lives. Xu was one of the people who was interviewed by the local media, who dubbed him Long-Haired Bro. When questioned about where he found the bravery to stop the attacker, Xu answered, “Even if I had to do it again, I’d make the same choice...It’s what the hero Himmel would have done.”
Xu is referencing a famous line from the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, a fantasy anime that aired from September 2023 to March 2024. According to The Straits Times,
The phrase is often cited by the protagonist Frieren in reference to a heroic character as a moral guide. It has since become a meme among fans of the series and has reportedly also made it into mainstream usage, referring to the right or noble thing to do in a situation. Mr [Xu] said the phrase reminds him to do the right thing, and has adopted it as his life’s philosophy.
Frieren really did inspire this anime fan to be a real hero, and who knows if he could have found the same strength without that anime and character. As it stands, Xu was able to step up in the moment and risk everything to help others with the thought of Himmel propelling him forward and guiding him to do the right thing.
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Making a Good Name for Otaku
Ruixian Xu went one step further in the name of otaku everywhere when he accepted the award from the mayor. He stands out in the photos taken that day of all the heroes due to his attire, choosing to come dressed in a haori, or traditional Japanese jacket. It was not just any haori, either, but one licensed from the popular video game series Monster Hunter. To top off the look, Xu also wore the same bloodstained shoes he wore the day of the attack to emphasize his point.
Not only did Xu talk about his inspiration, Himmel, he also openly called himself an otaku when accepting the award. He did this in an attempt to break the stigma that many anime fans face in the public eye, showing that otaku can also be brave, strong, and heroes. In doing so, Xu hopes he can inspire other otaku to do the same if they are ever in a position like he was - and to have pride in being an otaku while they're at it.
Xu did sustain injuries to his face from the attacker (you can still see the bandages on his face in the awards photo) but continued to hold onto the man until he could be subdued. Because of his injuries, Xu was forced to miss a power-lifting competition, his other main hobby. But he did the right thing by stepping in to help other people, and his bravery was even recognized by the official X account for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The account posted a manga panel featuring Himmel himself, with the quote, "“Even if it’s just a little, if it can change someone’s life, that’s enough.”
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Sources: IGN, The Straits Times