Inspired by the actions of a Japanese manga protagonist
Despite injuries, "I would do the same again"
A man who subdued the perpetrator of a subway stabbing incident in Taiwan stated, "If my favorite anime character had been at the scene, he would have done the same thing."
Shu Ruixian C. (right), who earned the nickname "Long-haired Brother" after subduing a subway knife rampage, is receiving an award from the Taichung City Government on the 4th. [Image source=Taichung City Government]
On the 6th, local media including the Taipei Times reported that on the 21st of last month, a 20-year-old man stabbed two passengers on a train near Taiwan City Hall Station, and 17 passengers at the scene worked together to subdue the man. Lu Xuan, the mayor of Taiwan, expressed gratitude on the 4th to nine of the passengers who subdued the perpetrator. They received compensation ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Taiwan dollars (approximately 210,000 to 840,000 KRW) and lifetime free passes for the Taiwan Metro (MRT).
Among the nine, Xu Lixian (27), who became an online sensation as the 'Long-haired Brother,' attended the award ceremony dressed in cosplay attire from the Japanese game 'Monster Hunter.' Xu Lixian was injured with a wound over 9 cm long on his left face and a fractured cheekbone while trying to stop the perpetrator who wielded three weapons. However, he did not back down and approached to disarm the attacker, subduing him together with other passengers who joined in. Working as a fitness coach, Xu Lixian reportedly postponed training for a powerlifting competition scheduled for July to recover after surgery.
At the award ceremony, he described himself as an 'otaku' (a term referring to a person who is passionate about a particular field, mainly used for those who like manga and anime). Xu Lixian said, "Otaku are not as bad as everyone thinks," and revealed that his actions to subdue the perpetrator were inspired by a character from Japanese animation. He emphasized, "The line 'If it were Himmel (a character from the Japanese manga 'Sousou no Frieren'), he would have done the same thing' gave me courage," adding, "I would make the same choice again."
Himmel, a hero appearing in the Japanese fantasy manga 'Sousou no Frieren,' is a character symbolizing nobility, unwavering courage, and dedication to helping those in difficulty. Because of this, the comrades in the manga are known to habitually say, "If it were Himmel, he would have done that," whenever they face tough situations. As this interview gained attention, the official social media accounts of 'Sousou no Frieren' in Japan also posted the line quoted by Xu Lixian, expressing their respect.
One user on X (formerly Twitter), who saw this incident, commented, "This is why creators must always agonize," and added, "They must consider how their work affects others and not take it lightly."
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