
When I woke up this morning, there were a few things I had expected for my day: a few gallons of coffee, a couple hundred photos of cute cats on the Internet, and a dozen more replays of Urbangarde’s music videos. What I had not expected to see was an origin story for none other than Sailor Suit Old Man.
And in case you’re wondering, no, he’s a not a grand wizard from an alternate dimension. But that might not be too far off!
By now, you should be familiar with some of the school-girl-outfit-wearing residents of Tokyo. Of course, there’s Ladybeard–the man who is not a lady but who does have a beard–and then there’s the legendary Sailor Suit Old Man, who is…well, an old man wearing a school girl outfit. Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, we suppose.
But you’d be wrong to do so in this case, because while Sailor Suit Old Man may look like a slightly crazy wizard of immense power obsessed with being the cutest thing this side of Hello Kitty, it turns out that he’s actually something of a genius. This really shouldn’t surprise anyone who has seen him conversing with Ladybeard in nearly flawless English–the man obviously has a sharp mind.
▼And a distinct appreciation for French cuisine.
But it turns his mind isn’t just sharp–it’s razor sharp. Hideaki Kobayashi, the real name of Sail Suit Old Man, was born in 1962 and earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics from the Waseda University’s engineering program. In case you’re not familiar with Japanese universities, Waseda is one of the most highly ranked private universities in the country, which is to say that he’s not just intelligent–the man must have been an incredibly dedicated student.
▼And cute. Damn cute.
セーラー服おじさんクソコラ pic.twitter.com/WoYjUy3UMs
— まこまこP (@zakusan_yuuutu) May 22, 2014
GrowHair, the name Sailor Suit Old Man uses for his artistic pursuits such as photographing dolls (caution: photos are not safe for you sanity) and cosplay, is actually currently employed at a printing company. He just happens to enjoy wearing school girl clothes because, as he said in an interview, “I thought the sailor suit had a cute image. So, I was interested in seeing if I too would become cut if I put on a sailor suit.” Well, the answer, good sir, is a solid, unquestionable YES!
But in addition to his day job and his plethora of hobbies, it looks like Sailor Suit Old Man is also developing a side career as a guest lecturer!
What you see directly above is a close up of the press release from Waseda Juku, a prep school for middle and high school students getting ready for college entrance exams, announcing the lecture. As the press release explains, they’ve asked Sailor Suit Old Man, who also happens to be an international patent holder, to give a special lecture about “A Rich & Happy Life” and the importance of studying hard. As someone with a grin that infectious, he certainly seems like the right person for the job!
Unfortunately, it looks like the lecture is meant for middle and high school students. Maybe if we all put on our best school girl outfits, they won’t be able to tell the difference. Someone get Mr. Sato some high socks and a skirt!
Sources: Waseda Juku, ITMedia, Naver Matome, GrowHair
Images: Twitter (@GrowHair),



Ladybeard x Sailor Suit Old Man star in “dream collaboration” at school!
When Ladybeard meets “Sailor Suit Old Man”, it’s an explosion of manly cuteness【Photos】
Sailor Suit Old Man’s mobile game just as cute and fun as the man himself
This stoic gentleman is Sailor Suit Old Man?!?
Finally, the Ladybeard and Sailor Suit Old Man wrestling match you’ve been waiting for
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Why does Japanese writing need three different sets of characters? (Part 1)
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
War in Iran threatening Japan’s pudding production
Starbucks releases a Kyoto Matcha Latte in Japan for a limited time
Tokyo DisneySea’s new Fantasy Springs area reveals the beauty of Rapunzel’s Forest
Kirby Cafe x Captain Sweets Burger release “double strawberry burgers” exclusive to Tokyo Station
Shinkansen operator apologizes for three-minute delay because conductor was napping
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says