
It’s like looking into the future as Mr. Sato and his cohorts digitally advance themselves to a respectfully elderly age.
This Monday in Japan was Keiro no Hi, a national holiday that translates as “Respect for the Elderly Day.” It’s a day when families come together to say thanks to the older generation for all they’ve done for the younger ones, with senior citizens basking in the adoration of their appreciative children and grandchildren.
We don’t have anyone in the SoraNews24 office who qualifies as elderly, but we couldn’t help thinking about that day sometime in the future when youngsters will gaze upon us with reverence for our years of experience and wisdom. When that day comes, what will we look like?
Unfortunately, the SoraNews24 company time machine is still in the repair shop, so rather than travel to the future, we did the next best thing and simulated what we’ll look like once we’re on the respect-receiving side of Respect for the Elderly Day. As a reminder, here’s what our team of young bucks looks like right now.
▼ Top row, left to right: Ahiru Neko, Go Hatori, Masanuki Sunakoma, Takashi Harada, Mr. Sato
Bottom row: Yuichiro Wassai, Seiji Nakazawa, P.K. Sanjun, Yoshio
Those are also the photos we fed into image editing app FaceApp, which bumped the age of each of our staff member up several decades. Let’s take a look at the results, starting with…
…Ahiru Neko, who FaceApp believes isn’t going to go completely gray even after reaching an age where his currently-a-baby daughter will possibly have kids of her own.
Next up…
…Go, looking very much like a spry and friendly guy you’d pass by going up a mountain trail as he’s going down, since he got up early and already hiked to the top while you were still sleeping.
Moving on, here’s…
…Masanuki, who by the time he looks like this will hopefully have gotten over the sting of Amazon’s Japan’s lowest-rated perpetual motion machine.
There’s going to be a silver-lining for…
…Takashi as he gets older, since even if he’s one day no longer limber enough to play neck-pants soccer, he can pick up a new hobby of entering Mark Twain lookalike contests, if FaceApp’s projections are accurate.
Don’t be surprised if one day you sport this kindly looking gentleman…
…spinning around for a pole dancing exhibition, because that’s none other than Mr. Sato.
While the app has so far done a solid job of making everyone look remarkably older, we have to say that for…
…Yuichiro, the effect on hair is actually kind of stylish, almost like he’s a member of a boy band who died it that way to stand out from the rest of the group.
Speaking of boyishness…
…FaceApp thinks that Seiji will still retain some of his baby-faced qualities as he gets older.
And rounding out our team of the future are…
…P.K. Sanjun, and, finally…
…our boss, Yoshio, who will hopefully take our geriatric cardiovascular systems into consideration before making us carry any more giant stuffed animal pandas through downtown Tokyo.
Meanwhile, if you’re curious as to what these guys would look like not as distinguished old men, but as beautiful young women, the answer is right here.
Photos © SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]












Our nine male Japanese reporters turn into lovely young ladies with magic of A.I. photo editing
What happens when you put a hot crepe on a handsome man’s face?【Video/experiment】
Fresh tuna sashimi vs. frozen – Can our Japanese taste testers tell the difference in taste test?
What happens when our reporters show up to work dressed like their fathers?
Our “Dark Curry” puts the luck back into potluck with a curry of unknown ingredients
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Hikaru Utada sings new song in Shinkansen commercial for Japan’s Supreme Class cabins
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport opens new Terminal 1 North Satellite next month
Foreign travelers arrested in Japan following smash-and-grab robbery in Tokyo shopping mall
Starting this fall, you’ll be able to take a Pokémon Jet flight to Japan
Pizza Hut Japan creates moon-viewing sukiyaki chrysanthemum pizza for tsukimi season
Anime and Hollywood movies cross over in new Universal Studios Japan merch collection
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Police in Japan looking for who’s responsible for dumping 80 loaves of bread on side of road [Video]
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Our Japanese writers share times they were the fool in honor of April Fools Day
Testing out the rubber hand illusion in the office to see if people can feel pain in fake limbs
9 middle-aged Japanese men try putting on their own makeup
Our reporter tries nuikatsu for the first time, but is he too old for this otaku lifestyle hobby?
The AI ’90s yearbook trend hits our office, with hilarious results 【Photos】