Rating Japan’s Most Legendary Memes of All Time

May 16 (Japanalysis) - An absolute legend compiled all of Japan's best memes. I'm here to explain the best ones for you and rank them.

Japanese memes are on another level—wild, creative, and often rooted in real-life moments. A Twitter user created a map showing the most iconic meme from each region of Japan, and the video dives into several of the best. Highlights include the Tokyo University Train Guy who aggressively debates strangers, the 21-year-old who threatens middle schoolers, and Mr. Kongo, who mispronounces "reason" as "kongo." There's also Kabosu the Doge, who became a global icon, and the Ultimate Virgin, whose awkward interview launched a YouTube career.

Other standout moments include Kagawa Prefecture limiting kids' gaming to one hour per day—sparking nationwide mockery—and the GEFU Pose, which started from a Crayon Shin-chan joke and led to a live traffic cam becoming a meme shrine. Shuzo Matsuoka's icy water motivational speeches, the “no computers in Shimanet” Digimon line, and even a camping trip that ends with a tent blowing away are also featured.

The creator wraps up by picking personal favorites: chaotic public freakouts, real-life inspired memes like the GEFU pose, and a bonus round on Patreon. The overall message? Japanese memes don’t just entertain—they become cultural phenomena.

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