Sometimes the internet finds a person who is so unbelievably cool that you have to double-check they’re real. Shotaro Odate is that person.
If you’ve scrolled past a video of an elderly Japanese man with gravity-defying spiky hair explaining car technology, you’ve already seen him. The Honda chief engineer has become an unlikely viral sensation—not for his groundbreaking work, but for a hairstyle that looks like it was ripped straight from the pages of Dragon Ball.
And the best part? That’s only half the story.
🎬 The Video That Broke the Internet
The latest wave of attention came when Odate appeared in a Honda R&D video explaining advanced driver-assistance technology. He was discussing “offset-corrected and adaptive grasp detection” for Honda SENSING 360+—serious, cutting-edge stuff.
But viewers didn’t care about the tech. They couldn’t look past his hair.
Odate’s signature look features sharp, upward-pointing spikes that closely resemble the legendary Super Saiyan transformation from Dragon Ball. Others immediately compared him to Kakashi from Naruto. The reactions poured in fast and furious:
“Bro came out straight from Dragon Ball.”
“He’s literally Goku.”
“Bro sat down at the barber and said he wanted the Anime style.”
“Unimaginable level of swag.”
But amidst the jokes, there was genuine admiration:
“Probably smarter than 6 of us combined.”
That last comment hits on something crucial. Beneath the anime hair is a genius whose credentials are every bit as striking as his appearance.
🧠 The Man Behind the Hair
Odate isn’t some random engineer trying to stand out. He is a chief engineer at Honda with a resume that would make anyone’s jaw drop.
He holds 253 patents related to automotive safety. That’s not a typo. Two hundred and fifty-three patents. His work includes steering sensors, braking technology, and intelligent seat belt systems. He is now the lead engineer behind Honda SENSING 360+, the company’s advanced driver-assistance system designed to improve road safety.
And here’s the kicker: he joined Honda in 2003 at the age of 64—when most people are planning their retirement. He started as a seat belt designer and worked his way up to leading a team of around 100 staff members.
He also has nine academic papers to his name.
✂️ The Secret Behind the Style
So how did an 84-year-old (or 85, depending on the source) engineer end up with a hairstyle that belongs in a manga?
The answer is surprisingly practical.
Odate revealed on a Japanese variety show that he has maintained his spiky hairstyle for at least five years. His hair is naturally stiff and curls easily, and his poor sleeping habits leave it messy every morning. In his younger days, he spent an excessive amount of time fixing his hair. Eventually, he decided to stop fighting it.
Now, he simply uses gel to push the fringe out of the way and embraces the chaos. What started as a practical solution became a signature look.
“His approach to styling has also changed with age. According to the South China Morning Post, Odate used to spend a lot of time fixing his hair when he was younger. In recent years, he has preferred using gel to control the fringe that falls over his left eye.”
The best part? When Honda needed to test if their driver-monitoring camera could detect a driver’s eye through messy hair, Odate used himself as the test subject. His signature spiky fringe hanging over his left eye became part of the quality assurance process.
💪 The 170kg Plot Twist
Just when you think this guy can’t get any more impressive, there’s one more detail.
Odate can bench press 170 kilograms.
At 85 years old. For five repetitions. That’s more weight than most people half his age could even attempt.
He follows a strict workout routine every morning, proving that strength is a choice you make every day, regardless of your age. As one observer put it: “Proof that being cool is ageless and timeless.”
📈 Why We Can’t Stop Watching
The internet’s fascination with Odate isn’t just about a funny hairstyle. It’s about the unexpected combination of qualities he represents.
In one person, you have:
A world-class engineer with 253 patents
A team leader who joined Honda at 64 and rose to the top
A fitness enthusiast who can outlift people half his age
A style icon who unapologetically rocks anime hair
A practical genius who used his own hair to test safety systems
He defies every stereotype about age, professionalism, and what an engineer “should” look like. As the South China Morning Post noted, colleagues have grown accustomed to his unique look and commend him for his seriousness and professionalism.
“You don’t have to shrink as you get older. You can stand tall, spike your hair up, stay curious and stay strong.”
🔮 Shotaro Odate
has become an internet legend because he reminds us of something we often forget: being yourself is the ultimate superpower.
He didn’t change his hair to go viral. He didn’t start lifting weights for attention. He simply lived his life with authenticity, curiosity, and relentless dedication—and the world noticed.
The internet can’t stop talking about this Honda engineer’s anime hair. But maybe, just maybe, we should be talking about everything else too.
Shotaro Odate continues to lead Honda’s advanced safety technology development. His work on Honda SENSING 360+ is helping make roads safer for everyone—one patent and one spiky strand of hair at a time.
