Taro aso comic nerd images

§ Taro Aso, the controversial Japanese pol who is expected to become their next Prime Minister, is getting a lot of support from the nerd contingent down in the Akihabara, Wired reports, with manga, bobbleheads and other cartoonized versions of Aso all the rage:

There’s even a shop in Akiba dedicated to Aso, who is currently the Secretary General of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The shop, called “Oretachi no Taro” (Our Taro), calls him a “cool old dude” and sells Aso-branded gifts like cakes.

Otaku have given Aso the nickname “Rozen Aso” for his love of the manga Rozen Maiden.

The manga industry seems to be waiting for some Golden Age of deregulation or popularity of something, should Aso be elected: stocks already rose when he was rumored to be running.

§ SEE a cartoonist wield a baseball bat!

Dean Haspiel writes to tell us that he appears on the debut episode of Smashd.tv