Anime theme brings Japan and Senegal fans together at the World Cup

Anime bridges cultures yet again.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Anime theme brings Japan and Senegal fans together at the World Cup
Soccer and anime bring fans of teams around the world together at the World Cup. Credit: Getty Images

Though Japan and Senegal fought to a draw on the pitch on Sunday at the World Cup, the teams' fans in the stands stood together in a unifying post-match moment of friendship that makes you think that maybe the world isn't such a dumpster fire after all.

France-based comedian John Sulo has been at the World Cup in Russia seeing all there is to see. On Sunday, Sulo -- at the game in support of Senegal -- ran into a few Japanese fans and shared quite the moment, joining them in belting out the theme song to the popular anime series One Piece.

Nothing unites the world quite like anime.

And if you needed more proof, check out Sulo's delight at running into another Japanese fan dressed as the character Frieza from another popular anime, Dragon Ball Z.

Also of note from Sunday's game: Fans of both teams hung back after the match to help clean up the stadium, because the World Cup is absolutely the best.

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Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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