Skull Reaper A-ji Really Likes His Mask

In the southern Japanese city of Oita, a city councilman has been banned from attending council meetings. Skull Reaper A-ji (aka “Huh”?) is apparently violating the dress code by insisting on wearing his Mexican-style “lucha libre” wrestling mask at all times. It’s not that folks don’t appreciate his lovely sense of facial fashion, but unfortunately there is a council rule that states “a person taking the floor shall not wear items such as a hat.” I suppose one could argue that a mask is not a hat or even “such as a hat,” but it does occupy space on the head, so close enough.

It appears as though Mr. Skull Reaper A-ji’s identity is very much tied up with his mask. “If I take my mask off, I’m an entirely different person,” he complains, adding “people find it easy to come up and talk to me because I have a mask on.” He makes his position crystal clear by defiantly stating “I will not take it off!” And really, can you blame him? I mean, would you ask The Lone Ranger to take off his mask at a council meeting? Would The Green Hornet or Batman be required to reveal themselves before contributing their two cents worth on the subject of a local sales tax? I think not.

Will The Skull Reaper be allowed to finally take his seat on the city council? Will he reveal his true identity? Will Mrs. Skull Reaper tell him that he’s going to have to take off that silly mask if he’s going to sleep in the same bed as her? Tune in next week for the further adventures of “Skull Reaper A-ji!”