Japanese Politician Goes Viral For His Weight Loss Transformation, Handsome Visuals

A Kobe City councilor is making headlines around the world after sharing an anecdote about his weight loss transformation on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Norihiro Uehata before his weight loss | @Norihiro Uehata/X

Norihiro Uehata used to weigh 115kg (approximately 253lbs) but has steadily been losing weight over the past few years. As a result, he now looks much different now than he did back then. In fact, he looks more like an idol dressed in a uniform for a music video than a city councilor!

Norihiro Uehata after his weight loss | @Norihiro Uehata/X

Although his physical transformation is no secret to the Japanese public, it was news to the airport employee in Taiwan who recently inspected Uehata’s passport. Since Uehata’s passport photo has not yet been updated to match his appearance, the employee apparently had trouble believing Passport Uehata and In-Person Uehata were the same man.

| @Norihiro Uehata/X

To convince the employee, Uehata showed him before and after photos on Instagram. Thankfully, this was all the proof Uehata needed to confirm his identity and enter Taiwan without issues.

只今無事に台湾に入国出来ました！台湾の審査官の方には最初パスポートの115キロの時の写真と比べられて戸惑われたのですがインスタのダイエットビフォーアフターの写真を見せてなぜか入国審査で爆笑されてoh！good！！と審査官に言われて入国許可頂きました。 pic.twitter.com/rLwWHX2pev

— うえはた のりひろ 神戸市会議員【東灘区選出・自民党】 (@NorihiroUehata) November 22, 2023

I have now safely entered Taiwan! At first, the Taiwanese examiner was confused when he compared [me] to my passport photo when I weighed 115 kg, but when I showed him my before and after diet photos from Instagram, he burst out laughing at the immigration inspection, and was like, Oh! Good!! That’s what the examiner told me, and I was given permission to enter the country.

— Norihiro Uehata

All’s well that ends well!

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A post shared by 神戸市会議員 上畠のりひろ (@uehata1204)