Macron and Takaichi Break Protocol with ‘Dragon Ball Z’ Gesture in Tokyo

By Ana Andrade

On April 1 in Tokyo, Japan, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, met with Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi to discuss ongoing geopolitical tensions and explore avenues for cooperation.  Takaichi has expressed her intention to closely communicate with Macron in an effort to bring the conflict in Iran under control.  Takaichi noted that France is a special partner that shares common values and principles with Japan, and is also an Indo-Pacific nation with territories in the Pacific. (1)

At the conclusion of the meeting, the atmosphere briefly shifted from diplomacy to levity: Takaichi playfully performed the iconic Kamehameha gesture from Dragon Ball Z, a moment that Macron—an open admirer of the series—warmly reciprocated. This spontaneous exchange introduced a human, disarming note into an otherwise serious context, illustrating how cultural references can bridge political formality. (2)

From an astrological perspective, the moment is notable. Takaichi’s Sun at 16 Pisces was activated by transiting Mercury (13 Pisces), the planet related to hands, communication, children, in a Sign that is connected with drawings, comics and cartoons, in harmonious trine (120 degrees) with transiting Jupiter (15 Cancer), a planet associated with humor, lightness, and moments of shared amusement, in the Sign of Cancer, related to receptiveness, sense of belonging and home. These planetary dynamics often coincide with instances of symbolic gestures, and emotionally resonant communication. Takaichi is the one that initiated the gesture.

Furthermore, Macron’s natal Ascendant (28 Capricorn), a cusp related to personality, is in the same degree of Takaichi’s Jupiter, a benefic planet linked to diplomacy, international relations, and goodwill. This conjunction is also reinforced by Takaichi’s Saturn (26 Capricorn), emphasizing themes of leadership formality and structure. Together, these factors suggest a dynamic in which authority and diplomacy are balanced with moments of openness and mutual recognition along with an instant of surprising amusement.

In this context, the shared gesture—two leaders smiling amid tension—can be read as a symbolic act of renewal in bilateral relations, underscoring the role of cultural connection in easing political strain.

Finally, it is also worth noting that the term Kamehameha originates from Kamehameha I, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii, whose name has been reinterpreted in modern popular culture through its association with the signature technique in Dragon Ball Z. (3)

Notes: (1) https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260401_18/

(2) https://www.abc.com.py/internacionales/2026/04/01/macron-y-takaichi-sorprenden-con-pose-de-dragon-ball/?outputType=amp

(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_I

Title Image Credit:  Franck Robichon/Pool Via REUTERS in www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20251017131027-115-1285614/foto-momen-macron-pm-jepang-takaichi-adu-kamehameha/4