Previously, Japanese Singer Noriyuki Makihara went viral in Indonesia due to his resemblance to former Indonesian president Joko Widodo. After becoming a meme sensation in Indonesia, his virality has finally caught the attention of Japanese television.
On Friday, 20 February 2026, Japanese TV station TV Asahi discussed the facial resemblance between Makihara and Joko Widodo on its program Tamori Station. The show even featured a side-by-side comparison of their photos. The topic quickly became a trend among Japanese netizens, with many joining in to point out the similarities between the two public figures.
Makihara had previously gained popularity in Indonesia thanks to the music video for his song Mou Koi Nante Shinai (もう恋なんてしない). The singer went viral across Indonesian social media timelines, where viewers noted that his appearance in the video closely resembled Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo.
Born on 18 May 1969, Noriyuki Makihara is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter, and music producer, affectionately nicknamed “Mackey” by his fans. He made his debut in 1990 with the single NG after winning a music competition, and has since released numerous hit songs, including Mou Koi Nante Shinai.
Over the years, Makihara has established himself as one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters and a defining icon of 1990s J-Pop, with total record sales reaching 21 million copies. In addition to Mou Koi Nante Shinai, he is also known for other popular hits such as Donna Toki mo and Fuyu ga Hajimaru Yo.
The Indonesian Anime Times
