Meet Akihito: The Brazilian doppelgänger who turned a Metal Gear Solid meme into a real-life bond with Hideo Kojima.
Video game auteur Hideo Kojima came face-to-face with his viral Brazilian doppelgänger during a promotional tour for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, turning an internet running gag into an official meet-up.
An Unplanned Encounter at Brasil Game Show
The viral moment took place at Brasil Game Show in São Paulo, marking Kojima's return to the Latin American convention after an eight-year hiatus. While promoting his upcoming title and serving as a cosplay competition judge, the legendary director crossed paths with his most famous internet twin.
Rather than an orchestrated PR stunt, the in-person meeting was spontaneous. After spotting each other on the show floor, Kojima and his counterpart stopped to pose for photos, recreating poses from Kojima Productions' catalog for fans.
Meet Akihito: The Internet's "Brazilian Kojima"
The creator behind the lookalike persona, known online as Akihito, regularly produces viral social media parodies alongside his partner Annye Souza. Their content frequently parodies Kojima's public appearances and video games, often soundtracked by Duran Duran’s 1984 single "Invisible" (a track heavily linked to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain).
Kojima was already well aware of Akihito's sketches prior to the convention, having previously reposted the tributes on his personal Instagram account. While Akihito admitted feeling nervous ahead of the introduction, the director welcomed him warmly as soon as he recognized the internet creator.
