Popeye Magazine, March 1972 'I want to be Superman"

The March 25, 1979 issue of Popeye magazine was themed around the idea of “I Want to Be Superman,” using that phrase as a playful metaphor for self-improvement, aspiration and the fantasy of becoming a cooler, stronger, more stylish version of oneself. At this point in the late 1970s, Popeye was defining what it meant to be a “city boy” in Japan, and this issue leaned into the idea of transformation — through fashion, attitude and lifestyle.

The magazine encouraged young men to imagine elevating themselves through the things they wore and the cultural references they absorbed, particularly those coming from the United States. Throughout the issue, Popeye used American pop culture, athleticism and superhero imagery as inspiration for how readers could adopt a more confident, modern, globally-influenced look. Even without a detailed table of contents available, the overall theme suggests a mix of aspirational style guides, fashionable sportswear, and lifestyle content framed around becoming a better, sharper version of oneself.

In essence, the March 1979 issue captures a moment when Japanese youth culture was moving from political or countercultural “Westernization” to a more aesthetic, lifestyle-driven embrace of American style — and Popeye positioned that shift as something fun, optimistic and transformative for its readers.