In the Reiwa Era, Immediate Reporting? The Suspicious-Looking Man Selling "Magic Cards" to Children in "Chibi Maruko-chan"

For adults of a certain age, it's a nostalgic depiction, but for children of the Reiwa era, it might be a shocker. In episode 29 of the first season of the anime "Chibi Maruko-chan," Maruko (voiced by TARAKO) and her older sister (voiced by Yuko Mizutani) encounter a 'suspicious man doing business with children on the way to school.'

In the episode titled "The Volume of 'The Old Man's Magic Card,'" Maruko and her older sister run into a man surrounded by children on their way home from school.

The man seems to be selling 'magic cards.' When he chants a mysterious spell, "Ajara~ Ajara~ Chichin Pui Pui," cards with pictures of girls suddenly transform into cards with pictures of boys! When the man claims, "Normally, these cost 10,000 yen, but just for today, I'll sell them for 80 yen," the children get excited, thinking, "That’s a steal!" and "Give me one!"