Mario Bros. and Pikmin Seen at Kyoto University’s Graduation Ceremony; 10% of Seniors Dressed in Costume for ‘Tradition’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:43 JST, March 27, 2024

Some Kyoto University seniors dressed up as famous animation characters, such as the Super Mario Bros., during their graduation ceremony on Tuesday. They listened to a speech by Nagahiro Minato, the university’s president, who encouraged the students, saying, “I hope you will spread your wings freely, brightly and vigorously [toward the future].”

A total of 2,787 students from 10 faculties graduated the university on the day. Dressing up as characters is a “tradition” among the university’s seniors.

These seniors entered the university in spring 2020, during the early spread of COVID-19. Minato said, “I think you must have felt lonely and anxious in a situation where the future was so uncertain. The fact that we are all able to gather here for your graduation is deeply moving.”

A 22-year-old female student who will continue her studies at the university’s graduate school from April said, “With renewed spirit, I want to do my best in my research to help children around the world.”

Students attended the ceremony in a solemn manner, with about 10% of them wearing costumes, including characters from the “Super Mario Bros.” and “Pikmin” video games and a dinosaur over 2 meters tall.