From beer bottles to Pokémon and short-skirted anime girls, these Japanese students know how to celebrate their last day at university.
Over the years, students at Japanese universities have been delighting us with their amazing cosplay graduation ceremonies, where students show off their impressive handmade costumes and giant salmon heads have been known to cause a commotion.
One educational institution that often makes national headlines at this time of year is Kyoto University, one of the most prestigious and serious places to study in the country – except on graduation day, that is, when the graduating class has the option to go a little crazy, dressing up in all sorts of creative outfits to mark the special occasion.
▼ These students kicked off this year’s festivities with an entertaining pencil battle on the grounds of campus.
コスプレの祭典【京大卒業式2017】未公開動画をどうぞ!
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 25, 2017
何が出る?? 動くバトル鉛筆 pic.twitter.com/nW1Wi3l9Us
Cardboard props and costumes were popular with those wanting to add a bit of cosplay fun to their more sensible suits on the day.
▼ As seen on this young gentlemen, who stepped into the photo frame of his Kyoto University Student Card.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
京大学生証
これを額に貼って河原町に繰り出す京大男子は数しれず pic.twitter.com/I8ERtKLSXl
▼ And these two, who accessorised their suits with their PokéStops.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
もはや懐かしさを感じさせるポケストップ pic.twitter.com/ta4YpFoyhs
A number of Pokémon fans on campus saw the day as a chance to step into Exeggutor’s striking long-necked Alola form.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
留年生 1限は出ないが卒業式には出席 pic.twitter.com/rWSrYykIwN
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 23, 2017
ナッシー(アローラのすがた)
単位落としてる、 pic.twitter.com/w9a7rijSXD
▼ Shin Godzilla also made an appearance, in bubble-head form.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
シンゴジラ第二形態 pic.twitter.com/TYLRQmF0Cm
This young man paid homage to the food that sustained him throughout his student years by dressing up as a gyūdon beef bowl from Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya, which gave away free bowls on designated “Super Friday” dates as part of a tie-up campaign with Softbank last year.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
吉野家 スーパーフライデー pic.twitter.com/ETmacpqX1e
▼ Meanwhile, this student found a unique way to say “I worry about myself” to everyone.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
自分探しの旅 pic.twitter.com/1EjWGEODPM
Other students chose to cosplay together in groups, like these boys who showed off their love of beer as the “Bottled Beer Army Corps“.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
瓶ビール軍団
お酒はほどほどに pic.twitter.com/Yk8hjUucfQ
▼ And this group, who got together to create a set of smartphone apps.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
アプリ削除するところ pic.twitter.com/V6ZIFCBpcq
▼ Low-cost cosplay even got a look-in, with some yellow box-head characters.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
黄色のあいつら pic.twitter.com/ponnE8ZLUN
Others used the day to take to the political stage in an impromptu sidewalk Japan-US-ROK summit.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
日米韓首脳会談 pic.twitter.com/T1aYduqHwy
While others went all-out with their costumes, dressing up as characters from Star Wars…
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
STARWARS pic.twitter.com/cz9G0Te8KH
▼ Love Live Sunshine…
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
ラブライブサンシャイン
今朝完成しました pic.twitter.com/wWacP7qIbg
And mechanical drummer Kuidaore Taro, one of the most famous symbols of the Osaka region.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
大阪名物 食いだおれ pic.twitter.com/COykk8w4ko
If there was an award for stand-out costume of the day, it would’ve gone to this guy, who stood out everywhere with his Hunter x Hunter Gon cosplay.
【京大卒業式 速報】
— 京大発オンラインメディア「360°」 (@kyodai360) March 24, 2017
ゴンさんと琵琶湖 pic.twitter.com/kqMlVAfSmx
▼ His statuesque hair even made it inside the auditorium for the official ceremony!
Whether in suit or costume, the sense of freedom and creative energy at Kyoto University’s graduation ceremony is something we all love seeing at the end of the school year in Japan. Let’s hope the revered cosplay tradition on campus remains as strong as ever next year too!
Source: Kai You
Featured image: Twitter/@kyodai360
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