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Kyoto University Permits Students To Put On Anything They Want For Graduation, And Here Are 35 Of The Most Brilliant Costume Ideas
Interview
A graduation ceremony at a university is one of the most memorable days in the life of anyone who has ever been a student. We think we will not be mistaken if you also remember your own ceremony - solemn speeches, joy that the years of study are already behind, sadness from the upcoming parting with classmates, strict elegant suits and dresses...
Wait, wait... are we sure we're talking about a graduation ceremony? It strongly depends on the college. For example, at the University of Kyoto, one of the largest in Japan, the second oldest after the University of Tokyo, there is a long tradition that annually gathers not only relatives of students, but also hundreds of photographers and journalists for the graduation ceremony.
There is a good reason for this - the University of Kyoto, in conjunction with the Kyoto City University of the Arts, officially allows its students to wear whatever outfit they want to their graduation. Pikachu or Darth Vader? You're welcome! Power Rangers or a couple of funny zombies? With great pleasure! Samurai, Mona Lisa, or even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? We just said - anyone or anything!
Bored Panda has collected for you a selection of the best, most creative, ridiculous and funny outfits from Kyoto University graduation ceremonies over the years, so please feel free to scroll back to the end of this list, mark your favorite submissions and if you are still a university student, try suggesting the same tradition in your college. Who knows, maybe you too will go down in history?
More info: University of Kyoto
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
Ephemeral Mochi 3 years ago
That's an animal crossing character but HOLY C**P YOU KNOW THAT TOO??? I LOVE CHI!
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Shadow S 3 years ago
Yeah, you meet him on the train in the original GC or 64 version.
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Usually students in Japan wear suits, dresses, or traditional women's hakama kimonos for their graduation ceremony, but Kyoto University has gone its own way, and this path cannot but be admired. After all, universities have always, since ancient times, been centers of creative thinking - so why not give graduates the opportunity to express themselves after graduation?
#4
Amused panda 3 years ago
Looks like Olaf is mid-song. Maybe she's had enough listening 'Let it Go'.
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Sar ska 3 years ago (edited)
Olaf graduated!! Congratulations!! You finally have all the answers, know everything, and absolutely everything makes sense!
Tracy Wallick 3 years ago
God I love kimonos, they're so pretty! (Is 2nd girl on the left dressed as Mulan??)
Lauren Rainey 3 years ago
She unlike these people I don’t have tons of money to throw into cosplay
#5
#6
Kristina 3 years ago (edited)
literally. and I didn't think it was possible
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"The university has a long tradition of being kind of anti-authoritarian. So I'm guessing the roots go back quite a long time, though the university officially doesn't condone it," says David Hajime Kornhauser, director on global communications of Kyoto University, with whom Bored Panda got in touch. "I didn't wear a gown at my graduation in America. So for me, it's a rather natural thing, actually. And in other words, it's kind of a personal preference, do people want to be sort of traditional or are they just doing something to express themselves in some other way or not?"
"It seems that for a long time, students at this university have chosen to just be whatever they want to be. But it's actually not a large number of people. I mean, it's mainly, I would say, it isn't even 10%. And they stand out because they try to sit up front. So it looks like there's a lot of people doing it, but actually, I think, it's probably only just the people right at the front, and then the vast majority of the graduates are more or less traditional," says David.
#7
Anon Ymous 3 years ago
My sleep paralysis demon waiting for me to notice them at the end of my bed lol
#8
David 3 years ago
They do look weird but that is how the character's eyes are drawn
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RoanTheMad 3 years ago
thats... quite an amusing and clever pun. I mean, it might seem obvious but even better when you consider the Japanese tend to pronounce "L" as "R" xP
Kise Miarse 3 years ago
I didn't get it until I read your comment. Thank you lol.
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Headless Roach 3 years ago
Found him! Jesus, it took me 13 bloody years. Those drawings are a mess.
David 3 years ago
TFW you do a great job on the cosplay but you don't know the name of the character you are cosplaying.
DrBronxx 3 years ago
TFW when you comment on a post but don't realise that the original name of the character is Wally, and was changed to Waldo for North American audiences.
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"Since the school does have a strong anti-authoritarian tradition, which manifests itself in many other ways, there are other areas where the university is kind of known as being anti-authoritarian. Every year around this time of the year, in November, there's a big festival, and a group of students try to climb up the building, and the university hates that, tries to prevent that from happening."
"But this is nothing compared to the '70s, when the students occupied the building, and there were riot police and water cannons, just huge turmoil and fires burning and all sorts of things like that. There were students all along the top of the roof there, with hard hats on and in riot shields. So you know, if you go back into the past 50 years, you'll find that things were much more, well, colorful than they are now," David reminisces.
#10
Dodomaster Lord of chickens 3 years ago
I see you're a fellow toy story fan
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Hell’s Angle’s 3 years ago
Yeah that's Black Sabbath, pillow stand from jojo's bizarre adventure, part 5, vente aureo
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Cora Deverick 3 years ago
So you know this is the Black Sabbath stand from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure of your were confused
#11
Amused panda 3 years ago
They've brought a spare head! But...I really want to see those hands try to accept the paperwork.
#12
Sam 3 years ago
More specifically a traditional kimono. There's no graduation kimono per say, but it's one of the formal moments where you'd wear one. Fun fact, the style of kimono these men are wearing is actually a wedding kimono. The biggest tell is the white ball they're wearing. Maybe these men got married, or are hoping to be grooms soon :) https://www.kaedenyc.com/mens-kimono/ https://www.fun-japan.jp/en/articles/11429
Load More Replies... Tracy Wallick 3 years ago
Honestly, I like traditional attire the best; these guys look so handsome!
"There are some rather interesting novels written about the university. And some of these had been made into popular animated series and also movies about the culture of the student environment. So it's more kind of an oral tradition sort of thing, that some students somehow sort of mysteriously appear in costume or that they mysteriously decorate the statue of a former president, which is another sort of traditional thing that happens. And that all of these things are not condoned. All of these things are not looked well upon by the authorities. But then, that's part of the tradition of the school," says David Hajime Kornhauser.
#13
Ahimsa Soul 3 years ago
It seems he has laurel on his head rather than thorns. If so, he could be a Roman senator or an olympian.
Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano 3 years ago
Very true, nice catch! I never would've noticed.
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Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Yes! Maybe something like, "old games, new games, they are all conquerable," or something like that???
Load More Replies... #14
glowworm2 3 years ago
I have no idea what that thing is, but I will be seeing it in my nightmares tonight.
RoanTheMad 3 years ago
I think it's supposed to be Sento-Kun, mascot of the city of Nara, which is famous for its deer. (and also not far from Kyoto, so student may be from Nara, idk) sentokun-6...a97690.jpg 
Anon Ymous 3 years ago
This is the sleep paralysis demon that fills in when the green guy has a day off hahaha
#15
Steve Robert 3 years ago
After over 50 years, I still remember my UCLA student ID number. On the other hand, I can't remember my daughter's cellphone number.
talieb 3 years ago
Our university used our social security numbers (early 90s) :(
Load More Replies... "The costume tradition definitely goes back to the early '70s, when there were a lot of student protests going on just in general. I mean, all over the world, essentially. Partly Vietnam War inspired, partly also in the case of Japan. There was a renegotiation going on in the United States about the mutual defense treaty. And it was very popular among students to be protesting against that. So it's just a combination of things, sort of just this feeling like everybody else is protesting with protest."
"I see the dressing up in the graduation as being maybe not watered down, but the current manifestation of that sort of spirit of being against the authority," David supposes.
#16
kitten levels tokyo 3 years ago
The tall guy looks like someone told him, “We recalculated your grade and you’re not graduating after all.”
Hannu Ala-Olla 3 years ago
"I mean we *said* you can dress any way you want, but because of that you're not graduating"
Load More Replies... Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Ok, someone from Japan: isnt the guy in the white makeup doing a (pretty great) impression of a character from Noh theatre? And I am guessing he is a traveller, because of the staff and the drinking gourd and the wide - eyed expression?
Klugscheißer 3 years ago
I think he looks like he is a snake charmer from India or Lord Shiva, the God with a third eye.
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#18
kitten levels tokyo 3 years ago
I imagine that this has turned into a contest of who can have the most over the top costume.
Asphalt Bubblegum 3 years ago
I've had dates who were just about as authentic and engaging as her arm puppet.
"I am convinced that the opportunity given to students to express themselves, to demonstrate their individuality and fantasy to others, is not only a phenomenon of self-presentation of the graduate's personality, but contributes to the formation of a system for managing public attention, as well as promoting the university's unique brand on the educational services market as an educational institution that encourages manifestations of exclusivity, originality of thinking and creativity among students,” says Yanislava Goncharenko, CMO at the Odessa National Economic University, who was also asked by Bored Panda to comment on this tradition of her Japanese colleagues.
"Such a pedagogical approach is undoubtedly very successful, both in terms of educating students as bright and original personalities, and in terms of creating a non-standard image of the university, whose traditions the whole world knows about," says Yanislava Goncharenko.
#20
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Yesssss!!!!! And she looks delighted to be wearing the dress, and that just makes it all the more wonderful!!!
Load More Replies... Tabi Frost 3 years ago
Do not sit do not touch must stand still ..omg is thst a bee ..bzzt pop
#21
MarcyParlomerNerdGirlsRock 3 years ago
Cue the ‘dragging that totem pole around and down the stage stairs’ sound
Asphalt Bubblegum 3 years ago
I don't think she was trying to be offensive, but looking like a blonde Viking carring around a First Nations of the Pacific Northwest totem pole is perhaps a bit of a tone deaf combo.
Lianna Bolt 3 years ago
Unless she’s Native American/Canadian, this is more cultural appropriation.
33Possums 3 years ago
Do you know for sure what her ethnicity is? Don't assume things.
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"There's a huge cultural power to that. But at the same time, most of the people in the University working in administration, for example, this sort of conservative group that I'm talking about, don't know, they're not in tune with that. Most of the administrative employees were not graduates of the University. So they're not coming from this sort of tradition. They don't feel that way. Maybe they're missing out on one of the most powerful marketing tools as well," thinks David.
"They would see this as a problem of copyright as well. Because the manga, its main characters are spoofs on, you know, intellectual property, like a publishing company, animation company or something like that," David Hajime Kornhauser continues. "And so that's one of the reasons why they hesitate, because they're not getting approval from anybody. And so they're worried about, like a copyright claim from a publisher or from a TV studio or something like that. And they don't want to deal with that. So that's one of the reasons why they would hesitate."
#22
Justin Smith 3 years ago
Queen was huge over there. Even had a song called Teo Torriatte (let us cling together). Which had two choruses in pure japanese.
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#23
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Niiiicely executed!!!!! *applause* I dont know for sure what she is referencing, but I have seen some similar things in beautiful Japanese fine art paintings, and she has nailed it in 3D, which more than deserves to be acknowledged!!!
Brian Michael 3 years ago
The wanted poster is from a manga/anime One Piece. She is dressed up as a character Kikunojo so I wouldn't be surprised she put that poster up...but One Piece is extremely popular so I could be a great coincidence.
#24
Interestingly, in 2011, the university authorities tried to put an end to the tradition by officially warning future graduates that only classical or folk costumes would be allowed at the ceremony. The result was massive popular indignation - and not only in Kyoto, but throughout Japan, a sharp drop in interest in the university, and the next year everything was the same again. And even more inventive.
"The President and some of the other sort of top executives are usually our graduates themselves, they're usually kind of more in tune with the student feeling rather than the university administration. So the administration is much more conservative and much less interested in these sorts of anti-authoritarian kinds of things," explains David Hajime Kornhauser.
"Maybe a group of students or somebody went to some higher-ups and said it has to happen. So, I see, these things happen a lot, actually. It's fairly common," David states.
"Our own university is quite conservative in many respects. In terms of dress code at ceremonial events, including. Our graduates receive diplomas in traditional gowns. But it would be interesting to try the same idea - it can be an interesting and successful experiment that will help bring some originality in the image of a classical university with well-established centuries-old traditions, which has already been formed in the eyes of the public," claims Yanislava Goncharenko.
#25
Sam 3 years ago
Yes the two women on the left are wearing what I assume is Qing Dynasty hanfu, because of the hair pieces. The woman on the right is wearing a brightly coloured hanbok, a tradition Korean wear. Sorry you ignited one of my hyperfixations lol
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Sleepflower 3 years ago
I was fortunate to see Drowning Girl at the Tate Modern in London in 2013, that was rather special.
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Kyoto University was founded in 1897, but here they are not afraid to challenge the established classical trends. Such an approach fully justifies itself - after all, among the graduates of the university there are a lot of really creative people, for example, the 2019 Nobel laureate in chemistry Yoshino Akira (when you charge your smartphone li-ion battery - don't forget to thank him for the invention!) and the famous Japanese writer Takakura Teru. Of course, a fancy prom costume doesn't necessarily make you famous, but gosh, creativity should get its chance anyway!
#28
Lizzy Abbey (she/they) 3 years ago
b00bs mackenzie! (if you don't know its a quote from markiplier playing Yandere sim)
🦐 Shrimp Whisperer 🦐 3 years ago
I love you now. Always appreciate a good Markiplier reference
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#31
Return of Saturn 3 years ago
I almost just quoted a Marilyn Manson song 😐
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David 3 years ago
It's so sad when actors get typecast. Was a tree in kindergarten and folks still expect a tree in college.
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Is it a woody or a tinnious word??? https://montypython.fandom.com/wiki/Woody_and_Tinny_Words
#32
Amused panda 3 years ago
I hope people got out the way when this graduate ducked to get through the doorways.
James Doe 3 years ago
Could be a Prince Rupert's drop. If you havent heard of them, look them up. They are the reason your smartphone screen doesnt break easily. Is this really all the way down here because ppl think it might be something naughty?
#33
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#35
Marley Nachi 3 years ago
they're cosplaying the potato chips mascot (packets in their hands)
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#36
#37
Cookiemonster2008 3 years ago
https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/kyoto-university-graduation-outfits-6376263ab2afb__700.jpgive seen this somewhere before....
#40
Happy Blue Panda 3 years ago
The guy at the end there looks like Conan O'Brien with black hair
#41
Lakota Wolf 3 years ago
If it's a bodysuit like the Green Man, the fabric is woven in such a way that you can see through it, kind of like looking through a screen door/screen window.
Load More Replies... Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
Ooooh, is she a poem??? Or a saying??? A phrase or a statement???? I'm so curious!!!!!
#42
RoanTheMad 3 years ago
i thought that one guy next to the guys in white was naked. o.o (i think he's wearing like a jockstrap or something but geez)
#43
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
how do they carry their diplomas let alone go up and down the stairs with out losing balance?
#44
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
I love the mixture of personalities/temperaments in this group! It just goes to show that people dont have to be similar or rhe same to be friends!
#45
arcane_gamer (they/them) 3 years ago
idk what that is, but the girl on the right reminds me of Komaru Naegi
#47
#48
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
Hopefully the people behind them are next to have their name called imagine having to go up multiple times.
#49
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
A slice of life for Japanese University students. Thank you and Good Night.
#50
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
"Why are there so many, songs about rainbows, and what's on the other siiiiide..." and that Kabuki sign is marvellous!!! https://g.co/kgs/22WMZQ (Kermit singing "Rainbow Connection")
#52
Jennifer Potter 3 years ago
The poor girl does NOT look happy... I hope she's ok...
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#54
Angie Chiyoko ( She/they) 3 years ago
We all have that one friend who waits for the last day of school to go fully goth for no reason other than why not...... wait, we all do have that right? Not just me?
#56
Dillon Brown 3 years ago
I clicked the link to see what the censored but was but it was censored on the other end too! 😫
#58
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#60
Spirited7Wolf 3 years ago
Pokestops! It would be cool if they gave a small candy to anyone who came up to them and spun them! 😆
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