[custom_adv] What would you wear to graduation if you weren’t required to don that simple cap and gown? Well, for students at Kyoto University in Japan, the sky’s the limit. You see, the prestigious college encourages its graduates to have a little fun on graduation day by wearing costumes of their choice. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Imagine if you could show up to your graduation ceremony dressed up like a Pikachu or a Power Ranger, or perhaps as your favorite Star Wars character. At Kyoto University, it’s a reality, and the students get really creative when dressing up for their big day. You won’t find black graduation robes at most graduation ceremonies in Japan. Instead, graduating seniors tend to wear suits for men or a special kind of kimono called hakama for women. But at Kyoto University, you’ll discover a whole new dress code. [custom_adv] Located in Japan’s capital of culture, Kyoto University is the second oldest Japanese university and one of the top-ranked in all of Asia. But while Kyoto itself is known for its traditional aesthetic, Kyoto University students have one custom that goes against the grain: Cosplaying at their graduation ceremony. This trend began in the 80s and has its roots in students performing in costumes or drag at their commencement. Now, it has become a tradition at Kyoto University for graduating students to dress up as fun characters. And for 2019’s graduation ceremony, Kyoto University students took the trend to new heights of fun and chaos. [custom_adv] This trend began in the 80s and has its roots in students performing in costumes or drag at their commencement. Now, it has become a tradition at Kyoto University for graduating students to dress up as fun characters. And for 2019’s graduation ceremony, Kyoto University students took the trend to new heights of fun and chaos. The ritual was first set in stone by Tokyo University, after which Kyoto followed suit. Traditionally, Universities in Japan witness students don suits, dresses, or women's classic hakama kimonos. But the change in regime at Kyoto University allowed its students to express their identities while receiving their prized graduate degrees. [custom_adv] One of the hardest things and most stressful times in the lives of Japanese boys and girls is the time of university entrance exams. In Japan, the university where they study determines the rest of their lives. It will determine what job they can get, the salary they’ll earn, and sometimes even who they’ll marry. There’s a concept in Japanese called se ma kimon, which literally means “narrow gate”. The concept mostly refers to the low percentage of applicants who get accepted into the best universities in Japan. And when it comes to Kyoto University, the leading university in Japan and one of the top universities in Asia, the gate is very narrow indeed. [custom_adv] At the Bachelor’s degree graduation ceremony there’s no trace of the seriousness and hard work that characterize studying there. Kyoto University is famous for its entertaining and even wild graduation ceremonies! Generally speaking, the customary attire for a graduation ceremony in Japan is a suit for guys and a hakama kimono for the ladies. But there are also those who want to express their creative side at the graduation ceremony… Kyoto University is a Japanese national university that was founded in 1897. Originally known as Kyoto Imperial University, the institution received its current name in 1947. [custom_adv] In a recent year, around 23,000 students attended the university. Kyoto University has three campuses – the main Yoshida campus and the Uji and Katsura campuses – as well as facilities located in other areas of Japan, such as field stations for research. Tuition costs are the same for international and domestic students, and some university student housing is available. In all, 10 academic divisions at the university offer undergraduate degrees: integrated human studies, letters, education, law, economics, science, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, engineering and agriculture. Undergrads take courses in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as in more specialized areas. Kyoto University also has 18 graduate schools, including a school of Asian and African area studies as well as a school of management. The graduate schools offer master's, doctoral and professional degree programs. [custom_adv] The university’s academic calendar is semester-based, and the primary language of instruction is Japanese. However, some English-taught programs are available, mostly at the graduate level, including a program in international environmental management and an MBA program. The university’s Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture offers 15-week supplementary Japanese language classes for international students and researchers. Some of the research institutes at the university are the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute and the Primate Research Institute. [custom_adv] Kyoto University is the second oldest Japanese university, one of the highest ranked universities in Asia and one of Japan's National Seven Universities. One of Asia’s leading research-oriented institutions, Kyoto University is famed for producing world-class researchers, including eight Nobel Prize laureates, two Fields medalists and one Gauss Prize. Add your description here. [custom_adv]