Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Japan’s Prime Minister Appears as Mario in Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony

This article is over 8 years old and may contain outdated information

The 2020 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, and it looks like they already have a fitting mascot…

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games are over, and at the very end of the closing ceremony, the host country for the 2020 games was introduced: Japan. In a nod to one of the nation’s most beloved cultural ambassadors, Mario himself helped out. In a CGI video, Mario jumps into a warp pipe in Tokyo. Then, at a corresponding pipe in Rio, he jumps back out. Only it’s actually Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe dressed up as Mario.

Mario was joined by Pac-Man and famous anime figures as well in the short ceremony that followed. You can check the video out to the right. Here’s a mirror if NBC is blocked in your country.

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author