Former Japanese PM Had to Be Talked Into Being Mario at Olympics

Danica Davidson October 23, 2020

The former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently talked about his experience dressing up as Mario from the Super Mario Bros. for the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“To be honest, when [Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee head Yoshiro] Mori first came to me with the idea [of appearing at the closing ceremony dressed as Super Mario], I didn’t like it [laughs],” Abe said in a translation supplied by SoraNews24. ‘Is it really OK for a prime minister to dress up like Mario?’ I asked.”

But Yoshiro Mori convinced Abe it was a good idea by saying, “You’re the only one who can do this, since you’ve been serving as prime minister so long and are recognized internationally.”

In the end, it all worked out. “But the plan was well made and well done,” Abe continued. “When I appeared in the stadium, the applause was tremendous, and after that at international conferences world leaders would tell me ‘I saw you dressed as Mario!’”

You can see the scene in question starting at about 1 hour and 51 minutes into the closing ceremony:

Source: SoraNews24

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, and its sequel, Manga Art for Intermediates, with professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.