Japan’s PM showed up at the Olympics as Mario and it was amazing

The US may have won the most medals at this year’s Olympics, but Japan gets the trophy for best stage trick ever.

At the handover during the closing ceremony today, where the current host nation makes way for the next city to host the upcoming Olympics, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed up as Super Mario.

The usually quiet Prime Minister emerged from a green warp pipe that’s commonly seen in Mario games – as well as in the animated presentation that tied into his appearance, shown on the screens in the stadium. Skip to 3:36 to check it out.

If the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are as fun as Abe’s cameo, we’re in for a real treat four years from now.