This summer, Takanori Nishikawa of T.M.Revolution appeared on THE FIRST TAKE in his signature strappy outfit to perform his classic hit "HOT LIMIT." The appearance put the 28-year-old song back in the spotlight and sparked another major surge in Nishikawa’s popularity.
Then, at the recently held Seven Universities Athletic Meet, a college table tennis player showed up to compete wearing Nishikawa’s iconic "HOT LIMIT" tape outfit. Once the organizers shared a photo on X, it immediately grabbed attention, with plenty of users cracking up at the idea of someone wearing it to an actual sporting event.
First, a quick introduction to the Seven Universities Athletic Meet. The competition brings together Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, The University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, The University of Osaka, and Kyushu University. Now in its 65th edition, it is a long-running athletic exchange among the seven schools.
The seven universities recently faced off in the men’s table tennis tournament, but the results were not what stole the show. That honor went to a player who competed in the "HOT LIMIT" tape outfit. The official account even posted an action shot that appeared to capture him diving to keep the ball in play, instantly turning him into the meet’s biggest talking point.
We only get a view from behind, but there is no mistaking that legendary tape outfit. The recreation is surprisingly accurate, too—someone clearly put real effort into figuring out exactly where every strip needed to go.
So Takanori Nishikawa was competing too? You learn something new every day.
One user joked, "This guy is what happens when summer gets a little too stimulating."
Definitely another case of testing positive for summer heat.
Others joked that wearing this outfit was basically psychological warfare against his opponents. Call it a strategy built around maximum visual impact.
The "HOT LIMIT" outfit was not the only cosplay in the post. Another student competed in a wig while dressed as Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira from "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba."
If you were wondering which school was behind all this, the Kyushu University Table Tennis Club stepped forward to claim responsibility. According to the club, competing in cosplay has become something of a tradition at the meet. It also invited prospective students to look forward to their own chance to suit up and compete at a future Seven Universities Athletic Meet.
One user familiar with the tradition noted that anyone unfamiliar with the meet would probably be baffled by its cosplay custom—and now the secret is out.
An alumnus added that the tradition was already around nearly 20 years ago. Back then, they competed as Ash Ketchum and Pikachu from "Pokémon" and even took first place, though the event drew a much smaller crowd at the time.
Japanese university culture never disappoints. Even a serious intercollegiate sports competition can develop traditions this distinctive, adding a very different kind of fun to the rivalry between schools.