Japanese woman dressed as a maid turned rock star stuns world air guitar championships in Finland 

Air guitar enthusiasts from across the globe gathered in the Finnish city of Oulu on Friday to shred and strum their imaginary instruments in pursuit of the world championship of the bizarre dance form.

Under grey, wet skies, this year’s 15 finalists appeared on the open air stage on Oulu’s central Rotuaari square, twanging, jangling, riffing, screeching and plucking the air in front of an audience of thousands.

The competitors, also known as ‘airheads’, perform under the mantra of ‘make air not war’ and are judged by their choreography, the accuracy of their performance and the ‘airness’ of the competitor.

But it was Japanese woman Nanami ‘Seven Seas’ Nagura, who took out this year’s title in the contest’s 23rd edition. 

Nanami ‘Seven Seas’ Nagura (pictured) travelled from Tokyo Japan to perform at the Air Guitar World Championships final in Oulu, Finland, where air guitar enthusiasts from across the globe gathered  to shred and strum their imaginary instruments

Nagura, who performed under the artist name Seven Seas, took out this year's title in the contest's 23rd edition. She started her performance dressed as a modest cleaning lady

Nagura, who performed under the artist name Seven Seas, took out this year's title in the contest's 23rd edition. She started her performance dressed as a modest cleaning lady

Nagura, who performed under the artist name Seven Seas, took out this year’s title in the contest’s 23rd edition. She started her performance dressed as a modest cleaning lady

The Japanese air enthusiast unexpectedly transformed into a heavy metal guitarist and wowed the crowd as her song kicked in during the second round of the eclectic competition 

The Japanese air enthusiast unexpectedly transformed into a heavy metal guitarist and wowed the crowd as her song kicked in during the second round of the eclectic competition 

Nagura started her performance dressed as a modest cleaning lady before unexpectedly transforming into a heavy metal guitarist and wowing the crowd as her song kicked in. 

Her prize was a hand-carved electric guitar called the Flying Finn.

‘I’m really, really happy, I can not believe it now!’ she said after the contest.

Nagura was one of the seven performers who had entered the final through qualifiers in other parts of the world. 

‘I believe it’s their desire to perform and to vent their artistic visions … The Japanese take this quite seriously, training to their heart’s content. It’s a combination of drive to compete and artistic delivery,’ assistant producer Anssi Ikonen said.  

Air Guitar World Championship host, Justin 'Nordic Thunder' Howard (above), rocks the stage during the final. The judges evaluate contestants in three categories; choreography, the accuracy of their performance and the 'Airness' of the competitor

Air Guitar World Championship host, Justin ‘Nordic Thunder’ Howard (pictured), rocks the stage during the final. The judges evaluate contestants in three categories; choreography, the accuracy of their performance and ‘Airness’ of the competitor

Sven 'Sven Spandex' Smith from the United Kingdom makes an impressive mid-air performance. 'It's a combination of drive to compete and artistic delivery,' assistant producer Anssi Ikonen said

Sven ‘Sven Spandex’ Smith from the United Kingdom makes an impressive mid-air performance. ‘It’s a combination of drive to compete and artistic delivery,’ assistant producer Anssi Ikonen said

Colourful performances: U.S. performer Rachel Sinclair, otherwise known by her stage name of Agnes Young, took to the stage in a colourful costume, complete with glasses

Colourful performances: U.S. performer Rachel Sinclair, otherwise known by her stage name of Agnes Young, took to the stage in a colourful costume, complete with glasses

Canadian air guitarist Dana Schiemann, alias Dana-saurus Rex, took out third place. Each contestant plays a song of their choice for one minute, followed by a song of the organiser's choice. This year the song was Hellacopters – Hopeless case of a kid in denial

Canadian air guitarist Dana Schiemann, alias Dana-saurus Rex, took out third place. Each contestant plays a song of their choice for one minute, followed by a song of the organiser’s choice. This year the song was Hellacopters – Hopeless case of a kid in denial

Alex 'The Jinja Assassin' Roberts flew all the way from Perth in Australia to perform on stage

Alex ‘The Jinja Assassin’ Roberts flew all the way from Perth in Australia to perform on stage

Slater 'Whiskey Pockets' Mark of Canada (left) and U.S. performer Rachel 'Agnes Young' Sinclair (right) bring out their best moves during the Dark Horses qualifying round

Slater 'Whiskey Pockets' Mark of Canada (left) and U.S. performer Rachel 'Agnes Young' Sinclair (right) bring out their best moves during the Dark Horses qualifying round

Slater ‘Whiskey Pockets’ Mark of Canada (left) and U.S. performer Rachel ‘Agnes Young’ Sinclair (right) bring out their best moves during the Dark Horses qualifying round

The other eight finalists qualified through a ‘dark horse’ round that took place in the host city the night before.

The second spot was taken by Matt ‘The Airistotle’ Burns and Dana ‘Dana-Saurus Rex’ Schiemann made it to the third spot, both from the U.S.A. 

This year’s oldest participant Bob Wagner, known as ‘Mr. Bob’, travelled from Canada to celebrate his 75th birthday on stage at the dark horse contest. 

The judges evaluate contestants in three categories; choreography, the accuracy of their performance and ‘Airness’ of the competitor.  

Patrick 'Ehrwolf' Culek of Germany performs in a white sequin one-piece, complete with a silver cowboy hat. The competitors, also known as 'airheads', perform under the mantra of 'make air not war'

Patrick ‘Ehrwolf’ Culek of Germany performs in a white sequin one-piece, complete with a silver cowboy hat. The competitors, also known as ‘airheads’, perform under the mantra of ‘make air not war’

The second spot was taken by Matt 'The Airistotle' Burns (pictured) who impressed the crowd with his realistic mid-air miming. Burns won the Air Guitar World Champion in 2017

The second spot was taken by Matt ‘The Airistotle’ Burns (pictured) who impressed the crowd with his realistic mid-air miming. Burns won the Air Guitar World Champion in 2017

Rachel  'Stabitha Christie' Mayers-Hawk of the USA

Anderson 'Spudboy' Richard, from the USA

Rachel ‘Stabitha Christie’ Mayers-Hawk (left) and Anderson ‘Spudboy’ Richard were both performers from the USA

Andrew 'Flying Finn' Finn in action on stage. The Air Guitar World Championships is a 'celebration of love and peace - the culmination of the world-wide season of air guitar and gathers only the best to the battle on the Rotuaari stage', the organisers said

Andrew ‘Flying Finn’ Finn in action on stage. The Air Guitar World Championships is a ‘celebration of love and peace – the culmination of the world-wide season of air guitar and gathers only the best to the battle on the Rotuaari stage’, the organisers said

All in all, 15 skilled and fierce finalists climbed to the stage on the World Finals. 

Each contestant played a song of their choice for one minute, followed by a song of the organiser’s choice, which remained a secret until the beginning of the World Final. This year the song was Hellacopters – Hopeless case of a kid in denial.

The Air Guitar World Championships Final is a celebration of love and peace – the culmination of the world-wide season of air guitar and gathers only the best to the battle on the Rotuaari stage, the event description reads. 

The Air Guitar World Championship is held every August in Oulu. Air guitarists from all over the world come to Finland to compete. 

Reau 'French Kiss' Frederic of France gave a solid performance during the Dark Horses qualifying round but was unsuccessful in making it to the final

Reau ‘French Kiss’ Frederic of France gave a solid performance during the Dark Horses qualifying round but was unsuccessful in making it to the final

The Australian Jinja Assassin

Kate Rose alias KitKat of USA

The Australian Jinja Assassin (left) and Kate ‘KitKat’ Rose (right) light up the stage – part of 15 skilled and fierce finalists to compete in the World Finals

Matt The Airistotle Burn  performs duirng the second round the final. 'I believe it's their desire to perform and to vent their artistic visions ... It's a combination of drive to compete and artistic delivery,' assistant producer Anssi Ikonen explained

Matt The Airistotle Burn performs duirng the second round the final. ‘I believe it’s their desire to perform and to vent their artistic visions … It’s a combination of drive to compete and artistic delivery,’ assistant producer Anssi Ikonen explained

Lyrae 'Lily Rocknroll' Freriechs from Australia performs in a leopard leotard with knee pads strapped to her legs. Protective body padding is a popular choice for contestants who risk more dangerous moves on stage

Lyrae ‘Lily Rocknroll’ Freriechs from Australia performs in a leopard leotard with knee pads strapped to her legs. Protective body padding is a popular choice for contestants who risk more dangerous moves on stage

Nagura finishes her winning performance at The Air Guitar World Championship. Air guitarists from all over the world come to Finland to compete every August in Oulu

Nagura finishes her winning performance at The Air Guitar World Championship. Air guitarists from all over the world come to Finland to compete every August in Oulu

Sven Smith

Brittany 'Georgia Lunch' Diaz

Sven Smith (left) and Brittany ‘Georgia Lunch’ Diaz (right) performed despite the grey, wet skies over Rotuaari square, twanging, jangling, riffing, screeching and plucking the air in front of an audience of thousands

This year's oldest participant Bob Wagner, (pictured) known as 'Mr. Bob', travelled from Canada to celebrate his 75th birthday on stage at the dark horse contest

This year’s oldest participant Bob Wagner, (pictured) known as ‘Mr. Bob’, travelled from Canada to celebrate his 75th birthday on stage at the dark horse contest

Nagura (centre) happily accepts her win as Air Guitar War Champion in this year's 23rd edition of the contest. She was presented with a hand-carved electric guitar called the Flying Finn. 'I'm really, really happy, I can not believe it now!' she said 

Nagura (centre) happily accepts her win as Air Guitar War Champion in this year’s 23rd edition of the contest. She was presented with a hand-carved electric guitar called the Flying Finn. ‘I’m really, really happy, I can not believe it now!’ she said 

German Patrick 'Ehrwolf' Culek

Nordic Thunder (above) began his professional air guitar career in 2006. He has suffered two air guitar related surgeries, won the U.S. title in 2011 and the Air Guitar World Championship in 2012

Nordic Thunder (left) began his professional air guitar career in 2006. He has suffered two air guitar related surgeries, won the U.S. title in 2011 and the Air Guitar World Championship in 2012

The Air Guitar World Championships Final is a celebration of love and peace - the culmination of the world-wide season of air guitar and gathers only the best to the battle on the Rotuaari stage, the Air Guitar World Championship event description reads

The Air Guitar World Championships Final is a celebration of love and peace – the culmination of the world-wide season of air guitar and gathers only the best to the battle on the Rotuaari stage, the Air Guitar World Championship event description reads

 

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