Japan's Namani 'Seven Seas' Nagura wins Air Guitar Championship for third time, WATCH her performance

Namani "Seven Seas" Nagura has won the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland.

This is Nagura's third air guitar title.

The Japanese performer is now the most decorated air guitar player in the 28 years the competition has been held, organizers said.

お待たせしました。
これが審査員得点フルマークを獲得した世界チャンピオンのプレイだ！音量を上げ良いスピーカーで聞くとエアネス感じられます。会場声援も凄かったです。
撮影: @SolailoOulu@__SevenSeaspic.twitter.com/jED0Fl3IBk

— Ken unofficial (@Koma_Honkanen) August 26, 2023

Second place went to Appo "the Angus" Rautio from Finland. The host nation's competitor won the event the first five consecutive years it was held, but Finland has never been able to claim the top spot since.

Last year's winner Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrants, now representing France but formerly a winner as a Russian competitor in 2015 as well, finished third.

A total of 18 people competed in the 2023 championship in Oulu.

What are the Air Guitar Championships?

Air guitar refers to simulating the playing of a guitar without holding an instrument. Competitors perform to music at the competition.

The championship has been held each year since 1996 — with the exception of 2020 when COVID stopped the event — and was founded in the central Finnish city of Oulu.

"Air guitar playing is not instrumental sports or arts, nor does it require any special venues or skills, so it is accessible to all," organizers said in a statement. "Air guitar can be grasped regardless of gender, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation and social status."

The organization said that it aimed to "promote world peace" through air guitar.

The Air Guitar Championships are part of the broader Oulu August Festivals, which includes a number of cultural events.

(Photo: Twitter/Air Guitar Japan)