Largest Japanese fan dance

Burbank, California, USA – September 27, 2017 – John Muir Middle School set the world record for the largest Japanese fan dance — with 1,392 students and faculty participating — to conclude its fifth annual Japan Day festivities.

Photo: Students, staff and teen-aged visitors from Japan broke the Japanese Fan Dance World Record at John Muir Middle School on Thursday, September 21, as part of the school’s annual Japan Day cultural appreciation celebration.

The Guinness World Records world record for the largest maypole dance consists of 326 participants, and was achieved by Lancaster Liederkranz (USA) in Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA on 9 May 2015.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest samba dance; it consists of 525 dancers and was achieved by Tesco Lotus (Thailand) in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15 June 2014.

In the center of the campus’ field were multiple taiko drums and a traditional yagura tower. On the blacktop were tables showcasing a plethora of Japanese fans and 1,500 hachimaki — headbands — made by Muir students, Los Angeles Times reports.

Prior to the event, the fan dancers rehearsed the choreography for two weeks.

They practiced every day for 15 minutes during their physical education classes, said Greg Miller, the school’s principal.

For five minutes and 55 seconds, 50 independent stewards watched the dancers, making sure everyone moved in unison and kept dancing the entire time.