A cuddly clan of Japanese mascots set a Guinness Record for synchronized mascot dancing, Rocket News reported. Of the 141 characters that participated, 134 continuously danced in unison for five minutes.
The mascots, known as yuru-kyara, earned success on their third attempt, when less than 5 percent of them fell out of sync, according to Kyodo News. The dance, performed to “The Beard Dance” by Japanese comedy-rock band The Drifters, can’t compete with Gangnam Style, but it scores high on the adorableness meter.
Yuru-kyara, meaning “loose characters,” maintain plush popularity in Japan, where local governments, companies, and campaigns use the mascots for brand promotion. The country boasts an estimated 1,000 yuru-kyara. Characters represent entities ranging from the Liberal Democratic Party to tax collectors to general causes like recycling.
For the past three years, Japan has hosted a Yuru-Kyara Grand Prix, to crown the country’s most popular fluffy friend. The 2012 event featured over 800 mascots.
But until now, they’ve never danced as one.
In the video above, it’s easy to see how excited the new record makes its participants. When record officials deem the stunt a success, a celebration breaks out — complete with hugs, high fives, and playing “We Are The Champions.” We can appreciate a cuteness overload when we see one. Domo arigato, Japan.
