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| IUJ’s World Record Attempt on the 25th Anniversary – A Smashing Success! |
Public Relations
May. 15, 2007 |
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| We did it!! A successful world record challenge. |
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It is up to the Guinness judges now. But the currently standing world record, 38 nationalities at one time in a Sauna, set in October 2004 in Kobe, is definitely at risk.
IUJ students came together in one big family of 50 nationalities to share some sweat and laughter in a Sauna for over 5 minutes to give IUJ a great chance at setting a new Guinness World Record™.
It started at 6am Monday morning, May 14 – IUJ's 25th Anniversary date. Wake up calls to all participants and the support staff rang throughout the dorms. By 6:45 a country roll call started and students were on the bus for Nagaoka and Yuraiya, the host of the Sauna challenge.
Joyful students were met by several TV cameras and reporters as they got off the bus and made their way into the Yuraiya facilities. After changing into their Sauna wear and ensuring their towels were securely wrapped, the 12 women and 38 men – all from different countries – made their way to the outside garden adjacent to the Stadium Sauna that would be their challenge arena.
The Mayor of Minami Uonuma city, Mr. Ichiro Iguchi, and the city’s Promotional Bureau Chief, Mr. Shigeru Tsuchida were both on hand to serve as official witnesses. Two nurses from the YukiGuni hospital, Ms. Takahashi and Mr. Sato, were also on hand . . . just in case. After being introduced to large cheers from the students, each witness was handed a clipboard of names in alphabetical order by country. The witnesses verified passports and watched each Sauna challenger sign in.
The stage was thus set for the big challenge. Country by country from Argentina to Zambia, the students passed by the IUJ official cameraman for the event, Kaushank Khandawala (India) stating their nationality and name. After handing their passport to Erika Shinoda (8 years old) for safe keeping, they took their place in the Sauna chamber.
The IUJ staff member announced that all 50 nation representatives were in the Sauna, wished the group “Good Luck” and shut the door. The stop watches were started and the excitement grew.
Each minute was counted off with a loud blast from Erika’s whistle. As the 5 minutes crept by, the sounds from inside the Sauna grew more and more joyous. The students were telling jokes, enjoying the TV and newspaper cameras, and posing for colorful group “family photos” by IUJ's own Allan Cledera (Philippines).
The sweat began to trickle down, the cheers grew louder, and the 5 minutes quickly approached. A loud countdown from both inside and outside the Sauna began and ended in cheers of victory – but the students were not ready to come out. Having a wonderful time, they stayed inside the Sauna for 6 minutes and 40 seconds!
Finally, they emerged, one by one, and again spoke their nationality and name into the camera to verify each of the 50 nationalities were in that Sauna. "It was soooo hot!" "Great fun!" "Samukatta desu ne! (how cold that was!)" and other enthusiastic and funny comments, made it onto the 5 TV station cameras that were rolling the entire time.
Gathering in the very welcomed cool outside air, the students posed for more“family photos” this time including their support team, witnesses, nurses, and the staff of Yuraiya, the Sauna host. The TV and newspaper reporters conducted many interviews making the students felt like stars and heroes! But mostly, they felt like a family of friends that shared "a real sense of accomplishment," as summarized by "Sauna Challenge" student leader Jay Wong (Singapore).
Knowing that class started in just 1.5 hours, students quickly showered off, and got back on the bus. As they boarded, a Cameraman congratulated Ahmed El Kotb (Egypt) asking him how he would celebrate – “Well, class starts in an hour, and tomorrow we have a mid-term exam, so . . .”
But for a few hours, the IUJ serious graduate students showed their school spirit as they represented their homelands well and took on a fun challenge to help IUJ celebrate 25 years of international education.
Congratulations IUJ!
Event facts:
Name: Guinness World Record challenged “Most Nationalities in a Sauna”
Standing record: 38 set in Oct. 2005 in Kobe
Date: May 14, 2007 (IUJ's 25th Anniversary of its founding)
Results: 50 nationalities in a Sauna at the same time for over 5 minutes
Location: Yuraiya in Nagaoka, Niigata shopping center Ripts
Witnessed by:
Mayor of Minami Uonuma city, Mr. Ichiro Iguchi,
Minami Uonuma-shi Promotional Bureau Chief, Mr. Shigeru Tsuchida,
Medical Practitioners on hand: two nurses from the YukiGuni hospital,
Ms. Takahashi and Mr. Sato
IUJ Student Leader and Guinness contact: Jay Wong (Singapore)
IUJ Video footage by: Kaushank Khandwala (India) and Jeffrey Crawford (USA)
IUJ Photos by: Allan Cledera (Philippines)
IUJ Public Relations Officer: Rumiko Anazawa
IUJ Staff assistant: Gretchen Shinoda
Chairman of the Alumni Association (event support Volunteer): Dr. Tomohito Shinoda
Event covered in the media by:
Television - Fuji TV, BSN, UX, TeNY, NHK, and NST
Newspapers – Niigata Nippo, Asahi, Mainichi, Uonuma Shimpo
Bus Company: Ginrei
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