View of a traditional performance and the crowd at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex during the Bon Odori Festival.
Locals and tourists throng 48th Bon Odori festival to mark decades of Selangor-Japan friendship
TENS of thousands of people flocked to the Shah Alam National Sports Complex for the annual Bon Odori festival.
The event was held to celebrate Japanese culture and the relationship between Japan and Selangor.
First held in 1977, the 48th Bon Odori was organised by the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with Tourism Selangor.
The event featured various cultural performances such as the Buyou-Duo, Bon Odori and Wadaiko dances, enticing the crowd to get on their feet and dance.
Visitors also had the opportunity to don the kimono.
Mohd Adlan with his wife Nurul Huda Razali and children Yusra and Ahmad clad in traditional Japanese garb.
The event also saw stalls featuring brands such as Don Don Donki, Ken-Chan Curry, All Nippon Airways, Sushi King and Aeon selling signature Japanese delicacies like takoyaki, sushi, gyoza (dumplings) and Wagyu beef skewers.
While the official launch was at 7pm, people began flocking to the event venue, also known as Panasonic Stadium, as soon as the gates were opened at 4.30pm.
Some came clad in kimono and cosplay costumes depicting Japanese characters.
“The Bon Odori festival is an excellent platform to showcase Japanese culture to local and foreign tourists.
Students of Teikyo Language Centre all dressed for the occasion.— Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
“It gathers students and expatriates from Japan who have contributed to the development of Selangor,” said state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim at a press conference before the start of the festival.
Highlighting the festival’s impact on tourism, Ng said Japanese tourists visiting Selangor increased by 49%, with the number rising from 73,822 in 2022 to 110,018 in 2023.
“With Visit Selangor 2025 approaching, we believe festivals like Bon Odori are pivotal in attracting tourists and achieving our goal of welcoming eight million visitors next year.
“The Bon Odori festival stands as a testament to the strong cultural ties between Japan and Selangor, promising an exciting future for tourism and cultural exchange,” Ng added.
Visitors checking out stalls selling Japanese food among other items.
Among those who attended the event was Mai Orio, a Japanese tourist who was holidaying here.
“This is my first time and it is bigger than I had expected.
It’s nice to see so many locals participating. I hope more activities would be included for future events,” she said.
Japanese language teacher from SMK Bukit Sentosa, Mohd Adlan Mohd Shariffuddin, had been attending the event for 11 years.
Ng (right) taking a wefie with visitors at the festival.
He also praised the festival for its cultural mix and said it was a great opportunity for Malaysians to learn Japanese culture and vice versa.
Student Samuel Chiew hoped to see more games at the event.
“From my trips to Japan, I have seen events similar to Bon Odori that included various games such as ping pong and bubble activities,” he said, adding he would be back for future festivals.
Traditionally, Bon Odori was held to honour ancestral spirits, similar to the Hungry Ghost Festival.
