Bon Odori Festival Marks Golden Jubilee In Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) – The rhythmic beat of taiko drums welcomed thousands of visitors to Sunway City Kuala Lumpur on Saturday as they celebrated the 50th Bon Odori festival, marking the golden jubilee of one of Malaysia's largest and longest-running Japanese cultural celebrations.
Families, students, Japanese expatriates and visitors of all backgrounds, many dressed in colourful yukata and kimono, joined the iconic Bon Odori dance, sampled authentic Japanese cuisine and explored more than 100 booths featuring crafts, cultural merchandise and festival games.
The two-day festival, held from July 11 to 12 and jointly organised by The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and Sunway, celebrates five decades of cultural exchange and friendship between Malaysia and Japan since Bon Odori was first introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 1977.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki said organisers expected this year's festival to surpass last year's attendance of more than 50,000 visitors over two days.
“We are looking forward to welcoming even more Malaysians, Japanese and international visitors to this year’s Bon Odori.
“The area has been expanded and is better prepared, with improved facilities, more shops, a wider variety of Japanese food and other attractions," he told Bernama at the event on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur president Yoshiaki Okabe said the festival began in 1977 as a small cultural event organised by parents at the Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur to introduce Japanese summer traditions to their children.
"The children danced on the school grounds, and then neighbours came and joined them. That was the beginning of Bon Odori," he said.
Okabe said the event has since grown into one of Malaysia's largest Japanese cultural festivals, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
Shikata said the Kuala Lumpur celebration could be among the largest Bon Odori festivals held outside Japan.
“Even in Japan, we don't see many Bon Odori festivals attracting so many people," he said.
Throughout the evening, crowds gathered around the central yagura tower as traditional taiko drumming signalled the start of the Bon Odori dance, with participants moving in unison in a celebration rooted in Japan's Obon tradition.
Visitors also queued for Japanese favourites such as takoyaki, yakitori, ramen and sushi, while browsing more than 100 booths offering handicrafts, souvenirs, cultural merchandise and traditional games.
Held in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2026, the golden jubilee edition also featured cultural performances, yukata experiences, street photography sessions and a fireworks display, reinforcing Bon Odori's role in strengthening people-to-people ties between Malaysia and Japan.
-- BERNAMA
