The 35th Bon-Odori Festival was held at Kompleks Sukan Negara in Shah Alam on 16th July. This event was organized by Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur and Embassy of Japan in Malaysia.

This event was held under the theme “Arigato Malaysia”, which expresses our deepest gratitude to the Malaysian people for their encouraging support and warm assistance offered to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on 11th March.

After the chairman declared the start of the festival, “DaiTokyo-Ondo” and “Hanagasa Ondo” filled the stadium and many people gathered toward the Yagura(wooden scaffold), forming circles and moving to the rhythm of the music. The scene of such a large crowd dancing was spectacular!

Almost thirty five thousand participants were young Malaysians, and from their happy faces you can tell they were truly enjoying themselves.

This Bon-Odori Festival, which has been held for the 35th time, concluded with great success. The Bon-Odori Festival has steadily taken root in Malaysia as a great platform for Japanese cultural exchange between Malaysia and Japan.