34th Bon Odori 2010 Shah Alam attracts mammoth crowd dancing with joy

It was all fun and joy for everyone at the 34th Bon Odori 2010 held at Panasonic Sports Complex stadium in Section 21, Shah Alam, Selangor on July 17 from 5.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Mai Tomyam observed that the festival this year attracted a very much bigger crowd than last year with well over 35,000 people who jam-packed the entire stadium to the brim with hardly any space left to move freely. The festival crowd has grown each year with many who attend come simply to enjoy the festivities, especially the food and the dancing.
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The event was graced by Selangor state Exco for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment chairperson Elizabeth Wong who together with the Japanese embassador to Malaysia Mr. Masahiko Horie and his wife Mrs. Yoko Horie also joined in the bon dance on the stage.

There was also a Malaysian dance performance by a cultural troupe combining the richness and grandeur of the dances of various races in the country.

Bon Odori (or Bon dance) is held during Obon which is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. The festival is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors.

The event was organized jointly by the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, the Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur and the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia.

For those who missed the Bon Odori 2010 Shah Alam, here's some colourful pictures!

Bon Dance:
The Japanese Bon Dance is a beautiful way of celebrating the festival. The festive crowd was clearly in celebratory mood as they formed a circle around the make-shift stage (or yagura) in the centre of the stadium and danced in joyous merriment. Everyone in the circle gives it their best dance moves forward to traditional songs that were accompanied to the beat of large taiko drums.

The crowd following the dance.


Taiko drummers performed on the stage (or known as yazura).


Taiko drummers pounding away to the beat of Japanese folklore music.


Selangor Exco for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment chairperson Elizabeth Wong (centre) sportingly took part in the Japanese bon dance.


Elizabeth Wong participated in the fun.

Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Mr. Masahiko Horie (right) and his wife Mrs. Yoko Horie (following behind him) participating in a bon dance beat.
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A Japanese dance performed by university students of UiTM Shah Alam.

Malaysian Dance:
A splendid Malaysian dance performance by a cultural troupe combining the richness and grandeur of the cultural dances of the various races in the country including the traditional dances of the various ethnic tribes of Sabah and Sarawak.


Everyone was invited to dance along with the performers durng the finale.



Panasonic Sports Complex:
The entire stadium was absolutely packed to the brim.


A rainbow of Japanese lanterns strung across the field to the the make-shift stage (or yagura) in the middle of the stadium


Well, this place is really crowded!




Big crowds at the booths offering varieties of traditional Japanese foods.


More foods, more choices.

Bon Odori brings the people:
Many visitors came dressed in brightly coloued traditional Japanese attire, such as the yukata and other forms of traditional Japanese clothings.




An adorable Japanese kid.









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