The 17th Penang Bon Odori Festival 2013
(Penang , 20 July ) The 17th Bon Odori Festival 2013 was held at Esplanade, Penang. This year’s Bon Odori Festival was one of the cultural events commemorating the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The festival was kicked off with speeches by Right Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Lim Guan Eng, State Executive Councilor of Tourism Development and Culture, Y.B. Danny Law Heng Kiang and the Consul-General of Japan in Penang, Mr. Ryuji Noda.
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Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng presents souvenirs to performers from Japan |
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Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng presents souvenirs to Ryuji NODA, Consul-General of Japan |
Bon Odori Dance |
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This year, two performance groups from Japan were invited to perform at the Bon-Odori Festival. The first group was Nihon Minyo Kenkyu-kai Toyomiko-kai (日本民踊研究会 -豊三康会). There were 17 members performing and entertaining the crowd with lively and joyful traditional Japanese folk dances. The second group was a renowned Shamisen (Japanese Guitar) group, Tokuyama Ryu Gensui-Kai (徳山流弦水会). This group played Japanese folk songs in Tsugaru style (up-tempo and beating style). |
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Japanese Folk Dance performances by Nihon Minyo Kenkyu-kai Toyomiko-kai |
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Tokuyama Ryu Gensui-Kai showing their great skills during Shamisen ensemble |
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There were more than 50,000 people gathered at Esplanade. The festival provided unique opportunities to introduce Japanese culture to the Penangites and promoted friendship between the Japanese residents and the locals. This year, two TV crew members from RCC TV (a television broadcasting station from Hiroshima, Japan) had documented the event. |
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There were more than 100 stalls selling local and Japanese delicacies, handicrafts, games, ghost house an etc. |
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The local-based performers included Sakura-kai of the Penang Japanese Association (PJA), Malaysian Japanese Society (MJS), Pink Hibiscus Club of Penang , Konatsu cosplay group, Japanese students from Penang Japanese School (PJS), Kurenai Taiko group and Malaysian students from Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Kubang Pasu (Kedah). |
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Taiko performance by students from Penang Japanese School |
Bon Odori dance by local-based Japanese related organizations. |
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Yosakoi dance and Soran Bushi by students from Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim , Kedah. |
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The fireworks display marked the climax of the festival. The fireworks was sponsored by Japanese companies and the Penang Japanese Association.The Bon Odori Festival in Penang is co-organized by Penang State Government, Consulate-General of Japan in Penang, Malaysian Japanese Society, Penang Japanese Association, Penang Japanese Language Society, Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia-Northern Branch, and Alumni of Overseas Technical Scholarships. The Bon Odori Festival in Esplanade, Penang, is one of the biggest such Bon Festivals held outside Japan and it is held in July each year.
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Fireworks display lights Penang night sky with color and beauty |
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A pre-event dinner was held at the official residence of the Consul-General of Japan, Mr. Ryuji Noda, on the eve of the Festival to welcome the performers from Japan and committee members involved in the Bon Odori Festival. |
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