Join the Bon Odori celebration tomorrow

Thousands will throng to Kompleks Sukan Negara Shah Alam tomorrow starting 4.30 pm for the Bon Odori event.

Bon Odori is organised by The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur and the Embassy of Japan.

The event is held in cooperation with the Alumni Look East Policy Society,  Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM), The Japanese Chamber of Trade & Industry and Malaysia Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd.

The State Government of Selangor, Invest Selangor Berhad and Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia supported the event this year.

Bon Odori event started as a small affair for Japanese expatriates to immerse their children in Japanese culture in 1977. 

The annual event attracts about 35,000 participants each year. 

Bon Odori has been cancelled for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The following is the schedule for 2022.

Date & Time: 16th July 2022 (Sat) 19:00～21:15 hrs  

Venue : Kompleks Sukan Negara Shah Alam (Panasonic). You can also search “Panasonic Sports Complex Shah Alam” on Google Map or Waze.

Bon Odori since late 70s

The first Bon Odori festival was held in 1977, meaning that the 2022 celebration will be Malaysia’s 46th Bon Odori Festival.

According to The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, the first Malaysian Bon Odori was “a small affair” organised by Japanese expatriates who wanted to let their children experience some traditional Japanese culture.

Over the years, the Malaysian-Japanese community has continued to organise an annual Bon Odori celebration to share their country’s art, cuisine and culture.

Here are some pointers

The event is FREE of charge.

To avoid massive traffic jams and lack of parking space, please use the KTM Komuter and FREE Shuttle Bus service or come by Grab or Taxi!

The organisers will provide access FREE shuttle bus service (10 buses) between KTM Shah Alam Station and the stadium from 4 pm to 10.30 pm.

Programme Tentative

4:30 pm Gates Open

7:00 pm Opening– Drum Performance

7:15 pm Bon Odori Dance – Part 1

7:45 pm Japanese “Wadaiko” Performance

8:00 pm Bon Odori Dance – Part 2

8:30 pm Guest Performance 

8:45 pm Bon Odori Dance – Part 3

9:15 pm Closing Address