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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Thursday Thoughts & Temptations - Bon Odori = Kimono Shopping Time?

BON ODORI Summer Nihon Cultural Festival 2009 @ Shah Alam, Malaysia

Just found out about this and I'm planning to go!
I've always loved Japanese costumes, culture & food! ^-^
The Bon Odori festival has been celebrated in Penang and Shah Alam every year for over 30 years (this will be their 33rd). Celebrated in a smaller scale than in Japan, it's meant to expose us locals to the Japanese culture.

Highlights: Bon Odori dance performances, drum performance, fireworks display at 10pm, over 80 stalls selling food, souvenirs and providing games, yukatas for sale.

Basic info:
Venue
: Panasonic Sports Complex (formerly Matsushita Centre) (map)
Address
: Lot 4, Persiaran Perkilangan, Seksyen 21, Shah Alam,Selangor
Date
: 18th July 2009
Time
: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Tickets
: Free Admission
Phone
: 03-2274 2274 (Japanese Club of KL)
Transport
: Free Shuttle Bus from Shah Alam KTM Station to Matsushita Stadium is provided.
Some No-no's:
● Strictly no smoking except for designated areas. ● No high-heels allowed in the dancing field. ● No wearing stuff like Goth lolita and any stuff that are considered not polite you would not want people to insult your ancestors would you. ● NO COSPLAYING. Respect the Japanese culture and tradition please.

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Excerpt from The Star, June 11, 2009
- Bon Odori coming to town by Josephine Jalleh

Bon Odori is a Japanese traditional summer dance celebration where people perform folk dances to show appreciation for family and ancestors as well as to welcome ancestral spirits to earth.

Read the full article here.


That line in the full article "The yukata, a type of summer kimono, will be sold at the event for RM200.", is a subtle but still attractive invitation to adorn a piece of Japanese culture & fashion. Such a great excuse for shopping, don't you think? :-P

Oh camwhores would delight in this too "Visitors can wear the costume and have their picture taken for a fee of RM10." Hah! Don't they know that we're more than capable of snapping a gazillion pics (in the yukata, in our funky little fashion ensembles (but no cosplay/goth lolita costumes, of course), in our most gawdawful expressions / embarrassing moments?) PLUS for absolutely free? :-P

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I would LOVE to own an authentic traditional Japanese kimono! Such beautiful structure and layers, and the intricate prints and embroidery... and of course the much-loved, much-adopted&adapted Obi belt *drool!*

Here are some pics ;-)

image courtesy of iwalku.com




image courtesy of sth, under creative commons





image courtesy of Pingmag




Oh, and here's a modern take on the Kimono ;-)






Yves Saint Laurent (top) and Missoni (bottom) from Style.com



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