BY: Mazlinda Mahmood

SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: Watching dancers in traditional Japanese costumes swaying in unison on a "yagura" (special elevated platform) to the mesmerising beat of the "taiko" (ancestral Japanese drum), one could be fooled into thinking that the revelry was taking place in Japan if not for the humidity and heat, and the presence of many tudung-clad girls.

Every year in July, the Panasonic Sports Complex in Shah Alam is turned into an Asian melting pot with Japanese and Malaysian folk mingling in a festive atmosphere to celebrate the Bon Odori Festival, this year for the 32nd time.

The atmosphere was filled with conviviality as most of the 30,000 crowd thronging the stadium held hands, their eyes fixed on the stage and danced with joyous abandon to the Obon music and the Japanese folk songs blaring from the speakers.

Many of them came dressed for the occasion, in "yukata" (summer kimono) and "hopi coat" (kimono-style top), while others, especially youngsters, came attired in the trendiest outfits modelled after styles in Harajuku (Japanese street fashion).

After dancing, the revellers headed towards the fringe of the field where delicious aromas wafted and filled the balmy night to partake of sushi, yakitori (grilled skewers), scrumptious pastries and all kinds of Japanese desserts and beverages from the stalls.

Azuki Tachibana, of mixed parentage, was at the festival with a bevy of his girlfriends.

Isrami Ismail, 32, with wife Maizatulismak Ishak, 32, and children Izz, 6, Izza, 3 and Izzi, 2. The couple have been coming to the festival since 1994.

"My mother is Japanese and my father is Malaysian-Chinese," said Azuki.

The 23-year-old salon owner said Bon Odori is is slightly different in Japan.

In Japan, a wider variety of songs are played and Bon Odori is celebrated for up to three days, ending with a fireworks display.

"However in both countries, the festival still brings people together and the sentiments behind it are the same," he said.

For Isrami Ismail, 32, the festival has become almost a family tradition.

Isrami, whose whole family was dressed in the yukata said he started coming to the festival in 1994 during his Japan preparatory course days at the University of Malaya with his then-girlfriend, Maizatulismak Ishak, 32, now his wife.

"Now the celebration has become somewhat like a reunion for us as we will meet many of our friends here every year," he said.

The celebration, organised every year in July or August by the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur, Japanese Embassy and Selangor state government, was the brainchild of the Japanese Expatriate and Immigrant's Society in Malaysia.

Held during summer to pay homage to the spirits of dead ancestors, Bon Odori is much like the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival.

In Malaysia the event has become gathering-spot for the Japanese living in Malaysia and for Malaysians who have lived and studied in Japan, Malaysians married to Japanese and fans of the Japanese culture.

Azuki Tachibana, 23, (centre) who is of Malaysian-Chinese and Japanese parentage was at the festival with his girlfriends. Azuki speaks fluent Malay and runs his own salon.

Present at this year's Bon Odori Festival were the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie and his wife, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong.