Latest news with #PenangYosakoiParade
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Yosakoi hits 10: Penang streets come alive with high-energy dance, Japanese idols and a fireworks finale
GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — The Penang Yosakoi Parade will be celebrating its 10th edition this year, featuring 30 participating teams and a Japanese idol concert at the Esplanade. After three years of holding the Japanese dance festival at Karpal Singh Drive, the parade will once again be held at the Esplanade on June 21. Pink Hibiscus Club president and Penang Yosakoi Parade founder Emi Yamazaki said the Yosakoi Parade was first introduced in Penang in 2013. 'It started small, with only three participating teams from Penang, Perak and Kedah,' she told Malay Mail when contacted. The annual event grew exponentially, and despite a two-year break during the pandemic, it continued to attract more participants. This year, Yamazaki said 26 teams will be participating in the parade to compete for the National Yosakoi Championship, which is only open to Malaysian teams. She added that the parade received a record number of participants from Penang, Perak, Perlis, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Pahang. 'There will be four international teams, from Japan, Singapore and Thailand, participating in the festival this year,' she said. This year will also mark the inaugural presentation of the Penang International Yosakoi Award to a winning team. The Penang Yosakoi Parade in 2023. This year, the parade received a record number of participants from across Malaysia.— Picture via Facebook/Penang Yosakoi Parade She said the award will be given based not only on the team's performance, but also on what they have been doing to promote Yosakoi and the concept behind their performance. Groups will have to submit their concepts, ideas, objectives, and progress reports to be considered for the award before the parade. She said only selected teams, based on their submissions, will be considered and have their performances judged for the award. 'This award is open to all teams, local and international, to recognise their contribution to the world of Yosakoi,' she said. She said Yosakoi is more than just a parade showcasing dances by teams but an outlet for the youth to showcase their creativity. 'Each team will be able to showcase their ideas fusing Japanese and local cultures,' she said. For the first time, there will be a free Japanese idol concert after the parade, starting at around 11pm. Yamazaki said Japanese idols such as Wanmimi and Miura Ayme will be performing in the two-hour concert. The festival will culminate in a light and fireworks show at the end of the night.
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
A fusion of cultures in every step: Inside Penang's vibrant Yosakoi Parade
GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — First introduced in 2013 with just three participating teams, the Penang Yosakoi Parade has since evolved into a vibrant, large-scale celebration — complete with a championship for the best performance team. Yosakoi is a Japanese word derived from Yosakoi-bushi, a traditional folk song from Kochi Prefecture. The word also carries the meaning, 'come and visit at night'. Yosakoi Festivals, or Yosakoi Matsuri, originated in Kochi Prefecture in 1954 and have since become an iconic part of Japanese culture, held in over 200 locations across Japan. Today, the energetic and colourful festival has spread far to over 29 countries worldwide. The Penang Yosakoi Parade 2023. — Picture via Facebook/Penang Yosakoi Parade In Japan, Yosakoi participants express themselves freely through dance, using only a few essential elements — such as the naruko, a wooden clapper that makes a distinctive clacking sound. The performers often wear traditional Japanese costumes, but in recent years, many have opted for new styles that blend fashion from various cultures. Dancers are free to create their own choreography and costume designs, as long as they incorporate the naruko and phrases from the Yosakoi-bushi into their performance. According to Penang Yosakoi Parade main organiser and Pink Hibiscus Club founder Emi Yamazaki, the festival in Penang aims to promote local cultures through a fusion of ideas and stories told through dance. She said the event encourages creative choreography and storytelling using diverse concepts and ideas. The performers often wear traditional Japanese costumes, but in recent years, many have opted for new styles that blend fashion from various cultures. — Picture via Facebook/Penang Yosakoi Parade 'It is a fusion of Japanese dance and local cultures using the foundation of the Yosakoi dance,' she said. She said there were Malaysian teams who fused local elements into their performance, making their dance one of an amalgamation of Japanese and Malaysian cultures. 'It is a festival that is good for students to participate to express their creativity freely in the form of dance and performance,' she said.
