Jason’s Blog

BON ODORI      

Bon Odori is a summer festival celebrated by Japanese around the world as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one’s ancestors. Just like in any other places, the year 2006 30^th Bon Odori celebration was a great success at Matsushita Stadium in Shah Alam today. In fact, this festival is renowned for its traditional dance and the true meaning of this celebration was not fully understood. As for me, this year’s Bon Odori was a meaningful one to me because I got to fully participate in it. Thanks to Joel Thean a.k.a. Pn Thean who offered me a place in representing my school in performing the traditional dance at the stadium.

クアラルンプ日本人学校

12/07/06- It was a hot Wednesday afternoon; we representatives of CHS were to be at the Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur (JSKL) situated in Saujana, to learn the Japanese O-Bon dance. There were four traditional dances and they were the Dai Tokyo Ondo (大東京音頭), Hanagasa Ondo (花笠音頭), Tokyo Ondo (東京音頭) and Ohisama Ondo (おひさま音頭). These dances were to be taught to us so that we could lead the crowd on Saturday. The school was beyond my expectations; one will fell oneself in Japan as one enters the school. Everything was fully and well equipped and it is similar to that of the schools in Japan. Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji writings were written all around the school and it was a golden opportunity to learn more about the language as I have been learning since some time ago. Only four of us, Joel, Zhen Hong, Peck Yee and I were from the 6th form and others were from various forms. I was shocked and amazed to look at how clean the school was, I tried searching for some trash on the floor but I couldn’t. The washrooms were very clean and no footwear is needed to enter it. Besides, Kuen Cheng, Sri KL and Alam Shah representatives were there with us to learn the dance as well. We were then divided into various smaller groups and every group was coached by two Japanese girl students. If I wasn’t mistaken, their names were Hikaru Fukano and Nao Yamashiro. One good thing that I found: although their English wasn’t that well spoken but they were not shy when speaking to us in the broken language, what I observed was the undying spirit to improve themselves and that really obsessed me. Later that afternoon, the principal of JSKL brought us for a walk around the school. The compound was incredibly large and we couldn’t visit all places in such short time, therefore we did visit on the secondary school only. All classes were built exactly like in Japan. All of them were well equipped with air-conditioning, computer, television, and cupboards to keep personal belongings. It was the blackboards that fascinated me, unlike the blackboards in Malaysia schools; these were made concave so students who sit at the sides could see clearly what was written on it. I really hoped that more time could be given so that we could see more about the school and understand more about the Japanese culture. Unfortunately, we would have to make a move as it was getting late. I wished I was given a second chance to pay a visit to that school again.

お盆

15/07/06- Ohisama~ that was the only dance that I enjoyed a lot; it involved a lot of jumping and running around, was the most fun of all. Today is really fun, the day for Bon Odori 2006 that held at Matsushita Stadium, Shah Alam. After fetching Joel from home, we had a quick lunch in Ipoh Chicken Rice Restaurant. We then proceeded on to school where everyone gathered. The bus that we took later on eventually brought us to Matsushita Stadium. The Japanese O-Bon feel arose within me, but this time was even greater because I will be performing in the dance. This year’s Bon Odori t-shirt was something different, instead of red, orange was chosen. After having ourselves changed into the t-shirt, Joel and I went out to the main field to walk around and  had few beautiful scenic and memorable friendship photos taken. This distributed t-shirt was our identification passport as people wearing this t-shirt were allowed to pass through below the grandstand. It was 6.10pm and it was about for Joel, Peck Yee and I to enter below the grandstand to get ourselves prepared. We even had more photos taken with the attractive Japanese girls dressed in Kimono and Yukata. Our sensei, Nao Yamashiro who taught us the dance previously, was of the beautiful ones and many people were surrounding her to have their photo with her taken, we weren’t excluded as well. Later on we had a briefing by Mr A. Yamamoto regarding the do and don’ts when performing. Sharp 7pm, all performers were already on the stage and behind the barricades. After a short address by some Japanese VIP, I think it must be the VIP from the Malaysia Japanese Society, the dance begun. Initially, I was a little afraid because Joel cast me pressure, afraid of doing the steps wrongly and this might embarrassed myself. My confidence level built up as towards the end of the dance and I began to recall all the movements of the dance. As soon as the Ohisama Ondo ended, the Bon Odori Part 1 ended as well. I went searching for friends hoping that I might bump into some old friends, but I couldn’t see even one. Maybe they were there and I couldn’t look clearly because I left my specs at home (It happened the year before too). The second part was a bit bored for me as the movements were the same, additionally I was the only male dancer among so many girls and Joel wasn’t there to accompany me while Zhen Hong went up to the stage to dance. So, I danced with a few Obasan that time. After the second part, I had approximately 25 minutes to walk around, so I went looking for friends and I found Wei Ren and Agong, they were having Yakitori!!! I was quite in thirst that time and bought myself a tin of Isomax, Japanese style (I couldn’t recall the Japanese name of it) Wow, and it cost RM 3 while the normal Isomax that I bought outside only cost maximally RM 1.80. Well, it’s ok as soon as it feeds my thirst. The third part was the fun part of all, Joel, Zhen Hong and a Form 4 guy came dancing with me. Because it was the last and final part already, we danced to our fullest. Finally, all the dances ended at 9.30pm and it was the closing already. Joel and I proceeded on to the grandstand below after the closing performance, the Taiko Drum performance by the Japanese Boys from JSKL. Inside the inner hall, we grab hold of the opportunity to take more pictures with the Japanese Sensei and Japanese girls especially our sensei, Hikaru Fukano and Nao Yamachiro. It was late already and it was for us to leave the stadium. Farewell to our Japanese friends and to our sensei. We boarded the bus later and headed back to PJ and had a hot Tom Yum supper with Ah Foon, Lim Peh and others at Pn Chew’s place. Special thanks especially to Joel who offered me, and thanks to the girls who taught us the dance, helping me to understand more about the Japanese culture.

ありがとうございますた