The Malaysian Insight

THE Penang Yosakoi Parade is a fun-filled and colourful Japanese festival held at Padang Kota Lama in George Town. This event has been organised by the Pink Hibiscus Club since March 2013.

The festival started as a thank-you gesture by the club for the RM1.6 million raised by Penangites following the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Since then, the annual event has been held on the second Saturday of March on a date close to the anniversary of the March 11 quake.

Hundreds of participants take part in an evening of dance and healthy, Japan-inspired cultural activities. This year, 130 dancers paraded on the street, dancing and chanting as they vie for some of the awards for the night.  

Cosplayers, led by Tatsumi Inui, the founder of Cure Cosplay from Japan, were also part of the parade.  Dressed as Shakespeare, he interacted with the crowds and posed for photographs. 

The highlight of the parade was the Mizukake mikoshi parade.  This year, two mikoshis joined the parade. 

A mikoshi is a portable miniature shrine carried by the parishioners of a shrine during festivals. During the festival, this shrine is carried by children who were splashed with water by spectators lining the street.  It is believed that the adults who splash water at the children will receive good luck. – March 11, 2019.