From sizzling yakitori to matcha lattes and handmade clay earrings, small businesses brought cuisine, creativity and culture to the festival.
Delicious yakitori crackling over hot coals was a crowd-pleaser at the recent Bon Odori festival in Sunway City. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle pic)
PETALING JAYA: The aroma of sizzling yakitori mingled with the rhythmic thump of taiko drums greeted crowds at the 49th Bon Odori Festival in Sunway City on July 12-13.
It was a celebration shaped not only by Japanese culture and cuisine but by the creativity of many small business owners who set up booths showcasing their crafts under the glow of lanterns.
For artisan Tay Lang Fang of Huez Wonder, the festival was deeply personal. “Bon Odori is more than just a festival. It’s a celebration of culture, community and friendship,” she said.
Having been accepted as a vendor in May, Tay spent weeks preparing for the event while balancing the demands of motherhood, working four to five hours a day on her handmade clay earrings.
Her booth featured intricate designs inspired by the flower sakura and the famous Mount Fuji, blending Japanese symbolism with cross-cultural artistry.
“It’s been a labour of love. These earrings reflect nature and beauty, and this was the perfect setting to share them,” Tay said.
Tay was one of over 100 vendors curated by Pingmin Market, whose presence helped turn the two-day event into a sensory showcase of Japanese flavour, texture and spirit.
Artisan Tay Lang Fang of Huez Wonder showcased her handmade clay earrings with intricate designs featuring symbols of Japan. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle pic)
Visitors wandered through vibrant stalls featuring traditional Japanese snacks and street food. Takoyaki, grilling in cast-iron moulds, filled the air with a smoky seafood aroma while skewered chicken pieces called Yakitori crackled over hot coals.
Nearby, families queued for mochi and matcha desserts, while others browsed racks of brightly coloured cotton summer kimonos, called yukata, at rental booths before joining the Bon Odori dance under lantern-lit skies.
Fiona from Square Coffee Cookie aimed to elevate awareness of traditional Japanese sweets with a colourful spread of wagashi, dorayaki and mitarashi-coated dango.
“Our colourful dango with homemade mitarashi sauce is a summer favourite. Japanese sweets are often underrated here, but they’re deeply tied to cultural rituals,” she said.
Their prep started at 5am, with desserts made fresh to reflect the spirit of omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality.
Visitors had a taste of Japanese culture, cuisine and creativity at the Bon Odori festival over the weekend. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle pic)
Fiona Koo from Kocha Cafe said their entire booth revolved around matcha, a drink embedded in Japanese tradition.
“The festival wasn’t just about visibility. It reminded us why we started Kocha in the first place,” she said. “Bon Odori is about slowing down and appreciating culture.”
Weeks of planning led to unique creations like Banana Baby Matcha Latte and Hāna Haze, alongside staples like genmai hojicha.
“Matcha carries centuries of meaning. It’s not just trendy, it’s about being present,” said Koo. “We wanted our drinks to feel both traditional and new.”
A vendor selling tanghulu, a snack of sugar-coated fruit on skewers, at the Bon Odori festival. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle pic)
Joelle Giam of Momomochi offered strawberry daifuku, a traditional treat with red bean paste and fresh fruit.
“Daifuku means ‘great luck’ in Japanese,” she said. “We wanted to preserve that meaning, while also adding a local twist Malaysians would enjoy.”
Her team offered classic red bean versions as well as spins with dark chocolate, taro and yuzu.
Preparation took three days, from sourcing ingredients to booth décor. “Bon Odori is about togetherness, and we wanted our mochi to reflect that.”
The Bon Odori festival was held at Sunway City on July 12-13 this year. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle pic)
Selangor executive councillor for local government and tourism Ng Suee Lim said the event reflected the state’s spirit of multiculturalism and growing tourism appeal.
Japanese tourist arrivals to Selangor rose 20.5% from 2023 to 2024, with 132,526 visitors recorded last year, he said.
“Tonight is not just a celebration of food or dance. It is a bridge between our communities,” said Ng. “It shows who we are.”
That spirit of togetherness was echoed across Pingmin Market’s curated row of stalls, where matcha lattes, sakura-themed crafts and colourful dango coexisted in harmony.
“Even if we’re from different cultures, we can all connect through something as simple as a dessert or a design,” said Giam.
As Tay handed a customer a pair of sakura earrings, she smiled. “It’s not just about selling something. It’s about sharing what you love – and watching it light up someone else’s day.”
