The Penang Yosakoi Parade is back at the Esplanade and bigger than ever. The Pink Hibiscus Club has expanded the event to two days, 27 and 28 June, with more dancers, more teams and a longer list of cultural activities.
About 1,300 dancers across 25 teams from Johor, Perak, Kedah and a record seven to eight Penang teams will take part. The parade itself runs on the evening of 27 June, starting at 5pm.
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Japanese teams join the lineup
The award-winning Ioriwa Tokiwa Yosakoi Team from Nagoya will be among the international guests, alongside a children’s team from Japan. A new Malaysia-Japan dance ensemble called Glanz International will make its debut performance of Pleasure during the parade.
The evening will close with fireworks.
More than just dancing
Pink Hibiscus Club Chairman Emi Yamazaki described the event as “essentially five events in one – all inspired by Japan but uniquely Penang.”
Day two, 28 June from noon, features the World Cosplay Summit Malaysia’s Asia Invitational Exhibition Showcase, a Coscon Vocaloid Music Dance Party Concert with Japanese guests DJ Ocha, DJ Kuro and Vocaloid producer Karasuya Sabou, plus a charity food fair.
The Blue Santa Sustainability Programme, promoting waste segregation and community clean-ups, will also launch during the festival.
Miss Yosakoi crowned
Wan Nurthaqifah Kaisyah Ghazali, an 18-year-old vocational college student, was crowned Miss Yosakoi Penang 2026. Subsidiary title winners included Chrissy Tang (Miss Kino Kimono, 26), Ooi Jia Ying (Miss Solrise Yosakoi, 23), Olivia Foo Hui Xuan (Miss Congeniality, 16) and Belle Ch’ng Jing Jing (Miss Canon Yosakoi, 22).
Chan Ee Lin, 58, won the Kimono Queen segment. The pageant winners will lead the parade and take photos with visitors.
Consul-General of Japan in Penang Shinya Machida said cultural exchange is a two-way process and “diversity can be a source of strength.” Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid called the parade a platform that brings communities closer.
Full details at www.penangyosakoiparade.com.
Source: The Star
