34th Bon Odori 2010

Feeling: Slightly Hungry T_T
Weather: Neutral
Listening To: Tokio Hotel And Kerli- Strange

All the photos here are taken by dearest Louis using my Panasonic Lumix LX-3 camera ! ;)

Long, photo-filled post warning.

The 34th Bon Odori was held on the 17th July 2010, a Saturday, at it’s usual venue which is the Panasonic Stadium or also known as the Matsushita Sports Centre in Shah Alam.

It’s my second time (My first being last year), and the first time for dearest, so naturally we were excited.

Being overly punctual, we arrived at 4 p.m., when the gates actually open at 5 p.m. :P Actually, we arrived early partially because dearest wasn’t so sure of the exact location, and I also got dressed really early because wearing a yukata was not as easy as it looks… although I believe that after several tries the night before and with help from dearest on the day itself, it’s much more easier. And also, I’m really particular about the folds and creases and how it looks overall… much like the Japanese do :P

On the way from the car park to the stadium! Notice how empty the roads are XD It’s not a far walk, thankfully, since we were early and got a place at the car park.

The entrance. There was a booth selling Japanese-ish knick-knacks such as headbands, pouches, handkerchiefs and even yukata sets (Though they’re really not to my liking or up to my standards of quality) on one side, and the organising committee members were sorting through the numerous fans for distribution on the floor.

The main stage, set up in the middle of the field. Surprisingly there were… not much rehearsals, unlike last year. They were rehearsing again and again until it was almost time to begin @_@ This year there was only one brief rehearsal, actually, or at least I managed to catch just one rehearsal.

Crossing the field on our way to the stalls! XD My main main main agenda for attending this year was to haul Kodomo Beer, a type of soda, which I tried last year and fell in love with. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and my heart was broken when they didn’t sell it this year T_T I wanted to get and stock up 2 dozen bottles. No joke :(

So anyway, we had one whole round of walking around the stalls, looking for any signs of it, and when it was confirmed that they don’t have Kodomo Beer this year, we decided to get food. After all, we were early, there were little people at that time and it would be terrifyingly packed later >_>

The stall placements were exactly the same as last year’s- the Yakult stall, Beard Papa stall and the stall at the corner with Asahi beer.

Since we were early, some stalls were still setting up. I forgot what this stall is supposed to sell, sorry :x

Ah, a stall selling local delights such as sandwiches and nasi lemak!

This stall was selling some cupcakes-on-a-stick o_O The guy kept hollering on his loudspeaker to get people passing by to stop and buy them XD Didn’t try this one, though.

Dearest’s and my first (real) Japanese couple sighting at the Bon Odori XD I am so getting dearest what the Japanese guy (Who is tall!) is wearing for next year’s Bon Odori, though I forgot the name of the outfit. Anyone? :(

Now this was good. Ice cream from Dessert’s Bar. We got the double scoop ice cream, since single scoop was RM 6 and double scoop was RM 8, in vanilla and vanilla macadamia. It was heavenly! And really cooled me down from the walking in the sun XD

Anyone who frequents Jusco should see a familiar name (And font? To me XD) here. I got their takoyaki (Paul!), ikayaki (Which ended up being dearest’s supper) and unagi don for RM 25, and it was nothing short of being delicious! Just like how they sell it normally.

The mandatory Sushi King conveyor belt still in the process of being set up. Didn’t try them either.

A new addition: Sakae Sushi! I bought their gyu don and teriyaki chicken don, for RM 8 each, but to be honest it sucked. Nothing like the food you get in their outlets. Oh well, I guess that’s the price you pay for it being cheaper, after all! Since the gyu don and teriyaki chicken don would be around RM 12+.

Me with the fan tucked into the back of my obi.

See? Even the RELA guards have gotten into the act of tucking the fan to the back of their belt :P So hilarious!

The Bon Odori about to begin. The crowd around the stage is one whole thick layer of photographers, then revellers.

By nightfall, this is the amount of people that have gathered. It’s so interesting and nice to see the people slowly dancing, and the dancing spreading all around the stage and into the crowd, like a virus. Particularly liked the second song, where they use their fans, as you can see a wave-effect of fans on the field! Dearest and me sat on the grandstand the entire time, with Hippo, Tibbar and Tibbar‘s brother. Wanted to go and join in the dance with dearest, but we were tired from the day actually. It’s OK, there’s a next year! ;)

A group photo with Hippo, Tibbar and Tibbar‘s brother. A motley crew consisting of a guinea pig, a rabbit, a wolf and a hippo XD Bear not in photo due to being photographer.

And here are two photos of me in my yukata for this year, before we left.

We left at about 8 p.m. because there was nothing much already, having seen the first set of dances, and dearest needed to go back to Banting, so yeah. There were still people entering though, and the cars lined the roads on the way out! Talk about a huge crowd @_@

Summarised thoughts for this year’s Bon Odori: It seemed more… pleasant this year, actually, despite the lack of Kodomo Beer (My heart T_T). There was an increase in men wearing yukata and I didn’t see any cosplayers or cosplayer-wannabes, which is also a good thing. Though as usual I did see a lot of badly worn yukata- the wrong type, the wrong style, the wrong accessories. The list goes on and on >_> As Hippo and Tibbar said, it’s too bad they weren’t wearing their obi in front :P There were lala-wannabe-Japanese, though D: Also, there was an increase in people TRYING to take my photo… I said trying, because I see them pointing their camera at me, but I was normally with dearest and they seem to have chickened out somehow XD I wonder why?

And here’s (one of the) best part(s) about this year’s Bon Odori…

A couple with matching Domo-kun t-shirts and even a Domo-kun tote bag! XD Huge Domo-kun fan(s) eh? XD

Everything is so much better with you! :3 Dearest camwhored with me XD The way he’s hugging me… is like hugging a pillow, though >_>