JAPANESE SPRING FESTIVAL WITH IPOH PARADE

COME CELEBRATE A JAPANESE SPRING FESTIVAL WITH IPOH PARADE

IPOH: For the first time, Ipoh Parade is organising a Japanese Spring Festival, from today (April 9) until April 14, at the shopping mall.

It will be held at the ground floor from 10am – 10pm.

The event themed “Celebrate Springtime With Haru Matsuri at Ipoh Parade!” will showcase a number of activities daily.

The event are – Japanese Street Food Bazaar, Japanese Traditional Costume Photo Op, Sumo Wrestling Game (April 9 – 14) followed with the Japanese Arts & Crafts Workshop (April 12 – 14/Time: 12 noon – 4pm & 5pm – 9pm), and Shojikiya Japanese Snack Fair (April 9 - 17).

Other interesting events include Sushi Rolling Workshop, Chawanmushi Workshop, Japanese Curry Cooking Demo, Sushi Eating Challenge, Japanese Fusion Dance Performance & Workshop, Children Coloring Contest, Sushi Making Competition, Spicy Ramen Challenge by Sushi Tei, which will be held on April 13 & 14.

Highlight of the Japanese Festival is the “Cosplay Party” that will be held on April 14, from 2.30pm onward.

Participants can select to dress as a movie character, animation or cartoon character.

They will be appraised based on their likeness to their chosen characters in a three-round competition that last till evening.

The stakes are high for these colorful characters, as winners will walk away with prizes totaling to RM4,000.

The champion will received RM2,000 followed with first runner up - RM1,000 and second runner up - RM500. Three winners will get consolation prizes of RM100 each. The allocation of the winning prizes are divided into cash prize (50%) and gifts (50%).

Judges for the Cosplay competition are Cosplay Professional Players namely 

Rina C, Bibi Chan and Kenjimura.

Apart from admiring these Japanese characters, shoppers will also have a chance to dress up in yukatas for a photography session at the photo booth. Besides that, shoppers who download the photobook app are able to redeem a free 20-page 6 incs x 6incs photobook. This offer valid until July 31, 2019.

Ipoh Parade Assistant Manager Lim Huey Tyng said that based on the prevalence of Japanese dining options available, it is clear that locals (Malaysian) are still in love with Japanese food and culture.

“As this is our first time, we are targeting to receive some 8,000 – 10,000 visitors, for this coming Sunday Japanese Fair,” she said.

For information and updates on Haru Matsuri, visit Ipoh Parade's Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/ipohparade/

LIM (4TH FROM LEFT), STAFF AND ORGANISORS OF THE JAPANESE SPRING FESTIVAL