(From left) Eco World Development Group Bhd (EWB) executive director Liew Tian Xiong, director Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, director Datuk Leong Kok Wah, chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, UDA Holdings Bhd group managing director Datuk Ahmad Abu Bakar, chief financial officer Datuk Julainie Mohd Salleh, EWB executive director Datuk Voon Tin Yow and Ong at the launch of the Yokoso festival at Bukit Bintang City Centre.
IT’S SPRINGTIME in Japan now; the best time to view beautiful cherry blossoms.
Well, if you can’t make it to the Land of the Rising Sun, fret not as Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) brings not just spring but all four seasons of Japan to you.
From now till May 8, the BBCC sales gallery is home to “Yokoso: A Celebration of Japan @ BBCC”.
The month-long event aims to offer the public a fresh perspective of Japan by featuring not just the sights, sounds and flavours of Japan but also the seasons.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, BBCC Development Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Richard Ong said the event was held to celebrate BBCC’s international partnerships with Japanese conglomerates.
BBCC signed the Heads of Terms Agreements with Mitsui Fudosan Group to jointly develop a 0.13mil sq m (1.4mil sq ft) lifestyle mall and also with Zepp Hall Network Inc, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment Japan to create the first Zepp branded concert hall outside of Japan in Kuala Lumpur.
Mitsui Fudosan owns and manages over 110 malls in Japan and other countries spanning a total floor area of 4.5mil sq m (48.4 mil sq ft). They have over 2,200 tenants occupying 6,500 stores in their network of retail malls.
Zepp is a unique chain of concert halls fitted with state-of-the-art acoustics and visual effects that is synonymous with the Sony brand.
“These are two of the biggest names in the retail and entertainment industry. Mitsui Fudosan will deliver a retail mall with unique Japanese-inspired elements and will introduce many new Japanese brands to Kuala Lumpur.
“Our exclusive partnership will see the creation of Zepp Kuala Lumpur in BBCC. The 2,500-capacity concert venue will host international artistes and will also allow local stars to join the international arena,” he said.
He added that the Yokoso BBCC festival will have traditional and contemporary elements representing iconic Japanese culture.
“We will use art installations, cultural and pop performances and a Japan-inspired food festival to celebrate each season.
“Our installations will include replicas of signature landmarks like the Tokyo Tower, Torii Gate and a forest of flowering Sakura trees, offering wonderful photography opportunities,” he said.
There will also be various cultural performances like the energetic taiko drum performance, Para-para Sakura dance, Bon Odori dance demonstration, J-pop performances and cosplay displays to entertain visitors.
For a truly immersive experience, join the interactive workshops where you can enjoy making yukata, origami, fans, marshmallow and even clay-painting.
For the closing highlight of the Winter week on May 7 and 8, visitors will be able to experience snowfall.
