JKKN showcases Malaysian culture at Expo 2025 Osaka with traditional dances
Among the highlights are the Joget Lambak and Magunatip (bamboo dance), alongside a specially choreographed routine set to the Visit Malaysia 2026 theme song. These performances have captivated international audiences, with some visitors returning daily to learn the steps.
'The interactive segments see the entire audience joining in, proving that Malaysian art transcends language and cultural barriers,' JKKN said in a statement.
Rayner Mailap, JKKN's official representative, credited the success to meticulous planning, including the selection of skilled dancers and well-crafted choreography. The dancers were chosen based on their discipline, versatility, and ability to engage audiences authentically.
Nur Syahierah Mat Sapauwi, one of the performers, noted that traditional costumes, particularly the Murut tribe attire, drew significant admiration. Made from tree bark and adorned with bird feathers and beadwork, the outfit symbolizes Borneo's cultural pride.
Mohammad Fazly Izwan Abd Rahman explained that Joget Lambak was selected for its lively and inclusive nature, making it easy for visitors to participate. The dance is a staple at Malaysian celebrations, fostering communal joy.
JKKN emphasized that Expo 2025 Osaka is not just a stage but a space for creating lasting memories. 'With every dance move and applause, visitors express their appreciation for Malaysia's culture,' the department added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Sabahan celebration of family values marks start of MIFFest 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: "Ninavau", a heart-warming, 90-minute family drama that showcases Kadazan-Dusun culture and highlights indigenous family life in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, heralded the start of the week-long 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) yesterday. Directed by Sabahan Bebbra Mailin, who is marking her big screen debut, "Ninavau" tells the story of a young woman who studied in Kuala Lumpur and returns to her hometown Kota Kinabalu, with a "secret" that her widowed father Edward and feisty younger sister Elvira struggle to accept. To complicate matters, Edward has been scammed into parting with a six-figure sum of money, and Elvira is preparing for a marriage that she is not ready for. At the launch of the festival in MyTown Mall, Cheras yesterday, Bebbra said that "Ninavau" not only showcased the customs and culture of indigenous Sabahans, but also highlighted their interactions with their friends from Peninsular Malaysia, and the "hiccups" that had to be navigated. "Most of our actors and actresses are newcomers, but they were very dedicated to bringing each of their characters to life. The story of our heroine, Ninavau, and her family members is rooted in reality," she said. The main actress Jovinea Jim said that she could identify with Ninavau, as she had encountered somewhat similar experiences as the character. "The story is told from her point of view, but each major character is well-developed and speaks directly to the audience. Here's a story that's close to Malaysians' hearts and can be appreciated by everyone," she said. Besides Jovinea, "Ninavau" also stars Edward Sinsong as the protagonist's father and Tati Eliana Tonny as her sister. MIFFest's founder Joanne Goh said that this year's festival, with the theme "Infinity," continued its predecessors' mission of championing homegrown storytelling and embracing international co-productions. She said: "MIFFest also partners with the 25th European Union Film Festival to present 15 European titles. The "MIFFest x EUFF" opens with Czech drama "Year of the Widow" and features Denmark's "The Girl with the Needle" and Ukraine's "Taste of Freedom." Goh added that MIFFest highlights six Southeast Asian movies, including Vietnam's "Cu Li Never Cries" and Singapore's "Stranger Eyes." "It has 62 films from 48 countries," she said, adding that 38 Malaysian films are in the event. The festival honours Hong Kong action hero Thomas Tam, or Ti Lung, with a lifetime achievement award. The 78-year-old star will receive the honour at the Malaysia Golden Global Awards ceremony at Zepp KL, on July 26. "MIFFest celebrates Indian movie legend Raj Kapoor's centenary with screenings of "Awara" and "Bobby"," said Goh. She added that MIFFest was honouring Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, who will receive the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film. He is in the festival's jury panel alongside British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, Malaysian actress Diana Danielle, Hong Kong actress Jennifer Yu, and Indian filmmaker Rima Das. Goh said that the competition features nine movies, with Palestinian drama "All That's Left of You" by Cherien Dabis leading the race with seven nominations. Goh said: "Since our establishment in 2016, we have offered a wide range of opportunities and platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work. "MIFFest offers audiences a chance to embark on a cinematic journey through films from diverse cultures. We aspire to be a space where global and local voices unite." This year, singer-songwriter and actress Daiyan Trisha, actress Siti Saleha Baharom, and actor Bront Palarae serve as MIFFest ambassadors, while United States-based Malaysian filmmaker Rachel Tan is promoting her new romantic comedy, partly set in Kuala Lumpur, "Worth the Wait".
Hype Malaysia
24 minutes ago
- Hype Malaysia
KLove Market: Pop Up Boutiques & Homegrown Brands Take Over KLoé Hotel!
KLoé Hotel and Traders Market are back again with a brand new edition of KLove Market! The KLove Market is probably the only market in KL where homegrown brands take over hotel rooms and turn them into pop-up stores! The KLove Market takes place at Levels 1 & 2, KLoé Hotel, on 26th and 27th July (Saturday & Sunday), from 12pm to 7pm. Amongst the brands available at the market are Bingka KL, The Heritage Baskets and Qlingy. Happening on the same weekend is the KLove Vibes, where live DJs will be spinning by the pool. DJs Rudy, Oddjob and Rizki will be on from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday, whilst DJs Peot and Erik have the decks from 2pm to 6pm on Sunday. Beyond shopping and supporting Malaysian entrepreneurs, shoppers also get to discover KLoé Hotel's City and Courtyard rooms, and maybe even win a stay! Customers who spend RM100 and above in a single receipt are entitled to join the KLove Market Lucky Draw and stand a chance to win some seriously incredible prizes: Grand Prize: 1 x FREE night stay in a KLoé Artist Loft First Runner-Up Prize: 1 x FREE night stay in a KLoé Courtyard Room Second Runner-Up Prize: 1 x FREE night stay in a KLoé City Room KLove Market & KLove Vibes Dates: 26th & 27th July 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) Time: 12pm – 7pm Venue: Levels 1 & 2, KLoé Hotel For more information on the event, visit KLoé Hotel and Traders Market's official social media pages.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Hit webtoon 'S Line' turned into drama series, exploring world with visible sexual connections, make its way to Malaysia's Tonton channel
'S Line', a Korean series that is currently creating a phenomenon and is being talked about across Asia and breaking new ground in South-East Asia, can now be watched exclusively on Tonton starting 11 July 2025. Imagine if your past could be known – not through stories or rumours, but through a red thread that seemed to float above your head. Sounds strange ... Crazy... Scary... But this is the shocking truth in the latest Korean drama, 'S Line', which is now airing exclusively and first, simultaneously with Korea, in Malaysia. A crimson thread appears above the heads of those who have had a sexual relationship. When one of the connected individuals dies, the thread vanishes. This is the eerie premise behind 'S Line,' a webtoon by author Kkomabi, who also penned the original story behind the Netflix original series 'A Killer Paradox' (2024). In this world, the most private of secrets — who has slept with whom — are laid bare. Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference in Yongsan, Seoul, director Ahn Joo-young addressed creative liberties taken with the adaptation. Ahn credited music as a central element of the show's atmosphere. 'The music director tailored the score to suit the fantasy-infused thriller tone and added variations to each episode's soundtrack to complete it,' she said. 'I hope viewers stay engaged until the end, focusing on how far the characters can change within the drama,' she added. 'It might be even more enjoyable if you imagine what it would be like if S Lines were visible in real life.' Hyun-heup, played by Arin, a high school student, has seen the threads since birth. Others gain the ability through special glasses. Most people, however, remain unaware of the threads. Kkomabi said that the series version expands the universe of the original story with new episodes and characters. 'It was fascinating to experience the drama's unique charm,' they added. The series opens with Hyun-heup's narration: 'There are things in life that don't need to be seen — no, things that mustn't be seen. I have seen these lines since I was born.' Believing that her ability caused a tragedy in her family, Hyun-heup isolates herself. One day, she witnesses a murder in her neighborhood. Suspecting a connection to the mysterious lines, she leaves the house. She then encounters glasses that allow the wearer to see the threads, just like she does. The story grows increasingly complex as she becomes involved with Detective Han Ji-wook, played by Lee Soo-hyuk, who is investigating the murder, and a mysterious teacher Lee Gyu-jin, played by Lee Da-hee, who has no threads at all. Recently, Lee was also Malaysia and had a special meet-and-greet session with Malaysian fans in Kuala Lumpur. The event drew thousands of fans at the famous shopping mall in centre of the city. Lee, during the meet and greet session, himself, said that the series promises to be a groundbreaking event by itself. The series also had its world premiere at the Grand Lumiere Theater during the 8th Cannes International Series Festival in May, where it was invited to compete in the long-form series category. 'S Line' also took home the Best Music award in its category — the first time a Korean production has earned that distinction at Canneseries. The score was directed by composer Lee Jun-oh, known for his work on films 'The Terror, Live' (2013) and 'Little Forest' (2018) and the Tving period drama series 'Queen Woo' (2024). Arin, a member of girl group Oh My Girl and an actress who has built her filmography through series like 'Girl's World' (2020) and 'Alchemy of Souls' (2022), takes on a dramatically different role in 'S Line.' 'When I first met Arin, I saw a determination in her to throw herself into the character, even into fire if necessary,' said director Ahn. 'I felt like we could do anything together.' Director Ahn, known for her 2018 indie feature 'A Boy and Sungreen,' which portrayed youth in a non-stereotypical way, makes her fantasy-thriller debut with 'S Line.' 'It feels surreal to win an award with a music director I've worked with since my short film days,' she said at the press event. 'Each episode has a slightly different concept, so we tailored the tone with variations in instrumentation.' 'I love the original, but I couldn't include every episode,' Ahn said. 'At its core, 'S Line' is about people. I tried to show how individuals change through the existence of the line.' Meanwhile, Arin said she is just grateful to be involved in such a prestigious and amazing venture. 'I thought, if not this work, when would I get to attempt something like this?' said Arin. 'I really tried to show a different side of myself. I'm so glad the feedback has been wonderful.' For more insight of the incredible drama, fans now can catch the show in Tonton. The series consists of six episodes, with the first two was shown on Tonton July 11 and then another two on July 18 and the exciting conclusion this Friday (July 25). Info media for the series were from the Official Media Kit, Korea JoongAng Daily and The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
