Japanese Bon Odori Festival 2026 in Sri Lanka
2026/7/14
The Bon Odori Festival 2026 was successfully held on 11th July at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) premises in Maharagama, bringing together thousands of visitors to experience Japanese culture, tradition, music, dance, and cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere.
Distinguished participants graced the occasion, including Hon. Dinidu Saman Hennayake, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. KAMOSHIDA Naoaki, Chargés d’Affaires ad interim of Japan, Mr. Saman Samarakoon, Chairman of the Maharagama Urban Council, Mr. Supun Wijerathna, Chairman of the NYSC, and Mr. OTSUKI Takayuki, President of the Japanese Solidarity Association (JSA).
Distinguished participants graced the occasion, including Hon. Dinidu Saman Hennayake, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. KAMOSHIDA Naoaki, Chargés d’Affaires ad interim of Japan, Mr. Saman Samarakoon, Chairman of the Maharagama Urban Council, Mr. Supun Wijerathna, Chairman of the NYSC, and Mr. OTSUKI Takayuki, President of the Japanese Solidarity Association (JSA).
The festival featured a variety of performance and attracted a huge crowd of visitors. Bon Odori dances with popular songs such as “Tokyo Ondo” (Tokyo dancing song) and “Tanko Bushi” (Mine-diggers song) were performed by students from the Japanese School in Colombo, the Lanka Nippon BizTech Institute (LNBTI), and the NYSC with active participation of visitors to the festival.
In addition to the Bon Odori dances, the following performance was held, fascinating visitors with sounds and colours:
- Traditional Japanese drum performance (“Wadaiko”) by students from the Japanese School in Colombo and the NYSC
- The Japanese dance “Nanchu Soran” by students from the Japanese School in Colombo
- J-Pop dance by LNBTI students
- Japanese songs by winners of Japanese Song Competition Nodojiman 2026
- Karate performance by NYSC students
- Japanese and Sinhala songs by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV)
- Sri Lankan music and dances by NYSC students
Besides, food lovers enjoyed visiting food stalls of authentic Japanese cuisine set up by well-known eateries such as Kuuraku, Yamato, Shikisen, Ginza-Hohsen, Sushi Bar Samurai, Minori, and Nihonbashi. The NYSC cooking class students also showcased their talent.
Cultural booths from the Origami Folders Association, JOCV, LNBTI, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), and Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) added educational and artistic value to the event.
Bon Odori Festival served as a symbol of our longstanding friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka, providing a unique platform for cultural exchange and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.