KUALA LUMPUR: Dreaming of a romantic springtime in Japan? Been longing to experience its breathtaking Sakura trees, delicious food and unique culture? Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) is set to fulfil your dreams by bringing Japan to you.

From 16 April to 8 May 2016, the BBCC Sales Gallery is home to ‘YOKOSO: A Celebration of Japan @ BBCC’. This will be a month-long event that offers the public completely fresh perspective of Japan by featuring not just the sights, sounds and flavours of this beautiful country but also the seasons.

CEO of Bukit Bintang City Centre Sdn Bhd, Datuk Richard Ong said in his welcome speech at today’s opening ceremony that the event was held to celebrate BBCC’s international partnerships with Japanese conglomerates.

Recently on 28 March 2016, BBCC signed the Heads of Terms Agreements with Mitsui Fudosan Group to jointly develop a 1.4 million 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.

“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 is set to introduce many new Japanese brands to KL. While, Zepp’s 2,500-capacity concert venue will host international artistes and homegrown talents,” said Ong.

Over the next four weeks, YOKOSO BBCC will have interesting programmes to reflect the four seasons in Japan beginning with Spring, followed by Summer, Autumn and finally, Winter. The event features art installations, cultural and pop performances and a Japan-inspired food festival to celebrate each season.

Ong shared that the event’s programme strikes a fine balance between the traditional and popular, highlighting the ease with which the Japanese move between tradition and modernity. “We hope to provide the public with a variety of new experiences to keep them coming back each weekend.”

Installations include replicas of signature landmarks like the Tokyo Tower, Torii Gate and a forest of flowering Sakura trees, offering wonderful opportunities for beautiful photography. Various cultural performances such as the energetic taiko drum performance, Para-para Sakura dance, Bon Odori dance demonstration, J-pop performances and cosplay displays will be presented to entertain visitors.

In addition, YOKOSO BBCC offers interactive workshops such as yukata-wearing, origami-making, clay-painting, fan-making and even marshmallow-making for visitors to enjoy a truly immersive experience. The closing highlight on 7 and 8 May 2016 will be snow-fall experience for the Winter week.

Also present at the lighting up opening ceremony was Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, Chairman of Eco World Development Group Berhad (EWB); Tan Sri Rashid Abdul Manaf, Director of EWB; Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Director of EWB; Datuk Ahmad Abu Bakar, Group Managing Director of UDA Holdings Berhad, Dato’ Julainie Mohd Salled, Chief Financial Officer of UDA Holdings Berhad and Takehito Fukui, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Regional Officer for Malaysia of Mitsui Fudosan Asia.