COMMENT | Relative to the long list of problems Malaysia is facing, permissibility for Muslims to attend the Bon Odori festival is certainly bottom-tier, if not a non-issue. But, given the unexpected attention it has garnered, leading to misunderstandings and politicisation of the topic, it’s important to shed some light on the matter.

There should be discussions with relevant parties to solve issues or address concerns before making broad stoke public statements that can be misunderstood and politicised.

Japan’s public relations office referenced an expert in Japanese traditional dance, Bijo Ageha, who pointed to a Buddhist chanting ritual that looks like a dance, dating back to the Kamakura era (1185–1333) as the roots of Bon Odori.

According to Miura and colleagues...