GEORGE TOWN, June 20 -- First introduced in 2013 with just three participating teams, the Penang Yosakoi Parade has since evolved into a vibrant, large-scale celebration - complete with a championship for the best performance team.

Yosakoi is a Japanese word derived from Yosakoi-bushi, a traditional folk song from Kochi Prefecture.

The word also carries the meaning, "come and visit at night".

Yosakoi Festivals, or Yosakoi Matsuri, originated in Kochi Prefecture in 1954 and have since become an iconic part of Japanese culture, held in over 200 locations across Japan.

Today, the energetic and colourful festival has spread far to over 29 countries worldwide.

In Japan, Yosakoi participants express themselves freely through dance, using o...