Wataboshi Festival
From Malaysian National News Agency, www.bernama.com.my, 6 Nov 2007:
JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 5 (Bernama) — More than 1,000 special children from 10 cities in the Asia-Pacific region will converge here on Nov 24 and 25 for the Ninth Asia-Pacific Wataboshi Music Festival 2007…
… The music festival, which is the platform for disabled persons to showcase their talents and express themselves through the medium of song, is being jointly organized by the Johor state government, Association of Wives of Elected Representatives (Juita), Asia-Pacific Forum on Families (APFAM), Johor Family Foundation, Johor Tourism Action Council and Johor Heritage Foundation.
… The biennial event was launched in Nara, Japan, in 1973.
“Wataboshi, which means the seeds of the dandelion flower, was chosen as the name of the music festival to spread the message of love and understanding throughout the world towards the special persons,” she told reporters after the soft launch of the festival themed `Together Into The Light’ in Danga Bay last night.
