Shen Yun performed at the Kamakura Performing Arts Center in Japan this week, packing the theater for two sold out shows. Shen Yun showcases classical Chinese dance—an art form rooted in thousands of years of culture and history. The company’s dance pieces range from ethnic and folk dances to depictions of ancient myths and stories.
Koji Fueko, a high school vice principal, said, “Chinese history is profound. I feel the profoundness through how Shen Yun carries on the tradition through dance.” He also added, “the men’s dance is strong and powerful, and the women’s dance is gentle and graceful, with elegant hand movements, each reflecting the characteristics of men and women.”
Hoshi Takita, a company executive, said, “There are dances and arts of different ethnic groups in the program. They are directly integrated with each other and passed down to this day. It covers a wide range. I think it is very good.”
Through the medium of classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of tradition, which were almost lost under communist rule.
Tetsuya Fujisaki, the head of a management company, said, “China’s long history has amazed us, and its inheritance from generation to generation makes me feel the richness of its culture. It’s really amazing.”
“I have always been interested in Chinese traditions, but this was the first time I learned about it through a performance,” said Yoichi Kimura, a chairman of an insurance company. “[It] left a deep impression on me. It gave me the urge to study and learn in depth.”
Arata Suzuki, an executive consultant at an IT company, said, “It is very important to pass it on from generation to generation. The same goes for Shen Yun. No matter what happens, it is very important to revive the tradition and pass it on.”
“The program sends a message to us about the suppression of free speech, and it touches people’s hearts,” said Masaaki Ito, a private school owner. “It is a pity that China is now a one-party dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party. Shen Yun can connect everyone and share values.”
Shen Yun will return to Kamakura on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3.
NTD News, Kamakura, Japan.
