Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Troupe concluded four full-house performances at the Omiya Sonic City in Saitama, Japan, from Jan. 6 to 9. An audience member said, “My soul has been purified.”
“It’s truly fantastic. The costumes were gorgeous. The performers’ movements were precise and coordinated, forming a cohesive whole that was very visually pleasing. This is truly a performance not to be missed,” said Arai Hiromi, president of a packaging company.
Mrs. Arai and her husband, Oshima Hatuo, bought Shen Yun tickets two months before the performance.
Mr. Oshima said, “This is the most outstanding performance. I was amazed by the beautiful music. I am deeply moved. The soloist and instrumental performances were delightful. I love the sound of the erhu. It brings peace to the soul; it is truly fantastic.”
Nobuyuki Endo, an architect, was impressed by the expressiveness of classical Chinese dance. He said, “There was no language, but every dance move expressed the message the performers wanted to convey to the audience. I am moved and deeply touched. We, humans, regardless of nationalities, language, and gender, have sad events that bring sadness and joyful occurrences that bring happiness, and [classical Chinese dance] fully expresses these emotions. I am deeply moved.”
Mrs. Arai felt inspired by the stories about traditional Chinese values. She said, ”’The Compassion of Rescue’ story, where people saved the carp, is particularly outstanding. I felt my heart being moved. [The performance] shows a philosophy of life: Maintaining a kind heart, connecting with people, and refraining from wrongdoings—all of these were displayed on stage. It’s genuinely excellent. And there were also stories depicting romance and love for family. Such performances should continue, leaving a lasting impression on the audience and encouraging them to live more diligently.
”[Shen Yun] has become a driving force for my efforts,” she added.
Shen Yun touches on the persecution of spiritual beliefs in modern-day China. Guitarist and composer Morita Shigeru recalled witnessing the persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice, by the Chinese regime.
Mr. Morita said, “I lived in China and taught at a university in Shanghai for 13 years. [During that time] many things happened regarding Falun Gong. So today, I watched the performance with mixed emotions. I witnessed [Falun Gong practitioners] in an event were taken away before my eyes. So, during today’s program depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, I couldn’t watch it; I had to close my eyes and just listened.”
Yukio Hashimoto, president of a real estate company, said Shen Yun’s performance exceeded his expectations. Mr. Yukio said, “It was remarkable. I can’t simply describe it in words. It greatly exceeded my expectations. I’ve reached an age where I’m not easily moved, if I may be frank, but this time, watching Shen Yun, I was moved.”
Kiyosuke Sakaue, chairman of a landscaping company, watched Shen Yun for years. He said, “I feel my soul has been purified, and I can go home with peace of mind. I sincerely hope that Shen Yun will be able to perform in China someday.”
NTD News, Saitama, Japan
