Shen Yun kicked off its 2024 touring season at the Nagoya Congress Center in Nagoya, Japan, on Dec. 22, and concluded its four performances on Dec. 24. Audience members got a view of China before communism and were moved by the beauty and grace of the dancers.
“Before watching Shen Yun, I didn’t understand [China’s] 5,000 years of traditional culture,” said Hiroshi Ikeno, a hospital director. “And it’s very easy to understand when it’s interpreted through dance. The atmosphere was also fantastic.”
Akiko Ikeno, the wife of Mr. Ikeno, said: “Seeing the beautiful performance made my expression better. It’s a performance that made me happier and happier. That’s why I come to see Shen Yun every year. It’s really great. It’s as if I’ve entered a dreamlike world. I’m so happy, [Shen Yun] is so beautiful, so touching.”
Mrs. Ikeno also said: “It’s incredible how easily they seem to perform such difficult movements. I can’t imagine they’re human beings like me; it’s amazing.” She added that “the live music accompaniment was beautiful, and the erhu performance was something you don’t usually get to see. I’m so happy I had such a precious opportunity to see Shen Yun.”
Toshiro Kojima, a law professor, said “[Shen Yun] made me feel very refreshed. I was really able to feel the history of China. I was very moved by how pure the hearts of the characters were.”
Tetsuji Imazu, the president of a manufacturing company, said “traditional Chinese culture taught the fundamentals of being a human.”
Toshikazu Kudo, an executive director at a beauty and wellness company, described the beauty of the stage and the skill of the dancers.
“The canopy really blew me away. It was amazing how it worked so well together like magic.”
Mr. Kudo added: “What amazed me about Shen Yun today was not only the actions a great number of actors and actresses appeared in the show, and each of them was at a very high level, which was amazing. All the performers who appeared today were marvelous, and I was very moved.”
“I could feel that they prepared very, very much every single day,” said Mr. Kudo. “Their expressions, expressiveness, and richness of heart moved me strongly. Although I couldn’t tell where, deep inside I was touched again and again.”
Audience members praised the artistic director and expressed the importance of being able to freely express yourself.
“The artistic director who can produce a show like this is a genius,” said Mr. Kudo.
Yoshitaka Tsuge said “there are so many things that are hard to put into words, but after enduring so much, one can still be strong. The performance showed all of this, and I was very touched.” He added: “I think that a world where you can express yourself freely is important.”
One of the dance performances depicts the modern-day persecution of Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual meditation practice persecuted in China today. Hideaki Kageyama, a hotel executive, described his emotions after seeing the drama play out on stage.
“The part set in modern times really left a strong impression on me,” he said. “It was not a sad ending, people were saved at the end, and it really touched my heart. I hope that people who worked hard will be saved, but in the real world, sometimes that doesn’t happen.”
Kageyama added: “But the performance still ended in a way that gave people hope. I’m eager to see what the future will hold and I wonder if the future is ours to create.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts will continue to touch the hearts of many as it continues its tour this week in the United States and Europe.
NTD News, Japan
