(Clearwisdom.net) The Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company concluded its successful performance in Tokyo on February 14, 2012. In addition, two shows were presented at the International Conference Center in Nagoya on February 17, one show at the Cultural Exchange Hall in Hiroshima on February 19, and a final show at the Art and Culture Theater, in Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai, Nishinomiya on February 21. The shows in the three cities drew local politicians, celebrities, Chinese students, and Chinese audience directly from China, who watched and expressed admiration.
Former City Councilor: I look forward to seeing the show next year.
Mr. Gishi Ichio, former councilor of Minokamo, who watched Shen Yun for the first time.
Mr. Gishi Ichio, former councilor of Minokamo, watched the Shen Yun performance for the first time. He spoke highly of the presentation of classical Chinese dance and music.
After watching the evening performance, he said, “Accompanied with music played by the live orchestra, and figures on the backdrops directly descending to the stage, I have never seen such a wonderful performance. It indeed touched me so much. In the program "How the Monkey King Came To Be," the Monkey King was so tiny in the beginning, and he turned out to be so large in a wink, flying down to the stage, and then immediately flying back. It’s so great! It is indeed not easy to present this kind of performance.”
Mr. Gishi Ichio, a Chinese history lover, has visited China many times. Being different from other countries, China, he said, is like the origin of Japan’s ancestors. He continued, “Shen Yun displayed the Chinese history, one scene after another. The performances were really beautiful, beyond my imagination. I warmly welcome Shen Yun to return to Japan, and I look forward to seeing the show next year.”
Mr. Minoru Sengoku, former councilor of Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture.
Mr. Minoru Sengoku, a former councilor of Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture, and his wife, were in attendance at the Nagoya performance on Friday afternoon, February 17. Mr. Sengoku said Chinese and Japanese cultures have a close relationship in history, like Japanese Buddhism, which originated in China. “Shen Yun showcases the broad and profound culture of ancient China,” he said.
Mr. Sengoku particularly enjoyed the Taiwanese Amei dance, "In the Mountains." He has been to Taiwan many times and said the piece truly captured the essence of Amei dance. He said it was the best he had ever seen.
Hiroshima Councilor: Indeed 5000-year Chinese history!
Mr. Kiyoshi Siba, deputy speaker of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, watched the performance with his wife.
Mr. Kiyoshi Siba, deputy speaker of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, watched the performance with his wife. Accepting an interview after the show, Mr. Siba said he has never seen a performance as wonderful as Shen Yun. He said the perfection of the performance was impossible to describe, “Through the show, I have seen the brilliant, 5,000-year Chinese history and its precious cultural connotation, which is highly needed when promoting world peace. We are very thankful to Shen Yun Performing Arts for bringing such a fabulous performance to the citizens of Hiroshima.”
Hiroshima Councilor Mr. Tetsuo Doi
Accompanied by his wife, Hiroshima Councilor Mr. Tetsuo Doi watched the Shen Yun performance and then took the reporter’s hand and said excitedly, “I watched the Shen Yun show for the first time. I never thought that a performance could be so unique. It was completely beyond what my imagination was capable of, and it was sure a big surprise for me. As soon as the curtain opened, the colorful, bright stage was so fascinating that I was totally carried away, as if it contained vibrant elements full of energy. It brought the audience indescribable joy and excitement.”
Mr. Takeshi Pinggang, councilor of Hiroshima City.
Mr. Takeshi Pinggang, councilor of Hiroshima City, watched the Shen Yun performance with friends. In an interview, Mr. Pinggang said, “Watching the Shen Yun show for the first time, I found that the choreography of the dances was very unique and very creative. Chinese history was showcased step by step, which made me fully perceive the glory and greatness of the Chinese 5,000-year civilization.”
He praised the dynamic backdrops, saying, “The changes of the scenes on the backdrops and the appearance of the live dancers on the stage were so quick and fabulous that the scenes on the backdrops and stage were perfectly synchronized. For example, in the program 'How the Monkey King Came to be,' the Monkey King jumped from the scene on backdrops to the reality on stage in a wink. It was indeed superb. The timing was just perfect. In addition, the design of the program and the choreography were really remarkable.”
Chinese Students: Understand the program "Before Disaster, the Divine is Rescuing"
More than 100 Chinese people came all the way from Fukuoka. They hired several buses to get to Hiroshima to watch the performance. Two students who were interviewed after the show said they were most impressed by the final program "Before Disaster, the Divine is Rescuing." In this dance, the good are spared from a calamity. One of the students in the group was shocked by what he saw in the performance and hoped that people would be saved. “It would be good if that day could come early,” said the student.
He continued, “When we were in China, we did not have a chance to see classical Chinese dance. Now we know what it is all about. It is really marvelous and amazing,”
Kimono School Principal: Looking forward to Shen Yun performing in China.
Ms. Terada Sawa, principal of Kimono School in Toyota
Ms. Terada Sawa, principal of Kimono School in Toyota, watched the performance for the first time. She liked the ancient costumes in the show and said they were very beautiful. Hearing that Shen Yun cannot perform in China, she said, “I wish that Shen Yun can perform in China.”
Chinese Businesswoman: After watching Shen Yun’s performance, I feel that I have a goal in my life now.
Two Chinese businesswomen in Japan
Ms. Li, a businesswoman, has been in Japan for many years. At intermission, she spoke poetically about her response to the performance. Ms. Li said, "'Lotus Leaves' and 'Sleeves of Silk' were amazing. When they danced, I saw a clear spring in a desert."
She said the song lyrics allowed her to understand many things. Ms. Li said, “I felt lost in the current life. I am busy working all day long and try to make as much money as possible. I have no genuine goal. After watching Shen Yun’s performance, I feel that I have a goal in my life now. I yearn to go to the golden paradise shown on the digital backdrop,” said Ms. Li.
She said the show supported her belief that good will be rewarded and evil will be punished.
Chinese in Japan: The kind and the pure will eventually survive the fight between good and evil.
Mr. Huang came to Japan from Liaoning Province, China five years ago for employment. Mr. Huang specifically pointed out the deeper meanings conveyed through the fight between good and evil portrayed in the performance, “No matter how much turbulence and hardship occurs in the process, the kind and the pure will eventually survive. Chinese people say that good begets good and evil begets evil. It is very true.”
Former ballet dancer Takagi Reiko adores Shen Yun vocalists
Takagi Reiko, a well-known former ballet dancer in Japan
Takagi Reiko, a well-known former ballet dancer, was deeply moved by the performance. She has nearly 60 years of dance experience. Ms. Reiko has participated in and watched a variety of ballet performances, but she was nonetheless amazed by Shen Yun’s animated backdrop, saying, “Wow! Where do they get such wonderful and creative ideas? I wanted to jump into the backdrop, too. It’s really extraordinary.”
Regarding the vocalists, she said, “The voices of the vocalists were just amazing. I was wondering where the voice came from. Was it really a human voice? It’s just incredible. I listened with a humble and adoring heart.”
Owner of ballet dance classroom: Respecting heaven and gods can bring a glorious future to mankind
Mr. Kenji Morikawa (second from right), owner of a ballet dance classroom
Mr. Kenji Morikawa runs a ballet dance classroom. He came to Shen Yun with his family for the first time. After the performance, Mr. Morikawa said that the show was absolutely dazzling. “It’s more than words can say. I feel honored to be able to enjoy such supreme orthodox Chinese art. Shen Yun amply demonstrated the spirit of the traditional Chinese culture-respecting heaven and gods. I personally love it.”
“The show expressed gods’ grace for mankind through art and showed how respecting heaven and gods can bring a glorious future to mankind.”
Chinese fans from China went to Japan specifically to watch the show and were touched
Ms. Wang brought her son to Japan specifically to see the show. After watching the show at the Art and Culture Theater in Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai, Nishinomiya, she said excitedly, “Though I watched the Shen Yun DVD in China, it is quite different watching the stage performance on-site. I watched it carefully and was reluctant to leave. My son said he was familiar with the scene on stage. The programs are very good and pure.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company concluded its shows in Japan, and traveled to South Korea to continue its Asian tour.
