(Minghui.org) On August 4, 2012, Falun Gong practitioners in Japan participated in the Niigata Folk Festival parade. The following day, they also took part in a parade in Sendai. They were warmly welcomed at both events, as they introduced the beauty of Falun Gong to the public.
Niigata Folk Festival
Falun Gong practitioners participate in the annual Niigata Folk Festival parade on August 4, 2012.
Niigata is the capital of Niigata Prefecture, located on the island of Honshū in Japan. August is the peak season for various traditional festivals in this region. This year's Folk Festival was held on August 3-5, with the annual parade on August 4. It was the fourth time Falun Gong practitioners participated in the parade.
More than 10 groups took part in the parade. The Falun Gong procession was led by the Divine Land Marching Band, followed by a team of female practitioners dressed in beautiful fairy costumes and a large float where young practitioners in traditional costumes demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. The long procession was very eye-catching and greatly impressed the audience.
Parade in Sendai
Falun Gong practitioners participate in the grand parade in Sendai, Japan, on August 5, 2012.
After the parade in Niigata, the practitioners participated in a grand parade in Sendai, the capital of the Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan. This region is still recovering from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that reaped through the area on March 11, 2011. Many citizens have not yet fully recovered from the impact of one of the largest natural disasters in recent history. To encourage people, local governments often hold concerts and cultural events. Practitioners' participation in the grand parade in Sendai infused the locals with hope and introduced them to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the main principles of Falun Gong.
