(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in central Japan participated in the 60th Daiyokkaichi Festival of the Mie Prefecture on August 5-6, 2023. Practitioners took part in the parade, performed the waist drum dance, and demonstrated the five sets of Falun Dafa exercises on the stage, all of which were well received.

Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrate the exercises in the 60th Daiyokkaichi Festival at the Mie Prefecture on August 5..Falun Dafa practitioners perform the waist drums on stage.

The Daiyokkaichi Festival has a history of 300 years. The festival includes a parade, various dance performances, local culture, and traditional performances that have been maintained since ancient times. The event was seen by about 250,000 people. That day, the organizers of the celebration live-streamed the whole event on YouTube, and the Japanese media NHK Mie and Mie Cable TV reported on the event.

Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the Daiyokkaichi Festival in Mie Prefecture.

Practitioners introduced Falun Dafa at the celebration in 2015, and have since received invitations from the organizers year after year. This year, a parade and stage performance by the waist drum team became part of the Falun Dafa contingent.

After the performance, the person-in-charge of the organizers gave the Falun Dafa practitioners a thumbs-up, and a staff member said, “Thank you very much for your performance.”

Some viewers felt that they experienced a different atmosphere from Japanese culture.

While the practitioners demonstrated the exercises, one practitioner gave an introduction about the spiritual practice, and explained the movements.

The practitioners performed the exercises calmly and slowly. Although the stage was set on a bustling street, the audience said they felt the tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. Some spectators followed the hand gestures, some took photos, and some took fliers.