SAITAMA, Japan—The past 100 years of communist rule have made people forget that China once had 5,000 years of glorious and deep history. Shen Yun Performing Arts has made it its mission to revive that history and present it to the world.
“I never thought that China had such a long and noble tradition. This was very moving. I sincerely hope that this kind of tradition can last forever,” said Mr. Sekiguchi, an educational institution director.
“It’s so beautiful! The aura emanating from the artists moved me greatly. They definitely put in a lot of effort and training to make the performance possible. It was really a wonderful performance,” said Mrs. Sekiguchi.
‘Shen Yun Can Awaken Kindness From People’s Hearts’
After waiting years for a chance to see Shen Yun, Toshinari Sasaki, the director of a Japanese building material company, finally fulfilled his wish on January 7, 2024.“I have been eager to see this performance for many years, and today, I finally got to. It was so wonderful, and I feel very happy,” said Mr. Sasaki.
“I was deeply impressed by those gorgeous dances—every moment. All the dancers demonstrated extraordinary talent,” he said.
“It made my heart become warmer. The colors and other elements of the show made me feel comfortable, which was wonderful,” said Mr. Sasaki.
“The world is sinking nowadays. People have become more selfish and morally corrupt. This is true all over the world. Things passed down by our ancestors are gradually disappearing, and it is crucial to restore traditional culture. If these beautiful traditional cultures and values can be preserved, the world can be purified,” remarked Mr. Sasaki.
He added that Shen Yun’s beauty is spreading positivity to the world.
Traditional Culture Is Important
Shen Yun’s songs and dances tell people that good people are rewarded for their kindness. Ms. Mami believes that people in today’s society need to be reminded of this.
“If you stay kind, you will be saved, and if you do good deeds, you will receive blessings. This is the message we really need to convey to today’s young people. It’s very important for modern people to understand and maintain these traditional cultures and virtues. So I hope more people can see Shen Yun,” she said.
“I think there are many people who don’t know about this situation. I hope they can come to the show and get to know the real persecution happening now,” said Ms. Mami.
She also expressed her admiration for Shen Yun’s integration of the digital backdrop and live orchestra to fit every movement and beat on stage.
‘The unique culture of China deeply moved me’
Shangpeng Wang is a Chinese expat who came to Japan over a decade ago.
“I feel that (people) do not come (to the world) for no reason,” he said.
Mr. Wang expressed Shen Yun has given him confidence and pride in his culture.
“If Chinese people have no faith, it will be difficult for us to get through this (chaotic) period of cultural disconnection,” he said.
“Today, our culture has been broken, and we don’t know our roots. I have no idea about traditional Chinese culture, about things that are embedded into my genes. Many people don’t know the greatness of Chinese culture and lack cultural confidence,”
“The softness of the first dance, showing the unique culture of China, deeply moved me. I don’t know why, but tears crept into my eyes,” he said.
“China will need this kind of thing (faith) very much in the future. If the Chinese people don’t have faith, it will be difficult for them to get through this (chaotic) period.”