‘Shen Yun Brought Brightness and Hope’ After New Year Disasters in Japan
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Hiroshi Yano at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at ROHM Theatre Kyoto, in Japan, on Jan. 3 2024. Wang Wenliang/The Epoch Times
KYOTO, Japan—At the beginning of the New Year, Japan experienced natural disasters causing major destruction. Shen Yun Performing Arts came to Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2024, reminding the audience of the importance of having hope.
Hiroshi Yano, a Japanese company owner, came to see Shen Yun after a friend recommended it. After a deadly earthquake on Jan. 1, Mr. Yano was deeply aware of the impermanence of life.
“Seeing Shen Yun, I felt that I could see hope and light in the darkness and helplessness. This is very important for human beings today,” he said.
“It’s really important for us to see such a performance and gain energy from it now,” he added.
Shen Yun is based in New York, and every year the artists rehearse with an all-new production for the season.
Mr. Yano has experience with TV production, so he deeply understands the work that goes into putting together a performance of Shen Yun’s caliber.
”I know that it is very hard for such a large group of people to perform such a superb show. This unified and energetic performance really surprised me, and I was impressed throughout the whole performance,” exclaimed Mr. Yano.
Shen Yun’s live orchestra works diligently to match every beat with the movements of the dancers on stage.
“I have been engaged in music, and conducting is the hardest part because you have to have absolute control of the timing,” said Mr. Yano.
Shen Yun’s digital backdrop is patented technology, and Mr. Yano was particularly impressed with the way Shen Yun incorporated it into each dance.
“The dynamic background display method was really unique. There is nothing like it in Japan. Using this method to tell stories, you can have unlimited expansion of the background,” he said.
‘I Feel Like I’ve Completed a Pilgrimage’
Taniguti Tamio enjoyed the Shen Yun afternoon performance at the ROHM Theater Kyoto in Japan, on Jan. 3, 2024. Fujino Wei/The Epoch Times
“I feel like I had just visited a shrine. I really believe in the existence of Gods. I felt this way once after completing a pilgrimage, and I feel very happy after seeing Shen Yun,” said Taniguti Tamio, the president of a hospital.
Shen Yun incorporates classical Chinese literature into its program, including tales like “Journey to the West.”
“I loved this performance very much. Every artist had undergone rigorous training and performed outstandingly. Through characters such as the Monkey King, the performance presented China’s long-standing history and culture wonderfully,” said Mr. Tamio.
Another dance that struck Mr. Tamio portrayed divine beings rescuing good people during their time of need. This scene reminded him of the recent events in Japan.
He agreed that good people are protected by the heavens, saying, “I felt very pleasant after seeing the performance. I was immersed in happiness ... I feel very lucky that I can live here safely.”
Amongst Shen Yun’s musicians, there is one instrument that gets its moment under the spotlight—the two-stringed erhu.
Mr. Tamio found the erhu to be “very charming.”
After the performance, Mr. Tamio shared that he looked forward to seeing Shen Yun again.
“Although today is only the third day of the New Year, I am ready to see Shen Yun again in the new year of 2025,” he said.
‘That Kind of Warm Energy’
Kubota Mami enjoyed the Shen Yun evening performance at the ROHM Theater Kyoto, in Japan, on Jan. 3, 2024. Zhang Ying/The Epoch Times
Mami Kubota, a psychologist, expressed her feelings after seeing Shen Yun on the evening of Jan. 3.
“It was hard to describe the feeling. It was that kind of warm energy. It gave people a very comfortable feeling … a clear and transparent feeling,” she said.
Shen Yun’s dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance, an ancient art form that emphasizes bearing, form, and technique.
“When I saw the performance on stage with my own eyes, I felt extremely excited. The dancers’ bodies were so flexible, and the backflips performed by the female dancers were really amazing,” she said.
Classical Chinese dance requires its dancers to be light on their feet—the female dancers especially who move across the stage using feather-light steps called yuan chang.
“They were so light, it was incredible,” she said.
Shen Yun uses dance and music to tell the true story of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted for their faith in present-day China. Falun Gong’s followers believe in leading their lives according to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
“In today’s society, truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance are very important!” said Ms. Kubota, a psychologist, after seeing Shen Yun, who said she felt a very warm and clear energy from the performance.
She felt that people need to believe in the divine, that “spiritual things are very important,” and that “God exists within us, not outside.”
Reporting by Wang Wenliang, Fujino Wei and Zhang Ying.
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