NAGOYA, Japan—On Dec. 23, Shen Yun Performing Arts opened the second of its four consecutive performances at the Nagoya Congress Center in Nagoya, Japan. IT company owner Hiroshi Takamatsu and his wife Noriko were in attendance.
The couple expressed high praise for the performance. “The creativity [of Shen Yun’s story dances] was really amazing. The production was great!” Mr. Takamatsu, who attended the matinee in a kimono to honor the occasion, exclaimed.
“I liked the Mongolian dance at the end [of the first half of the show] very much,” he added. “The dancers’ skills were great!”
Through classical Chinese dance and music, New York-based Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades.
With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest one yet.
Mrs. Takamatsu described Shen Yun dancers’ movements as “flowing water” and thought their facial expressions were wonderful. “The show was a success, so [I think] the performers were very happy—they knew they’ve done well,” she said.
The couple loved Shen Yun’s story-based dance about a magical monkey king from the famous literary classic, “Journey to the West.” They thought it was a familiar story presented in an easy-to-understand way.
Moreover, Mrs. Takamatsu was amazed by Shen Yun’s innovative 3D projection technology.
“The connection between the stage and the 3D backdrop was perfect. The performers disappeared from the stage and then suddenly reappeared again on the backdrop—it’s so cleverly integrated!” she said. “It’s really interesting!”
Having majored in Chinese literature in college, Mrs. Takamatsu is well-versed in Chinese culture and felt that “traditional Chinese people really emphasized the idea of compassion, and it was reflected very well in Shen Yun’s performance.”
Referring to Shen Yun’s mission to revitalize traditional Chinese culture and values, Mrs. Takamatsu said stage performances are a wonderful way to spread Chinese culture.
“It’s very good when you can use such a beautiful stage to let people learn [more about] the beauty of China.”
Reporting by Terada Lingping and Jennifer Tseng.
From The Epoch Times
