SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Former Japanese Film Producer: ‘I Offer Shen Yun My Highest Praise’

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Former Japanese Film Producer: ‘I Offer Shen Yun My Highest Praise’
Retired film producer Ken Nakajima of Daiei Film attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Fukuoka Civic Hall in Fukuoka, Japan, on May 6, 2026. Li Mo/The Epoch Times
Epoch Newsroom
Updated:

FUKUOKA, Japan—On the afternoon of May 6, former Japanese film producer Ken Nakajima attended a performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Civic Hall.

Mr. Nakajima previously worked for Daiei Film, the legendary Japanese film studio that produced internationally acclaimed works such as Rashomon. He expressed high praise for Shen Yun’s production quality and stage presentation.

“I was deeply moved,” Mr. Nakajima said. “They are so well trained, and there is such a strong sense of unity.”

Drawing on his background in film production, Mr. Nakajima said the dancers’ synchronization particularly impressed him.

“There were 13 male dancers and 12 female dancers on stage. To achieve that level of unity, I can only imagine how much effort and dedicated practice they must have gone through. I think it’s truly remarkable.”

He added that such large-scale coordination is extraordinarily difficult.

“It’s easy enough to synchronize three or five people, but to have 25 dancers move together with that level of precision is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

Mr. Nakajima said the dancers’ technique and discipline could be felt emotionally by the audience.

“When you watch it, it truly moves you. Their technique is wonderful.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, with a mission to revive 5,000 years of China’s divinely inspired heritage and share with audiences the beauty of “China before communism.”
Mr. Nakajima also praised Shen Yun’s innovative use of an animated digital backdrop, a signature artistic element of the company.

“The digital technology was outstanding,” he said. “It matched the stage performance perfectly. I think it’s an incredible artistic asset.”

Another hallmark of Shen Yun is its orchestra, which seamlessly blends Western and Chinese instruments.

“The music was so wonderful that it’s beyond words,” Mr. Nakajima said.

He added that the performance’s emotional impact stems from the harmony among all its artistic elements.

“When the dance is wonderful, it means the music is wonderful too. And when the music is wonderful, the dancing becomes even more extraordinary. Everything matched together perfectly. That is what moved us so deeply.”

Mr. Nakajima also reflected on the spiritual themes conveyed on stage, particularly the depiction of divine beings descending from heaven to establish human civilization.

“Today’s world has become very harsh and desolate,” he said. “Of course, dialogue between people is important, but I also believe it is important for us to trust in the divine and receive guidance from the divine. We must not neglect the gods.”

At the conclusion of the interview, Mr. Nakajima said with a smile, “I offer Shen Yun my highest praise. It was magnificent!”

Reporting by Li Mo and Olivia Li.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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