FUKUOKA, Japan—On the afternoon of May 8, Moriyama Masao, a former department head at a major consumer products manufacturing company, attended the fifth performance of Shen Yun at the Fukuoka Civic Center in Fukuoka, Japan, together with his wife.

Mr. Moriyama said he first became interested in Shen Yun after seeing an advertisement for the performance last year, and afterward began watching Shen Yun videos on YouTube. After seeing the performance live, he enthusiastically praised the production.

“The dancing was magnificent right from the very first program,” Mr. Moriyama said. “It was dazzling—truly grand and spectacular in scale. I also really appreciate the phrase ‘Changing Lives’ in the ad. It genuinely leaves me with a feeling as though my life has been transformed. Now that I’m in my retirement years, I’m always seeking new sources of inspiration. I’ve been a fan from the very beginning and have always dreamed of seeing this performance in person.”

Mr. Moriyama also spoke highly of the dancers’ artistry.

“The movements of the female dancers were, as expected, incredibly beautiful and graceful,” he said. “I came here expecting a breathtaking sight on a live stage—and it certainly exceeded my expectations.”

“The costumes are just as they appeared in the videos,” he continued. “Seeing it live gave me the distinct sensation of stepping into a completely different world. The costumes were incredibly vibrant and colorful. Truly spectacular!”

He added that the colors themselves left a deep impression on him.

“There’s just something special in the power of color,” Mr. Moriyama said. “The scene that impressed me the most was the very first one—the dance performed with those long, flowing sleeves. The movements looked so expansive and sweeping; I found it absolutely stunning.”

Mr. Moriyama was equally impressed by the dancers’ ability to tell stories through movement alone.

“It’s truly remarkable how people can comprehend the entire story solely through the dance, even without knowing the specific plot beforehand,” he said. “Expressing a narrative purely through dance requires an immense amount of skill and technique. I was astonished by how the story was conveyed through every single aspect—the expressive power of the performers, their technical skills, and even the masterful use of color.”

He also praised the live orchestra accompanying the performance.

“As it was a live performance, the sound flowed straight into my heart,” Mr. Moriyama said. “The music perfectly complemented the story; it conveyed everything—what the narrative aimed to express, and the message it sought to deliver. It maintained a solid structure right through to the conclusion; every single element was simply wonderful.”

Mr. Moriyama further expressed admiration for the live musical accompaniment.

“The sound was truly beautiful—just as I expected,” he said. “The live musical accompaniment was also incredibly captivating; usually, one would only hear a pre-recorded track. But here, the musicians were performing right in front of us. That, too, was a truly special touch. It was something I had longed to see for a long time.”

Mrs. Moriyama said she had initially attended simply to accompany her husband, but was deeply moved by the performance herself.

“I originally came along just to accompany my husband, but having seen it myself, I can say it was truly magnificent,” Mrs. Moriyama said.

Reflecting on the themes presented in the performance, Mr. Moriyama said the stories resonated with him on a personal level.

“The story—which depicts people striving earnestly and dedicating themselves to the service of others—struck me as embodying the sincere way of life that is inherent to human nature,” he said.

Mrs. Moriyama added simply, “It felt like a cleansing experience for the soul.”

Mr. Moriyama also praised Shen Yun’s mission, noting that traditional Chinese culture carries profound historical significance.

“China possesses such genuine traditions—a history spanning 5,000 years,” he said. “They really ought to be promoting this kind of culture. When I look at a performance like this, it makes me hope that the current trend toward hegemony—that oppressive mindset—doesn’t take hold. I feel that the message Shen Yun conveys is essentially about living a life of simple, honest sincerity. That’s why I perceived such a stark contrast between the two.”

In closing, Mr. Moriyama expressed admiration for Shen Yun’s global success and its efforts to revive traditional Chinese culture.

“Shen Yun has garnered such immense acclaim in the United States and around the world,” he said. “Historically, China has always been a pioneer—a leader in human civilization. That is precisely why the effort to revive it is so significant. It’s remarkable—something that is not being performed within China is now being presented to the world instead. It really took me by surprise.”